JBL Project Everest DD65000 and DD67000 Flagship Loudspeakers Preview

At CES 2013 Harman’s JBL announced it is broadening its top-of-the-line Project Everest loudspeaker range with the introduction of its DD65000 ultrahigh-end floorstanding speaker. The DD65000 combines newly developed driver technologies and refinements to deliver extraordinary musical realism, and has a distinctively elegant visual appeal that blends classic and contemporary design elements.

The DD65000 incorporates a number of newly developed drivers and technologies. It employs two newly developed 1501AL-1 cast-aluminum-frame woofers with a new paper pulp-matrix woofer material augmented by a rear-applied AquaPlas coating, a combination that preserves sonic neutrality while damping unwanted cone resonances for controlled, articulate bass response. The cone is mounted to the frame via a foamed rubber surround with a roll diameter that yields the optimum amount of travel while retaining as small a diameter as possible for the maximum usable cone area. The use of the new cone material and surround results in lower distortion in the woofer’s higher operating range and a lower 18Hz fundamental resonance for greater bass extension. Additional enhancements include a massive 4-inch voice coil immersed in an Alnico 5DG magnet that is immune to temperature changes, a copper-steel-laminated top plate that contributes to more linear magnetic behavior within the driver, and other refinements.

The 476Mg midrange/high-frequency compression driver utilizes a 4-inch high-purity magnesium alloy foil diaphragm that is formed as an integral one-piece diamond-embossed surround and dome. The low density of the magnesium alloy combined with the high stiffness and tuning of the surround’s design yields a transducer that provides exceptional resolution, transient response and detailed, natural midrange and treble reproduction. 

Harman's JBL was on hand to show off its DD65000, an all speaker whose new 045Mg ultrahigh-frequency compression driver features a 1-inch diaphragm. It uses the same high-purity magnesium alloy foil material found in the 476Mg. This is done to ensure sonic consistency between the midrange/high-frequency and ultrahigh-frequency drivers. However, the 045Mg features a new precision-cast, pure-magnesium phasing plug that offers better heat dissipation. This is typically going to mean greater efficiency and response at higher volume levels. Improved manufacturing processes have enabled the driver to provide nearly 5dB more output above 30kHz.

Both compression drivers are mounted in JBL’s exclusive computer-optimized Bi-Radial horns which are made from acoustically inert SonoGlass material. The horns are shaped to provide optimum dispersion in both horizontal and vertical planes, for smooth frequency response and accurate imaging over a wider on- and off-axis area.

The JBL Project Everest DD65000 also uses an advanced crossover network that lets the woofers operate in different frequency ranges, a configuration that provides optimum directivity and high output. The crossover network uses a DC bias system that keeps the capacitors operating in Class A mode. The network is housed on four separate circuit boards, one for each transducer, which optimizes each board for each driver and its corresponding frequency range.

The DD65000 has front-mounted control panels which can tailor the speaker for optimum performance in any system and room. The controls allow fine-tuning of low-frequency and high-frequency level and other characteristics. The JBL Project Everest DD65000 uses high-quality components including air-core inductors, polypropylene foil capacitors, wire-wound and metal oxide resistors used in multiples to prevent value shift during high-power operation.

In terms of looks, the DD65000 is a throwback to days gone by, with a large, squarish veneered cabinet. It blends classic JBL design elements with contemporary accents. The DD65000 features curved and angled surfaces as found in the DD67000 and a contoured horizontal midrange horn that is surrounded by the elegant dark gray zebrawood.  

The JBL Project Everest DD65000 loudspeaker will be available in February 2013 at a suggested retail price of $60,000/pr. If you didn't just spill your drink when you read that, then you might just be in the target market for this speaker.

Incidentally, if this isn't rich enough for you, then the flagship JBL Project Everest DD67000 loudspeaker will be available in February 2013 at a suggested retail price of $75,000/pair. Among other things, the DD67000 features a carbon-fiber baffle trim panel, upgraded 1501AL-2 woofers, and elegant rosewood and maple finishes. 

Unless otherwise indicated, this is a preview article for the featured product. A formal review may or may not follow in the future.