JBL

JBL was born in 1946 when James Bullough Lansing, a self-taught audio engineer who had previously co-founded Altec Lansing, decided to start fresh. Working out of a small Los Angeles shop, he poured his expertise into creating loudspeaker drivers that could handle high power with remarkable clarity. The D130 15-inch driver, introduced in 1947, became an instant hit among musicians and recording engineers for its clean, powerful sound. Lansing's sudden death in 1949 could have ended the company, but William H. Thomas stepped in, acquiring the business and keeping the JBL name alive through the 1950s and 60s.

JBL found its stride in the 1970s and 80s, becoming a fixture in recording studios and concert venues. The 4300 series studio monitors set the standard for mixing, while the company's cinema systems brought rich sound to thousands of movie theaters. In 1969, JBL joined Harman International, a move that gave it the resources to expand into consumer audio. By the 1990s, JBL was making speakers for home stereos and car audio systems, and the brand's reputation for bass-heavy, durable sound started attracting a younger audience.

Today, JBL is best known for its portable Bluetooth speakers like the Flip and Charge series, which have dominated the market with their rugged waterproof designs and punchy bass. The brand also produces soundbars, headphones, and true wireless earbuds, all tuned to deliver that signature JBL sound. On the professional side, JBL continues to supply line arrays for major festivals and studios. Since Samsung acquired Harman in 2017 for $8 billion, JBL has benefited from deep pockets and global distribution, cementing its status as one of the most recognizable audio names on the planet.[edit]