About Us
The JBL Story
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1902: JAMES B. LANSING BORN IN ILLINOIS
"Born James Martini, Lansing was the ninth of thirteen children of Henry Martini and wife Grace Erbs. In his late teens, James briefly lived with the Bullough family in Litchfield, Illinois, and eventually took their surname of Lansing. "
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1927: LANSING MANUFACTURING OPENS ITS DOORS
"With partner Kenneth G. Decker, the company builds 6- and 8-inch cone loudspeakers for radio sets and consoles. Family members from both sides help to make cones and winding coils at home in the evenings, assembling them into finished loudspeakers at the factory the next day. "
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1928: ‘THE JAZZ SINGER’ CHANGES EVERYTHING
"MGM commissions Lansing to design high-fidelity speakers for its ‘Shearer’ audio system for use in ‘The Jazz Singer’. Its immense success ushers in the cinematic sound era. Western Electric—the manufacturing arm of AT&T—quickly becomes the dominant force in film audio production equipment. "
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1937: LANSING & MGM HONORED FOR THEIR ACHIEVEMENT
"Honored by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for technical excellence, the Shearer-MGM system James Lansing helped establish industry-wide standards for motion pictures. Their design would be copied by audio manufacturers worldwide. "
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1938: ANTI-TRUST TURNS INDUSTRY ON ITS EAR
Federal officials move to challenge Western Electric’s monopoly of the motion picture audio industry. Following its anti-trust efforts, the government forces Western Electric to divest itself of holdings in the loudspeaker and amplifier production field.
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1939: ENGINEERS HAVE DESIGNS OF THEIR OWN
"Having signed a decree with the government a year earlier, Western Electric’s stocks were sold for one dollar each to their in-house core of audio engineers. The engineers quickly form a new company named Altec, a contraction of ‘all technical’ intended to announce the firm’s sole direction."
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1941: NEW LEADERSHIP, NEW OPPORTUNITIES
Two years after the accidental death of his business partner Kenneth G. Decker, James Lansing sells his manufacturing company to Altec Service Corporation for $50,000 and signs a five-year contract with the new joint firm, assuming the title of Vice President of Engineering.
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1943: STABILITY IN A WORLD AT WAR
Lansing perfects the techniques that became standard procedure in audio manufacturing, including high-speed winding of ribbon wire voice coils on metal mandrels and hydraulic forming of high frequency aluminum diaphragms.
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1946: JBL IS BORN
"James B. Lansing amicably departs Altec and founds a new company: James B. Lansing Sound, Inc.. Within a year, the company known as JBL would introduce the revolutionary D130 15-inch speaker, the first to feature a 4-inch flat wire coil-in-cone transducer."
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1949: A TRAGIC END
James B. Lansing takes his life in September. Years earlier, Lansing wisely secured a $10,000 life insurance policy which allows then President William Thomas to secure the company’s future.
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1955: A ROCKING REBIRTH
The advent of rock and roll highlights the need for transducers that can handle abuse received during concerts. Leo Fender of Fender Guitar fame identifies the D130 as the ideal driver for his electric guitar.
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1958: Hi-Fi MAKES ITS WAY FORWARD
"JBL introduces the Paragon stereophonic speaker. An immediate success, more than 1,000 Paragons are built by the company during the next twenty-five years. Later that year, James B. Lansing is posthumously awarded a Citation by the Audio Engineering Society. "
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1960: A DUET FOR THE AGES
In the early 60’s, company President Bill Thomas convinces executives at Capitol Records to use JBL D50 monitors. Label executives, impressed with the product line, standardize their studios with JBL monitors with the blessing of Capitol’s parent company, EMI.
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1965: THE MAGIC OF THE MID-SIXTIES
"JBL introduces the T-circuit output configuration for high-performance solid-state amplifiers. The engineer module version is mounted inside JBL loudspeaker systems, including the D5OSMS7, creating the first two-way powered studio monitor. "
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1968: TECHNOLOGY THAT DEFINES ITS TIME
"The compact control rooms of recording studios of the 60’s benefited greatly from JBL monitors of the era. In particular, the 4310 series dramatically minimized negative acoustics, allowing an increased proportion of direct sound and lower levels of audio to reflect off of walls and ceilings. "
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1969: A VISIONARY LEADER FOR THE FUTURE
Sidney Harman acquires JBL from William Thomas. The company embarks on a season of unprecedented growth. Also that year, JBL transducers power the definitive rock festival of the decade, Woodstock.
