A Unexpected Tech Brand Just Made a Serious Stereo System for Elite Audiophiles

Not the news you were expecting to read today.

Pair of black and wood-finish speakers on a wall-mounted gray cabinet beneath a large TV screen.

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By Tucker Bowe

Published May 7, 2026

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Updated May 8, 2026

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Garmin just announced a high-end active speaker system for your home that can cost north of a $100,000.

No, you didn’t misread that.

Garmin, the company that makes some of the world’s most popular fitness trackers and wearables, has just announced a really expensive home hi-fi system. It’s called the JL Audio Primary.

Garmin JL Audio Primary

Man reclining on a curved beige and brown leather sofa facing a glass wall with a pool and garden outside. — Garmin acquired JL Audio in 2023. Now, it’s leveraging its audio expertise to introduce a luxury active speaker system.

Definitely not a wearable

For those in the know, the news hasn’t come totally out of left field. Garmin acquired JL Audio, an American hi-fi manufacturer with a history dating back to the 1970s, in 2023.

At the time, Cliff Pemble, Garmin’s President and CEO, said: “JL Audio has a strong reputation for providing premium audio quality, and we are excited to integrate these highly regarded features into the Garmin ecosystem.”

But the company has been known for its high-end audio systems for cars and boats. Now, under Garmin’s umbrella, JL Audio has introduced a high-end active speaker system.

Black JL Audio device with digital display and large silver volume knob on a marble countertop, finger touching the screen. — The CS Centerpiece is the control center for the system. It’s a network streamer, preamplifier and room optimization processor.

Couple sitting on a couch watching an action scene on a wall-mounted TV with a black audio receiver and tall black speaker in a modern living room. — The CS Centerpiece streams audio to the active speakers.

Two different active speakers

The JL Audio Primary is a wireless active speaker system that consists of two active speakers and one network streamer. The brand describes it as “a premium home audio system that offers extraordinary sound performance that’s tuned exactly for each listener’s space.”

With the system, you can choose between the S3, a pair of active stand-mount loudspeakers, or the T6, a pair of active floorstanding speakers. The speakers are controlled by the CS Centerpiece, which functions as a network streamer, preamplifier and room optimization processor.

Tall black floor-standing speaker with a curved top and blue accent light next to a man sitting on a dark leather chair holding a smartphone. — The T6 is the larger of the two active speaker systems.

Two tall black floor-standing speakers with multiple drivers and curved tops illuminated by soft blue light. — Each T6 loudspeaker has a three-way design, features six drivers, and demands 1,000 watts to drive.

Each active loudspeaker features one built-in amplifier for each driver section. The compact S3 standmounts have a two-way design and are powered by two 200-watt amplifiers. The T6 are tower speakers with a three-way design that are powered by the same two 200-watt amplifiers, along with a 600-watt amplifier for its woofer section.

Each loudspeaker features a single cast, precision‑machined aluminum‑alloy enclosure with integrated internal bracing and woofer ports to, according to the brand, “deliver exceptional resonance control, structural integrity and acoustic performance.”

Person reclining on a beige leather sofa facing large glass windows overlooking a pool and tropical garden. — The S3 standmounts feature a two-way design with a tweeter and woofer. Each speaker is powered by two 200-watt amplifiers.

Glossy black modern speaker on a matching black stand against a dark background. — A pair of the S3 standmounts costs $35,000.

High-resolution streaming

The CS centerpiece is really the brain behind the system, as it handles all the network connectivity, Wi-Fi streaming capabilities and wired connections for physical sources.

As a streamer, the system can play high-resolution audio (up to 32-bit/192 kHz). And it supports most popular streaming services, including Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect and Qobuz Connect. It also supports Apple AirPlay 2 and Google Cast. And it’s Roon Ready.

And the system is integrated with the company’s proprietary room calibration technology, called Primacy Automatic Room Optimization (P.A.R.O.), so the system sounds best for the space it’s in.

Additionally, the CS centerpiece comes with a wireless tabletop remote with a large volume knob and buttons for playback control, so you can control the system from across the room.

Black JL Audio speaker with a fabric front grille and glossy base stand. — The JL Audio Primary system is available now.

Availability and pricing

As hinted at, Garmin’s JL Audio Primary active speaker system is expensive. And each component is sold separately.

The CS Centerpiece costs $15,000 on its own, which is a system requirement. As for the speakers, the S3 standmounts cost $35,000/pair, while the T6 tower speakers cost $90,000/pair.

The Garmin JL Audio Primary system is available to order now.

Tall black glossy floor-standing speaker with curved top and base on a white background.

Garmin JL Audio Primacy

Garmin acquired JL Audio, an American hi-fi brand known for its in-car and in-boat audio systems, back in 2023. Now, leveraging its expertise, has released a high-end wireless stereo system. The JL Audio Primacy consists of two active speakers (either tower or standmount) and one network streamer. The brand describes it as “a premium home audio system that offers extraordinary sound performance that’s tuned exactly for each listener’s space.”

About the Author: Tucker Bowe has been on Gear Patrol’s editorial team since 2014. With a passion for consumer tech and hi-fi, he tracks everything from headphones and turntables to smartphones and wearables. If it lights up or makes noise, he probably covers it.

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