JBL Flip portable speaker

JBL is a legendary American audio brand founded in 1946 by James Bullough Lansing. Based in Los Angeles, California, the company initially built its reputation on high-quality loudspeakers and cinema sound systems before expanding into consumer electronics. The speaker shown in the image is part of the popular Flip series, known for its rugged, waterproof design and portable form factor.

While JBL was originally an independent American company, it was acquired by Harman International Industries in 1969. In a major industry shift in 2017, Harman International was acquired by the South Korean tech giant Samsung Electronics. Consequently, the ultimate ownership of the JBL brand rests with Samsung, though it continues to operate under the Harman umbrella and maintains its distinct American engineering heritage.

Today, most of JBL's consumer electronics, including portable Bluetooth speakers like the Flip and Charge series, are manufactured in China. However, the company maintains a global production footprint with additional manufacturing or assembly facilities in countries such as Mexico, Hungary, and Vietnam to support different regional markets.