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1970: EXPANDING ON GREATNESS
"The introduction of the L100 series becomes the most successful of any audio manufacturer of the decade. For the next four years JBL expanded the L100 line with new multi-way monitors, revolutionizing the industry. "
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1973: FOUR WAYS TO THE FUTURE
"The Sidney Harman-lead company introduces the expanded line of 4300-series monitors, including the industry’s first four-way designs. "
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1977: A CHANGE OF ADDRESS
"JBL moves into its current location in Northridge, California, near the old Glendale Airport. The new building, bordering the eastern edge of Griffith Park, had been deactivated at the end of World War II and converted into an industrial estate. "
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1979: THE SFG IS UNVEILED
The company introduces Symmetrical Field Geometry (SFG), a new ferrite-based magnetic structure with performance capability exceeding that of the traditional Alnico V.
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1981: THE RADIAL® REARS ITS HEAD
"Building on the acoustical concept of flat power response, the 4400-series monitors quickly gain acceptance by the recording industry. Later that year, the L250 four-way consumer system is released to wide acclaim. "
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1982: 4676 CINEMA SYSTEM GETS ITS CLOSE UP
"JBL engineers create the first power-flat cinema system to be approved by THX® for their cinema certification program. Also that year, the company incorporates titanium into the diaphragm material for its compression drivers. "
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1983: 4660 DEFINED-COVERAGE MODEL IS RELEASED
Based on Bi-Radial® technology, the state-of-the-art system provides tailored coverage for speech recognition applications in rectangular spaces.
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1984: “I’D LIKE TO THANK THE ACADEMY…”
"The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences selects JBL components for the new audio system in the refurbished Samuel Goldwyn Theater. "
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1985: CLIMBING AUDIO’S HIGHEST PEAK
"The Everest, a loudspeaker designed to embody JBL’s legacy of innovation, debuts to industry-wide praise. A critical and commercial success, the loudspeaker would later be named Product of the Year by Japan’s Stereo Sound Magazine. "
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1989: “WHAT I REALLY WANT TO DO IS DIRECT…“
The Directors Guild of America selects JBL units for the systems in the two theaters inside their new Hollywood headquarters. Later that year, the company unveils its VGC technology (Vented Gap Cooling) designed to raise the thermal power limits of low-frequency transducers.
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1991: JAPAN SALUTES SAN FERNANDO’S FINEST
1991The company’s K-2 loudspeaker system is selected by readers of Japan’s Stereo Sound as Product of the Year.
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1995: THE EON® LOUDSPEAKER IS RELEASED
"Praised upon its release, these molded, integrated power, portable loudspeakers feature Differential Drive® transducer technology and a TTMS (Total Thermal Management System). "
Contact Us
corporate contacts
Corporate Headquarters
JBL, a unit of HARMAN International Industries, Incorporated.
HARMAN International Industries
400 Atlantic Street, 15th Floor
Stamford, CT 06901
203.328.3500
JBL Media Relations
Members of the press with media inquiries may contact:
Sam Levin
levin-bridge
126 Hillside Ave
Mill Valley, CA 94941 USA
+1.415.827.3870
sam@levinbridge.com
Policies
Privacy Policy
Who We Are:
This web site is operated by or on behalf of Harman International Industries, Incorporated ("referred to as "Harman", "we", "our" and "us"). Harman's registered address is:
Harman International Industries, Incorporated
400 Atlantic Street, 15th Floor
Stamford, CT 06901, USA
+1.203.328.3500
Introduction:
Harman provides you this privacy policy to explain to you how Harman collects, uses and protects your personal information when you visit Harman's web sites and when you use Harman's products. Harman respects your privacy and is committed to securing your personal information. This privacy policy was last updated on October 27, 2011. By using this website, you consent to our privacy policy and acknowledge that it is subject to our Terms of Use.
