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JBL L52 Classic Review - Big Sound in a Small (Retro) Package by AVS Forum

10/18/2022

JBL's L52 Classic bookshelf speakers are the entry-level model in the company's three-tier Classic speaker range. They have produced a beautiful recreation of its 1970s design with the L100 Classic, an improved version of their all-time best-selling speaker, and have carried that same design into the L52. Measuring at just over 13 inches tall and 7 inches wide, the L52 Classic works well for those with a smaller living space or those who just want big sound without the bulky speakers. The cabinet is finished in a genuine walnut wood veneer, paying tribute to the classic look of the 1970s. The iconic grilles are available in three colors, blue, black, and orange. While there are no concealed magnets to keep the grilles in place, they snap into place very easily.

More from JBL Specialty Audio

09/12/2023 Stereonet Review: JBL Studio 690 Floorstanding Loudspeaker

This large but relatively affordable floorstander absolutely hits the spot, and shows JBL to be on top of its game right now. It's hard to think of another loudspeaker that has the bang for the buck and sheer presence of the Studio 690

09/12/2023 Ecoustics Review: JBL 4329P Powered Loudspeakers

The JBL 4329P are the flagship model in the powered monitor series and there is no question that they deliver excellent build quality, flexibility, and sonic performance.

09/12/2023 Stereonet Review: JBL 4312G Ghost Edition Studio Monitor The JBL 4312G excels at revealing the dynamics and imaging of recordings, making it a great choice for discerning listeners who appreciate intricate details in their music.

09/07/2023 Sound & Vision Review: JBL 4329P Powered Studio Monitors JBL’s largest and most capable streaming speaker to date is, from a purely audio perspective, an unreserved success. Even a triumph.

Popular Science names JBL 4305P The best powered speakers in 2023, tested and reviewed

3/15/23 Residential Systems Outdoor AV Week:
Developing the JBL Stage XD Series All-Weather Speakers Harman has pulled back the curtain on a new record player that it claims does not sacrifice audio quality during wireless playback.

Harman says its new JBL wireless turntable
doesn't skimp on audio quality Harman has pulled back the curtain on a new record player that it claims does not sacrifice audio quality during wireless playback.

HARMAN Luxury Audio to Showcase ARCAM, JBL, Mark Levinson, and Revel Brands at Audio Advice Live At Audio Advice Live, JBL will be demonstrating a 7.2 home theater system driven by a JBL Synthesis SDR-35 Class G immersive surround sound receiver.

2/1/23 ISE 2023: Harman Describes JBL Synthesis
Demo Theater With SCL and SSW Lines Watch it here!

1/1/23 JBL HDI-3800 Floorstanding Loudspeakers:
RECOMMENDED GEAR LIST 2023 When I first started to listen to the JBL HDI-3800, I was struggling a bit to figure out where these sit in the marketplace, and who exactly they were made for.

2/1/23 ISE 2023: Harman Features New
JBL Stage XD Indoor-Outdoor IP67 Loudspeakers Watch it here!

2/1/23 ISE 2023: Harman Details New JBL Stage 2 Range
of In-Wall and Ceiling Loudspeakers Watch it here!

2/1/23 JBL has announced both a ‘classic’ and Bluetooth turntable for 2023 Something for everyone.

1/5/2023 JBL 4367 Studio Monitor loudspeaker One day in the mid-1990s, my friend J and I sat sprawled on the carpeted floor of a hi-fi shop in lower Manhattan, playing records.

1/30/23 Harman’s JBL Stage 2 Architectural Series Loudspeakers and Stage XD Series Loudspeakers win 2023 Design Meets Tech Award Harman’s JBL Stage 2 Architectural Series Loudspeakers JBL Stage 2 Architectural Series loudspeakers include eight models — available in various configurations — for both in-wall and in- ceiling installations.

1/30/2023 JBL 4349 2-Way Loudspeaker Review These powerful and precise JBLs made everything I listened to through a pair sound fresh and vital. The 1970s studio monitor styling may not suit everyone'staste, but the mesmerizing sound they produce is sure to captivate any music lover's imagination.

