JBL Facility Tour, and Kevin Totally(Mostly) Behaves!

Kevin and the Upscale crew get a tour of the JBL facility in Northridge, California. You'll see new products, current products, classic consoles, and Bluetooth turntables. JBL has been innovating for decades, and they're not stopping any time soon. From retro soundbars to lighting rigs at a concert scale, you'll see the insane scope of a company steeped in audio excellence for decades.
JBL and Harman Brand products at Upscale Audio:
JBL Speakers:
upscaleaudio.com/collections/jbl
Mark Levinson Electronics:
upscaleaudio.com/collections/...
Arcam Electronics:
upscaleaudio.com/collections/...
Revel Speakers:
upscaleaudio.com/collections/...

[@gvr6079]

It's not a factory tour, it is a big showroom. 😯

[@Mark-lq3sb]

Because there is no production manufacturing at that facility anymore. At one time they had 550,000 sq. ft. of manufacturing not just assembling. When it came to speakers they built the encloses, crossovers and drivers. JBL did it all...

[@brucemolinar9501]

Awesome tour and fun to see all the Harmon products from today and past.

[@va2054]

Did I miss something? Do they actually make anything in this "Factory" ?

[@faludabutt8253]

They should be reported to Trump 😊

[@Prometheus1979]

They design, test, create software and market their products from what I gathered. Like just about everything else their stuff is probably made in China.

[@John-Edward]

Most of the speakers are made in even cheaper countries like Indonesia etc. Mark Levinson products are still Made in USA, but in New England and not North Ridge, CA.

[@walterpen371]

For now. Check out a large number of hi-end products that cost over $100,000.00. Components made in Asia. Also poor quality control. By the way I still own my 1979 4311 monitors.

[@sloboat55]

Please, do more of this. Excellent vid

[@CobraChamp]

Great video! Thanks for the tour. It seems like you tried to meet a time limit for this video and I'd love to have you post a full length video of the entire tour.

[@danielwilliams1921]

I’ve got a pair of H/K 775 monoblocks I bought new back in ‘79 or ’80. Great gear, and I had them checked out about 15 years ago. Minor repair and they tested to spec.

[@mafosa8519]

I have almost all there “studio edition “ speakers for Mobil n home theater! Never let me down! Crystal clear sound!

[@user-el6cq3ce8u]

what were those white stand mounted bookshelves at the end?

[@maxpower78-15]

Right on!!!

[@veroman007]

wish they fired up those old consoles!!! the 4.2 speaker at the end was cool, the curved baffle wood looked great

[@faludabutt8253]

JBL L100s are wonderful speakers

[@ibakedit5850]

A factory tour?

[@SPECTRE_Island]

That would have to take place somewhere in Indonesia

[@Mark-lq3sb]

@@SPECTRE_Island Mexico for their top Synthesis line. You know, the DD6700 Mt. Everest speakers that sell for $70,000 dollars a pair. Oh sorry, you don't know........

[@MrRad21]

I had a tour 15 years ago it’s sad to see how they deviated from their mission of focusing on high quality audio products

[@Mark-lq3sb]

You've never heard of the JBL Synthesis line? You better do some research. The DD6700 Mt. Everest sells for 70k a pair. I've heard them, saving my pennies for a used pair............

[@lowiqsavage]

i love my 4311wx speakers

[@walterpen371]

I still own my 1979 4311 monitors.

[@lowiqsavage]

@@walterpen371 nice.

[@Crmsnraider]

Didnt even know Harmon Group was owned by Samsung, thats kinda scary. Do like the speakers though >.

[@Turtleback8024]

I was shocked to learn that myself!!!🙆🏻‍♂️

[@walterpen371]

Unfortunately this is happening throughout the corporate world.

[@epi2045]

All that and not a single demo or test to check your hearing. It amazes me how little people understand their hearing quality.

[@Mark-lq3sb]

It's not a Otolaryngologist office. Why would they check someone's hearing on a tour of a manufacturer?

