JBL NEW Stage 2 Speakers & MA Series AV Receivers First Impressions

New JBL Speakers and AV Receivers Revealed!

I have to give credit to Harman and JBL. These folks know how to keep a secret! Although I was invited some weeks ago to represent Audioholics at a JBL product-launch party in Hollywood on July 17th, I had no idea what JBL was planning to reveal until the event kicked off. What’s most impressive is that these new products all started shipping just one day after the big announcement. The setting was the roof of the historic Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, which was built in 1927 — the same year that JBL founder James Bullough Lansing started his first loudspeaker manufacturing company here in Los Angeles. The views from the roof were incredible, even to a jaded Angeleno like me. After the requisite boozing and schmoozing, Harman’s Dave Tovissi, who is Vice President and GM of the Luxury Audio division, took to the stage and revealed not one, but 13 new products. The new JBL MA (Modern Audio) line of AV receivers comprises five all-new models, while the Stage 2 range of loudspeakers includes two bookshelf models, two floor-standers, a center-channel, a height/surround speaker, and two subwoofers. Together these new receivers and speakers represent “high-performance home theater solutions for the next generation of music and movie enthusiasts,” according to JBL, offering consumers a “unified and cohesive system that combines simplicity, design, quality, and scalability – all at an affordable price.”

From the very beginning of the presentation, the messaging behind these products was clear. These are attractive and easy-to-use products aimed at younger customers, which JBL later defined as Gen Z folks getting their first places, and Millennials looking to upgrade from the bluetooth speakers and soundbars that they’re used to. The presentation began with a video (which you can see here: JBL Goes Modern With New Affordable Loudspeakers and A/V Receivers), setting the youthful tone for the marketing campaign. But JBL’s push to reach younger customers is about more than just advertising. The new products were strategically developed with these customers in mind, and the company made several smart choices that should make the MA receivers and Stage 2 speakers appeal to younger people. Firstly, the receivers and speakers were designed to work together both sonically and aesthetically, simplifying the sometimes daunting shopping process. This concept of simplification was perhaps the most important focus of the whole endeavor. The entire category of component-based audio (as opposed to single-product solutions, like soundbars) has become off-putting and intimidating to new customers, according to JBL. These new products try to change that in a number of ways, starting with their physical design. Typical AV receivers from virtually every major brand — Denon, Sony, Yamaha, Onkyo — all look pretty much the same. They tend to be fairly dreary-looking black boxes with lots of buttons to control functions that most people never use. With the exception of the latest Marantz receivers, they are visually interchangeable. In contrast, these new JBL receivers are drop-dead gorgeous, especially in the white finish, which JBL calls “Latte.” I’d go so far as to say that the range-topping MA9100HP is the best-looking AVR I’ve ever seen. And apart from the power button, the front panel has no more than 5 buttons, along with a volume knob, a selector knob, and a full-color LCD display. I do not mean this as faint praise, but I think this receiver’s industrial design is its most compelling feature, at least in terms of attracting new, younger customers.

The second most important feature in these receivers’ move toward simplicity is the setup process. Setting up and using an AVR can be needlessly complicated, and JBL says that’s another significant reason why the whole product category feels unwelcoming to young people. The MA line of receivers comes with a simple setup app for mobile devices called EZ Set EQ, which walks users through the setup process and performs automatic room correction, using the microphone built into a smartphone. The whole process takes just a few minutes and will feel both familiar and intuitive to folks who are used to using smart speakers and Sonos products. The EZ Set EQ app reportedly even handles the crossover settings that blend the subwoofer with the main speakers, while simultaneously smoothing out the whole system’s low-frequency response. JBL says that these new products are easy to understand and simple to install. “Easy” and “simple” are certainly not words I would use to describe most AV receivers.

