Wireless JBL® Charge Delivers Crisp, Loud Sound and Recharges Portable Devices for Ultimate Convenience

LAS VEGAS --(Business Wire)--

Music fans seeking great sound and a long battery life from a portable music player will love the JBL^® Charge, a loud and powerful go-anywhere wireless speaker that fits easily into a backpack, beach bag or briefcase. The JBL Charge, introduced today at the 2013 International Consumer Electronics Show by parent company HARMAN International Industries, connects to smartphones, portable music players and tablets via Bluetooth wireless streaming. The clever JBL Charge also includes a USB port to charge a smartphone or tablet.

JBL Charge (Photo: Business Wire)

The JBL Charge is on display during the CES (News - Alert)^® show at the HARMAN booth - Central Hall, booth number 10431 - from Jan. 8 through Jan.11.

The cylindrical speaker can be placed horizontally or vertically, and features a built-in bass port and digital sound processing to create room-filling lows combined with accentuated highs. The JBL Charge is a stereo speaker with two 1-5/8-inch (40-millimeter) full-range drivers and a 2 x 5-watt amplifier. The wireless speaker, 2 inches (50 millimeters) wide by 6 inches (150 millimeters) long, provides 12 hours of playback from a single charge thanks to a built-in 6000mAh Li-ion rechargeable battery. Long-lasting playback and the ability to power portable devices make the JBL Charge ideal for beach parties, family camping trips, neighborhood picnics and everyday use around the house.

"The JBL Charge is durable speaker that goes wherever you go, providing a high-quality audio experience and the convenience of long-lasting power," said Sachin Lawande, executive vice president of HARMAN and co-president of HARMAN Lifestyle and Infotainment. "It is a sophisticated speaker with two high-performance drivers and a built-in bass port that is unmatched in the market. Music fans will hear the truth with the JBL Charge."

The portable stereo speaker was built for durability and active lifestyles, as it features a rugged exterior and grille, plus rubber end rings and a rubber cap for the USB port. A visible LED light informs users when the battery needs to be recharged as well as when the speaker is in Bluetooth listening or pairing mode. The JBL Charge also includes a standard 1/8-inch (3.5-millimeter) stereo mini jack to use with older devices not equipped with Bluetooth technology, and it ships with a Neoprene carrying pouch. It will be available in several colors, including black, blue and green.

Pricing and availability

The JBL Charge has a suggested retail price of $149 and will be available from select retailers or JBL.com during the first quarter of 2013. For additional information, visit the HARMAN booth during the CES show at Central Hall, booth number 10431.

About HARMAN

HARMAN (www.harman.com) designs, manufactures and markets a wide range of audio and infotainment solutions for the automotive, consumer and professional markets - supported by 15 leading brands, including AKG^®, Harman Kardon^®, Infinity^®, JBL^®, Lexicon^® and Mark Levinson^®. The company is admired by audiophiles across multiple generations and supports leading professional entertainers and the venues where they perform. More than 20 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and infotainment systems. HARMAN has a workforce of about 13,400 people across the Americas, Europe and Asia, and reported sales of $4.4 billion for the year ended June 30, 2012. The company's shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol NYSE: HAR.

© 2013 HARMAN International Industries, Incorporated. All rights reserved. Harman Kardon, Infinity, JBL, Lexicon, Mark Levinson and Odyssey are trademarks of HARMAN International Industries, Incorporated, registered in the United States and/or other countries. AKG is a trademark of AKG Acoustics GmbH, registered in the United States and/or other countries. The Bluetooth^® word mark and logo are registered trademarks and are owned by the Bluetooth SIG, Inc., and any use of such marks by HARMAN International Industries, Incorporated, is under license. CES is a registered trademark of the Consumer Electronics Association. Features, specifications and appearance are subject to change without notice.