JBL’s Elite Loudspeakers Harness 80 Years of Hi-Fi Heritage

The loudspeakers push “the boundaries of sound reproduction further than ever before.”

Published May 19, 2025

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Updated May 22, 2025

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JBL’s Summit Series represents the pinnacle of the company’s loudspeaker capabilities. According to the iconic audio maker, the range is “a testament to 80 years of engineering and passion for sound.”

To date, JBL’s Summit Series has consisted of two loudspeakers, Everest and K2, both of which are, obviously, named after some of the world’s iconic peaks. And now it’s adding three more loudspeakers to the line.

“With these new models, we are honoring our heritage while pushing the boundaries of sound reproduction further than ever before,” said Jim Garrett, Harman’s Senior Director of Product Strategy.

JBL’s New Summit Series

Three new summits

The additions to the Summit Series consist of two floor-standing and one stand-mounted loudspeakers.

The Makalu — named after the world’s fifth-highest mountain — is the biggest and most expensive of the three additions. It’s a 3-way floorstanding loudspeaker.

The Pumori — named after Mount Pumori, which is nicknamed “Daughter of Everest” as it is located just eight kilometres west of the world’s highest peak — is another three-way floorstanding loudspeaker, but is still slightly smaller and more affordable than the Makalu.

And finally, the Ama — named after Ama Dablam, another famous Himalayan peak — is a two-way stand-mounted loudspeaker. It’s the smallest and most affordable of the new Summit models.

JBL Summit Ama — The Summit Ama are two-way stand-mounted loudspeakers.

Upgraded drivers

The two floorstanding speakers, the flagship Makalu and Pumori, are pretty similar. Both have a three-way design and share the exact same 8-inch midrange driver, but the Makalu has a slightly larger woofer (12-inch versus the Pumori’s 10-inch). Both drivers utilize JBL’s proprietary HC4 composite cones.

The two floorstanding speakers share a similar tweeter, too. It pairs the company’s patented D2 compression driver with a precision-molded HDI Sonoglass horn; according to the brand, it delivers “stunning dynamics and crystal-clear imaging.”

The Ama stand-mounted loudspeaker has a two-way design. It lacks the dedicated midrange driver of its larger siblings, but features a nearly identical woofer and tweeter combo as in the Pumori. (The only difference is that its 8-inch woofer is slightly smaller than the Pumori’s 10-inch woofer.)

JBL Summit Pumori — The Pumori are similar 3-way floorstanding loudspeakers to the flagship Makalu, but slightly smaller.

Shared proprietary tech

Aside from size and drivers, the three new Summit loudspeakers share a lot of similar technologies.

They have the same meticulously crafted cabinets, which the band claims are heavily braced, softly contoured, and built to eliminate resonance. Each is available in the same luxurious finishes: black or ebony veneer.

All three feature JBL’s proprietary MultiCap crossover network with single-wire and bi-amp/bi-wire connectivity, which the company claims “ensures purity and performance throughout the entire audio chain.”

They also have the same IsoAcoustics adjustable isolation feet.

JBL Summit Makalu — The Makalu are the largest and most expensive of JBL’s new Summit loudspeakers.

Price and availability

Starting from smallest to largest, the Ama will cost $19,999/pair (stands are included); the Pumori will cost $29,995/pair; and the Makalu will cost $44,995/pair.

All three loudspeakers in JBL’s revamped Summit Series will be available “later in 2025.”

About the Author:

Tucker Bowe has been on Gear Patrol’s editorial team since 2014. As a Tech Staff Writer, he tracks everything in the consumer tech space, from headphones to smartphones, wearables to home theater systems. If it lights up or makes noise, he probably covers it.