Harman has announced a collection of new speakers, earphones, a new in-dash system at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show, including updates to its popular JBL Clip and JBL Charge speakers, a new headphone partnership with Under Armour, and a new top-of-the-line speaker in its Quincy Jones series.
The company has released two new versions of its popular portable speakers. The new JBL Clip 2 ($60) is an ultra-compact speaker designed to attach anywhere with a new built-in smart carabineer. It also features a ruggedized, IPX7 waterproof design and fabric casing, eight hours of playtime from the built-in rechargeable lithium ion battery, speakerphone support with noise and echo cancellation, and an integrated 3.5mm audio cable for those who need or prefer a wired connection. It’s expected to be available this spring.
The JBL Charge 3 ($150) has been updated with an IPX7 waterproof design, and is available in five colors.
You can wirelessly connect up to three smartphones or tablets to the speaker at once to take turns playing audio, and the 6000 mAh power bank gives you up to 15 hours of playtime and can charge an iPhone, iPad, or other USB powered device on the go. Dual external passive radiators provide powerful bass, a built-in speakerphone features noise and echo cancellation, and JBL Connect support lets users link multiple JBL Connect-enabled speakers together.
The new JBL Everest Elite 100 headphone is the company’s newest entry in its Everest Elite series, filling out the lineup with a new set of in-ear wireless headphones that include NXTGen noise-cancelling capabilities. They’re available in white or black and support Bluetooth 4.0 for a seamless connection, and the the noise-cancelling feature allows users to dynamically adjust and control how much outside noise gets let in, creating an ideal balance of ambient sound and music.
In a new partnership with Under Armour, Harman has introduced a new lineup of wireless sport headphones, with two models currently available: UA Headphones Wireless ($180) use a Bluetooth 4.0 wireless connection with up to 8 hours of playback time, JBL Signature Sound, and a three-button mic with volume, music, and call control. The headphones use Twistlock Technology to help keep them in your ears and are sweatproof with an IPX 5 rating. The UA Headphones Wireless Heart Rate ($250) expand the basic wireless model with instant heart rate monitoring and Bluetooth 4.1 connectivity.
Both models also include a 12-month MapMyFitness Premium membership. The new headphones are available for pre-order starting today and will be in stores in the late spring.
Harman is also expanding its Quincy Jones signature collection with the new AKG Q200 all-in-one speaker system ($1500). Featuring AirPlay, DLNA, and Bluetooth support, this new speaker allows audio to be streamed from any wireless device while sporting an elegant finish and exceptional sound. Harman claims its Clari-Fi technology restores the details lost in modern compressed music, and the unit includes 300W amplifiers that drive six speakers as well as Spotify Connect technology, so that users can stream music directly from the popular streaming service without any additional intermediate hardware required.
A new connected car system, the JBL Legend CP100 in-dash smart phone receiver features a 6.75” capacitive touch screen with Apple CarPlay support, built on the same platform that Harman offers OEM customers.
