JBL dropped an entire new lineup, just in time for anyone looking to upgrade.
New portables and party speakers, earbuds, and… wait, what is this? Audio glasses? We’ll take a look at that in a bit.
All these devices, powered by JBL’s innovations: OpenSound, Smart Charging Case, Auracast, AI Sound Boost, among others.
Let’s go through these new devices and see what might be your next upgrade.
JBL Soundgear Frames
Remember those audio glasses I mentioned? Well here it is. The JBL Soundgear Frames has built-in mics and speakers powered by JBL's OpenSound technology. It lets you ditch the earbuds and enjoy immersive music without disturbing those around you. There’s eight hours of playtime, has customizable settings, and is water resistant.
JBL Live 3 Series
JBL calls this “the first ever Smart Charging Case” to expand the JBL’s most popular earbuds. This supports the Live 3 series, including the Live Beam 3, Live Flex 3, and the Live Buds 3. The Smart Charging Case lets you control everything even without a phone. Volume, EQ, music playback - it is all right there. You can take calls without missing a beat. JBL even threw in a screensaver.
The Live 3 series have True Adaptive Noise Canceling, spatial sound, and JBL’s Signature Sound for sharper audio. Enjoy wireless charging and a total playback of 48 hours for the Live Beam 3, 50 hours for the Live Flex 3, and 40 hours for the Live Buds 3.
JBL PartyBox
The last time I tried a JBL PartyBox was when we tested one in the office. The sudden boom was like an eruption that rattled through our bones, like something out of a superhero movie with a character letting out a powerful scream. I thought all the glass panels within the office would explode.
It was glorious.
JBL dropped two new PartyBox speakers: the Stage 320 and the Club 120. The names pretty much say it all - the Stage 320 for stage performances and the Club 120 to keep the beat on the dance floor.
These PartyBox speakers are powered by JBL Pro Sound and AI Sound Boost, which JBL says “ensuring optimal acoustic output for any occasion,” which translates to me as, “This is very loud.” Auracast allows multiple speaker connections to add coverage. If you need to jam, there’s the PartyBox Wireless Microphones, PartyLights Stick and Beam for light shows. And knowing JBL, they have the tech to match the rhythm of music and lights. I’ve been using JBL speakers and I know they’re good at this.
The Stage 320 can run up to 18 hours on battery. The Club 120 in 12 hours. Not enough when partying at a beach? No, seriously, 18 and 12 hours are not enough? What are you guys? Well, you should know batteries are easily swapped for another 18 and 12 hours.
If you want something more portable, then there’s the JBL PartyBox On-The-Go Essential, which packs 100 watts of JBL Pro Sound, built-in lights, wireless mic, and is splash proof. And the best part? Believe it or not, it even has a bottle opener! No more bending spoons or risking your pearly whites - just pop the caps and keep the party going.
But wait, there’s more
On top of everything else mentioned, JBL has announced a huge swath of products. JBL gets it, not all of you may be interested in their fashion sense or with intentions of partying till the sun sets in the east. You just want some good audio gear. Gotcha. JBL has your back.
The JBL Tune 310C is probably something suitable for you. You can just hang them around your neck when not in use, and then plug ‘em in whenever convenient, all without reaching into your pocket for the case and the buds inside.
There’s also the JBL Go 4 speakers and the JBL Clip 5. The Go 4 is, I would say, perfect for vacations and everyday use or when out with friends and family. The Clip 5, I find, is nice when going on an adventure because you can just… clip… the speakers onto you while you get around hiking and camping.
Then there’s the JBL Xtreme 4, which is, again, perfect for many occasions. It’s got a strong bass, so anyone who loves that will really be digging into this one.
Also, this is for when you want to upgrade your home entertainment setup as well. For TVs, JBL has the Cinema SB–no, not 19–SB510, and the Cinema SB550 soundbars, which JBL boasts offers movie-theater quality sound. For gaming, JBL expands the Quantum lineup with the Quantum Stream Studio and Stream Talk microphones; Stream Wireless (Lightning and USB-C), and Quantum 50 C to carry in your pockets for your consoles.
“At JBL, our patrons come first so we always strive to stay in-tune with them. We desire people to experience music in the way that they want, instead of the other way around. This is why we are launching a new variety of audio essentials to cater to our clientele’s evolving and sophisticated tastes at price points they can afford—without compromising quality,” said Larry Secreto, country manager of Harman International.
So, get ready to level up your audio experience as these products are hitting the shelves soon!