Another sad day for JBL

[gtimbers]

JBL (Harman Luxury) laid off 3 more employees yesterday. Their seniority totaled over 70 years. The big hit was Jerry Moro. Jerry's work is legendary and his transducers have been featured in most of my designs for years. He also has done transducers for Revel, JBL automotive product, some really fine subs used by Synthesis and JBL Pro just to name a few of his many, many accomplishments over the years. His latest products, not yet to market, are a pair of stunning in wall systems using a compression driver and horn. They still fit into a standard 4" wall. I worked with him on these products a bit before my demise. They are absolutely outstanding.

So this brings an end to any world class engineers at JBL. Jerry and I were the last two. There are only 3 guys left and although they are competent, they are no where near the knowledge, success or capability of what they just dumped. The senior Model maker left last week to go elsewhere which means that Consumer no longer has any model making capabilities, either.

It appears that this is the end for JBL was we have known it. The Lab equipment is in total disarray with much of it not working properly. If it weren't for Professional's need for and use of the lab, I doubt that it would function at all. There will be no more internal transducer development, no world class engineers, no more internal model making capabilities and no more real JBL product. It is just going to be me-too product copied from somebody else and designed and manufactured in China or equivalent.

Hold on to your Vintage products and hope that you can find a way to get parts when things wear out. None of this will involve Harman any longer!

[1audiohack]

Grrrrr.

How this makes me feel is not fit to print.

My appreciation for you guys is sincere. I cast my vote with my wallet.

What was it Ronald Reagan said? I didn't leave that party, it left me. Yup.

My best to you and Jerry.

Barry.

[pos]

So sad, so stupid...

http://www.audioheritage.org/vbullet...l=1#post347332

Jerry has acquired 6 patents, with 2 more pending, and he has received many product awards. Here's a list of his more notable low, mid and high frequency transducers designs (with associated systems).

List in reverse chronological order:

JBL transducer models (and systems): 1501AL-2 (Everest DD67000), 1501AL-1, 045Mg (Everest DD65000), 100FE-12, 139Nd (S3900), 2216Nd (S4700 and JBL Pro M2), 540J, 553H, 553J, 565J, 580J, 5110G, 5120G (Studio 5 series), 1501FE (4365), 2213Nd-2, 105H-1, 054ALMg (4312E), 2213Nd-1, 105H-2, 054ALMg-1 (4319), 1500AL-1, 476Mg (K2 S9900), TS6H, TS6J, TS8J (TS Series systems), LE14H-4 (S4600), 1501AL, 476Be (Everest DD66000), Synthesis 6 (Synthesis SAM3VA and SAM3HA), Synthesis 8 (Synthesis SAM2LF), W1500H (HB5000, 1500 Array Subs), Array 8, Array 8C and Array 10, 175Nd-3 (Array Series), 1500FE (4338 and 4348), 2213Nd, 105H (4312D and 4318), 1200FE-8 (4428 and 4429), 1200FE-12 (K2 S5800), 1500AL (K2 S9800), LE14H-3 (Performance Series PS1400, Array 1400), 1200H (4425MKII), Studio10, Studio8, ME60JS, ME50JS (SVA Series systems), Century1200, Century500 (Century Gold), 726GS (Synthesis Two).

JBL Car Audio subwoofers and component systems: 660Gti, 560Gti, Power Series, GTO Series, C508Gti, C608Gti, W10Gti, W12Gti, W15Gti, GTX Series, 08Gti, 400Gti, 404Gti, 408Gti, 500Gti, 504Gti, 508Gti, 600Gti, 800Gti, 1000Gti, 1200Gti.

JBL Systems developed: HB5000 Powered Subwoofer System, TS600 system, Synthesis S1S-EX

Revel Transducer models (and systems): B110LDW, B112LDW (B110 and B112 Sub system), RP18G (Ultima Rhythm II), RU15G, RU15R (Ultima Sub 30 and Performa B15a), C32R-4, C32R-5, F32R-5, F32R-6, M22R-6 (Performa Series), RP10GS (Performa F30), RU5G (Revel Studio) Revel 15 (Ultima Gem Sub 15).

Infinity Transducer models (and systems): B380 (HPS1000 powered sub), Omega12 (Omega system).

Let's hope his knowledge and talent will not be wasted (and same goes for you Mr Timbers!).

[JeffW]

This thread needs a theme song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHh0V7UjVXI

[hjames]

Right - this kind of garbage is why I sold off all my legacy JBLs -
its one thing to pay a premium for gear you are proud of,
but when the brand is no longer supported by Corporate - well ...
Harmin' Corporate can go pound sand, in my book.

Indeed Greg, another very sad day for JBL fans worldwide ...

[grumpy]

Nuts and nuts.

[bubbleboy76]

Please wake me up from this nightmare!

[LowPhreak]

I suppose no one is surprised after the childish stunt Harmin' pulled on Greg. This was the other shoe waiting to drop.

Nice going, imbeciles. *1-finger salute

[badman]

*Sigh*.

QSC seems to be doing a fine business- maybe they would like a couple old-school bigbrains to get into a new space and refine existing?

[1audiohack]

Right - this kind of garbage is why I sold off all my legacy JBLs...

I feel the opposite. Sadly now it is possible that I have some of the best stuff JBL will ever make.

Barry.

[jpw]

Right now I am shocked, angry and also sad for those who have lost their jobs. I feel cheated of what brilliant speakers might have come our way in the future that we will now not know. How incredibly short sighted of Harman. Even if down the road they realize their error and try to re-hire, engineers like Greg and Jerry don't grow on trees. Will talented people even want to work for Harman in the future given they way they treat their employees? Right now I am waving at Harman with out all 4 of my fingers.

[4313B]

Why am I not the least bit surprised...

They're such a thoroughly disgusting organization.

[300_Summit]

Sad to say, but things like this happen across Corporate America everyday. Those with YEARS of experience get booted, and they bring in unqualified personnel and pay them peanuts. It's all about the bottom line with these Corporate types. They could care less about the quality of the product they put out. As long as it makes a profit.


Lamont

[4313B]

"100 per cent of our company's manufacturing was in Germany and United States, 87 per cent of engineering was in Switzerland, Germany, United States; three countries.

I said, off the bat, we need to have 60 to 70% of our engineering workforce from growth countries, 90% of manufacturing in BCC or best cost countries."

http://articles.economictimes.indiat...nd-ceos-brands

Total Calculated Compensation $13,967,163 As of Fiscal Year 2015

He's probably just playing catch-up: 2008 Total compensation: $30.4 million

Regardless, I certainly have zero interest in the brand anymore.

[Ed Kreamer]

I had the very good fortune to meet Dr. Sidney Harman in 1974. I found him to be a charming energetic man, who valued hard work and performance. He also valued ( as far as I could tell ) honesty and integrity and loyalty. When things didn't go as they were supposed to he would what to know why, but did not hold that against you unless you screwed up again. Judging from what I knew of the man, I can't help but think that Dr. Harman would be livid at what has happened to the company he worked so hard to build and to maintain. So what the hell is going on? It makes me sick to observe these tiny brained misanthropes destroying an iconic American company.