Not surprisingly, the entrances to New York City’s music recording studios are almost always unmarked. That was the case on October 16, 2024 when I visited Republic Studios, in the city’s Chelsea district, for the launch of JBL’s Modern Audio AV receivers (AVRs) and Stage 2 speakers. Luckily for me, next to Republic’s front door on the day of my arrival was a large “JBL” sign decked out in the company’s trademark burnt orange color.
The Modern Audio AVRs and Stage 2 speakers are not aimed at deep-pocketed high-end audio enthusiasts. Rather, they target the latest generation of music and movie lovers, many of whom haven’t upgraded from the best wireless speakers, best headphones, and best soundbars due to the cost and complexity of getting better sound.