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We collect the personal information that you provide to us, as well as information automatically collected when you interact with this website, such as cookies and analytics tracking pixels, which help us evaluate the performance of our website and provide you with a better user experience.
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Terms of Use
Last Updated: October 27, 2011
Who We Are:
This web site is operated by or on behalf of Harman International Industries, Incorporated ("referred to as "Harman", "we", "our" and "us"). Harman's registered address is:
Harman International Industries, Incorporated
400 Atlantic Street, 15th Floor
Stamford, CT 06901, USA
+1.203.328.3500
Welcome to Harman's Website: Welcome to Harman's website. Our website offers to you information and resources about us, our business, our products and other tools and services, as well as opportunities to purchase certain Harman products.
Your access and use of this website, as well as any purchases you may make through this website, are each subject to these terms of use and applicable laws. By using any part of this website, you unconditionally agree to follow and be bound by these terms of use If you do not agree to these terms of use, do not use this website. Please review these terms of use periodically as these terms of use may change and Harman may make such changes at any time.
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This website is intended solely for users who are thirteen (13) years of age or older and it is a violation of these terms of use for anyone under 13 to use this website By using this website, you represent to us that you are at least 13 years old. If you are at least 13 but are under the age of 18, you may only use this website with your parent's or guardian's consent and your parent or guardian must provide consent after having read these terms of use. You agree to all of the terms and conditions of these terms of use or if you are between the ages of 13 and 18, you represent that you have obtained your parent's or legal guardian's consent after your parent or legal guardian has reviewed and agreed to these terms of use. If you are a parent or legal guardian who has consented to the use of this website by a person between the ages of 13 and 18, you are fully responsible for that person's use of this website, including all financial charges and legal liability that that person may incur.
Terms of Sale
Last Updated September 23, 2011
These Terms of Sale are applicable only to orders by and for residents of the 48 contiguous United States. These Terms of Sale are further subject to Harman’s Terms of Use
Placing an Order
Product pricing and availability for JBL products are shown on this website. Pricing or availability may be subject to change at any time without notice. To place an order, simply add the desired items to your Shopping Cart. You can add, delete, update, or change the quantities of products in your cart while you shop the site. Once you are ready to buy, proceed to check out to enter your shipping and payment information to complete your order. You can complete your order as a guest or by opening a JBL.com user account. By opening a JBL.com user account, you can quickly access product support, updates and promotions straight from JBL.
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It typically takes one to two business days to process and ship your order. Once your order has shipped, we will email a shipping confirmation, including tracking number(s). The shipping carrier requires one business day from that time to validate the tracking information.
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JBL.com accepts payment via Visa, MasterCard, and American Express.
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Impressum
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Suite 1500
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About Harman
HARMAN is the parent company behind an array of legendary brands that includes Harman Kardon®, JBL®, Mark Levinson®, AKG and Infinity Systems®. We are a leading global provider of premium audio and infotainment solutions, engaging customers around the home, in the car and on the go. Our family of distinguished brands enjoys a legacy spanning more than 60 years of leading-edge innovation and premium quality. Our customers include the top names in entertainment, automotive and venue design – linked by a common passion for high-fidelity sound and multimedia.
JBL is a brand of HARMAN International Industries, Inc. Current shareholders or interested parties looking to view fiduciary reporting for the most recent year or previous years, or for more information on HARMAN International Incorporated, Inc., visit the HARMAN Investor Relations website.
From engineers to entertainers, we’re all in this together. JBL works to protect the environment by eliminating waste and promoting company-wide conservation.
By pioneering a new concept in energy-efficient audio and infotainment design called GreenEdge™ we combine new environmentally friendly design with dramatic energy savings, without compromising the excellent performance for which our products are known.
Do you have a passion for music and audio?
We operate worldwide through a network of more than 11,000 talented employees, positioned to serve both the emerging and established markets. Many among our team began their careers on the stage or in the recording studio, bringing their personal experience as customers to the design, production, and marketing of innovative new audio technologies.
We’re looking for people who want to join our global family and build a sound future – for our customers, our company, and our employees.