1/8/2023 CES 2023: JBL intros cool speakers, earbuds, sound bars The Spinner BT is a more affordable turntable that also happens to offer Bluetooth. That’s a first for JBL, who has never made a Bluetooth turntable before.

1/7/23 JBL Rocks Two New Retro Turntables for 2023 JBL may be best known for its speakers, but the Samsung-owned brand is branching out into turntables with two new models at CES 2023: the $399 Spinner BT and the $999 TT350 Classic.

1/7/2023 The Best Speakers, Headphones & Audio Gear of CES 2023 The JBL Spinner BT is a belt-driven turntable with a built-in moving-magnet phono preamp, which you can toggle on/off if you want to use external components.

1/6/2023 Best audio tech at CES 2023:
next-gen soundbars, headphones and earbuds: JBL has announced its first Bluetooth turntable, which delivers aptX wireless streaming so you can stream your vinyl to wireless speakers, soundbars, or headphones in 24-bit hi-res audio.

1/5/23 Harman Debuts New JBL Classic Series Integrated Amp, Streaming Media Player, CD Player, and Turntable Harman Luxury Audio Group has debuted the latest additions to its JBL Classic Series at Harman Explore, being held Jan. 4-7 at the Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas. Harman also unveiled the new SA550 Classic integrated amplifier, MP350 Classic streaming media player, CD350 Classic CD player, and TT350 Classic turntable.

1/5/23 Harman Highlights Performance with a Retro Twist Retro is shaping to be one of the CES themes at Harman Luxury Audio Group, which today offered a preview of several products it will unveil when the show opens tomorrow, including four additions to its stylish Classic Series — an integrated amplifier, streaming media player, CD player, and turntable — all featuring elegant machined-aluminum faceplates.

1/4/2023 CES 2023: HARMAN Debuts JBL L10cs Classic Series Subwoofer Adding to the popularity of vintage-inspired audio, HARMAN Luxury Audio Group today announced the debut of the new JBL L10cs Classic Series 10-inch down-firing powered subwoofer at HARMAN Explore, being held Jan. 4-7 at the Virgin Hotel in Las Vegas. At the event, attendees will see the new subwoofer delivering low-frequency support for a range of JBL speakers and audio systems.

1/4/23 The coolest new tech and gadgets from CES 2023 Day 1: JBL 4329P Studio Monitor powered loudspeakers In January 2022, JBL/HARMAN Luxury Audio Group introduced the 4305P bookshelf speaker streaming system, which quickly made an impression and established itself as a standout in our best powered speakers list.

1/4/23 HARMAN Luxury Audio To Unveil
JBL SPINNER BT Turntable At HARMAN Explore HARMAN Luxury Audio Group today announced that it will debut its new JBL SPINNER BT turntable at HARMAN Explore, being held Jan. 4-7 in the Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas. Offering a vibrant design, the Bluetooth-enabled turntable allows listeners to enjoy their records wirelessly without sacrificing audio quality.

1/4/2023 Forbes: Harman Unveils Beautiful New Retro Audio At CES Featuring Innovative New Technology Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past few years, you would know that vinyl records had experienced an almost miraculous revival in their popularity.

1/4/2023 JBL mixes classic hi-fi with modern tech at CES 2023 – and pumps up its Dolby Atmos soundbar power HARMAN Luxury Audio Group has just announced the launch of the new JBL SPINNER BT Turntable. It includes Bluetooth, allowing users to listen to their music wirelessly without affecting audio quality.

1/4/2023 CES 2023 - Interview with Harman International Check out our interview with Secrets Of Home Theater and Live Fidelity here!

1/4/2023 HARMAN Luxury Audio to Unveil JBL SPINNER BT Turntable at HARMAN Explore in Las Vegas HARMAN Luxury Audio Group has just announced the launch of the new JBL SPINNER BT Turntable. It includes Bluetooth, allowing users to listen to their music wirelessly without affecting audio quality.