But before a customer has the chance to experience the intuitive functionality promised by these new products, he/she/they must get through the shopping stage. Designed and engineered to function together, the MA receivers and Stage 2 loudspeakers take the guesswork out of system-matching, according to JBL. Again, JBL says that many consumers who aren’t audio enthusiasts find the process of buying home theater components intimidating and overly complex. By offering a variety of simple, turnkey systems all under one brand, JBL is removing the uncertainty surrounding traditional component-based audio. Most users will likely take advantage of the built-in Apple AirPlay or Chromecast, Bluetooth connectivity, and/or Spotify Connect. All but the least expensive AVR model include Wi-Fi connectivity and “Works with SmartThings” integration, allowing users to create automated routines that control their other IoT devices. Tech-savvy users like my brother Dan can turn on their TV and receiver, select a certain input, lower the automatic window shades, and configure low mood-lighting all with the press of a button. But these products aren’t aimed solely at the tech-inclined. JBL says that they are perfect for all types of home entertainment enthusiasts, from those looking to level up from a soundbar, to those buying their first turntable, to those aspiring to experience high-performance immersive audio from a 9-channel Dolby Atmos system.

The JBL MA Series AV Receiver Lineup

The MA series comprises five AV receivers, all featuring Class D amplification. I asked about which amp modules and DAC chips were used, but was told that JBL is purposefully avoiding going into too much detail about components and specs with these products, simply because that kind of detail is not of interest to the customers they’re hoping to attract. I was told that the components used are of good quality but do not feature new or ground-breaking technology. I did learn that the entry-level receiver has no network connectivity and less advanced HDMI, handling only 4K/60Hz and HDR10. The rest support  8K/60Hz and 4K/120Hz, HDR 10+, Dolby Vision, and a host of HDMI 2.1 features. The top two models, designated with the suffix “HP” for “High Performance,” feature some upgrades including amps with higher power and lower distortion, two-way bluetooth connectivity, full-color LCD displays, and color-customizable “Light Show” under-glow lighting. Crucially, the top two models are also Dirac-ready. The user just needs to purchase a Dirac license for limited-bandwidth or full-bandwidth Dirac Live, along with a compatible microphone.

The five models in the MA series of AVRs include the following:

MA9100HP 9.1 Channel Receiver

(All power ratings listed are into 8 ohms, with 2 channels driven.)

• MA310 ($399) 5.1 channels, no network connectivity, 60 watts per channel
• MA510 ($599) 5.1 channels, 75 watts per channel
• MA710 ($799) 7.1 Channels, 110 watts per channel
• MA7100HP ($1,199) 7.1 Channels, 125 watts per channel, Dirac-ready
• MA9100HP ($1,599) 9.1 Channels, 140 watts per channel, Dirac-ready

All models are available in two color options: Latte (white) and Espresso (black). Pictures don’t do them justice. In person, they really look fantastic.

JBL is recognized as the leader in high-performance cinematic experiences, so it should come as no surprise that our new line of home cinema products punches above its weight class. Solving for modern consumer behaviors and concerns was front and center when we developed these products. We designed the systems to blend perfectly into today’s lifestyle, giving users the sound quality, and simplicity of use they always wanted from a home theater system but never found – until now.

— Dave Tovissi, Vice President & General Manager, Luxury Audio at Harman International

JBL Stage 2 Loudspeakers

245C 2.5-way center-channel speaker

Developed at the JBL Center of Acoustics Excellence in Northridge, California, the Stage 2 loudspeakers improve upon the extremely popular original Stage models with next-generation patented HDI waveguides for “room-filling sound,” newly-developed anodized aluminum tweeters and polycellulose woofers, and new finishes, along with improved industrial design meant to complement the look of the new receivers while blending nicely into modern interiors. All are available in a “Latte” finish, with light-colored wood-effect cabinets and white front baffles, or in an “Espresso” finish, with dark wood-effect cabinets and black front baffles. The lineup includes the following:

• The flagship 280F ($1,199 per pair) is a 2.5-way floorstander with dual 8-inch drivers.
• The 260F ($999 per pair) is a smaller 2-way floorstander with dual 6.5-inch mid-woofers.
• The 250B ($399 per pair) is a 2-way bookshelf speaker with a 5.25-inch mid-woofer.
• The 240B ($299 per pair) is a compact 2-way bookshelf speaker with a 4.5-inch mid-woofer.
• The 240H ($299 per pair) is a 2-way height/surround speaker with a 4.5-inch mid-woofer.
• The 245C ($399 each) is a 2.5-way center-channel speaker with four 4.5-inch drivers.
• The 200P ($499 each) is a 10-inch subwoofer with a built-in amp rated at 150 watts RMS, 300 watts dynamic.  
• The 220P ($599 each) is a 12-inch subwoofer with a built-in amp rated at 250 watts RMS, 500 watts dynamic.

