A look inside JL Audio
Certainly among the most exciting and well-received new products to arrive at Definitive Audio in the past year are the powered subwoofers from JL Audio.
For many years, JL Audio has been recognized as the unrivalled leader in subwoofer technology for mobile applications. When they entered the home market, it was with a bang. Immediately, the subwoofers were acclaimed as among the best available. The reviews in both home theater and audiophile publications are near ecstatic. JL Audio was awarded as “Best Sound” at the 2007 CEDIA show. It received the “Product of the Year” award last year from Home Theater & Sound and was selected as “Subwoofer of the Year” by The Perfect Vision. Reviews in prestigious publications such as Stereophile, The Absolute Sound and AudioVideo Revolution are absolutely uniform in their unreserved praise for the power, versatility and musicality of JL Audio subwoofers.
In March, Definitive Audio’s Buyer Michelle Troupe had the privilege of being given a guided tour of the JL Audio headquarters in Miramar, Florida. The invitation came from Carl Kennedy, Director of Home and Professional Products. Here’s Michelle’s report:
“We took on the JL Audio products a year ago, and we were among the first in the nation to display the top-of-the-line Gotham, at last year’s Home Theater Experience 15. Our customers have responded enthusiastically, and the woofers have been very popular and well regarded by our staff. I was delighted to have been invited to the JL Audio HQ and see how the woofers are created.
“I met with Lucio Proni, the CEO and founder of the company and Andy Oxenhorn, President, who gave me some background. I learned that, unlike most audio companies, JL Audio manufacturers all critical components of their products entirely “in house”. It’s only in this way they can control quality and ensure that components meet their stringent specifications. They also radiated pride in their company and its products. And this was an attitude that I found coming from every employee I met there, from the engineering department to the shipping dock.
“Carl Kennedy, who was my very gracious host, promised to reveal some new products that were currently in development. He didn’t disappoint.
“First was the new F110, due out soon. As you might have assumed, this is a slightly smaller and more affordable model in the renowned Fathom subwoofer line. (Current models include the larger F112 and F113.) This is going to be a terrific solution for enthusiasts who own smaller monitor speakers, or who want phenomenal bass response from their home theater set-up, but don’t need the extremely high output capabilities of the larger models.
“Even more exciting was a new ‘in-wall’ subwoofer. JL Audio had previously developed a super-high performance subwoofer for automotive use that featured an amazingly thin profile, to fit where no sub could fit before. That unit has been appropriately modified and given a matching enclosure that allows it to be mounted between studs in a wall. This means that music and movie lovers will be able to enjoy deep, powerful bass response from a speaker system that is, after installation, literally invisible.
I was also allowed to see and hear some prototypes of products in their earliest stages of development. I can’t reveal what they are just yet, but it was exciting and encouraging to see the direction the company is heading.
“The JL Audio factory is a big 140,000 square foot facility, with what appeared to be the most advanced tooling and assembly procedures. I was treated to a demonstration in their listening room, which featured a home theater system with six (!) F112 subwoofers operating simultaneously. It was one of the most exciting and fun sound systems I had heard in a while.
“At the risk of repeating myself, I must comment again on the wonderful positive attitude that seemed pervasive throughout the company. Everyone I met was upbeat and genuinely happy about working for a company with such high standards, and where people are recognized and rewarded for a job well done. I’m convinced this philosophy is reflected in the superb workmanship and performance of JL Audio products.”
Michelle Troupe
A video of the JL Audio process can be found here.