1/4/2023 JBL's first Bluetooth turntable offers aptX HD wireless streaming at an affordable price Hot on the heels of its first-ever turntable, the TT350 Classic, JBL has also unveiled a new Bluetooth turntable at CES 2023: the JBL Spinner BT.

1/4/2023 JBL L52 CLASSIC BOOKSHELF SPEAKER REVIEW: Home Theater HIFI JBL’s L52 Classic Bookshelf Speaker creates an ideal balance between clear neutral sound and iconic styling that never goes out of fashion. Its compact form factor belies sound quality that rivals the best studio monitors and stand-mount speakers.

1/4/2023 I tried JBL’s retro-cool wireless active speaker, and it rocked JBL launched a range of vintage-looking hi-fi components at CES 2023, all of it hearkening back to the brand’s 1960s-70s heyday when beefy knobs and wood side-panels were the norm.

11/25/2022 CES 2023: JBL 4329P Studio Monitor Powered Loudspeakers Unveiled at HARMAN Explore Powered wireless loudspeakers are the future of high-end audio and there is no question that 2023 will be the year that we see the category explode with some exciting new products.

10/18/2022 JBL L52 Classic Review - Big Sound in a Small (Retro) Package by AVS Forum JBL's L52 Classic bookshelf speakers are the entry-level model in the company's three-tier Classic speaker range.

10/18/2022 JBL L52 Classic Review - Big Sound in a Small (Retro) Package JBL's L52 Classic bookshelf speakers are the entry-level model in the company's three-tier Classic speaker range.

10/16/2022 JBL 4349 Studio Monitors | REVIEW When is a studio monitor not a studio monitor? When it’s a JBL 4349 Studio Monitor, of course!

10/16/2022 Part Time Audiophile on the JBL 4349’s: "The 4349 Studio Monitor forges its own path and bucks the flavor of the month design of current industry trends. I applaud JBL’s choices and the 4349 Studio Monitor is worth a listen and, in my opinion, an instant classic." JBL is part of the Harman Luxury Group, and when they contacted me about sending a pair of JBL 4349 speakers it piqued my curiosity.

9/30/2022 CEDIA EXPO 2022 ARCAM – SHOW REPORT – BY CARLO LO RASO Visiting the HARMAN booth, I got to spend some time with Jim Garrett who walked me through a variety of new products from ARCAM, JBL Architectural, and JBL Synthesis. Check out the video here!

9/30/2022 Marketscale Jim Interview CEDIA 2023 Jim Garret from Harman talks to MarketScale about how new investments in home AV have catapulted over the past few years.

9/29/2022 JBL’s Deep Dive: Synthesis Speakers & Subs JBL has a deep history in the world of pro audio, one that reaches back to the early days of motion picture sound. Today the company is dominant in live concert and movie theater sound, and it also has a ton of speaker options for custom install applications including its high-end Synthesis lineup. The latter made its booth one of the most impressive at CEDIA 2022.

9/29/2022 CEDIA: JBLs You Can Put In the Wall Fans of the JBL sound now have another way to enjoy the brand’s classic horn-based sound: Put them in the wall. Harman Luxury Audio Group has announced that the JBL Stage 2 Architectural Series previewed a few months ago are now shipping along with new Stage XD Series outdoor speakers.

9/29/2022 CEDIA Shares: Harman Luxury Audio Harman Luxury Audio gives Residential Systems readers a sneak peek at what the company is planning for its CEDIA Expo 2022 exhibit.

9/29/2022 Check out the BIG THINGS from JBL Synthesis and Arcam at CEDIA 2022 JBL Synthesis and Arcam have some SLICK NEW products for Home Theater! Check out the video by Youthman Reviews here

9/29/2022 HARMAN to show Black Edition of JBL Classic Series at CEDIA HARMAN Luxury Audio Group today announced that it will be featuring a special Black Edition of its iconic JBL Classic Series passive hi-fi and powered streaming loudspeakers in booth 16035 at CEDIA Expo 2022, taking place September 29 to October 1 in Dallas.

