HARMAN Luxury Audio Group has added the L42ms Classic integrated music system to its the JBL Classic Series. Combining what the company calls a “timeless design” with a host of JBL acoustic technologies and a variety of wired and wireless connectivity options in a single-cabinet system, the L42ms delivers style, performance, and convenience.
The JBL L42ms showcases the signature sound of a pair of JBL loudspeakers in a sleek, compact cabinet featuring an iconic JBL Quadrex curved grille, tapered side edges, and a black or natural walnut real-wood veneer finish.
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Inside the cabinet are a pair of dual 4-inch woofers and dual 0.75-inch aluminum dome tweeters with waveguides positioned to the left and right to create a wide and even sound field. The L42ms features 200Wrms total system power built-in and a 24-bit/96-kHz DAC.
The integrated music system offers two sets of analog stereo inputs (RCA and 3.5mm) and HDMI-ARC for easy connection to televisions. For streaming audio, the L42ms provides both wired or wireless network connection via Ethernet, Apple Airplay2, and Google Chromecast Built-in, or users can connect directly to their devices with Bluetooth. All audio signals are routed through an advanced DSP engine, where content is carefully contoured and output to the speakers via an integrated four-channel amplifier.
A bass contour switch on the rear panel allows listeners to tailor the bass response of the L42ms to account for placement and personal preference. In addition, a Sound-Field Expansion (SFX) mode can be accessed from the remote control to add a sense of increased spaciousness and a wider soundstage, especially useful when using the system with movies and games when connected to a television via the HDMI-ARC input.
While the L42ms is capable of powerful dynamic bass on its own, it also includes a signal-sensing subwoofer output that implements an internal 80Hz high-pass filter, making for a perfect connection with the JBL L10cs Classic Series powered subwoofer. This makes the L42ms and L10cs combination an ideal upgrade solution for listeners stepping up from a traditional soundbar.
In addition to its acoustic performance, the L42ms integrates into the home with advanced technologies including Roon Ready and Works with Smart Things certifications. Roon compatibility allows users to access their entire library of music at the highest possible resolutions supported by the L42ms. Works with Smart Things integrates the L42ms into the Smart Things ecosystem, which includes over a billion Galaxy devices and Samsung televisions and appliances for one-touch operation and functionality. (Additional Smart Things hardware is required.)
The L42ms features built-in access to Spotify Connect and Tidal Connect streaming audio services, and the free JBL Premium Audio setup app provides a fast and easy first-time connection of the L42ms to a Wi-Fi network.
The app makes additional streaming audio services available including Amazon Music and Qobuz, plus it provides access to internet radio and podcasts. Users can save favorites as presets for instant recall and can even access music on compatible UPnP network storage devices on their local network or a USB drive connected via the USB-A input on the back of the L42ms. In addition to the free downloadable JBL Premium Audio app, a Bluetooth hand-held remote control is included with the L42ms, along with input selection and volume controls on the top panel of the wood veneer cabinet.
“Following on the heels and success of the award-winning JBL L75ms, the new L42ms offers music lovers a choice of a more compact solution and a black wood finish option while retaining most of the same features and signature JBL sound found in the larger L75ms,” said Jim Garrett, senior director, product strategy and planning, HARMAN Luxury Audio.
The JBL L42ms will be available for the holiday selling season in the fourth quarter of 2023 with a manufacturer-suggested retail price of $999.
