Inside JBL Playback Gallery: 80 Years of Sound Innovation

To celebrate its 80th anniversary, JBL will host the JBL Playback Gallery at Project Space Line in Seoul from October 24 to 31. The exhibition traces the globally renowned audio brand’s evolution through eight decades of innovation, inviting visitors to explore its history firsthand.

Throughout the year, HARMAN has showcased JBL’s iconic products from different eras in major cities — including Los Angeles, Amsterdam, Vienna, Munich, Nagoya, and Tokyo. The Seoul exhibition marks the final stop on the global tour, with a specially curated experience that reflects the city’s cultural identity and changing lifestyles over the decades.

Spanning three floors, the JBL Playback Gallery brings together 80 years of JBL history and its latest products, alongside an exhibition dedicated to the 60th anniversary of premium audio brand Bowers & Wilkins. Samsung Newsroom got an exclusive preview ahead of the opening.

JBL Heritage: A Journey Through 80 Years of Sound Heritage

At the heart of the exhibition was the “JBL Heritage” section on the second floor. Under the theme “A Legacy of Sound,” the space chronicled eight decades of audio innovation through signature JBL products displayed in recreated living rooms from the 1920s, 1950s, and 1970s — capturing the atmosphere of each era.

The 1920s living room featured a 1929 Jackson-Bell radio equipped with speakers produced by Lansing Manufacturing, a company founded in Los Angeles in 1927 by JBL founder James B. Lansing. The model offered a glimpse into the early work that laid the foundation for the brand.

In the 1950s living room, the JBL Paragon blended into its surroundings like a piece of furniture. Launched in 1957, the home stereo speaker system housed left and right speakers in a single cabinet. Each unit required approximately 100 hours of woodworking and featured a distinctive curved wooden design.

Complete with a turntable and vinyl records, the 1970s living room illustrated how professional audio technology made its way into homes. On display was the JBL L100 Century, a home loudspeaker launched in 1970 based on the 4310 studio monitor introduced in 1968. It went on to become one of JBL’s most successful home loudspeakers.

Beyond the period-inspired settings, “Playback Gallery: A Story of JBL Through the Ages” charted major milestones — from James B. Lansing’s early speaker designs and the founding of JBL to technological advances in recording studios, cinemas, and concert venues. The speakers on display and their stories revealed how the brand’s innovations have contributed to the evolution of music over the past 80 years.

▲ The “Playback Gallery” showcases key moments and products from JBL’s 80-year history.

The “Pro to Home” section explored how JBL’s professional audio technologies developed for cinemas and recording studios have evolved for home use. Among the highlights was the Summit K2, the latest model in a high-end loudspeaker lineage dating back to the introduction of Project K2 in 1989. Building on the series’ pursuit of exceptional home audio performance, the Summit K2 combines advanced acoustic technologies with powerful dynamics and nuanced musical detail.

JBL Today: Sound in Everyday Life

While the second floor explored JBL’s history, the first floor focused on the brand today. Positioned at the entrance was the L100 Classic 80, a limited-edition model that combines the iconic design of the original 1970s L100 with modern technology. Produced in just 800 pairs worldwide to celebrate JBL’s 80th anniversary, each set features a commemorative plaque engraved with the signature of Chief Systems Engineer Chris Hagen and a unique serial number.

This year also marks a decade since Samsung Electronics announced its acquisition of HARMAN, JBL’s parent company. The portable speaker and headphone zones reflected how the partnership has brought JBL products into more aspects of everyday life.

Inspired by Seoul’s contrasting day and night scenes, the space featured two distinct zones. “Seoul by Night” evoked an urban campsite against the backdrop of N Seoul Tower after dark, with Bluetooth speakers and PartyBox models on display. Meanwhile, “Seoul by Day” recreated a city street in daylight, featuring JBL headphones and earbuds designed for everyday listening.

An art wall created in collaboration with Korean artist DAWN added a local touch. The artwork reimagined JBL’s 80th-anniversary campaign logo using traditional Korean patterns, bronze bells, and the colors of “dancheong,” a decorative painting style found on traditional Korean architecture.

Bowers & Wilkins: Six Decades of True Sound

On the third floor, the exhibition concluded with “60 Years of True Sound,” a section dedicated to Bowers & Wilkins’ 60th anniversary. Founded in the United Kingdom in 1966, the premium audio brand joined HARMAN’s portfolio following its acquisition of Masimo’s audio business last year.

The display introduced founder John Bowers’ “True Sound” philosophy and followed the brand’s evolution through signature products — from its first speaker, the P2H, to the iconic Nautilus. At the center of the space stood five models from the recently unveiled flagship 800 Series Diamond D5 lineup.

The exhibition also highlighted Bowers & Wilkins’ longstanding relationship with Abbey Road Studios, where numerous Grammy Award-winning recordings have been produced. Since the original 801 was introduced at the studio in 1979, successive generations of the 800 Series have served as reference monitors for engineers and producers working on music recordings and film soundtracks. Personal audio products, including wireless headphones, were also on display.

The preview offered just a glimpse of what awaits visitors when the exhibition opens. Starting October 24, guided tours will introduce visitors to JBL’s 80-year history, while product demonstrations will offer a chance to hear its signature sound firsthand.

JBL’s 80-year history reflects how the changing ways people create and enjoy music. Technologies developed for recording studios and live venues have found their way into homes and everyday life through loudspeakers and portable audio products. Bringing together iconic products from different eras and the latest models, the JBL Playback Gallery invites visitors to discover the brand’s enduring pursuit of better sound.