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. Although once nearly extinct, vinyl is back and turntables are more popular than ever.

Today Harman has announced that it is launching the JBL Spinner BT turntable at HARMAN Explore, held January 4-7 in the Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas as part of CES 2023. The Bluetooth-enabled turntable’s vibrant design enables listeners to enjoy records wirelessly without sacrificing audio quality.

The JBL Spinner BT pairs easily with portable speakers, soundbars and headphones via Bluetooth for wireless vinyl playback. There’s support for aptX HD encoding ensuring that the authentic sound of the vinyl isn't compromised.

For a wired connection, the turntable has an analog output with a switchable moving magnet phono stage, ideal for use with traditional component audio systems or active loudspeakers. The unit has an aluminum platter and tonearm, a black MDF plinth, JBL orange accents, a contemporary front panel, and a hinged dust cover.

The JBL Spinner can play records at 33 1/3 rpm for LPs and 45 rpm. The speeds are locked with a speed sensor to guarantee perfect pitch from the belt-driven aluminum platter. The tonearm features a high-quality Audio-Technica moving magnet cartridge pre-installed on a removable headshell for easy replacement or upgrading. The turntable's feet are damped to reduce vibration.

Pricing & Availability: The JBL SPINNER BT will be available in the third quarter of 2023 with a manufacturer-suggested retail price of $399/£375/€425.

Also launching at CES 2023 are the latest additions to JBL’s Classic Series. Harman is unveiling its new SA550 Classic integrated amplifier, MP350 Classic streaming media player, CD350 Classic CD player, plus TT350 Classic turntable.

JBL’s Classic Series combines a timeless design with the latest technology to create a unique range of loudspeakers and components. The components announced today carry on this tradition and join Harman’s award-winning range of passive and active Classic Series loudspeakers, including the iconic L100 Classic.

Inspired by the JBL SA600 amplifier from the 1960s and the exclusive SA750 integrated amplifier introduced to celebrate JBL’s 75th Anniversary in 2021, the new components have retro styling featuring the same natural walnut wood veneers as the Classic Series loudspeakers, along with machined aluminum faceplates and controls.

Incorporating the latest hi-res digital and analog audio electronics, Harman says the new products offer “an unmatched listening experience”. Adding these new models to the range enables music lovers to create a complete Classic Series audio system with a gorgeous retro design, modern technology, plus excellent acoustic performance.

"Whether streaming audio from a mobile device or enjoying a CD or vinyl record, the latest additions to our Classic Series create captivating experiences for listeners that bring music to life,” said Jim Garrett, Senior Director, Product Strategy and Planning, at Harman Luxury Audio. “And they look as amazing as they sound. With their retro design, they perfectly match each other and JBL Classic and Studio Monitor Loudspeakers for a sleek, cohesive look in any environment. Harman’s SA550 Classic integrated amplifier and MP350 Classic music player make it simple for users to stream music services and personal libraries from their smartphones and tablets.”

Featuring an advanced Class G amplifier topology with high power output and the latest Bluetooth AptX Adaptive technology for hi-res wireless audio and low latency, the SA550 Classic can be paired with mobile devices right out of the box for instant high-quality music.

Once connected to a home network via Wi-Fi or Ethernet, the Roon-ready MP350 Classic music player enables listeners to enjoy music directly from Spotify Connect and Tidal Connect, as well as a host of additional music services via the Google Chromecast or Apple Airplay ecosystems. Both components render digital audio using a hi-res reference DAC with time domain jitter elimination for perfect sound every time.

Harman’s CD350 Classic and TT350 Classic for listening to CDs and vinyl records put a modern yet retro spin on CD players and turntables. Supporting CD, CD-R, and CD-RW playback and FLAC, WAV, MP3, AAC, and WMA file formats, the CD350 Classic has a robust tray-loading mechanism and USB-A input with advanced hi-res digital technology for bit-perfect sound.

The TT350 Classic features a direct drive motor with speeds of 33 1/3 rpm and 45 rpm. Speeds are locked with a sensor for perfect pitch. The turntable has a curved aluminum tonearm with a high-quality moving magnet cartridge pre-installed on a removable headshell. Damped and adjustable feet reduce vibration while allowing for positioning on uneven surfaces. The TT350 also has a tinted hinged dust cover to match its walnut wood chassis and complete the retro look.

Pricing & Availability: The JBL SA550 Classic, CD350 Classic, MP350 Classic, and TT350 Classic will be available in the second quarter of 2023 with manufacturer-suggested retail prices of $2,000 / £1,599 / €1,899, $700 / £799 / €899, $800 / £875 / €999, and $1,000 / £925 / €1049, respectively.

More info: www.harmanluxuryaudio.com

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