The JBL Story: 60 Years of Audio Innovation

I was on the fence about this book due to a couple bad reviews. I'm really glad I didn't listen and went ahead and bought it. It really shows how different expectations can taint a person's impression of a book (good and bad).First off, I've always liked JBL products and am a fan of vintage (and modern) Hi-Fi equipment. This book as described in the title covers JBL's 60 yrs of history. The key factor to kept in mind is this is a book commissioned by JBL to celebrate their 60 years of successes (and even discusses some low points). As such there is care to present the corporate image and products in a positive manor. It has a very nice, polished look and feel with a lot of pictures both color and vintage B&W that details important personalities and product milestones through JBL's history up to the point of writing. It is 7/8" thick, printed on glossy stock and chocked full of pictures -- probably hundreds of pictures, including several cut-aways illustrating key features of various new driver technologies JBL pioneered, engineers, etc. You might say there are more pictures than text, which could be the source of some the other critical reviews.As I said before, the book is more about milestones than it is a comprehensive product catalog and specs. Therefore one should go into it with that perspective and note that not EVERY model of speakers JBL has ever prduced is guaranteed to appear inside. For instance, the "Series" of JBL speakers I own are a set of Studio L 6" bookshelf speakers and other H/T speakers. There is a section outlining the new home theatre market and JBL's product offering to satisfy that market. Within that chapter is a whole page dedicated to the Studio L series with 2 nice pictures illustrating SOME of the line ...and a whole one or two sentences that say something to the effect: "The Studio L line was produced for the new Home Theatre Market and had an elegent design." That's a paraphrase, not a quote. The picture doesn't show ALL of the speakers that were available in the Studio L line. One picture shows a pair of tower speakers in cherry, the other picture shows a corner of a room with a partial home theatre set-up that includes: a subwoofer, pair of tower speakers (in black) and a wall mount center speaker below the TV. Missing speakers from that series one could have purchased back then is: A smaller down driven subwoofer (in various finished), a smaller center channel speaker that was available that year, the 6" bookshelf speakers like I own, 8" bookshelf speakers that were available in either ash, cherry or black at the same time, and I think there was one other speaker available like a shorter version of a tower speaker. No pictures of the Ash finish were shown even though I felt it was a very attractive finish at the time. That's ok with me. While I would like to have had more information on the the Studio L speakers, it really is touching on the milestones of that series and I didn't buy the book to pad my ego. But I think some of the criticism in other Amazon reviews comes from omissions like these. On the other hand, a few key speaker designs from the 70's and 80's that pushed JBL to the forefront of the speaker industry DO seem to illustrate more of the full line available back then. In some cases a whole page or pages of pictures and several paragraphs of text are devoted to illustrating what made these speakers key to the market at the time, technological improvements and so on. Again, the book is about milestones, not a technical catalog of EVERY JBL speaker cabinet, size, etc.I really don't get some of the negative criticism of this book. To say most of the pictures and old ads could be viewed online for free and therefore the book is a waste of money, seems like a blatent false statement. I have scoured the internet and JBL's website and, yes, there is a minor amount of duplication and a few similar pictures you may be able to see, but you aren't going to get the interpretation and historical insight. This book is a coffee table quality book (Sans the hard cover and wide pages) and if you are into vintage or current Hi-Fi products and like to read books about hi-fi products, and like glossy pictures and history, there is a lot ot like about it.How would I go about making future editions even better? I would love to see even MORE information, a deep dive of the factory construction process (mass production challenges and so fourth), a little insight into the distribution pathways and challenges (like retail v.s. internet), more information on the decision-making processes how certain technologies were settled on v.s. other competing design considerations at the time, more car audio discussion and a few more pictures of famous musicians using JBL products. Also for the 2nd edition, I believe an added section at the back of the book devoted to cataloging ALL the vintage JBL speakers with pictures, published specs, cabinet cut-aways (where available), a short blurb below each product and sales qty numbers would be great. I'd also like to see a little discussion on the competition at various points in history, how JBL stacked up, and things they attempted to do to set themselves apart. For instance, 'Here's a picture of JBL xxx series compared to KEF xx series. Both were ear pleasing, but JBL increased use of Quadrinium Magnatite based drivers provided extra punch at the high end for less money'. A competitive review would be nice. Anyway, I think a lot of readers would yearn for more information like I've outlined above. I'd buy THAT edition in a heartbeat.In summary, this would be the perfect book for a vintage stereo enthusiest or collector to read up on JBL history, milestones and keep next to their listening equipment for them or their guests to puruse.

If your a JBL fan a definite read. Everything you need to know about the man, the company and the progression of the speaker line

Highly recommended for anyone with an interest in the history of high end home audio or the professional sound and recording industry.

I am a history buff and audiophile. And since I am a retired engineer I have a lot of time on my hands. I grew up listening to JBL's. It is a real kick for me to read about the history of the my favorite speaker company. The book is very well written. It's loaded with facts and priceless photos. It's been a very satisfying read for me.

