It looks like it could have been made in the 1970s, but it’s brand new. The JBL L42ms is the latest step in the return to roots that JBL embarked on when they launched the retro-modernised L100 Classic in 2018.
The compact JBL L82 Classic offers so much fun for the money, that we call them the best in class.
Since then, we’ve seen a stream of speakers in the JBL Classic series in a new, vintage design. And for an old nostalgic, it’s hard not to get a little sentimental at the sight of walnut veneers, white woofers and quadrex foam fronts.
The JBL L42ms fits perfectly into that nostalgia. The letters “ms” reveal that this is not a conventional speaker, but a complete music system that can be used on its own as long as it can access the internet.
Behind the curved foam front are two 4″ bass/midrange drivers and two 20 mm tweeters with aluminium domes. The drivers in the stereo system are powered by four Class D amplifiers, delivering 75W to each woofer and 25W to each tweeter. The JBL L42ms can deliver a sound pressure level of up to 102 dB and the frequency range is rated at 55 – 25,000 Hz (-6 dB).
You can stream to your music system via Chromecast and AirPlay 2, as well as Bluetooth. And there is also built-in Spotify Connect. Unfortunately, Tidal Connect is not.
The 62 cm wide, low unit invites you to place it under the TV as an aesthetically acceptable alternative to a soundbar. And that’s entirely possible, as there’s HDMI ARC input. There is also a set of analogue line inputs, as well as coaxial digital input and a subwoofer output.
Do you find Sonos and Geneva too tame? Now JBL has made a full-blown wireless speaker with a powerful voice and bold manners!
The JBL L42ms has a European price of €999.
We have ordered a sample for testing. In the meantime, we suggest you read our review of the larger model, the JBL L75ms.
What is the total wattage of this speaker?
As mentioned in the article, it is 75W per woofer and 25W per tweeter. That totals 200 watts.