The debut of the JBL L42ms integrated music system in the UK has been announced by Harman. The newest model in the brand’s Classic Series, it has a sleek design and the most recent wired and wireless connectivity combined into a small, portable package.
The JBL L42ms boasts the recognizable JBL Quadrex curved grille and tapering side edges, providing the characteristic sound of a pair of JBL loudspeakers in a small cabinet. The real wood walnut veneer on the device comes in black or natural.
Inside the cabinet are two 4-inch woofers and a pair of 0.75-inch aluminum dome tweeters with waveguides positioned to the left and right to flare out the sound over a wide area. The L42ms can output 200W rms and can handle digital audio files up to 24-bit/96kHz.
This integrated music system has a couple of analog stereo inputs (RCA and 3.5mm) plus HDMI-ARC for connecting television. For streaming audio, the L42ms has both wired and wireless connections using Ethernet, Apple Airplay2 and Google Chromecast Built-in. And if that weren’t enough, there’s also Bluetooth so you can let guests play music without giving them your Wi-Fi password.
The L42ms routes all the audio signals through an advanced DSP engine, where content is contoured before being sent to the speakers via an integrated, four-channel amplifier. A bass contour switch on the rear panel lets listeners sculpt the bass response to adjust for placement and personal preference.
In addition, a Sound-Field Expansion (SFX) mode can be accessed using the remote control to broaden the soundstage. This kind of feature is ideal for movies and games when connected to a television via the HDMI-ARC input.
While the L42ms has a powerful bass, it also offers a signal-sensing subwoofer output with an internal 80Hz high-pass filter, for driving a sub the JBL’s L10cs Classic Series. The folks at Harman say that the L42ms and L10cs together make a great upgrade from a basic soundbar.
In addition to its acoustic properties, the L42ms is Roon Ready and compatible with Works with Smart Things. Roon compatibility enables users to access an entire music library at the highest possible resolutions supported by the L42ms. Works with Smart Things integrates the L42ms into Samsung’s Smart Things ecosystem, which includes over a billion Galaxy devices and Samsung televisions and appliances.
The L42ms also includes support for Spotify Connect and Tidal Connect streaming audio services, plus the free JBL Premium Audio setup app makes getting the L42ms set up quickly and easily. Other additional streaming audio services are available, including Amazon Music and Qobuz, plus there’s access to internet radio and podcasts.
Users can save favorites as presets for instant recall. They can also access music on compatible UPnP network storage devices over local networks or on a USB drive connected via the USB-A input at the rear of the device. In addition to the free downloadable JBL Premium Audio app, there’s also a Bluetooth hand-held remote control. Inputs can also be switched and volume levels adjusted using controls on the top panel of the cabinet.
Pricing & Availability: The JBL L42ms will be available in the UK during the first quarter of 2024, priced at £999.