*please read* - Great picture book of JBL stuff. Really a big ad for JBL but I enjoyed it for all the older pics (JBL inception thru the 80s). Yes you can find this stuff on the web but it's nice to flip thru the book. Five stars for that. 1 star for the fact that the book arrived in 'disintegrated' condition. So overall 3 stars.

As a former sound engineer and as a proud owner of various JBL speakers for 35 years, I was looking forward to this book. Unfortunately, there is little here that can't be viewed online for free (especially at [...]) and what is here is haphazard, poorly written, and sloppily edited. The writer's voice and tenses shift from page to page, and information is occasionally repeated from one paragraph to the next. One product listing might tell you who engineered it and when it was manufactured; the product next to it might contain little more than a photograph. There's a nice chapter on the development of the JBL logo, but most of the content seems like regurgitated marketing material.

as a JBL fan and user, I was very happy to know that book and the origins of the make that makes me dream, since I'm a music lover: in 45 years, I only had two pairs of JBL: first in the seventies a pair of C36 and since the nineties a pair of TI5000...the book was in perfect condition and arrived very early...Thank you.

Gave it to a friend for a Birthday gift. He loved it & now I have to listen to him tell me all about the history of JBL.

JBL ist einer der berühmtesten um nicht zu sagen, legendärsten Hersteller von Beschallungssystemen jeglicher Art überhaupt. Die Geschichte der Lautsprechertechnologie wäre ohne JBL sicherlich anders verlaufen. Unendlich viele Kinos, Theater, Konzerthallen & -arenen, ebenso wie Tonstudios und Wohnzimmer in aller Welt sind mit Lautsprechern von JBL ausgestattet. Mit der Control 1 fertigt JBL auch den weltweit erfolgreichsten (Klein-) Lautsprecher überhaupt, der aus Kinos, Gaststätten und ähnlichen öffentlichen und nicht öffentlichen Etablissements gar nicht mehr wegzudenken ist. Man könnte fast sagen, JBL ist D E R Lautsprecherhersteller überhaupt. Egal ob HiFi, HighEnd, Tonstudio oder Groß-PA, JBL hat für alle beschallungstechnischen Anwendungen etwas im Portfolio. In jeder Größen- & Preisklasse !So viel in aller Kürze zur Relevanz von JBL.Dieses Buch hier bietet einen hervorragenden Überblick über Geschichte und Produkte der von James Bullough Lansing alias James Martini, gegründeten Firma, die über Generationen hinweg untrennbar mit der Geschichte der Tonwiedergabe verbunden ist. Leider hat J.B. Lansing, da bereits 1949 verstorben, die Weltgeltung seiner schließlich zum HARMAN International - Konzern gehörenden Firma (jetzt im Besitz von Samsung) nicht mehr miterlebt. Das Buch enthält viele berühmte LS-Systeme und Modelle über die Jahrzehnte hinweg. Es finden sich zahlreiche, teils sehr seltene Fotos von LS und ihren Komponenten, ebenso wie historische Erklärungen und Entstehungsgeschichten darin. Man kann über Generationen die Entwicklung der Beschallung - HiFi wie PA - nachvollziehen. Das ganze ist eine technische Zeitreise, die sowohl ernsthaft interessierte HiFi-Freunde, wie auch Profis, interessieren dürfte. Im letzten Teil des Buches sind zahlreiche, weltweite Einrichtungen mit JBL-Technik vertreten die zeigen, an welchen berühmten Orten und bei welchen Ereignissen JBL vertreten war und ist. Und da sind ganz große Namen dabei. Ein sehr schönes Buch, wie ich es mir zu einigen anderen Herstellern auch wünschen würde. Leider ist der Stand 2006, so daß neuere Technik, speziell mit DSP-Technologie, noch nicht aufgeführt ist. Auch hätte man sicherlich mehr technische Daten der einzelnen Modelle präsentieren können. Vielleicht gibt es auch mal ein Update des Werkes.Auf jeden Fall eine absolute Empfehlung für alle Freunde von JBL.

No, it is nice to read and have if you are a JBL fan, But they missed various milestones. For example the 4315 series that was a major step toward small studios, two drivers was specially made for this speaker is not mentioned at all. (Why not mention the introduction of the LE-5, 2105. Most SPL / W ever for a papercone midrange speaker.)But if you want a better description of the story read the: (JBL - The History and Legacy of JBL (2006) free on the Inet)This book is more of a popular description of what JBL is today, or became, but if you like me like the sound of the "old school" JBL, this book still is a "must have." on you bookshelf

Super Buch über JBL und die Entwicklung der Lautsprechertechnik. Besonders interessant durch die zahlreichen Bilder und Hintergrundinfos zu wichtigen Masterminds wie E. May, dem Entwickler der 4310 / 4311 Studiomonitore sowie LE 8T fullrange driver.

Recht oberflächlich jedoch einigermaßen Informativ. Beispiel: jbl HLA bekam 1 seite und 1 bild... die flagships haben allenfalls ein schlechtes bild jeweils.

Brilliant account of one of the most legendary loudspeaker brands. Only lament is that it’s not been updated to cover recent developments.