I tried JBL’s new Dolby Atmos and Xbox-friendly AV receivers and Stage 2 speakers, and it’s high-end sound without the high-end price
DA Gadgets Not
surprisingly,
the
entrances
to
New
York
City’s
music
recording
studios
are
almost
always
unmarked.
That
was
the
case
on
October
16,
2024
when
I
visited
Republic
Studios,
in
the
city’s
Chelsea
district,
for
the
launch
of
JBL’s
Modern
Audio
AV
receivers
(AVRs)
and
Stage
2
speakers.
Luckily
for
me,
next
to
Republic’s
front
door
on
the
day
of
my
arrival
was
a
large
“JBL”
sign
decked
out
in
the
company’s
trademark
burnt
orange
color.
The
Modern
Audio
AVRs
and
Stage
2
speakers
are
not
aimed
at
deep-pocketed
high-end
audio
enthusiasts.
Rather,
they
target
the
latest
generation
of
music
and
movie
lovers,
many
of
whom
haven’t
upgraded
from
the
best
wireless
speakers,
best
headphones,
and
best
soundbars
due
to
the
cost
and
complexity
of
getting
better
sound.
Suggested
retail
pricing
for
the
Modern
Audio
AVRs,
five
models
in
all,
ranges
from
$399
(around
£310
/
AU$600)
to
$1,599
(around
£1,230
/
AU$2,420).
The
eight
different
Stage
2
speaker
models
range
in
price
from
$299
(around
£230
/
AU$450)
to
$1,195
(around
£920
/
AU$1,800)
per
pair.
This
means
that
$1,700
can
buy
a
complete
5.1-channel
audio
system.
Both
product
lines
are
available
in
Espresso
(black),
which
many
will
find
appealing
for
a
darkened
TV
room,
and
a
modern,
clean-looking
Latte
(white).
(Image
credit:
Howard
Kneller)
Entering
through
the
studio’s
reception,
I
found
myself
in
a
very
large
open
room
containing
stylish
lounge
and
bar
areas.
I
later
learned
that
the
room
is
used
by
Republic’s
staff
and
its
guests
for
parties,
music
release
events,
live
performances
by
artists
like
the
Jonas
Brothers,
and
creative
meetings.
I
was
then
escorted
along
with
several
other
press
members
into
a
large
theater
where
we
were
shown
a
video
presentation
and
heard
from
JBL,
Dolby
Laboratories,
and
Republic
Studios
representatives
about
the
Modern
Audio
AVRs
and
Stage
2
speakers.
A
generous
selection
of
both
product
lines
was
set
up
in
the
theater
and
elsewhere
in
the
studio
for
two-channel
and
multi-channel
Dolby
Atmos
demos,
which
I
will
discuss
momentarily.
(Image
credit:
Howard
Kneller)
Modern
Audio
AV
receivers
The
Modern
Audio
lineup
are
the
first
JBL-branded
AVRs
and
they
emphasize
simplicity
and
style.
Their
faceplates
have
full-color
displays
and
a
clean,
minimalist,
Apple-esque
industrial
design
that
is
said
to
provide
only
what
the
customer
wants
–
controls
for
volume,
input,
and
surround
sound
mode.
They
are
not
made
to
connect
to
other
audio-only
components,
but
rather
devices
such
as
one
of
the
best
TVs
and
gaming
consoles
via
HDMI
connections.
Each
AVR
features
built-in
“EZ-Set
EQ”
app-based
calibration
to
optimize
the
sound
to
the
user’s
room
and
the
top
two
models
are
also
Dirac
Live
ready.
Each
AVR
also
integrates
with
IoT
smart
home
products
such
as
lighting
and
window
shades.
Further,
the
AVRs
are
said
to
be
easy
to
operate
and
connect
to
a
Wi-Fi
network
and
Bluetooth
devices
quickly
and
with
no
fuss.
Their
remote
controls
are
said
to
be
simple
and
non-imposing.
And
in
a
feature
that’s
inspired
by
some
gaming
devices,
the
two
upper-level
AVRs
sport
color-changeable
LED
lighting
under
their
chassis.
Sign
up
for
breaking
news,
reviews,
opinion,
top
tech
deals,
and
more.