The optional stands for the bookshelf speakers are $249 per pair.

First Listening Impressions From The Launch Event

After the rooftop product-reveal on July 17th, members of the AV press were invited to audition two systems set up in a pair of penthouse suites, both accessible from the hotel roof. The first of these was billed as a “soundbar alternative”  — a simple 5.1-channel system aimed at a particular type of customer. This imagined customer owned a JBL soundbar, purchased at the beginning of the Covid 19 pandemic. Before that, this customer might have owned a JBL bluetooth speaker or JBL headphones, so brand loyalty was already there. No longer satisfied with a soundbar, this customer can now stick with JBL and buy a 5.1-channel system without sweating the details about compatibility, and without compromising performance, as would be the case with a home-theater-in-a-box. The demo system included the $1,199 MA7100 receiver, a pair of 250B bookshelf speakers and the 245C center-channel speaker up front, a pair of 240B bookshelf speakers for surrounds, and a 200P subwoofer in the front left corner. Excluding the Kaleidescape server used as a source and the gargantuan wall-mounted TV that was already present in the hotel suite, the total system cost was $2,800 — a substantial but not unreasonable sum for many folks cross-shopping with premium soundbars like the Sennheiser AMBEO Max. The demo included a musical selection from the movie A Star Is Born starring Lady Gaga, and an action scene from Top Gun: Maverick. My first impression was that the system played loud and clear, with no sense of strain even at uncomfortably loud volumes. I was seated mere inches in front of the left surround speaker, so I was getting blasted from behind by fighter-jet engine sounds and missile explosions during the Top Gun scene. Nevertheless, and despite the uncontrolled acoustics in this hotel space, I walked away impressed by what I heard. The second demo space was a “vinyl listening lounge,” set up in the living room of the hotel’s largest, most blinged-out suite. (The JBL folks certainly didn’t pinch pennies when planning this event.) Unfortunately, when I visited the room, it was full of lively conversation, so I couldn’t judge the sound of the simple system on display, which paired the $799 MA710 receiver with a pair of the $399 250B bookshelf speakers and what appeared to be the $399 JBL Spinner BT turntable. Fortunately, I would have further demo opportunities the following day during a visit to Harman’s headquarters in Northridge.

The Harman Facility Tour and Further Product Demos

On the morning of July 18th, about 50 of my fellow AV journalists and I boarded a shuttle bus in front of the hotel and made our way from the glitz and glitter of Hollywood to the famously glamorous office parks of Northridge, in the San Fernando Valley. Harman occupies multiple large spaces, but we spent most of our time in the JBL Center of Acoustics Excellence, where we were greeted by Jim Garrett, Harman’s Senior Director of Product Strategy and Planning. He gave an informative talk about the thinking behind the MA receivers and Stage 2 loudspeakers, and what sets them apart from the competition. One area of focus throughout the day was the co-development of the products. From their looks to their functionality and performance, the two product lines were developed together with care and intention, all to woo a younger customer who may never have considered buying a component-based audio system. Jim discussed three hypothetical customers: the “Soundbar Alternative” customer (as described above), the “HiFi Curious” music-lover looking for stereo bliss, and the “Performance Player,” who wants no-compromise theater performance, but also simplicity and good looks. We then broke into groups and visited multiple rooms to demo systems tailored to these varying priorities.

