There’s a bar that we like going to in the city. It had walls of vinyl records, rows of top-shelf liquor, and the piece de resistance; a turntable that seemed older than our ages combined. It looks like something right out of a Haruki Murakami novel, which always included scenes depicting music and music rooms at that. Spaces where music is hero and king, spaces where narrative is evoked by the ear, spaces where music reverberates across all nooks and crannies.

In music, we long for the texture of analog but crave the convenience of technology. And so, we can’t bear to part ways with our turntable and the look and feel of retro, but we can’t stand it when we can’t have the precision we’re used to. The happy compromise comes in the new set of JBL, as it revives its rich heritage with the launch of the JBL Authentic speaker range and JBL Spinner BT turntable.

The JBL Spinner Bluetooth Turntable gives a touch of “newstalgia” as it draws inspiration from JBL’s iconic past through the well-loved classic turntable. As you scour the analog stores and listings for original records to amass items for your record collection, why not bring that experience closer to you through amplifying it using a Bluetooth speaker or headphones?

Using aptX HD encoding, there’s no sonic compromise, and the sound from your records is as good with wires. In fact, the JBL Spinner BT includes an analog output for existing Hi-Fi systems, with a phono preamp built-in for use with active speakers. In this case, using an aluminum platter and tonearm, the JBL Spinner BT shares in the joy of music and vinyl records.

The JBL Spinner BT comes in two colors: black and gold or black and orange and comes with the turntable, drive belt, aluminum platter, felt Matt, and comes with a headshell and cartridge. It features a 45 RPM single adaptor, and a dust cover, and 2 hinges. It also comes with its power supply.

On the other hand, the Speaker lineup embodies the future of audio innovations paired with bold and iconic style, as we live in a time where “newstalgia” continues to be in demand for consumers. The design itself is a big draw, with JBL’s unique 70s design elements, specifically the Quadrex grille pattern, the aluminum frame, and the custom leather-like enclosure. A distinctive retro finish that also feels quite at home in a 21st-century home, at that.

There are three models to choose from: The JBL Authentics 200, 300, and 500 respectively.

JBL Authentics 200 is a smart home speaker with wifi, bluetooth, and voice assistants such as Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. So imagine that this would be a great addition to your living room where you can play your favorite music, control your smart devices, using just your voice. It has superb sound performance so you’ll get a big, balanced sound, amazing clarity, and deep bass.

The JBL Authentics 300 is a portable smart home speaker with wifi, bluetooth, and voice assistants such as Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. It has all the features of the 200 with the extra portability, you can take your music with you all around the house! In terms of the sound, it has a wide soundstage, crystal-clear highs, and deep bass.

And finally, the JBL Authentics 500 is a high-fidelity smart home speaker with wifi, bluetooth, and voice assistants such as Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. Apart from the retro 1970s design, it has the latest sound and control technologies such as the high-definition lifelike sound with Dolby Atmos® Music thanks to the Authentic 500’s aluminum tweeters and patented SlipStream™ bass port.

We end with a gorgeous quote from Haruki Murakami from South of the Border, West of the Sun that evokes the experience of going back in time by way of a turntable:

“Shimamoto was in charge of the records. She'd take one from its jacket, place it carefully on the turntable without touching the grooves with her fingers, and, after making sure to brush the cartridge free of any dust with a tiny brush, lower the needle ever so gently onto the record. When the record was finished, she'd spray it and wipe it with a felt cloth. Finally she'd return the record to its jacket and its proper place on the shelf… Only when the record was safely back on the shelf did she turn to me and give a little smile. And every time, this thought hit me: It wasn't a record she was handling. It was a fragile soul inside a glass bottle.”

Check out the Authentics Speakers: the JBL Authentics 500 (at P39,999.00), the JBL Authentics 300 (at P26,999.00), and the JBL Authentics 200 (at P20,999.00), and the JBL BT Spinner Turntable comes in two color schemes – Black/Gold (P34,999.00) and Black/Orange (P30,999.00). You can also visit JBL’s social media accounts: (Facebook) @JBL Philippines, (Instagram) @jblph , (TikTok) @jblph_official.

Also available in these stores: Abenson, Electroworld, Onward, PC Express, Rustan's, and JBL Concept Stores.