October 2025
ertonline.co.uk
Philips marks 100 years of home audio with three-year Century campaign
Philips has announced a three-year campaign to celebrate its centenary in home audio, says Steve May. The initiative will see the introduction of its Retro range, a competitive new mid-range headphone with advanced driver technology, the return of its high-end Fidelio line, and the relaunch of its Moving Sound youth brand in 2026.
The Philips Audio Century campaign officially began this October with the launch of the Retro range. The five-model line-up combines contemporary performance with heritage-inspired design, drawing on Philips’ long history of audio innovation. Products include two integrated turntable systems – the flagship Philips V9000 ‘Tina’ and entry- level Philips V3000 ‘Stevie’ – alongside the Philips
V2000 ‘Janet’ portable DAB/FM radio and two new headphone models: the Philips SHP9500CY ‘Freddie’ open-back wired headphone and the lightweight Philips H2000 ‘Ringo’ on-ear model. The Tina has been positioned as the most available, delivering 120W RMS power through a meanwhile, offers an affordable, compact entry point into vinyl playback, while the Janet wraps a 1950s-style design around a portable DAB/FM radio with Bluetooth streaming and a 15-hour battery life. For headphone buyers, the Freddie revisits Philips’ open-back wired headphone tradition with large 50mm drivers, steel headband and detachable cable, while the Ringo updates the 1980s-style portable on- ear format with wireless playback, 26-hour battery life, multipoint connection, and AI microphone for calls. Alongside its retro collection, Philips is introducing the H8000E, a wireless, hybrid adaptive ANC headphone designed to bring premium performance into the mid-range category (expected retail £150).
return of its premium Fidelio line in 2026. CD player and FA3 active wireless loudspeakers, both designed as standalone products but also complementary as part of a complete system. Finally, Philips is set to relaunch its Moving Sound sub-brand in Q2 2026. Originally popular in the 1980s youth market, Moving Sound will return with two portable Bluetooth speakers, The Tube and The Roller, alongside the MS1 lightweight wireless headphone and MS5 true wireless earbud.
JBL showcases all-new JBL Bar
1300MK2.
Brand trades on heritage with new line-up of soundbars and portable speakers, writes Steve May…
JBL leveraged its historic movie past to launch its new Bar Series soundbars, with a listening experience at Nordisk Film Studios, in Copenhagen. The event saw the brand take over the studio’s largest LED production stage to provide an immersive insight into
The incoming Bar 1300MK2 is an 11.1.4 Dolby Atmos design with a class-leading 29-driver array. The bar features two detachable wireless speakers, which can be used either as surround channels (just park them on the back of your sofa), or as portable Bluetooth speakers.
The system also marks the debut of AI Sound Boost, embedded within its subwoofer. This intelligent processing tech enhances dynamic range while minimising distortion, ensuring deep, punchy bass even at higher volume levels.
The JBL Bar 1000MK2 drops the speaker count, but keeps the detachable rear speakers, while the JBL Bar 800MK2 drops the option of the detachables. The smaller, entry level JBL Bar 500MK2 and JBL Bar 300MK2 models offer the choice of a smaller footprint, either with or without a soundbar. JBL also used the event to debut its Boombox 4, which despite being almost 1kg lighter than its predecessor (no subwoofer this time), actually plays louder, and its new, slender, Grip portable Bluetooth speaker. JBL told ERT that it expects to ship a million
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