My group began in the Performance Player room, where a maxed-out system included the flagship MA9100HP receiver and the large 280F floorstanders flanking a TV, under which sat the center-channel speaker. The system used a pair of the 220P 12-inch subwoofers. The surround channels and height channels were reproduced by new in-wall and in-ceiling versions of the Stage 2 speakers (details TBA). This 7.2.2-channel system had a total MSRP in the high-$5K range, according to Jim Garrett, who ran the demo. We were treated to a repeat performance of the Lady Gaga and Top Gun scenes, which naturally sounded more balanced, more forceful, and more immersive on this larger system in an acoustically-treated space. My “loud and clear” impressions from the night before remained the main take-away, along with a notion that the bass was plentiful but not as precisely controlled as in top-dollar systems. But for under $6K, this system was damn impressive and sounded grand in scale.

Next we met acoustic engineer An Nguyen, who showed us 3 different anechoic chambers where products are measured and developed. We then met Jason Gokavi, Principal Industrial Designer for both the AVRs and the speakers. He gave us insight into the massive market-research campaign that Harman conducted in order to better understand what younger consumers want. There were focus groups in four countries (The UK, China, South Korea, and The USA). The half-million-dollar campaign involved going into people’s homes and observing how they interact with tech products in their daily lives. With this new knowledge of lifestyle trends, aesthetic preferences, and functionality concerns, Harman was empowered to shake up the AVR category, which has been stagnant in many ways, according to Gokavi. He pointed out important design ideas at play in the new products, born from a desire for simple operation, fewer buttons, and updated looks on the AVR. Even the small, simple remote that comes with the MA receivers is more like what you’d find with an Apple TV or Roku than with a typical AVR. That’s what people actually want, he said. Gokavi also drew our attention to smaller design details that were carefully considered, from the oversized front baffles on both the speakers and the receivers, to the feet underneath the receivers, which match those under JBL’s turntables. The beautiful white “Latte” finish on the receivers was a unanimous winner among those surveyed. It’s a wonderfully fresh look. Gokavi mentioned that the receivers’ baffles are treated to resist both fingerprints and fading from UV light exposure, so the white finish will stay looking good. The speaker grilles are made from jersey knit — T-shirt material — both because it looks cool and because it’s easy to vacuum clean. This detail was important to younger customers, many of whom have pets.

We moved on to the “Soundbar Alternative” room, where we met Kevin Kent, the Senior Global Product Line Manager in charge of the new AVRs. The system in this room was meant to demonstrate that you can start simple and add to your system over time. It included the MA710 receiver ($799) and the smaller 260F floor-standers. We started with just these components to hear what an $1,800 two-channel system sounded like playing a cover of David Bowie’s “Ashes to Ashes” from Sting: Live At The Olympia Paris. Kevin then switched to the 5.1-channel audio track, which added the center channel, a single 220P sub, and a pair of in-wall surround speakers. Joe Sumner’s vocals were more forward in the stereo mix, and the phantom center image was larger than the center channel as reproduced by the center speaker in the 5.1 mix. But the surround mix afforded a larger soundstage overall, with far more width and depth. Then we were shown a similar demo using a scene from Ghostbusters: Afterlife, starting with stereo, then going to 5.1, and finally 5.1.2 Dolby Atmos. This $4K system was a far cry from what I would consider a “soundbar alternative,” but the demos were effective in showing how a typical customer might start with a stereo system and add to the setup over the next year or two or three. Finally, we visited the “HiFi Curious” room, where we met Mike Strange, the Global Product Line Manager in charge of the Stage 2 speakers. This room had a 2.1-channel system featuring the MA7100HP receiver, the flagship 280F tower speakers running full-range, and a single 220P subwoofer filling in the low bass. For me, this was the most important demo because it included multiple musical selections and gave me an opportunity to (briefly) get a feel for what these products sound like when playing music. It’s harder to hear characteristics like imaging and even tonality in the context of a Dolby Atmos system than it is in a simple stereo. We listened to streaming audio and to vinyl. Mike started with “Tainted Love” by Stella Starlight Trio & Karen Souza. This audiophile recording is precisely the kind of thing you’d hear at an audio show. Though it was not to my taste musically, it successfully showed off the delicacy and intricacy of texture that the speakers were capable of when reproducing vocals. Next we listened to “Solar Sailor” by Daft Punk, from the soundtrack to TRON: Legacy. Mike turned the subwoofer off so we could hear the impressive bass capabilities of the 280F tower speakers, then turned it back on and gradually increased its volume to show how visceral the system could sound when pushed. “Thanks To You” by Boz Scaggs gave the tweeters a chance to shine, with its crisp percussion and crystal-clear vocal performance. 