As
you
go
up
the
Modern
Audio
AVR
line,
you
get,
among
other
things,
higher
performance,
increased
power
to
accommodate
larger
rooms,
more
audio
channels,
and
the
ability
to
decode
Dolby
Atmos
and
DTS:X
immersive
audio
formats.
Stage
2
speakers
The
eight
Stage
2
speaker
models
consist
of
floorstanders,
bookshelves,
and
subwoofers
(two
of
each
type),
a
center
channel,
and
an
Atmos-enabled
height
module.
Optional
stands
for
the
bookshelf
models
retail
at
$249
per
pair.
The
design
and
construction
of
the
Stage
2
speakers
display
lots
of
technological
know-how.
To
enhance
efficiency,
dynamics,
and
off-axis
response,
the
bookshelves
and
towers
feature
anodized
aluminum
tweeters
in
a
newly
designed
horn
waveguide.
Each
of
the
line’s
speakers
has
Polycellulose
ribbed
woofer
cones
for
what
is
said
to
be
deep,
accurate,
room-filling
bass.
Finally,
premium
inductors,
capacitors,
and
other
components
in
the
speakers’
crossovers
are
also
said
to
improve
performance.
For
the
Stage
2
speakers,
the
higher-end
models
allow
for
increased
performance,
often
in
the
bass
and
upper
bass
frequencies,
and
the
ability
to
work
well
in
larger
rooms.
(Image
credit:
Howard
Kneller)
Stereo
demos
The
focus
of
the
Modern
AVR
and
Stage
2
gear
in
the
theater
was
on
two-channel
audio,
with
a
JBL
Spinner
BT
($399)
Bluetooth-enabled
turntable
pressed
into
action
for
the
occasion.
Various
model
configurations
were
demoed,
but
regardless
of
configuration,
the
takeaway
was
that
these
days,
upgraded
sound
is
not
out
of
reach
for
the
younger
generation.
With
tracks
from
artists
such
as
the
Beatles,
Shaed,
Rihanna,
Lizzo,
Owl
City,
and
Ariana
Grande,
instruments
were
cleanly
delineated
from
each
other
with
plenty
of
air
between
them.
The
noise
floor
was
low,
electronic
instruments
and
sounds
were
crisp
and
punchy,
and
acoustic
ones
were
warm
and
tonally
on
the
mark.
Bass
notes
sounded
extended
and
deep.
Take
for,
example,
Rihanna’s
Love
the
Way
You
Like
(Piano
version),
where
the
singer’s
voice
was
silky
and
without
fatiguing
sibilance.
On
Lizzo’s
About
Dam
Time,
the
bass
notes
were
deep,
tuneful,
and
had
my
head
bobbing
up
and
down.
Bluetooth
performance
from
the
Spinner
BT
‘table
was
very
satisfying.
(Image
credit:
Howard
Kneller)
Home
theater
demos
We
then
headed
through
one
of
the
recording
studios
towards
Republic’s
artist’s
lounge
for
multi-channel
Dolby
Atmos
demos
in
a
Modern
AVR/Stage
2
speaker
channel
system.
On
the
way
there,
we
passed
striking
music-related
art
and
an
incredible
selection
of
guitars
hanging
on
the
studio’s
walls.
With
a
scene
from
the
movie
Ghostbusters:
Afterlife,
the
sounds
of
pounding
thunder
and
a
truck
smashing
through
a
gate,
repeatedly
flipping
over
in
a
wooden
area
and
smashing
through
trees,
were
detailed,
clean,
and
impactful.
With
Top
Gun:
Maverick,
the
gunfire
and
missile
strikes
were
just
as
visceral.
Even
the
sound
of
air
rushing
around
the
planes
while
they
traveled
at
Mach
speed
was
detailed
and
convincing.
Audio
for
the
modern
era
They
say
that
the
high-end
audio
business
is
doomed
as
the
younger
generation
is
unwilling
to
upgrade
their
home
audio
gear
due
to
the
costs
and
inconveniences
of
separate
components.
With
the
Modern
AVRs
and
Stage
2
Speakers,
JBL
has
made
getting
better
sound
painless,
both
for
consumers
and
their
wallets.
Since
these
products
are
from
a
single
brand,
they
will
almost
certainly
work
well
together
and
deliver
great-sounding
music.
For
movie
and
gaming
fans,
just
add
a
video
source
or
console
and
you’re
good
to
go.
You
might
also
like…
