To celebrate its 80th anniversary, JBL will host the JBL Playback Gallery at Project Space Line in Seoul from October 24 to 31. The exhibition traces the globally renowned audio brand’s evolution through eight decades of innovation, inviting visitors to explore its history firsthand. Throughout the year, HARMAN has showcased JBL’s iconic products from different eras in major cities — including Los Angeles, Amsterdam, Vienna, Munich, Nagoya, and Tokyo. The Seoul exhibition marks the final stop on the global tour, with a specially curated experience that reflects the city’s cultural identity and changing lifestyles over the decades. Spanning three floors, the JBL Playback Gallery brings together 80 years of JBL history and its latest products, alongside an exhibition dedicated to the 60th anniversary of premium audio brand Bowers & Wilkins. Samsung Newsroom got an exclusive preview ahead of the opening. ▲ The JBL Playback Gallery commemorates JBL’s 80th anniversary and Bowers & Wilkins’ 60th anniversary. JBL Heritage: A Journey Through 80 Years of Sound Heritage At the heart of the exhibition was the “JBL Heritage” section on the second floor. Under the theme “A Legacy of Sound,” the space chronicled eight decades of audio innovation through signature JBL products displayed in recreated living rooms from the 1920s, 1950s, and 1970s — capturing the atmosphere of each era. The 1920s living room featured a 1929 Jackson-Bell radio equipped with speakers produced by Lansing Manufacturing, a company founded in Los Angeles in 1927 by JBL founder James B. Lansing. The model offered a glimpse into the early work that laid the foundation for the brand. ▲ A Jackson-Bell radio in the 1920s living room In the 1950s living room, the JBL Paragon blended into its surroundings like a piece of furniture. Launched in 1957, the home stereo speaker system housed left and right speakers in a single cabinet. Each unit required approximately 100 hours of woodworking and featured a distinctive curved wooden design. ▲ The JBL Paragon in the 1950s living room Complete with a turntable and vinyl records, the 1970s living room illustrated how professional audio technology made its way into homes. On display was the JBL L100 Century, a home loudspeaker launched in 1970 based on the 4310 studio monitor introduced in 1968. It went on to become one of JBL’s most successful home loudspeakers. ▲ The JBL L100 Century in the 1970s living room Beyond the period-inspired settings, “Playback Gallery: A Story of JBL Through the Ages” charted major milestones — from James B. Lansing’s early speaker designs and the founding of JBL to technological advances in recording studios, cinemas, and concert venues. The speakers on display and their stories revealed how the brand’s innovations have contributed to the evolution of music over the past 80 years. prev next ▲ The “Playback Gallery” showcases key moments and products from JBL’s 80-year history. The “Pro to Home” section explored how JBL’s professional audio technologies developed for cinemas and recording studios have evolved for home use. Among the highlights was the Summit K2, the latest model in a high-end loudspeaker lineage dating back to the introduction of Project K2 in 1989. Building on the series’ pursuit of exceptional home audio performance, the Summit K2 combines advanced acoustic technologies with powerful dynamics and nuanced musical detail. ▲ The “Pro to Home” exhibit ▲ The JBL Summit K2 JBL Today: Sound in Everyday Life While the second floor explored JBL’s history, the first floor focused on the brand today. Positioned at the entrance was the L100 Classic 80 , a limited-edition model that combines the iconic design of the original 1970s L100 with modern technology. Produced in just 800 pairs worldwide to celebrate JBL’s 80th anniversary, each set features a commemorative plaque engraved with the signature of Chief Systems Engineer Chris Hagen and a unique serial number. ▲ The JBL L100 Classic 80 This ye