Mike mentioned that, like me, he is sensitive to harsh or overcooked sibilance, which is a common problem with tweeters of all kinds. Horn-loaded tweeters are especially likely to struggle in this area, in my experience. I am happy to report that the highs in this demo sounded natural and non-fatiguing. To give us a chance to hear heavily-produced pop music, Mike then played “Everything I Wanted” by Billie Eilish, followed by an all-analog recording of Ed Sheeran’s “Don’t,” played back on vinyl at 45 rpm. Both songs sounded great, and the system elucidated their very different production styles. Mike said that, at first, JBL didn’t feel a need to improve upon the original Stage speakers, which remain popular with customers. But because the company wanted to update the industrial design anyway, JBL gave the engineering team a chance to see if a new version might be able to out-perform the originals. This led to the development of an all-new tweeter and a new HDI horn waveguide. The crossover got bigger capacitors and resistors, and the cabinet was given more bracing in strategic locations. The result, he said, is a better line of speakers from top to bottom.

Conclusion

I thoroughly enjoyed the tour of JBL’s facility, and my only complaint is that the demos were too short and our time for Q&A too brief. I did have a chance to speak with Mike Strange after the demos were over, and I learned a few interesting facts that were not included in the press materials. The first involves the 240H height/surround speaker. All of the press-kit photos I had seen showed the speakers being used as reflective “bouncy-house” Atmos speakers, sitting atop the towers and aimed at the ceiling. But while trying to snap some of my own photos, I noticed a switch on the back of the 240H and asked Mike what it did. He said that the speaker actually contains two crossover networks. With the switch in the “Atmos” position, the crossover makes the necessary changes to allow the speaker to function as a bouncy-house channel. But when the switch is in the “Surround” position, the 240H can be mounted on a wall or ceiling, and it performs like a normal speaker, essentially identical to the 240B bookshelf speakers, but with a little less bass. I think many users would find this flexibility to be very useful, and it’s not something I expected to see in a speaker that costs $299 per pair. Mike also spoke at length about how much he enjoys working at Harman, which is a relatively new thing for him. He has worked at some of the other big audio conglomerates, where the team developing a line of AV receivers might be in a different state or even a different country from the team developing speakers. At Harman, Mike’s desk is right next to Kevin Kent’s desk, and the two teams worked together closely throughout the development process. It may seem like an obvious thing, but Mike was thrilled to be able to use the MA receivers to voice the Stage 2 loudspeakers, ensuring that they will sound great together. At other big companies, something as simple as that could be difficult or even impossible to arrange.

I think these new products will be successful for JBL, in part because of the efforts the company made to find out what people really want, and in part because of the holistic approach the company takes to designing its products. The MA receiver models are simply gorgeous to look at, and I think that alone will make them big sellers at stores like Best Buy, where customers might make choices based largely on looks. But all of the demos I heard were successful in making the products seem like solidly-engineered, good-sounding options that are competitive in their price classes, so more educated customers shopping at stores like Audio Advice are just as likely to be impressed. If I could make one change, it would be to make the two subwoofer outputs on the top two receiver models independently adjustable, which would open the door for improved multi-sub integration, especially if Dirac Live Bass Control is ever offered in a future upgrade. But the customers that JBL is going after with these products are not likely to consider this limitation a deal-breaker, if they even think about it at all. I do think that there are similarly-priced options from other brands that deliver different flavors of sound with the same subjective level of overall sound quality, but they certainly don’t look this good. The Stage 2 speakers, with their new tweeter and waveguide, will be an easy recommendation for folks who want “loud and clear” audio for their music and movies. And the MA receivers, with their awesome industrial design and simple, app-based setup, are positioned to be runaway hits for JBL.

More information: JBL