JBL's big, bad Mt Everest speaker system

Step in front of JBL's new Mt. Everest speaker system and you too can feel the pain. Look, we don't pretend to be audiophiles round these parts, but when a reputable company like JBL drops a new flagship speaker system into the mix by the name of Mt Everest, well, it's gonna be one badazz, mofo'n speaker. Besides, if you're buying a speaker system measuring in at 38 x 18.5 x 44-inches, 313-pounds and pumping 500 watts of thump, well, you're probably trying to purchase more than just sound quality now aren't you. Available from September 21st in Japan for ¥3,460,000 or nearly $30,000. Oh, and check a better image of the complete Mt. Everest system done-up in maple after the break -- who knew all that power came from two 9v Duracell batteries?

[Sheehan @ Sep 8th 2006 10:50AM]

That is one freaking sweet speaker system. Wonder how many power amplifiers it took to get 18v to produce 500 watts of thumping power. Mt. Everest here I come!

-books flght to japan to pick up special release technology...again...

--Sheehan

[Enzo @ Sep 8th 2006 11:04AM]

"who knew all that power came from two 9v Duracell batteries?"
It doesn't. This isn't the first set of speakers that uses batteries, or even a power cable to run something or other in the speaker itself, but those batteries aren't running any power amps.

[Ben @ Sep 8th 2006 11:07AM]

That'll never fit on my car's parcel-shelf!!!

[Thomas Ricker @ Sep 8th 2006 11:11AM]

Uh, Enzo, that was a joke.

Thomas

[Kyle @ Sep 8th 2006 11:21AM]

::Places speaker against neighbors wall...::

::Turns volume to MAX::

::Hilarity ensues...::

[cableric @ Sep 8th 2006 11:24AM]

Oh Enzo...*shakes head*

[Homer J @ Sep 8th 2006 11:30AM]

Would have been a good picture for a Engadget caption contest.

[Darth Tony @ Sep 8th 2006 11:33AM]

They look way cooler flipped upside down.

[jebo @ Sep 8th 2006 11:35AM]

So, wait....two 9v batteries can't produce 500W?!?!

So that's why my battery powered dual core Crossfire PC hasn't been working....

[Audiophile @ Sep 8th 2006 11:42AM]

An ultra high-end JBL System? I'm skeptic. I think for $30k I would invest in Montana speakers.

[armatronix @ Sep 8th 2006 11:56AM]

Does that have an iPod dock?

[Michael @ Sep 8th 2006 12:03PM]

are the batteries supplied rechargeable? if so who manufactures them? any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

:P

[Uncle Jerry @ Sep 8th 2006 12:09PM]

I think they could use these to break apart kidney stones... Just stand infront of it and crank it up. 10 min's later your pissing sand.

[Ken @ Sep 8th 2006 12:11PM]

"Check it out! Thirty feet of thigh-slapping, blood-pumping nuclear brain damage! If you can't afford it, FINANCE IT! And here's the best part: when you die, they can BURY you in it!" -- Judge Reinhold in 'Ruthless People'

[John @ Sep 8th 2006 12:14PM]

"10 min's later your pissing sand."

And probably lots of blood and a few bits of internal organs, including the kidneys themselves.

[Tom W @ Sep 8th 2006 12:22PM]

I don't see anything special about it.

If you want to ROCK, then there is no substitute for lots of BIG speakers in your face like these chest thumping monsters right here:
http://www.legacy-audio.com/2004/whisper.html
http://www.legacy-audio.com/2004/focus2020.html

[Mike Evangelist @ Sep 8th 2006 12:25PM]

JBL has been doing stuff like this for many years. Here's the greatest example:

http://www.audioheritage.org/html/profiles/jbl/paragon.htm

[Curt Chambers @ Sep 8th 2006 12:35PM]

Welcome to the next edition of "Pimp My Home Theater"

[speaker dummy @ Sep 8th 2006 1:57PM]

Reminded me of Klipschorn.

http://www.klipsch.de/products/details/klipschorn.aspx

[mcspacebar @ Sep 8th 2006 2:05PM]

what a load of horse hockey!
Im betting that this is nothing more than some JBL
pro audio components in a fancy new box.
looks a lot like some monitors we used to have at a sound company i worked for,
we called them BFW for big f*cking wedge. they were monitors for Twisted Sister.

[old punz @ Sep 8th 2006 2:12PM]

looks like a relative of Colonel Klipsch's early works.

[Hulk @ Sep 8th 2006 2:21PM]

Ahhh. Hulk cannot choose!

http://www.higherfi.com/spkrlist/speakerlist.htm

-The Incredible Hulk

[CharlieX @ Sep 8th 2006 2:38PM]

i remember listening to some Wagner on a pair of Wilson Wattt/Puppies, and then when the dude walked out of the room I dropped in some Sublime. Man did they kick us out fast....

[JS @ Sep 8th 2006 2:54PM]

Warning: The JBL "Brown Note" series speakers can induce abdominal cramping amongst conference attendees.

[Alexander Micek @ Sep 8th 2006 2:58PM]

My best guess on the batteries is that they power the active crossovers ... who knows, though! I thought the battery comment was funny, though.

[Zach @ Sep 8th 2006 6:35PM]

That looks perfect for my 10,000 square foot living room.

[wesker @ Sep 9th 2006 6:19AM]

They are fugly i have to say.. Give Me Bang & Olufsens BeoLab 5's anyday.

[ArcSine @ Sep 11th 2006 3:53PM]

Meh.

http://www.wilsonaudio.com/product/alexandria/specs.php

[me, duh @ Sep 12th 2006 12:01AM]

"An ultra high-end JBL System? I'm skeptic. I think for $30k I would invest in Montana speakers."

sceptic? ignorant?

jbl makes some of the finest drivers ever.
while they have pretty much sullied their own name of late with sub par ipod speakers and the like they haven't stopped producing extremely high quality high end stuff. Each subsequent everest model is a showpiece for the state of the art at jbl.

come to think of it there aren't too many other companies who do touring gear and hi-fi.

[Dylan @ Sep 12th 2006 4:19AM]

I have the JBL Ranger Paragon. It was purchased in 1962 by my grandfather and we have an original Marantz stereo console as the preamp and an original Harmon Kardon Citation II Power amp. Although the tubes for the Citation are now hard to find and rather pricey, this combination produces some of the most amazing sound reproduction I have ever experienced. This is one area where JBL has produced some amazing products!

[Ter @ Sep 20th 2006 5:24PM]

I'd buy a pair in a minute...If Sears delivers... for free...

[tmariej @ Sep 13th 2007 11:20AM]

yes please

[Erika @ Sep 14th 2007 6:37PM]

I want to win