End of an Era. 43 years with JBL is Over

[Aquaplas]

Is nothing sacred?

Greg, We are here for you brother!!!

deeply, deeply saddened...

[mech986]

One wonders what would have happened to John Eargle if he had lived long enough to have had his job "eliminated".

[bubbleboy76]

At the time of that video I was just a kid who would show up on Fridays with an album or two and I would be let into the listening room if it was free to use.

From a HIFI perspective, considering that I am a former JBL fan-boy myself, this is the coolest story I have ever heard!

[4345]

Sadly, we are in a new world of international business. I think our tax and regulatory policies are what dictate this. We now have corporate values instead of family values.

See Salary, Bonus, and Pay details for Jobs at HAR
Key Executive Compensation

HAR

	Name/Title		2011	2012	2013	2014	2015

	Key Executive Compensation		23,092,507	22,681,970	13,551,293	20,025,279	25,842,406

	Dinesh C. Paliwal/Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer		16,017,237	16,072,492	8,763,411	11,965,521	13,967,163

	Sandra E. Rowland/Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer		-	-	-	-	2,323,240

	Herbert Parker/Executive Vice President, Operational Excellence		2,393,271	2,346,999	1,707,710	2,828,533	2,586,369

	Blake W. Augsburger/Executive Vice President and President, Professional Solutions Division		2,237,428	1,959,851	1,447,232	2,541,533	2,486,613

	Michael Mauser/Executive Vice President and President, Lifestyle Audio Division		2,444,571	2,302,628	1,632,940	2,689,692	2,468,020

	Todd A. Suko/Executive Vice President and General Counsel		-	-	-	-	2,011,00

[sweet212]

Sorry to hear about inexcusable treatment.
IMHO you produced mellower less raucous speakers that were still dynamic .
Best regards for the future.

[Ian Mackenzie]

From the Library

"Greg Timbers has had responsibility for more significant loudspeaker designs at JBL than anyone else since starting with the firm in 1972. He carries on the tradition of JBL from the days of William Thomas, Bart Locanthi and Ed May in the current environment of the hugely successful corporation that is Harman International."

[Ian Mackenzie]

In light of recent events and the change in the Harman culture in over the past few years it is interesting to recount historically how changes in leadership were handled.

Taken From the Library below, Don skilfully articulates how Sidney Harman exercised judgement on the future leadership of JBL.

"Harman it would seem valued a person who understood the highly subjective elements underlying JBL's reputation and powerful image over appointing a business person which in this context probably would result in a loss of some of the non-objective and hard-to-quantify values that were so central to JBL's success."

What is interesting is that Wolf like others in the history of the firm held a long standing association with JBL and effectively grew into their roles.

Without question Harman was very astute and made the right call in swaying Wolf to work full time for JBL.

Harman and Wolf's close collaboration energised the success of JBL over the next decade.


Background information on Arnold Wolf can be found here.

http://www.audioheritage.org/html/people/wolf/wolf.htm

"At length, over a business dinner, Berlin asked Wolf whether he would consider joining the company as its new president.

In recalling this extraordinary suggestion, Wolf has said that he doesn't really know why he was asked, but speculates that "the Harman [Jervis] management could easily have found a qualified MBA who would virtually guarantee an orderly, well-supervised manufacturing and marketing operation. However, it is doubtful that such a person would have the training or ability to understand the highly subjective elements underlying JBL's reputation and powerful image – something that had been carefully built by Bill Thomas over the years and an effort in which I had become a central contributor. Erosion of this vital, hard-won position in the marketplace could very well have proved catastrophic It may have seemed the better bet to engage one of the architects of the public image and hope that he could learn enough about business methods and administration to be fully effective than to follow conventional wisdom. Appointing a business person in this context probably would result in a loss of some of the non-objective and hard-to-quantify values that were so central to JBL's success. In addition, by that time I had learned a considerable amount about the company's manufacturing processes, marketing approach, and distribution."

[JBLGUY]

Well I'm not so sure High end listening is dead. IMO lately I've been seeing more young people show an interest in listening to music in a two channel setup. I think it's dawning on people that they are missing something in the experience of listening to music today.
Remember everything old is new again.
Records are selling again and seem to be picking up speed.
I read a lot of smart people who say brilliant things in ways I never could. But I also see a lot of brilliant people who have zero touch with what regular folks want. They can say things in ways that sound great and educated, but in reality have no idea how to excite folks.
Anyway if I were King at Harmon, I'd maintain a legacy/heritage program. To be the company responsible for some of the greatest speaker/inventions ever made and then hide it....OMG

Funny thing is they use the JBL letters and symbol all over there little blue tooth stuff. I'm assuming to show the mighty JBL symbol as " you are getting the best here ". so they already know it's clout.