[@epi2045]

@@Mark-lq3sb Did you not watch the video? This wasn’t a typical factory tour. With all the glitz, tech and data babble, maybe they would have had tech that would tailor audio around people’s hearing. I have several high end headphones that have hearing test analyzers.

[@Mark-lq3sb]

@@epi2045 Yes I did watch the video and what your asking is not the norm for all manufactures. In other words, not all manufactures provide what you are talking about, and JBL certainly isn't the only one that doesn't. That Northridge, CA plant is not your typical manufacturing plant because there is no production manufacturing taking place there. The last I heard it was used for design and proto type building and testing. JBLs high end speakers the Synthesis line and Studio Monitor line are built in Mexico. Other JBL products are built in China, India, Germany and Hungary.

[@epi2045]

@@Mark-lq3sb Hence you answered your own question. Look at the other comments. Several have noted it’s more like a showroom hence if they’re going to that extent… it would be a interesting component. It’s amazing how different people’s hearings are which affects their judgement.

[@Mark-lq3sb]

@@epi2045 They should have never used the word 'factory' in the title of the video. Kind of deceiving, a lot of people not knowing anything about JBL thinking they are going to see speakers and other products being built and assembled. Harmon bought JBL way back in 1969 and Samsung bought Harmon in 2017. As far as JBL history I'm sure most people don't know that James Bullough Lansing who started the company in 1927 that would become JBL in 1955 committed suicide in 1949.

[@oiygfdxssfgg]

Interesting to know that Samsung acquired JBL

[@Mark-lq3sb]

In 2017

[@user-el6cq3ce8u]

and all of Harmon I suppose. Scary

[@crazyprayingmantis5596]

The only factory that doesn't make anything 😂

[@airtow6766]

I’m sure at one time this facility churned out hundreds of great JBL speakers, but that stopped a long time ago.

[@Mark-lq3sb]

@@airtow6766 Yes they did... Production for JBLs high end Synthesis line and Studio Monitor line went to Mexico in 2010.

[@larryschwartz9883]

Now I know why Harman’s products are so expensive. The costs of this place has to be astronomical. Isn’t it funny that so many companies make products that compete with them and are actually better without the fluff. I, for one am not impressed.

[@Mark-lq3sb]

You haven't seen even 1/4 of the Northridge plant. That plant was originally built by RCA in the 1950s. It's a 44 acre campus JBL bought it in 1976 and in 1977 added on to make it a 550,000 sq. ft. manufacturing space. Now, as I was once told (unless things have changed.) JBL designs/tests proto types there. Which means there has to be a wood shop and electrical shop there too. Harmon built a speaker manufacturing in Mexico just across the border with California. Their Synthesis line is built there along with the "Studio Monitor" line. I have a pair of 4365 "studio monitors" (and I use that term loosely, lol!)

[@richardghernandez1672]

@@Mark-lq3sb I worked at that Northridge plant in 1976 when JBL consolidated their manufacturing facilities to that location. At that time they were still building all of their classic bookshelf speakers there as well as the crossover networks and power amps. I remember the classic 6233 stereo power amp that was aimed at the sound reinforcement market, but people were buying them for home use also. At $1500.00 they were too rich for my blood, but they sounded great!

[@Mark-lq3sb]

@@richardghernandez1672 Would have loved to walk around that place back then. I was teenager and worked at a gas station; saved all my pennies back in '78 and bought a pair of L100a's. Mom and dad out of town, time for a party Saturday night! The JBLs were blasting out Ted Nugent's Papa's Will. My ear's are still ringing, lol!

[@walterpen371]

Try getting your hands on Harmon 70's Citation power amps.

[@walterpen371]

Also the L300's were way out of my budget. I heard them in a showroom with only 1/2 watt and wow.

[@gdwlaw5549]

JBL powering Chinese industry….

[@TheChianello]

Boring

[@Turtleback8024]

I know right.🥱

[@Mark-lq3sb]

I'd have to agree, but you can't expect a lot considering there's no manufacturing going on there any more. When they did show the two best speakers the (DD6700 Mt. Everest, $70,000 a pair, and the "Studio Monitor" 4367.) the video person didn't even show them or if he/she did it was just a flash.