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Thread: End of an Era. 43 years with JBL is Over

  1. #91
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    This make me so sad to read, somehow i have seen you both as the past and the future of Jbl.
    Just imagine the countless ours of pleasure we all have had from your creations......you have made the world a better place.

    I started with a pair of your speakers some30 years ago, and that got me in to the world of music.


    A creative mind can never change, only change direction.

    Good luck.
    René Esenmyr

  2. #92
    Senior Member brutal's Avatar
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    Abrupt departures driven by management are often the result of push from the legal team, but also often shows a lack of respect for the departed's moral fortitude.


  3. #93
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    Definitely a mistake that they will later regret.


    All the best for the future GT

  4. #94
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    Thumbs up

    My sympathies, Greg. That kind of callous treatment is unacceptable.

    I hope you move on to bigger and better things.

    It's really their loss for all intense purposes.

    Best wishes for the future, a bright one.

    -D
    S4700 owner.

  5. #95
    Senior Member audiomagnate's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by ddf1969 View Post
    Definitely a mistake that they will later regret...
    I sincerely doubt it. Harman is a billion dollar corporation ($4.3 billion in sales in 2013) with over 12,000 employees. The product line that Greg Timbers was developing at the time of his departure represents a minute and possibly shrinking fraction of those overall sales. It was a business decision, plain and simple. Let's face it guys, high end audio sales are a fly speck on the overall consumer electronics picture, and this division of JBL has been receiving almost no support for many years. The Everest and Array line marketing is close to non-existent. I have first hand experience with Harman's marketing folks, having displayed my 24 bit Kromecaster streamer along side a pair of Everests in one of the Harman rooms at last year's RMAF. The disrespect the line was getting at that time was clearly evident. In my opinion, Harman is ready to dump the whole division. How many people on this board have actually purchased a pair of Mr. Timber's speakers at retail? I would guess a handful if that.

    Having said that, I am slightly shocked at how his departure was handled. I was sacked by Mitsubishi (and later Nakamichi) after only four years in an almost identical fashion (make sure you don't take the stapler!), but I was (and remain) a relative nobody in the CE world. Greg has rightfully attained legendary status in that world. It could and should have been handled much, much better. I believe, as I'm sure most of the posters on this this board do, that Greg Timbers is the greatest living (and active!) high end speaker designer on the planet, and I sincerely hope I have the pleasure of meeting him one day. There is an absolute ton of money being spent on luxury goods right now, and I'm sure Greg's talents will not not be idled for long. I see him as Chief Creative Officer of a much smaller but well funded new organization who's goal is to create our holy grail, the perfect speaker for the home environment. Sounds like a fun job to me. If I had the money or power I'd offer him a job Monday morning. My brother's a stupid-rich VC out in California, maybe I'll let him know what has happened.

    I'm not going to jump on the boat and wish Greg good luck here. He doesn't need luck, he's got massive amounts of talent and creativity, and I can't wait to see, and hear, and maybe even own his next design.

    Rock on Mr. Timbers, you da man!

  6. #96
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    Quote Originally Posted by ddf1969 View Post
    Definitely a mistake that they will later regret.
    Quote Originally Posted by audiomagnate View Post
    I sincerely doubt it. Harman is a billion dollar corporation ($4.3 billion in sales in 2013) with over 12,000 employees.
    I hear you but whatevski... I'm not sure that I could be more thoroughly unimpressed with Harman at this point. Here is me hoping that Harman does indeed later regret it...


    Electronics giant opens research and development lab in Valencia

    http://www.wifihifi.ca/LatestNewsHea...GAUDIOLAB.html

    Some may recognize Greg's friend Allan who left Harman in September of 2013. I know nothing beyond them being friends. I think the M2 was the last thing Allan worked on (he was the systems engineer).

  7. #97
    Senior Member audiomagnate's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by 4313B View Post
    I hear you but whatevski... I'm not sure that I could be more thoroughly unimpressed with Harman at this point. Here is me hoping that Harman does indeed later regret it...


    Electronics giant opens research and development lab in Valencia

    http://www.wifihifi.ca/LatestNewsHea...GAUDIOLAB.html

    Some may recognize Greg's friend Allan who left Harman in September of 2013. I know nothing beyond them being friends. I think the M2 was the last thing Allan worked on (he was the systems engineer).
    From the M2 to this...thing? No comment.
    Attached Images Attached Images  

  8. #98
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    Quote Originally Posted by audiomagnate View Post
    From the M2 to this...thing? No comment.
    The last sentence in the article sums it up.

  9. #99
    Senior Member Mostlydiy's Avatar
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    Thank you Mr Timbers for the contrubution of the many many wonderful audio products you contributed to produce. Its really a shame you couldnt end your splendid career in the company you worked for for so many years if that was your wish.

    Regards
    Marcus

  10. #100
    Senior Member BMWCCA's Avatar
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    Crutchfield already has the R7 "egg" listed at a $150 discount.

    I think they need to worry about marketplace acceptance before market leadership!
    ". . . as you have no doubt noticed, no one told the 4345 that it can't work correctly so it does anyway."—Greg Timbers

  11. #101
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    Quote Originally Posted by audiomagnate View Post
    From the M2 to this...thing? No comment.
    It seems offtopic here but.. Name:  M2-R7.jpg
Views: 1640
Size:  66.8 KB
    el goregrind es cultura

  12. #102
    Senior Member Donald's Avatar
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    I have only seen one person escorted out after termination. He worked in the mainframe security group.

    Sorry to hear this happened to Mr. Timbers. I am also sorry to say it is the way big corps work these days.

    After seeing in this thread the L300 was his baby could someone tell me what else in my sig line might also be his?
    had L25,L36,L40,L120,L300,AquariusIV(2),S1,4408 have L65,L100,L222,DorianS12,B380

  13. #103
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    Opportunities!!!

    The positive side of this event is a wide open door to new opportunities!! Go for it and enjoy!!!
    I'm convinced that will bring a great moment even after 43 years in the same house! Go for it!
    Cheers to that!
    C

  14. #104
    RIP 2021 SEAWOLF97's Avatar
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    I've been thinking about all this..a bit.

    We have focused on Greg's treatment (and rightly so) , but ...I think there is another shoe going to drop,

    You do not dump a keystone designer unless there is a bigger picture. That brings up scenarios.

    Maybe HAR is taking JBL out of the larger speakers business, as they have others doing that under their umbrella ? Redundancy (they have Revel for that) ?
    Maybe they think they have a well trained replacement for Greg (at less pay) lurking somewhere ? Maybe the large speaker market is dead/saturated ? Maybe they think that skating along on Greg's designs for a while is possible ?

    Maybe they just don't care and the bottom line is more important ?

    Maybe it's all of the above ?? ..... There's an East Wind coming ....

    (and another shoe going to drop ...IMHG)
    Some kind of happiness is measured out in miles

  15. #105
    Senior Member Don C's Avatar
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    They purchased part of Bang & Olufsen recently, maybe they have a plan to buy the rest now.

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