JL Audio Primacy Active Loudspeaker System Overview and First Listen

JL Audio hosted the audio press during the last week of April 2026 at the company’s Florida headquarters in Miramar, where an entirely new, state-of-the-art audio active loudspeaker system was revealed after more than a decade of research and development. Chief Audioholic Gene DellaSala and Mrs. Audioholic Bertha DellaSala were there to get the scoop, and they tell me that the event was nothing short of incredible. JL Audio’s new Primacy is a premium home audio system that offers “extraordinary sound performance… tuned exactly for each listener’s space,” according to the company. This is the first major home audio launch from the brand since it was acquired by GPS tech company Garmin in 2023. The flexible Primacy system comprises three high-end components that can be deployed in various configurations depending on the user’s specific needs.

The Primacy T6 ($90,000/pair) is a fully active, 3-way tower speaker with DSP-optimized tuning and driver management. Each T6 tower has 1000 watts RMS of power packed into its sculptural, cast aluminum-alloy cabinet. The more compact Primacy S3 ($35,000/pair) is an active 2-way stand-mount speaker with 400 watts RMS total power, and the same DSP-optimized smarts as its larger sibling. By combining cutting-edge amplification, signal processing, and loudspeaker hardware, the Primacy speakers promise remarkable audio performance without clutter or complication. Both speakers are designed to work with the Primacy Centerpiece Stereo ($15,000), an elegant yet powerful networked streamer, preamplifier, and room optimization processor. Together, the Primacy Centerpiece and Primacy loudspeakers set “a new standard for sonic experience,” according to JL Audio.

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

Primacy Vision of JL Audio Co-founder Lucio Proni

Bertha DellaSala told me that the Primacy speaker system has clearly been a long-term vision for creator Lucio Proni, an innovator in the industry since 1989. As soon as she walked into the product-reveal presentation, Bertha could see that this was no mere product launch. Rather, it was “the culmination of decades of engineering philosophy aimed at redefining how modern, integrated home theater systems are designed and experienced.” And the one concept that kept resurfacing throughout the presentation and demos was optimization.

Key to this goal of optimized, performance-driven sound is the Primacy system’s fully active design, in which traditional, energy-draining passive crossover components are replaced by precise, DSP-based audio filtering. The audio signal is amplified by each speaker’s multiple built-in amplifiers — one for each driver section. And because DSP filtering occurs at the input of each of the active amplifier channels, the Primacy speakers reportedly maintain optimal control and damping over each moving diaphragm. The amps are said to employ the most advanced switching technology from JL Audio. The amplifier output stages use DirectFET surface-mount technology for clean switching and reduced EMI, with shorter power paths, according to JL Audio. A Zobel filter reportedly improves transients and reduces load effects on the amplifier to further optimize the interaction between the amplifier and speakers. All of this technology is housed within the Primacy speakers’ beautifully-crafted aluminum-alloy enclosures. Each loudspeaker features a cast and precision-machined enclosure with integrated internal bracing and woofer ports. These substantial structures deliver exceptional resonance control, structural integrity, and acoustic performance, according to JL Audio.

As impressive as the Primacy loudspeakers appear on their own, the addition of the Centerpiece Stereo streaming preamp reportedly pushes the Primacy system’s performance to another level entirely. The Centerpiece Stereo enables the use of Primacy Automatic Room Optimization (P.A.R.O.), a unique tool that automatically adjusts audio signals to deliver an optimized listening experience to specific locations in the room based on the user’s preference. Using a high-performance triple-core DSP operating at 32-bit/192kHz audio resolution, P.A.R.O. measures and optimizes the entire system — including any additional powered subwoofers — making adjustments to the crossovers, levels, equalization, and delay for each driver section of each speaker, to guarantee the best possible sound in any room.

Gene and Bertha filled in some key details, including the fact that P.A.R.O. is a closed-loop system with repeatable and consistent calibration results, measured continuously to refine the calibration process (which takes 10 to 15 minutes, start-to-finish). It can be run for multiple seat locations, and up to 5 P.A.R.O. listening positions and 10 user profiles can be stored. This allows each user to fine-tune the audio experience based on room acoustics, seating position, and frequency response preferences. While most typical room-correction software solutions downscale high-resolution content to 48kHz or 96kHz, P.A.R.O. maintains full audio resolution up to 192kHz for both analog and digital sources. And Bertha pointed out that, unlike traditional room correction systems, P.A.R.O. operates with a distinct advantage — it already “knows” the speakers. Because the system is preloaded with the full performance parameters of both the Primacy S3 standmount and T6 floorstanding speakers, P.A.R.O. can more accurately isolate and correct for the room’s influence in real time. The system provides precise control over crossover filters, equalization, dynamics, delay, and phase, offering a level of control that feels less like correction and more like true system optimization. Although users do have the ability to tweak to their hearts’ content, the automatic nature of P.A.R.O. makes it accessible to users at all experience levels.