9/29/2022 The Road To CEDIA Expo 2022 With Harman CEDIA Expo 2022 is coming to Dallas from September 29 to October 1. To get ready for the show, AVNation is talking to exhibitors and experts on the residential side of the AV industry about the latest innovations to make it to the show floor. We sit down with the Senior Director of Product Strategy & Planning for Harman Jim Garrett to discuss what has evolved since their last showing at CEDIA three years ago. We talk about the assortment of audio solutions along with demo rooms at their booth at 16035.

9/22/2022 JBL Classic Series Loudspeakers Are Now Back In Black: CEDIA 2022 The JBL Classic Series are about to experience more than just a new coat of paint. During a recent visit at Harman’s headquarters in Northridge, CA, we were given a sneak peek at the forthcoming JBL Classic Series Loudspeakers in a brand new limited edition finish.

9/4/2022 JBL Speakers for HOME THEATER! JBL Studio Monitor Review JBL 4309 Check out the full review

9/1/2022 RTT Podcast #112: Jim Garrett on the Latest Harman Luxury Audio Gear On Episode #112 of the Residential Tech Today podcast, Jim Garrett joins us from Los Angeles, CA, where he is senior director of product strategy and planning for Harman Luxury Audio Group, the home of five prestigious brands — JBL Synthesis, Mark Levinson, Revel, Lexicon, and Arcam.

8/29/2022 Home Theater Hifi on the JBL L52 Classic Bookshelf Speaker: "JBL’s L52 Classic Bookshelf Speaker creates an ideal balance between clear neutral sound and iconic styling that never goes out of fashion. Its compact form factor belies sound quality that rivals the best studio monitors and stand-mount speakers." JBL’s L52 Classic Bookshelf Speaker packs modern technology into a classically styled cabinet that marries a retro look with reference-level sound quality.

05/17/2022 HARMAN Luxury Audio Introduces JBL Stage XD Indoor/Outdoor
All-Weather Loudspeakers Built for Extreme Durability

05/17/2022 HARMAN Luxury Audio Introduces JBL Stage Architectural Series Loudspeakers
With Visually Discreet, High-Performance Sound

4/20/2022 Stereonet’s JBL 4309 2-Way Bookshelf Loudspeakers Review

7/6/2021 JBL 4309 Review: These retro speakers
create a stunning soundstage

6/18/2021 JBL SA750 Amplifier adopts Roon Ready status

5/3/2021 JBL L100 Classic Bookshelf Loudspeaker Review

4/15/2021 Harman luxury audio packs
75 years of acoustic excellence into new
compact jbl 4309 studio monitor
series bookshelf loudspeakers

4/13/2021 Stereonet's Review of the S4700

2/28/2021 JBL 4349 2-Way Studio Monitor Loudspeaker Review

1/18/2021 New products launched at HARMAN ExPLORE

1/7/2021 JBL Launches Time Machine at HARMAN ExPLORE:
Introduces 75th Anniversary
JBL SA750 Integrated Amplifier

1/7/2021 Still Blown Away After All These Years:
JBL Launches 75th Anniversary Edition
of L100 Loudspeaker

Modeled on the best-selling JBL L100 Classic, the limited edition JBL L100 Classic 75 is a testimonial to the groundbreaking engineering and thoughtful design displayed by JBL over the last 75 years;

7/28/2020 Harman couples high-performance modern acoustics
with retro design with new
JBL 4349 studio monitor

7/8/2020 HARMAN Luxury Audio’s JBL Conceal Series

2/27/2020 Plugged's Review of the L100 Classic

"Vocals are a particular highlight, manifesting into mid-air sources seemingly made of flesh and bone. When listening to musicals like the fantastic Hadestown, it’s easy to imagine yourself in prime Broadway seating, able to place singers not only on the X-axis of the stage, but on the Z as well."