HARMAN ExPLORE 2021: JBL Celebrates 75 Years With Huge New Product Lineup
- Cheryl Tan
- Jan 9, 2021
- 4 min read
Updated: Aug 20, 2021
With JBL’s 75th anniversary this year, HARMAN ExPLORE 2021 focused mostly on the additions to JBL’s personal audio lineup. Here are the cool new products you can expect from JBL in the upcoming months.
1. JBL Tour Series
Credit: JBL
With the over-ear JBL Tour ONE headphones and in-ear JBL Tour Pro+ true wireless earbuds in this lineup, there’s something for everyone, and both products are even CES 2021 Innovation Awards “Best of Innovation” honourees.
Both products offer Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), and the JBL Tour ONE headphones boasts 50 hours of total playback time, supports high-res audio playback and has a new Smart Audio mode that allows users to optimise the Bluetooth connection for “normal listening”, “music mode” and “video mode”.
Credit: JBL
The JBL Tour Pro+ on the other hand, has over 30 hours of battery life, Qi wireless charging and more. The JBL Tour Series will be available at major retailers and on JBL.com on 30 May 2021, although it remains to be seen when it will come to Singapore. The JBL Tour ONE will cost US$299.95 while the JBL Tour Pro+ will cost US$199.95.
2. JBL LIVE Series
The LIVE Series is getting four new additions, with the JBL LIVE PRO+, JBL LIVE FREE NC+, JBL LIVE 660NC and JBL LIVE 460NC all set to be available in America from 14 March 2021 onwards.
Credit: JBL
The JBL LIVE PRO+ are in-ear true wireless earbuds that feature a stem design, and comes with Adaptive noise cancelling, Qi wireless charging, IPX4 water resistance and up to seven hours of battery life in the earbuds and a total of 28 hours with the charging case. The earbuds will retail at US$179.95.
Credit: JBL
The JBL LIVE FREE NC+ are also true wireless earbuds, but with the bud design instead. These have slightly less overall battery life at a total of 21 hours, but the water resistance rating is bumped up to IPX7. The earbuds will cost US$149.95.
Credit: JBL
If you prefer over-ear headphones though, the JBL LIVE 660NC might be for you. With up to 40 hours of battery life with noise cancelling and 50 hours without, these headphones will definitely last. There’s also multipoint connectivity, which is great for working across two devices. The headphones will be priced at US$199.95.
Credit: JBL
Last but not least, the JBL LIVE 460NC are the most economical offering in the updated LIVE Series. At US$129.95, you get Adaptive noise cancelling, multipoint connectivity, up to 50 hours of playback time and more.
3. JBL Reflect Mini NC TWS
Credit: JBL
This new addition to the Reflect Series is definitely suitable for those who lead a more active lifestyle. The Reflect Mini NC TWS are the first earbuds in the Reflect Series to come equipped with Active Noise Cancelling, so that’s a major plus for fitness enthusiasts who want to block out the world as they hit up the gym.
With up to 21 hours of playback time, the earbuds also come with rubber fins which ensure they sit securely in the ear no matter how vigorous the exercise session. The earbuds will be available Spring 2021 at US$149.95.
4. JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam
Credit: JBL
The JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam is the newest soundbar from JBL, offering 3D surround sound by combining Virtual Dolby Atmos and JBL’s proprietary beamforming technology, MultiBeam. The all-in-one soundbar works with iOS and Android devices, and is equipped with four passive radiators, which JBL claims eliminates the need for an additional subwoofer.
The soundbar will retail for US$399.95 in Spring 2021.
5. JBL Charge 5 Bluetooth Speaker
Credit: JBL
If you’re looking for a smaller, more portable speaker though, look no further than the Charge 5. The successor to the popular Charge 4, the Charge 5 has improved IP67 water and dust resistance rating, but still offers up to 20 hours of playtime and there’s still the built-in 7,500mAh powerbank that allows the speaker to charge external devices like handphones.
The JBL Charge 5 will be available on JBL’s website and select retailers starting in April 2021 for US$179.95.
6. JBL TUNE Series
If you thought “that’s a lot of products”, well, JBL has even more products coming to the TUNE Series, with two in-ear earphones and two on-ear headphones. The new products in the TUNE Series will be available from 14 March 2021 onwards.
Credit: JBL
The JBL TUNE 660NC has up to 50 hours of battery life, Active Noise Cancelling, multipoint connectivity and runs on Bluetooth 5.0, all for the extremely affordable price of just US$99.95.
Credit: JBL
Coming in at an even more unbelievable price, the JBL TUNE 510BT is priced at just US$49.95, but offers up to 40 hours of battery life, multipoint connectivity, Bluetooth 5.0 and fast charging, with a five-minute charge providing two hours of playback time.
Credit: JBL
If you prefer earbuds though, the JBL TUNE 215BT comes in a neckband design that ensures you won’t lose the earbuds. There’s a 16-hour battery life here, with multipoint connectivity and Bluetooth 5.0 for just US$39.95.
Credit: JBL
And finally, the JBL TUNE 125BT is pretty similar to the 215BT, but comes with magnetic earbuds for easy cable management and has silicone ear tips instead of the open-fit design that the 215BT has. The 125BT is also priced at US$39.95.
JBL has definitely come a long way, and it’s exciting to see how much they’re offering in their products at a relatively affordable price. Here’s to hoping these come to Singapore soon!