JL Audio Primacy Active Speakers

gene

gene

Audioholics Master Chief
Administrator
Audioholics was invited to JL Audio’s Miramar, Florida facility for the exclusive unveiling of the Primacy S3 standmount and T4 tower speakers. These fully active designs feature ultra-precision cabinets, individually matched drivers, powerful onboard DSP, and JL Audio’s P.A.R.O., which optimizes full-range response and seamlessly integrates subwoofers with proper phase and time alignment—something many room correction systems struggle to achieve. The result is a highly engineered system focused on accuracy, low distortion, and real-world room performance.

Primacy reflects our unwavering commitment to integrate modern lifestyles and technologies into luxury audio that’s high performing, beautifully built and uniquely optimized for the space it’s in. The ultimate audio experience, Primacy lets you listen to music, movies, and games like you’re there live, inside the scene, with amazing clarity of every sound.
— Susan Lyman, Garmin Vice President of Consumer Sales and Marketing

Primact T6-close.jpg

Primacy-T6.jpg


Listening impressions revealed a clean, dynamic sound with deep, controlled bass and exceptional coherence; adding dual Gotham subs in Sound Room 3 delivered a visceral, room-filling experience with a seamlessly wide soundstage and deep infrasonic bass—fully integrated with the T6 towers without the typical sub/sat character.

Read our Full Report of the JL Audio Primary Speaker


For more information on JL Audio Primary

Sound Room 3 was the room to be in if you wanted to experience the full culmination of what JL Audio could do. Dual Gothams brought the T6s to the next level of depth and impact, and P.A.R.O. perfectly aligned the subs to the T6s so the system sounded fully integrated with excellent modal control and transient response. On “Differently” by Marion Hill, the bass hits shook my spine. The tactile response was surprising considering we were sitting on concrete flooring. The T6s showcased their imaging prowess while the Gothams made their presence felt, NOT just heard. “Erase Me” by Lizzy McAlpine featuring Jacob Collier sounded terrific on this system. Her vocals were intimate and airy, while the bass hit with such surgical precision and depth, it just made you want to listen for hours.
— Gene DellaSala

Sound Room 3 was my favorite. With dual Gotham subwoofers supporting the system, the presentation became effortless. Bass extended deeply while remaining controlled and musical — never overwhelming.

For orchestral and classical pieces, which I gravitate toward, the system created a sense of space and realism that felt immersive and emotionally engaging.

— Bertha DellaSala

Primacy S3.jpg


Don't let their size fool you. We've never heard deeper, more powerful bass from a standmount speaker featuring a 5.5" single driver. The XMAX on this driver is 25mm. Pretty impressive, though not inexpensive.
 
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BoredSysAdmin

BoredSysAdmin

Audioholic Slumlord
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TankTop5

Audioholic Samurai
Guessing T6’s with a pair of Gothams sails right past $100k. That said a fully engineered system designed to play perfectly together with amazing room correction is a solid option for those with the means.
 
gene

gene

Audioholics Master Chief
Administrator
gene

gene

Audioholics Master Chief
Administrator
Guessing T6’s with a pair of Gothams sails right past $100k. That said a fully engineered system designed to play perfectly together with amazing room correction is a solid option for those with the means.
The T6 system is $100k+ and 2 Gothams would bring it to about $140k
 
T

TankTop5

Audioholic Samurai
The T6 system is $100k+ and 2 Gothams would bring it to about $140k
I’m sure with active EQ the speakers will measure great but if they don’t, this will be rough on them. That said they’ve been building car audio for decades so they’re not exactly new to speaker design.
 
T

TankTop5

Audioholic Samurai
Oh wow, JL’s P.A.R.O. independently controls each driver section of the speakers like an active crossover with room correction and time/phase aligns all speaker drivers with external subs. I know this is currently possible but with a ton of equipment and it would take significant DIY or professional expertise.
 
lovinthehd

lovinthehd

Audioholic Jedi
Didn't know Garmin bought JL but never was impressed by JL....
 
Bodywonderful

Bodywonderful

Enthusiast
90k huh?
Gene, have you thought about starting your own loan company for speaker purchases? You know, for those of us who don't make at least a million a year, you would really help me out.
 
BoredSysAdmin

BoredSysAdmin

Audioholic Slumlord
Hmm, should I buy 90k speakers or put a down payment on 1/2mil house? Decisions, Decisions
 
Kingnoob

Kingnoob

Audioholic Ninja
Didn't know Garmin bought JL but never was impressed by JL....
JL seems like a brand for those with endless budgets . Surely this system must be amazing to Warrent the huge price . In a merica , only one percent can afford a $100k+ system . Nah its probably 25% who can just many don’t buy them get soundbars .
.. yet I see people driving new cars everywhere , one has a bmw m2 I saw on a walk …
 
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lovinthehd

lovinthehd

Audioholic Jedi
Mostly my problem with JL is their subs were mediocre....what makes them vault into this space particularly?
 
A

audiogod66

Enthusiast
Very informative articles and YouTube video. A 7 billion dollar company that cant release a pair of DSP speakers with 5 inch! bass drivers for under say $40 000 so that normal people can aspire to? Sorry as a DEQX user for 20 years I see nothing exceptional that warrants 140k expenditure. I actually have 7 fitter and Turners plus a tool maker in the extended family and sand casting Aluminium doesn't add $70000 to product cost per unit. Anyway sadly the destruction of the middle class in the west means the market for quality audio is a very small market and the target audience has a percentage of snobs who if the product isn't very highly priced then automatically it cannot sound good and I have met truck loads of these types.
The engineering is promising and I wish them success but they look like 20k speakers if that. Seen the Tidal Actives? Absolutely stunning and look like 150k worth just flawless. Watching that guy try and bang the top panel on and seeing the way it hung over the top - sorry that was Walmart level fit n finish compared to Tidal and other exceptionally engineered audio speakers. Anyway I am sure the sound was ok but at 140k US that sound must be exceptional and also in listening rooms where expensive art and furniture etc resides they just don't look 100K worth.
Anyway Gene and Bertha exceptional article and my criticism is meant to be of a massive 7 billion dollar company to improve this product to a more mainstream audience. If Tesla can bring us computer controlled self driving cars for half this money its a shame these speakers are so damn expensive.
Perhaps Bertha and Gene might comment on the perceived looks of the product for people who are conscious of how products appear in the home - I know you both are tech types so perhaps more forgiving of that than many .
 
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H

highfigh

Seriously, I have no life.
The url links are all out of whack in the first post.
Ok, I was confused about why JL Audio system goes to Garmin, which we know as a GPS/Navigation software company and more recently smartwatches, not known for its hi-end audio, but it seems I was wrong. I guess Garmin did buy JL Audio at some point. https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/1866021/
But the link to "Read our Full Report of the JL Audio Primary Speaker " is indeed broken
Garmin also owns Fusion Entertainment, a brand of marine audio equipment which on its own makes excellent products and their head units can be controlled by Garmin nav displays via NMEA2000. A lot of boat owners have used the marine version of JL Audio speakers & amps and they now have a better stake on the market. Neither brand is budget-oriented, but Fusion has some products that are priced reasonably for what they offer.
 
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