Overview
- JBL announced the Cove family on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, opened preorders that day, and will ship the speakers from Sept. 13 on JBL.com.
- Pricing starts at $229.95 for the compact M1, $399.95 for the portable P1, and $449.95 for the larger X1.
- The system centers on quick setup through the JBL One app, lossless and hi‑res streaming support, and broad protocol compatibility including Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, Qobuz, Roon, AirPlay 2, and Google Cast.
- Model differences matter: the P1 is battery powered with up to 14 hours and an IP56 rating for outdoor use, the X1 offers Dolby Atmos 3D sound but cannot act as rear channels at launch, and M1/P1 can pair with JBL Bar MK2 soundbars as surrounds.
- JBL is pitching Cove as an easy, single‑app ecosystem that uses AI Sound Boost and room calibration for tuning, keeps USB MP3 and Auracast fallbacks for resilience, and may gain more features or hardware over time based on user feedback.