I attended HARMAN's event, where autumn products including a foldable soundbar were unveiled, with JBL at the center. The JBL Cove series was the focus, highlighting Wi-Fi connectivity and multifunctionality.
HARMAN unveiled the JBL Cove series at its new-product launch event, "HARMAN ExPLORE TOKYO 2026," and explained its features as a range of Wi-Fi-connected speakers. The Cove name refers to a small inlet, and the concept presented was access to more than 100 million streaming tracks. Cove X1 was positioned at the top, with Cove P1 and M1 below it.
Cove X1 is the flagship model, equipped with height speakers and supporting Dolby Atmos playback. Cove P1 is a portable model with a built-in battery that also supports Dolby Atmos and is designed to be carried indoors and outdoors. Cove M1 is the entry-level model with a 3-channel configuration and no height speakers. Each model has 3 tweeters and a center speaker, with a design intended to fill the space evenly with sound.
The Cove series can connect wirelessly with JBL's latest soundbars, the Bar 500 MkII and Bar 300 MkII. The event explained that Cove P1 can be used as a Wi-Fi speaker in a living room or bedroom, then placed behind the soundbar when watching movies to serve as a fully wireless rear speaker. It also highlighted that holding down the Moment button synchronizes or stops playback on Cove speakers in other rooms of the same home.
In addition to operating the Moment button, the speakers can play healing sounds such as forest ambience and waves with a single press. The Cove series supports the JBL One app, which recognizes speakers on the network and enables volume adjustment and participation in multi-room playback. The article also touched on the importance of subscription audio sources and changes in the music experience.