Despite its complexity, the system is approachable. The setup process is guided through the app with clear instructions, making it accessible even for users newer to high-end audio. That balance between performance and usability is critical — and well executed here.

— Bertha DellaSala

This unusual combination of true simplicity and extreme performance is what the Primacy audio system is all about, and the Centerpiece Stereo control center is what makes it possible. Furthermore, the Centerpiece really seems to lean into the luxury component of a high-end sound system by focusing on style, build-quality, and tactile control. The Centerpiece includes a source connection component and options to stream audio via a connected device of your choosing. It also includes a high-performance phono stage which accommodates Moving Magnet (MM) and Moving Coil (MC) with resistance adjustments for optimization, high quality DAC, and offers four ports for future expandability. 

The Wi-Fi-connected tabletop remote controller features a weighted volume knob and touch buttons to select source, profile, and more. This is the part of the system that users will interact with on a daily basis, and it’s clear that having an elegant and attractive command hub for the system was a priority for the JL Audio team.

From a usability standpoint, I appreciated the inclusion of a dedicated digital remote with a physical knob. There’s something inherently satisfying about tactile control — being able to feel adjustments in real time adds a level of engagement that purely app-based systems often lack.

— Bertha DellaSala

The Centerpiece connects to the Primacy loudspeakers via studio-grade Dante networking technology, preserving a high-resolution digital signal flow. Dante is built into each Primacy loudspeaker; it establishes a routing, control, and audio connection to stream clean digital audio directly to the Primacy loudspeakers’ internal amplifiers. Streaming options include Roon (with full Roon Ready certification), Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Qobuz Connect, Apple Airplay, and Google Cast. Audio and room optimization controls are handled via the companion Primacy app, which can also be used to create, store, and name listening profiles optimized for different listening positions, equalization preference, and media types.

The factory tour felt like stepping into a high-end production environment where precision is the standard. From automated processes to detailed assembly work, every step is intentional. Serviceability is also built into the design, allowing for efficient in-house repairs when needed. The anechoic chamber testing further reinforced JL Audio’s commitment to performance validation.

 — Bertha DellaSala

JL Audio Primacy: Hardware Details

In addition to active listening demonstrations (more on those in a moment), the Primacy event included a technology seminar to provide further context. The folks at JL Audio explained how the speakers’ one-piece, sand-cast aluminum enclosure provides a rigid, resonance-resistant structure, which includes many internal features, such as the bracing and ports for the woofer section. Your interior decorator will surely appreciate the fact that the Primacy loudspeakers can be customized with a variety of beautiful finishes to complement the design of any room. The furniture-grade side panels are compression-molded from a glass-fiber-reinforced polymer to produce a durable and environmentally-stable component with a smooth surface. These panels are available in various finishes, including solid colors and real wood veneers, and can also be custom-painted, or wrapped. They can even be replaced with a different style down the road, so you aren’t stuck with one aesthetic if you want to redecorate your listening space or if you move to a new home.

Primacy Driver Tech

The Primacy drivers benefit from Klippel-based dynamic motor analysis, ensuring linear performance and reduced distortion. The drivers are mechanically decoupled from the speakers’ baffles, minimizing vibration transfer and improving clarity. It’s a holistic approach — one where each element supports the next. The use of neodymium in the tweeter contributes to efficiency and dynamic capability. The 1-inch tweeter used in both the S3 and T6 features a light, rigid, and well-damped thin-ply carbon-fiber diaphragm with a very powerful neodymium motor structure. It also uses a two-layer voice coil wound on a titanium former, and operates within a symmetrical drive motor structure with flux stabilization. A non-resonant aluminum chamber encloses the rear of the tweeter, providing a consistent and predictable environment for the tweeter’s operation.

A 5.5-inch polypropylene cone driver serves as a dedicated midrange driver in the T6 and as a mid-woofer in the S3. This driver uses a lightweight, mineral-filled polypropylene cone and dust cap, and a synthetic rubber surround structure with integral sealing and isolation elements molded into the surround. A Nomex/poly/cotton progressive roll spider with integrally-woven lead wires forms the rear suspension. A two-layer, bifilar copper voice coil is wound onto a polyimide (Kapton) former with a spun lace wrap. The motor uses a strontium-ferrite single stack ring magnet. To enhance rigidity and frequency response, the geometry of the cone was carefully considered. It has a single radius with a single step, and a lightweight support structure attached to the back of the cone. The T6 also uses four dedicated 5.5-inch woofers for an equivalent surface area of a very powerful 11" bass driver. These employ lightweight, yet rigid aluminum-alloy cones and dust caps. The surround, spider, voice coil, and motor all share similar designs with the midrange driver.

