Harman parades splash-proof portable speakers, sport earphones

Harman has again raised the standards for portable speakers. The company recently introduced to the Philippine market a slew of powerful portable speakers which you can bring to the beach or the swimming pool, let it get wet, and clean with running tap water.

The Bluetooth-enabled speakers also feature noise and echo cancelling speakerphones with built-in microphone so the person you’re talking with will supposedly not hear all that noise in the background. Some of the speakers introduced even lets you wirelessly link each other to amplify your music.

“The way people are listening to music, the device we use to listen to music, and the discovery of music has completely changed. We are listening to a lot more music,” says Mohit Parasher, Vice President and General Manager, Harman.

In a meeting with the media, Parasher unviled new JBL splash-proof portables, namely the JBL Flip 3, JBL Clip+, JBL Charge 2+, JBL Pulse 2, and JBL Xtreme.

The JBL Flip 3 is a wireless portable speaker that is rugged and has 10-hours of battery life. It also features a noise and echo cancelling speakerphone, and JBLConnect technology that can wirelessly link multiple JBL Connect-enabled speakers together to amplify the sound.

With the JBL Flip 3, users can connect up to three smartphones or tablets through Bluetooth. It is available in various colors including black, red, orange, pink, gray, blue, yellow, and teal. The JBL Flip 3 is currently available at JBL/Harman Kardon Concept stores and will soon be available nationwide (SRP P6,495).

No Bluetooth? No worries

With the JBL Clip+, you can wirelessly stream high-quality sound from your smartphone or tablet. But if there’s no Bluetooth, you can plug the integrated 3.5mm audio cable into any device to enjoy your music or use it to daisy chain another Clip+ for bigger sound.

It has a built-in rechargeable Li-ion battery that supports up to 5 hours of playtime. It  also features a speakerphone, and a built-in Carabiner to let you hook the Clip+ onto anything. The JBL Clip+ retails for P2,995.

Go social with the JBL Charge 2+

Apart from splash proof and noise cancelling features, the JBL Charge 2+ has a Social Mode that lets you connect up to three music sources to the same Charge 2+ and listen to a friend’s favorite songs.

The speaker has 6000mAH built-in rechargeable battery that supports up to 12 hours of playback time and charges devices via the USB port. The JBL Charge 2+ also boasts of the JBL Bass Radiator. With dual external passive radiators, users can “hear the bass, feel the bass, and see the bass.” The JBL Charge 2+ costs P7,995.

JBL Pulse 2: Music with a glow

Like all the new speakers, the JBL Pulse 2 lets users to wirelessly stream songs from any smart device but with a glow. The JBL Pulse 2 illuminates the room or evening sky to the rhythms of their favorite hits. To elevate and personalize the LED lightshow experience, the JBL Prism color sensor lens matches and reflects any color it’s pointed at, amplifying the colors of life.

The speaker also supports JBL Connect technology so you can wirelessly link multiple JBL Connect-enabled speakers together.

The JBL Pulse 2 will be available nationwide in stores in October, 2015 for P9,995.

Big concert sound in a portable Bluetooth speaker

JBL’s Xtreme’s rugged, splash-proof portable speaker is empowered with four active transducers and two bass radiators that enable listeners to feel the music with its powerful sound, while on-the-go.

The JBL Xtreme also features a noise and echo cancelling speakerphone for crystal clear calls, and JBLConnect technology that can wirelessly link multiple JBL Connect-enabled speakers together to amplify the listening experience.

The Xtreme lets users connect up to three smartphones or tablets through Bluetooth and take turns playing earth-shaking, powerful stereo sound from their personal device.

It also supports the JBL Connect technology. The JBL Xtreme is currently available at JBL/Harman Kardon Concept stores and will soon be available nationwide (SRP P15,995).

New headphones from JBL

In the headphone arena, Harman introduced new on-ear and in-ear headphones.

“People today are buying multiple headphones,” says Damien Johnson, Manager for Sport Headphones, Harman. “We are fulfilling the need for consumers to have multiple headphones for different use cases.”

Johnson notes that Bluetooth is where the headphone industry is going, and that active noise cancellation is the next wave for headphone innovation.

The new JBL Everest series is a line of five wireless headphones including around-ear, on-ear and in-ear styles.

The Everest series’ flagship model, the JBL Everest ELITE 700 features Bluetooth 4.1 for wireless connectivity, and the new NXTGen Active Noise Cancelling Technology. It also boasts of TruNote technology, which calibrates sound based on the fit around the ears.

There is also a free, downloadable My JBL Headphones App that allows users to further customize headphone settings and features.

Headphones for athletes in any situation

Harman also introduced headphones for athletes in any situation: JBL Reflect Mini BT, JBL Reflect Aware and JBL Grip.

JBL Reflect Mini BT is a small lightweight Bluetooth sport headphone that offers  up to eight hours audio playback, and a three-button in-line microphone for music and call control.

JBL Reflect Aware is a sport headphone that delivers active noise cancelling performance and the ability to mix in sound from the environment for greater awareness of the surroundings when the user wants it. It is designed as a piece of sport equipment, with a rugged, sweat-proof design and patented ergonomic eartips.

JBL Grip is designed to never fall out and stand strong after every flip, grind and crash.