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HARMAN Luxury Audio – High-End Munich 2023 Show Recap


By Jim Garrett
Senior Director, Product Strategy and Planning
HARMAN Luxury Audio

David Glaubke

High-End Munich has become the largest hi-fi show in the world, and our Luxury Audio team used this venue to showcase our exciting portfolio of products with a spotlight on our newly expanded range of JBL Classic loudspeakers and electronics. The 2023 High-End show saw attendance of 20,000+ people with more than 500 journalists on hand to see and hear the products spread out over the 30,000sqm of the M.O.C. convention space in Munich, Germany. More than 550 exhibitors were on hand representing over 800 brands. If you are interested in anything related to hi-fi, this is the place to be!

Our Luxury Audio team assembled an amazing presentation for the show this year. Our presence was felt throughout the venue with  extensive JBL branding on banners, wall posters, and even the stairway leading up to the Hall 4 Atrium where our demonstration room was located. As one of the largest rooms at the show, we were able to create an impressive display space that showcased products from our JBL, ARCAM, and Mark Levinson brands. Of course, at this show people are there to listen to the products and in that respect, we presented a special JBL Lounge space where the complete range of JBL Classic electronics and loudspeakers were on demonstration in addition to our award-winning Studio Monitor powered loudspeakers.

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The first two days of the show are dedicated exclusively to trade and press, which allowed us to focus on the messaging of our newest products. To kick off the event, we hosted a special party on the first night of the show just for our dealer and distributor partners along with members of the audio press. More than one hundred people filled our JBL Lounge to listen to presentations from our team which included a panel discussion on consumer trends including the new “luxsumer” and what they desire from brands and products, as well as the “newstalgia” retro modern movement happening in the market. The panel was hosted by Oisin Lunny from the Audio Talks podcast and included our own Dave Tovissi (VP & GM), Jim Garrett (Sr. Dir., Product Strategy & Planning), and Paul Neville (Dir. Global Engineering). Jim and Paul also pre-recorded a podcast with Oisin that went live on the first day of the show. Be sure to give it a listen wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

On the product front, this year’s show included the global announcement of the JBL L100 Classic MkII and L82 Classic MkII loudspeakers along with the European debut of the JBL Classic electronics that are now entering production. This includes the SA550 integrated amplifier, the MP350 streaming music player, and the CD350 compact disc player. The TT350 turntable was also on display and will be starting production at the beginning of the fourth quarter this year. Attendees were treated to rotating demonstrations of the L100 Classic MkII with the SA750 integrated amplifier, and the L82 Classic MkII with the SA550 integrated amplifier and MP350 streaming music player. Also on static display were the newly available L10cs Classic powered subwoofer, along with the JBL Classic Black Edition versions of the L100, L82, L52, and L75ms music system. The entire Classic range with its unique retro design ties in perfectly with the “newstalgia” trend, while the simplicity of these new products appeals to the “luxsumer” customer as well as the audiophile and music lover.

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Also featured in the JBL Lounge listening room were the award-winning 4305P and 4329P Studio Monitor powered loudspeaker systems. The 4329P made a serious impression on attendees with its incredible dynamics, crystalline sound quality, and powerful deep bass – all from a system that doesn’t require any outboard electronics. While both models are available in a choice of natural walnut or black walnut, we used the Munich venue to globally announce the introduction of a third option featuring a matte white finish on the HDI™ horn and front piffle paired with an elegant, white-washed wood veneer and matte white cloth grille. This new look radically changes the appearance of both models creating a softer, more modern appearance that fits into a range of décor and appeals to the “luxsumer” buyer. If you haven’t yet experienced either of these incredible Studio Monitor loudspeaker systems, I encourage you to do so as soon as possible.

As an event, High-End 2023 was incredibly successful for our Luxury Audio business unit. I would personally like to thank our own Dannica Brown and the EMEA team for assembling and hosting a fantastic show for us.

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