JBL L42ms

Part of the company’s Classic Series, the JBL L42ms is a smaller alternative to its L75ms stablemate. It can be connected wirelessly using Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to support streaming from various services, including Apple AirPlay 2, Google Chromecast, Spotify Connect, and TIDAL Connect. It is Roon Ready, and compatible with Samsung Smart Things - which means it can be integrated into a smart home set-up.

Physical device connections are also possible. The JBL’s back panel sports an Ethernet port for wired internet connectivity, a 3.5mm audio input jack, RCA stereo audio inputs, an HDMI ARC port and a USB slot for service support. 

Oh, there’s also an audio output to connect a subwoofer - which, given what’s to come, begs the question, “steady on JBL, you having a larf or what?” 

More about that later. But for now, here’s how the L42ms does its thing. 

Removing what JBL describes as its “iconic Quadrex grille” reveals two 0.75-inch aluminium dome tweeters astride a pair of four-inch ‘Pure Pulp’ woofers. These drive units are powered by a four-channel amplification system that’s configured for stereo reproduction and designed to deliver 75W to each woofer and 25W to each tweeter. 

The result is 200W of Class D total system power (all wattage figures are given as RMS). While more conventional amps use amplification components that are linear gain devices, those used in Class D designs operate as electronic switches and deploy pulse modulation techniques to quickly switch between power supplies. This makes them highly efficient. 

Digital processing is via a built-in 24bit/96kHz DAC.

Sound quality

Once it’s set-up, what instantly hits you (quite literally) is the JBL’s sledgehammer bass. Initial impressions are that the sound is brutish and aggressive. But wait. 

All hi-fi snobbery needs to be set aside here, because not only would it be unfair to dismiss the L42ms because of its over-enthusiastic bottom end, that would also be a misunderstanding of the purpose of this bit of kit. JBL has long been a player in the domestic audio market, but let’s not forget about its pedigree as a maker of professional audio systems used in music venues, stadiums and cinemas etc. In other words, the L42ms likes to play it loud and proud - this is a party animal, and it’s all about having fun. And once you get that, you start to get into the JBL.

For instance, feed it with Swedish House Mafia’s Redlight and despite its relatively compact dimensions, the L42ms pumps out this track’s subterranean lower frequencies with sternum-crunching impact. Increase the volume, and the sonics remain solid with dance-floor dimensions and basically zero coloration. 

I want to repeat the trick, and the electronica of Two Lanes (featuring Troves)’ Back To You, with its pounding bass-line, provides a good opportunity to play with the JBL’s sound settings. The rear panel features two bass reflex ports to help reinforce lower frequencies, although with dollops of bass already on offer, I find it more comfortable to position the L42ms away from walls. 

The rear also features a bass contour switch which can be activated to reduce lower frequencies - or, if you want to go the other way, you can connect a separate subwoofer in order to really test the Richter scale and heap on more bass.

Dance, heavy duty rock, reggae - this is the kind of stuff the JBL laps up. But it is less successful when your music is less about the hips and more about the heart. Play gentler tracks such as the somewhat doleful dream-pop of Cigarettes After Sex, and the vocals don’t excite as much. For example, listen to Crush and lead singer Greg Gonzalez’s voice lacks the emotion heard on other systems - and so the midrange sounds strained and lacks a little of the breathing space needed to capture the listener’s heart. It should be said that this midrange issue is not unique to JBL, as I have also experienced it with other similar integrated systems.

You could try using the system’s Sound-Field Expansion (SFX) mode, but I find this to be reminiscent of the ‘Stereo Wide’ mode that was common on the so-called ‘ghetto-blasters’ and personal audio players of the 1980s. In the case of the JBL, it only serves to take some of the shine off the sound - which means less exuberance and energy. 

But stop. We’re straying into hi-fi snobbery here. JBL will be the first to admit that the L42ms is not a hi-fi product in the strict sense - indeed, this is not mentioned anywhere in its marketing blurb. But the audio quality is notable - as long as you like your music with the sugar rush that this speaker needs to give of its best.

Living with

This is a simple system to live with. Measuring just 162x617x234 (HxWxD, mm) and weighing 8.5kg, you can easily move it to wherever your party is at. It doesn’t require a great deal of set-up - the JBL Premium Audio app (Android or iOS) can be used to connect it to your Wi-Fi network and then access streaming services, podcasts, radio, etc. 

Once connected, it stays connected - which is great, since I have come across other apps that seem to fall off your network for no reason or continually need re-connection. You can also use the JBL app to power up/down the speaker - although if you have already connected to Spotify, for example, all you need to is select the L42ms as your listening device and it will do so automatically. 

The supplied Bluetooth remote control replicates most of the buttons on the top of the speaker, including switching between audio sources, volume adjustment, changing tracks, activating SFX mode, muting and power. 

The L42ms is available in a choice of real wood veneer finishes (black walnut or natural walnut), but aesthetically it is no head-turner and looks somewhat bland (at least to this reviewer’s eye). It looks like something that might have fallen out of a roadie’s van. I suppose that’s in keeping with JBL’s heritage - but at this price I expect an elegantly designed showpiece, especially as it’s likely to be positioned in a prominent location rather than tucked away in a cabinet. 

Conclusion

JBL has come up with a real party animal with the L42ms. It plumbs the depths when it comes to bass, and excels at beat-driven dance tracks and their ilk. This is one for those who like to move to their music as opposed to those who like their music moody, as the midrange tends to sound congested with less frenetic tracks. It’s certainly a solid bit of kit, both in terms of acoustics as well as build, although beauty is in the eye of the beholder…

Listening notes

Swedish House Mafia Redlight 

A tune that quickly builds to unleash a killer bass line that has lesser speakers gasping for breath as their diaphragms rapidly suck in and breathe out. The JBL, of course, takes it all in its stride.

Two Lanes (featuring Troves) Back To You

Berlin-based brothers Leo and Rafa mix classical style music with electronica to come up with music that blends ambient pop with more laid-back piano pieces. Back To You is from their 2019 EP “Drifting” and is a well-produced techno track that suits the ‘up-and-at-’em’ attitude of the L42ms.

Cigarettes After Sex Crush 

This 2018 single is typical of the US band’s guitar-based love and sex songs, and a decent-sounding system will allow lead singer’s Greg Gonzalez forlorn vocals and the accompanying haunting guitar melodies to be packed with emotion.

This relatively compact integrated music system offers versatility thanks to both wireless and wired device connectivity. It is simple to set up and use, and its full-on performance will appeal to those who like their music where the octane levels and BPM-count is high.