There’s a quiet thrill that comes with seeing something completely new especially when it changes how we make music.
At JBL’s “Hear the Future” event in EDSA Shangri-La Manila, that moment came when the brand introduced the JBL BandBox, an AI-powered smart amp and portable speaker that doesn’t just play your music. It helps you create it.
The launch gathered musicians, creators, and tech writers for an afternoon that blurred the line between product showcase and jam session.
On stage, Evelyn Fu, Product Manager for Harman Asia Pacific Lifestyle Audio, joined Matt Wilson of Wild Dream Records for a live demo of the BandBox.
Fu walked the audience through how the device’s built-in AI can separate instruments and vocals in real time (no laptop, no extra software) while Wilson played along to show how it all comes together in practice.
With just a few taps, Fu muted the vocals on a popular track, handed the spotlight to Wilson’s guitar, then isolated the singing again, letting everyone hear how seamless the transitions were. The crowd could see (and hear) why JBL called it a world-first.
It was music practice, reimagined.
A new kind of companion for musicians
The JBL BandBox Solo and BandBox Trio are built around JBL’s new Stem AI technology, which can isolate or remove vocals, guitars, or drums from any song in real time, no internet connection required.
“The JBL BandBox was engineered with one goal: to meet the exact needs of musicians and blend them with cutting-edge technology,” said Grace Koh, General Manager and Vice President for Consumer Audio, Harman Asia Pacific.
Inside the BandBox is a dedicated AI chip that does the heavy lifting. Stream a track from Spotify, YouTube, or your playlist, and it separates each element instantly. No apps to install, no subscriptions to pay. Just plug in and start jamming.
The Solo model is compact, perfect for singer-songwriters or anyone who wants to practice without lugging around pedals or amps. It has a single guitar or mic input, 18W RMS output, and built-in tools like a tuner, looper, drum machine, and pitch shifter. You can even layer effects such as chorus, phaser, and reverb through the JBL One App, or connect it via USB-C to record straight into a digital workstation.
Meanwhile, the Trio version was made for small bands. With four inputs, a four-channel mixer, and 135W of power (driven by a 6.5-inch woofer and dual tweeters), it’s the portable amp that feels like a stage setup. The replaceable JBL Battery 400 lasts up to 10 hours, so rehearsals don’t have to stop when the outlet’s too far away.
“A lot of aspiring musicians spend more time setting up their gear than actually playing,” said Larry Secreto, Country Head of Harman Philippines. “BandBox takes away that friction. It’s plug-and-play — you can practice anywhere.”
The BandBox Solo arrives in the Philippines this November 2025 for ₱16,499, followed by the BandBox Trio at ₱34,999.
The bigger picture: Hear the Future
While BandBox stole the spotlight, it’s part of a much larger JBL story. One that celebrates how we listen, move, and connect through sound.
The Hear the Future lineup includes the new JBL BAR MK2 Series, led by the BAR 1300MK2 and BAR 1000MK2, which bring true Dolby Atmos immersion through detachable wireless surround speakers. For smaller spaces, there’s the BAR 800MK2, BAR 500MK2, and BAR 300MK2, all tuned for cinematic sound that fits right at home.
Outdoor lovers got their upgrade, too, with the JBL Boombox 4, now featuring deeper bass, bolder JBL Pro Sound, and longer battery life.
The PartyBox On-The-Go 2 and PartyBox 720 (now with built-in batteries) keep the energy alive with dynamic LED lighting and wireless mics made for karaoke nights that never seem to end.
For athletes, the Endurance Zone and Endurance Pace earphones were designed to keep up with sweat, movement, and long training sessions.
And for everyday multitaskers, JBL’s new open-ear lineup — the Soundgear Clips, Sense Pro, and Sense Lite — offers comfortable, all-day wear without cutting you off from the world.
The brand also introduced the JBL Grip, a sleek, lightweight everyday earbud, and the JBL Quantum 250, bringing its gaming audio expertise to more players with precise, immersive sound.
Sound that moves with you
Taken together, Hear the Future feels less like a launch and more like a statement. That sound today is no longer confined to speakers or headphones. It moves with you, adapts to your lifestyle, and even helps you make music of your own.
As Koh put it, “JBL sound isn’t just heard — it’s felt, lived, and shared.”