Do you guys on here realize how many people have never heard what we all hear everyday ???? There are so many people that if allowed to hear what you and I own would be floored.
They would think it's all just been reinvented today and a miracle no less as well. Many folks have never heard systems of music at our level of quality.
There is going to come a time when people get sick or at least used to high-tech and crave some real again. Don't miss that boat JBL. Being THE legacy is never bad.

We will be a world where people will want the best of the old and new....I see this already in many areas. VINTAGE is COOL again.

[SEAWOLF97]

Do you guys on here realize how many people have never heard what we all hear everyday ???? There are so many people that if allowed to hear what you and I own would be floored.
They would think it's all just been reinvented today and a miracle no less as well. Many folks have never heard systems of music at our level of quality.
There is going to come a time when people get sick or at least used to high-tech and crave some real again. Don't miss that boat JBL. Being THE legacy is never bad.

We will be a world where people will want the best of the old and new....I see this already in many areas. VINTAGE is COOL again.

No arguments here . Around my town there is huge competition for LP's & turntables. when I go to record shows, there seem to be 2 distinct groups of buyers ..... the "over 60" crowd that grew up with the medium and the "under 35" hipsters group that think it's really cool ... the latter doesn't seem concerned about media quality , they just want to be participating in the retro activity. ??

I gave my L-100's to my 34 y.o. son when I acquired better. His friends love to come over and listen to them . They act as if they've never heard full frequency music before or felt bass. He's a semi renaissance guy. He's serious about vinyl and 2 channel. Turntable is the only source attached to his system.

[gasfan]

This is how it'll be...my grandchildren will rediscover actual music and everything attached to it. The times they are a changin' back, or..whatever.

[JBLGUY]

I asked a young person I know who buys 3 records a week what he likes about it so much. He said " well you actually get to sit down and listen to a whole side "

[pauly]

Greg,

My father (recently passed) and I are both musicians in sunny Australia. We have always appreciated, and often enjoyed the reality of a sizable pair of JBLS. Now I understand that there's a team involved, I also understand that the standards and tastes of a single individual can usually be attributable to certain products. I think I have found that individual - You.

This short sighted 'Greed for the shareholders' also encompasses most Australian businesses now, and even though the outcome is obvious following this creed (Complete domination by the Chinese who make and own everything) - it continues. Bloody sad.

From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank you for the enjoyment I would feel, & see in my fathers eyes when we would listen to his music through the big JBLs.

Please keep us posted with your future plans as I would like to follow any projects you get involved in.

Thanks again Greg.

I was unceremoniously separated from employment by Harman following a 90 second explanation. My position was eliminated! Following an explanation of benefits, I was escorted out. The timing came as a surprise and as such, I haven't thought about my future plans. While I don't need to work financially, I need to be active and challenged so I must figure out what makes sense for me going forward. To be clear, this is not what I wanted or deserved, but I will not comment further on details until a much later date. My decision, not theirs.It was a good run and I am very pleased that I have brought so many people enjoyment with the products I have developed over the last 4 decades. Once things settle down, I hope to be more available on the forum, but I need some time to adjust.My best wishes to all you JBL fans. Treat your products well and enjoy them while you can.Best Regards,Greg Timbers

[martin_wu99]

I was unceremoniously separated from employment by Harman following a 90 second explanation. My position was eliminated! Following an explanation of benefits, I was escorted out. The timing came as a surprise and as such, I haven't thought about my future plans. While I don't need to work financially, I need to be active and challenged so I must figure out what makes sense for me going forward. To be clear, this is not what I wanted or deserved, but I will not comment further on details until a much later date. My decision, not theirs.It was a good run and I am very pleased that I have brought so many people enjoyment with the products I have developed over the last 4 decades. Once things settle down, I hope to be more available on the forum, but I need some time to adjust.My best wishes to all you JBL fans. Treat your products well and enjoy them while you can.Best Regards,Greg Timbers

Dear Mr.Timbers

It's my great honor to meet you on this forum,i have been known you from books/magnizes/web for many years,you designed JBL products brings me so many happiness and joy,i really appreciate your outstanding work and contribution in JBL CO.i wish you more happy than during Harman.
By the way,do you consider to found a new speaker brand by yourself? because you have so many fans all over the world

Best regard

Martin

[4313B]

I was watching some Crown videos on YouTube and thought I'd go check out the JBL and JBL Professional channels.
One can definitely see where JBL has been headed.
There was a video published 4 months ago on the JBL Pro Channel with G.T. in it.

[Alobar]

Such sad news.. I have owned and loved JBL for 40 years and now I feel left with nothing but the past. What is it about corporate America that they just don't get it anymore? It is the people who created the products which generated the brand loyalty and reputation they ride on the back of today, and it would seem (and used to be the case) that it would be of the utmost importance to preserve and add to this reputation. But ignorant (or just plain selfish) corporate leadership is just hell bent to cash in on the hard work of previous generations with only their huge pay packages seemingly their sole consideration. It is getting to the point where there is going to be no brand loyalty left as every company with a quality reputation races to the bottom of the barrel.