JL Audio Primacy S3

As explained above, the Primacy S3 standmount speaker is a fully active, 2-way system with DSP-optimized tuning and driver management. It receives a 32-bit/192kHz digital signal path from the Centerpiece Stereo via Dante networking technology. The S3 features a 5.5-inch polypropylene mid-woofer operating up to 3kHz, driven by a dedicated 200-watt RMS amplifier. The 1-inch carbon-fiber tweeter is also driven by its own dedicated 200-watt amp. The electronics feature synchronized, regulated switching power supplies with worldwide voltage capability. The speaker is rated down to an impressive 36Hz (-6 dB anechoic). Each Primacy S3 is 20.7 inches tall, by 10.1 inches wide, by 13.5 inches deep, and weighs a hefty 82 pounds.

JL Audio Primacy T6

The Primacy T6 is a fully active, 3-way tower system with 1000 watts RMS of total power. It too receives a 32-bit/192kHz digital signal path from the Centerpiece Stereo via Dante networking technology. The tower’s four 5.5-inch aluminum cone woofers provide the same cone area as a single 11-inch woofer, so there should be no shortage of bass output. The woofers operate between 29Hz and 250Hz, and the woofer section of each speaker sees 600 watts RMS from a dedicated amplifier. The 5.5-inch  polypropylene midrange driver operates between 250Hz and 3kHz, and is powered by its own 200 watt amplifier, as is the tweeter. Again, the T6 features synchronized, regulated switching power supplies. The T6 also utilizes Power Factor Correction (PFC). The tower’s bass response is rated down to 32 Hz (-6 dB, anechoic). Each T6 measures 48.8 inches tall, by 14.2 inches wide, by 21.2 inches deep, and weighs a back-breaking 272 pounds.

JL Audio Primacy Centerpiece Stereo

The Centerpiece Stereo component uses a powerful AKM triple-core 32-bit DSP for internal signal processing, operating at 192kHz. Analog audio inputs use individual stereo ESS SABRE 32-bit ADC chips for each channel, and the captured 192kHz resolution is maintained throughout the system, even with P.A.R.O. engaged. For the analog outputs (which are presumably necessary for adding subwoofers), individual stereo ESS SABRE 32-bit DAC chips are used, resulting in improved channel separation. Chips are wired in parallel, thus improving dynamic range and lowering the noise floor. What about lower-resolution digital signals? These are are upsampled to 32-bit/192kHz by a dedicated hardware asynchronous sample rate converter (ASRC). The USB audio input supports PCM files up to 384kHz, plus DSD 1x, 2x, and 4x. The HDMI eARC input supports stereo LPCM signals only, so make sure to select stereo PCM in your TV’s audio output settings. 

As a woman in the audio space — where conversations often default to what’s traditionally been called the “Wife Acceptance Factor” — I tend to approach systems from a slightly broader lens. For me, it’s not just about how a system sounds, but how it fits into a real living environment — visually, physically, and functionally. The Primacy system stood out here. The industrial design, with its single-piece sand-cast aluminum enclosure and refined finish, feels intentional and elevated. It doesn’t look like something you have to “justify” putting into a space — it belongs there. More importantly, the system’s ease of use, guided setup, and integrated control make it approachable. That matters. High-performance audio shouldn’t feel intimidating or exclusive — it should feel usable.

— Bertha DellaSala

JL Audio Primacy Listening Impressions from Gene and Bertha DellaSala

During the event, Gene and Bertha DellaSala had the opportunity to experience three JL Audio Primacy demo rooms, each offering a different perspective.

Sound Room 1 featured a pair of S3 standmount speakers, along with the Centerpiece Stereo preamp/processor and a duo of JL Audio 13-inch in-wall subs.

