JBL unveils Cove Wi-Fi speakers for multi-room audio
JBL has unveiled its new Cove series, three Wi-Fi speakers designed for whole-home audio rather than the portable Bluetooth and party speakers the brand is best known for. The speakers pair over Wi-Fi via the JBL One app to play music throughout a house without interruptions or manual regrouping, marking a notable shift into the multi-room audio market alongside established players. They can also serve as rear channel speakers for JBL's Bar Series MK2 soundbars, offering an easy route into home theatre setups.
The range comprises the Cove M1, a standard speaker with three tweeters, one woofer and AI sound boost for $230; the Cove P1, a portable, battery-powered model with 14 hours of playback and Dolby Atmos support for $400; and the flagship Cove X1, featuring four tweeters, two woofers and Dolby Atmos for "room-filling audio" at $450. All three will be sold in black or white from 13 September, and are designed as a modular system so buyers can add speakers to their setup over time.
- JBL launches Cove Wi-Fi speaker series for whole-home, multi-room audio
- Three models: M1 ($230), P1 ($400), X1 ($450)
- Available in black/white from 13 September; works with JBL soundbars
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JBL is a well-known audio brand, traditionally famous for portable Bluetooth speakers used at parties or outdoors. With the Cove range, it is moving into a different category: whole-home Wi-Fi speaker systems, where several speakers connect wirelessly around a house to play the same or different music in sync. This puts JBL in competition with established multi-room audio makers rather than other portable speaker brands.
The Cove line consists of three models at different price points and specifications, from a standard home speaker to a battery-powered portable version and a higher-end model aimed at richer sound. They can also connect to JBL's existing soundbars to add surround sound for home cinema setups, and the system is designed to be modular, meaning owners can start with one speaker and add more later.
Multi-room and smart home audio is a growing market, with companies competing on sound quality, ease of use through companion apps, and how well products fit into wider home entertainment or smart home setups. JBL's entry into this space is significant because it signals the brand broadening beyond its traditional strengths and taking on rivals in a more established, higher-value segment of the audio market.
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Originally published by Engadget as “JBL just introduced a trio of Wi-Fi speakers for whole-home audio”.