JBL and Roxy fuse forces, foment fashion

Audio company JBL and clothing makers Roxy have announced a partnership to produce a line of fashion-minded portable audio equipment. Next month, the companies will release a series of Roxy-branded ear buds and headphones targeted at fashion-conscious young women.

Don't expect a bunch of glittery, pink, unicorn-encrusted headphones, though. While neither company has released specific details about the individual headphones (besides this teaser photo), they will probably come in a wide variety of bright colors and sleek shells. The partnership with Roxy should prevent JBL's upcoming headphones from falling into the gadget makers' trap of taking an existing product, slathering it in pink, and saying it's for women. Fashion doesn't have to be frilly.

— Will Greenwald

CEDIA: JBL's Wireless Subs

Sure, you want a subwoofer. But, of course, the best acoustical location for it is waaay across the room from your receiver. So, you'll have to run a long wire under the carpet.  Bummer. Or, you could buy a wireless subwoofer.

For example, JBL showed two new ES series wireless powered subwoofers: ES250PW (pictured) and ES150PW. Both include a wireless transmitter module that connects to your AV receiver (or other audio source) and operates in the 2.4 GHz range. The wireless receiver is built into the subwoofer. Both models have a complement of controls and connection options. Details....

JBL Coneheads

Our friends at Akihabara News are reporting that Harman International’s web site is featuring an interesting new item.  The JSB-1 speaker/equipment isolation cone kit will be released in September. Audiophiles are no strangers to various cones, spikes and other devices used to stabilize loudspeaker cabinets. The theory is that the cone absorbs resonating energy and this somehow improves sound quality. One thing that solid metal spikes certainly do not do, is to decouple resonating devices from your floor or whatever. You would need a soft pad or spring to do that.

In any case, cones like these are often placed under speakers or racks. The JBL JSB-1 features a wooden block base module, four types of spikes, and a cork pad. The cork pad would provide some decoupling, with some associated filter cutoff frequency.

A close-up picture on the next page shows....

JBL: Theater-in-the-Round

Need a speaker that will fit in a corner? What about something that will work in the middle of a room? JBL has the speakers for you!  The new JBL Control NOW speakers are quite unique. Each speaker is a rounded 90 degree quarter-circle, designed to work alone, or as a set. How do they work?   

JBL is On Time

JBL is taking the time to make a great iPod dock. The new On Time 200iD is a wonderful way to keep time with your favorite iPod tunes. A clock radio and iPod dock — does it get any better?

Coming Attractions: JBL at Cannes

The 66th Cannes Film Festival kicks off with killer custom sound systems from JBL. Four JBL Synthesis systems, large-scale and according to JBL, ultra-high-end, are going to be installed in the theaters built in the Hotel Gray d'Albion to showcase the festival's film's sound quality. Complete with four-way speakers and 18-inch subwoofers, they're bound to make an impact.

What's of more interest to those of us who aren't on the VIP list at Cannes is the use of other JBL and Harman Kardon (both are part of Harman International) products in smaller screening rooms and video-on-demand booths for the many short films featured at Cannes. These are products that you could easily use in your own home. What's coming soon to a theater near you? (Well, near you if you live in France.)