In Sound Room 1, they played demos with and without the subs engaged. Without the subs engaged, the S3 produced the deepest and fullest bass I’ve ever heard from a pair of standmount speakers featuring a single 5.5-inch driver. The Xmax on the driver is something like 25mm, so it’s a serious driver with a huge motor structure and lots of venting (vented pole piece, vented former, etc.) as you can see in the photos we took at the event. The first demo was on vinyl with Tony Bennett, and vocals sounded lifelike and intimate. JL Audio’s goal was to build the highest-performing phono stage in the Centerpiece, which has both MM/MC and resistance adjustments on board. I heard a very expansive soundstage on “Fanfare for the Common Man” by Minnesota Orchestra & Ejii Oue, with excellent depth in the timpani drums. It surprised me that a single 5.5-inch bass driver could manage it without distorting or bottoming out! “Blackbird” by Dionne Farris showcased a very soulful version of a Beatles classic, and adding the invisible in-wall dual JL Audio 13-inch subs added the last octave of bass to complement the S3s for a full-range experience. I was sitting in the front row for the S3 demo and did feel some of the source material sounded a bit bright/forward sounding, but I was unfamiliar with ALL of the tracks played. Shane Lee, sitting behind me, didn’t find this to be the case. Regardless, the benefit of S3 and T6 being active designs is that the end user can customize the sound to exactly how they like it AFTER they run P.A.R.O. calibration on the Centerpiece.

— Gene DellaSala

In Sound Room 1, the S3 bookshelf speakers delivered excellent center imaging and a surprisingly satisfying low-end presence. Instrument placement was precise, and the presentation felt cohesive.

Some higher-frequency instruments — particularly trumpets — leaned bright to my ears. I do have hyperacusis, so certain frequencies resonate more intensely for me than they might for others. That context is important. On the other hand, bass response was controlled and comfortable. Even when the room energized, it never crossed into the kind of overwhelming territory that can cause fatigue or discomfort.

— Bertha DellaSala

Sound Room 2 featured the T6 tower speakers and Centerpiece preamp/processor in a two-channel setup, with no subs.

In Sound Room 2, a lot of orchestral music was played to show off the immense dynamic capabilities the towers offer on their own. We listened to another Tony Bennett / Bill Evans track, “Some Other Time.” Bennett’s vocals were laser-focused and very lifelike. “Para Siempre” by Samuelito showcased that deep bass from the kick drums was present on the T6s, while still maintaining clear acoustic guitars. “Queen Mary” by Francine 13 sounded very spacious on the T6s, but the very deep sustained bass wasn’t fully present without the subs (compared to what I’m used to hearing in my system featuring a 21-inch infrasonic sub and twelve 12-inch subs, but that is of no surprise). This track would have definitely hit with much more bass authority if a pair of JL Audio Gotham subs were present. “Neph” by Trombone Shorty demonstrated how natural brass instruments sounded on the T6s.

— Gene DellaSala

In Sound Room 2, the T6 towers, in a two-channel configuration, showcased strong vocal clarity and detail. The tweeter and midrange integration allowed voices to come through cleanly, while the bass maintained a tight, punchy character. At higher listening levels, some high-frequency energy became more noticeable, but at moderate levels, the balance felt very well-executed.

— Bertha DellaSala

 Sound Room 3 featured the Primacy T6 towers along with the Centerpiece preamp/processor and a pair of JL Audio Gotham subwoofers.

Shane Lee & Gene Pondering Over the Listening Sessions of JL Audio Primacy

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

JL Audio Primacy: Final Thoughts

These costly speakers made a strong first impression. JL Audio reportedly spent a full decade making the Primacy system a reality, and the company seemed to spare no expense along the way. In fact, we were told that the process to design and sand-cast the aluminum enclosures involved a pair of $3.5-million machines that required 12-inch-thick concrete flooring for proper stability and freedom from vibration. The level of effort and expenditure was “absolutely insane,” according to Chief Audioholic Gene DellaSala. We’re talking about surgical precision, with cabinet construction held to thousandths-of-an-inch tolerances to ensure consistency in form, fit, and finish. JL Audio also told us that each speaker is matched to within ±0.5 dB across the full frequency range before shipping. I’ll leave you with Bertha’s final thoughts, which sum up the Primacy System quite eloquently.

The Primacy system isn’t just about introducing new speakers; it’s about presenting a more integrated, thoughtful approach to home audio. From advanced room optimization with P.A.R.O. to refined industrial design and user-friendly setup, JL Audio is clearly aiming to make high-performance audio more accessible without compromising on quality. Yes, it sits in a premium price category, but after experiencing the engineering, performance, and design firsthand, it becomes clear why. More importantly, it reflects a shift in the industry — one that recognizes that great sound isn’t just about specs. It’s about experience, usability, and how a system fits into real life. And that’s a direction worth paying attention to.

— Bertha DellaSala

The JL Audio Primacy system is available now. To learn more, visit garmin.com. 

Unless otherwise indicated, this is a preview article for the featured product. A formal review may or may not follow in the future.