CE Pro October 2022 - 18

INTERVIEW
Audio+Video
Jim Garrett
Sr. Director, Product Strategy &
Planning, Harman Luxury Audio
Are powered speakers like the JBL 4305P becoming a
growing part of the home audio market?
Powered speaker systems are a fast-growing part of the
market as consumers look for less complexity. The younger
generation has grown up in a world of Bluetooth and Wi-Fi
products. They demand that same ease-of-connectivity and
access to a broad range of content while seeking a step-up
audio performance. Products like our JBL 4305P Studio Monitor
and JBL L75ms can serve multiple purposes of being the
audio for video when connected to a TV, audio for your computer
in WFH situations or with home content creation, and
as a premium solution for listening to music from a multitude
of wired and wireless sources.
Have sales of JBL Synthesis, Arcam and Lexicon
mirrored the industry's bump in home entertainment
demand during Covid?
Demand for our products has increased more than we could
have ever expected in the past few years, and it does not
show any signs of slowing down. No doubt the expansion of
high-quality streaming audio and video content has helped
drive demand as well.
Mark Levinson has a pair of $1,000 headphones;
why has the brand entered the category?
Mark Levinson has a 50-year legacy of being one of the finest
brands in audio both from our home products and from our
systems available in Lexus vehicles. For us, it was a natural
evolution. We have access to the best headphones research
and technologies. We took full advantage of those resources
when we developed the No. 5909 wireless headphones.
What are your dealers experiencing in two-channel and
high-resolution audio?
The rise of high-resolution streaming services like Qobuz
and Tidal, along with high quality content and huge libraries
available from major players like Spotify, Amazon Music,
Apple Music, and others, has opened a lot of listeners' ears
to what they have been missing. We are seeing renewed
interest in physical formats like vinyl and CD as well. All
of these factors are driving customers to seek out better
audio systems.
18 | CE Pro October 2022
What other consumer audio trends does Harman see
impacting AV manufacturers and integrators in 2023?
Design trends and interior décor are huge factors. Consumers
want products that reflect their taste and lifestyle, whether
that be subtle, understated, or even out-of-sight, or bold and
eclectic and prominently on display. Trends in colors, fabrics,
and other materials have a big role in how we are designing
products. Custom integration is another factor. We've recently
released our JBL Conceal Series of invisible loudspeakers that
offer high-quality sound without being seen at all. Limited edition
products have been very successful for us. It is part of the
experience of having something that stirs the emotions.
" The rise of high-resolution
streaming services has
opened a lot of listeners'
ears to what they have been
missing. We are seeing renewed
interest in physical media too. "
Does Harman offer home theater or
two-channel audio design/calibration services?
A big part of our JBL Synthesis immersive audio systems is that
we have products that are designed, engineered and calibrated
to work together. We have just released a program called JBL
Synthesis Certified Systems that takes this concept to the next
level. Our factory personnel and partners are involved at the
first stages of specifying the systems all the way to final calibration
to meet our target curve for in-room response.
How is the supply chain impacting products?
One huge advantage we have is being a part of the broader
Harman organization. We are able to take advantage of the
buying power of other divisions of our company, for example,
being able to get access to chips and components that are
purchased in large quantities for our automotive division.
We've been actively designing around component shortages
with our engineers constantly looking at ways we can substitute
components that meet our specifications and provide us
some relief from long lead times and outright shortages.
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CE Pro October 2022

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