Hot Off The Presses: New JBL GTO Subwoofers!

We recently announced the new JBL Power Series amplifiers and Power Series speakers, and now we have more good news! JBL has just announced a new GTO subwoofers line. The woofers definitely look the business - great looking baskets, beefy cone and surround, and they're priced very affordably! We've got a few pics after the jump as well as pricing and product info.

JBL Adds Ultra-Reliable High-Performance Woofers at Value Prices

New Grand Touring® subwoofers include die-cast baskets and proven JBL design for best-in-class bass reproduction.

WOODBURY, N.Y. – April 28, 2008 – JBL, a Harman International company and maker of high-performance professional audio systems and audio systems for homes and cars, announced a new line of value-priced high-performance subwoofers designed for car audio enthusiasts. The new GTO subwoofers provide superior JBL® performance that’s been time-tested in the most demanding applications, and reliability that’s second to none.

“Car audio subwoofers take more abuse than any other car audio component because they have to make thunderous bass for hours on end. For a car audio enthusiast, there’s nothing worse than a broken sub. So, JBL designs are thoroughly tested before we deliver them,” explained Michael Silber, director of product development for Harman Consumer Group’s Mobile, Portable and Companion Products division.
“JBL woofers have to pass a 100-hour power test in which the RMS and peak power levels are tested simultaneously. When you see ‘300 watts, RMS’ and ‘1200 watts, peak’ in our ratings, you can be sure that those numbers are tested and verified. Additionally, to be sure the moving parts are robust, we subject every design to a proprietary mechanical power handling test at up to 17 times the RMS powerhandling rating, which means these woofers have to survive test signals as high as 6000 watts. We’re fanatical about product quality.”

JBL GTO subwoofers include die-cast aluminum baskets, polypropylene cones, rubber surrounds, and a unique tinsel-wire protector that also strengthens the joint between the cone, the voice coil and the spider. That joint is the most critical of all, and must withstand more stress than any other point in the moving assembly. Great performance and superior reliability have been JBL hallmarks for more than 60 years, and the new JBL GTO subwoofers offer both at affordable prices.

JBL Grand Touring die-cast subwoofers are designed to be used in sealed, vented and band-pass enclosures. The line features the following models:

• GTO1014 – 10–Inch die-cast single-voice-coil subwoofer; sensitivity: 88dB; power handling, RMS: 350 watts; power handling, peak: 1,400 watts; pricing: $139.95 each.
• GTO1014D – 10-Inch die-cast dual-voice-coil subwoofer; sensitivity: 91dB; power handling, RMS: 350 watts; power handling, peak: 1,400 watts; pricing: $139.95 each.
• GTO1214 – 12-Inch die-cast single-voice-coil subwoofer; sensitivity:  90dB; power handling, RMS: 350 watts; power handling, peak: 1,400 watts; pricing: $149.95 each.
• GTO1214D – 12-Inch die-cast dual-voice-coil subwoofer; sensitivity: 93dB; power handling, RMS: 350 watts; power handling, peak: 1,400 watts; pricing: $149.95 each.
• GTO1514 – 15-Inch die-cast single-voice-coil subwoofer; sensitivity: 93dB; power handling, RMS: 350 watts; power handling, peak: 1,400 watts; pricing: $199.95 per pair.
• GTO1514D – 15-Inch die-cast dual-voice-coil subwoofer; sensitivity: 96dB; power handling, RMS: 350 watts; power handling, peak: 1,400 watts; pricing: $199.95 per pair.

Pricing and Availability
The new JBL GTO subwoofers will be available at quality retail and on-line outlets in May 2008. Products range in price from $139.95 to $199.95.

About JBL, Inc.
JBL is a business unit of Harman International Industries, Incorporated (www.harman.com), which designs, manufactures and markets a wide range of audio and infotainment products for the automotive, consumer and professional markets. Harman International maintains a strong presence in the Americas, Europe and Asia, and employs more than 11,000 people worldwide. The Harman International family of brands includes AKG®, Audioaccess®, Becker®, BSS®, Crown®, dbx®, DigiTech®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon®, Mark Levinson®, Revel®, QNX®, Soundcraft® and Studer®. Harman International’s stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “HAR.”

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