JBL Car Audio Philippines celebrated the inaugural JBL Car Audio Tunefest on Nov. 11, 2023, marking a significant milestone for the brand. The event served as a gathering point for car audio enthusiasts and installers, creating an opportunity to exhibit top-tier in-car JBL setups and fostering camaraderie within the Filipino car community.

The venue was the rooftop parking of O-Square 2 in Greenhills Mall, San Juan City, where JBL Car Audio played host to a diverse assembly of industry professionals and community members. Collaborating with Stance Pilipinas /Manila Fitted (SPMF), Manila Street Chronicles (MSC), and Bumper2Bumper Car Show (B2B), the event drew inspiration from the golden days of weekend and latenight meets, encapsulating a nostalgic atmosphere that celebrated cars, music, and wholesome fun.

A highlight of the day was the JBL Car Audio Competition, the culmination of nearly two months of preparation by participating JBL installers and car owners. With a total of 15 competition entries spanning three categories — Staium featuring the premium JBL line, Open Stage encompassing all JBL product lines, and Sound & Style, a special category spotlighting the Club and ClubSQ range — the competition showcased the fusion of audio performance and aesthetic styling.

Beyond the official categories, three special awards added an extra layer of excitement. The People’s Choice Award, driven by event attendees who voted for their favorite audio setups via QR code, the Mayor’s Choice Award presented by Rocco Zamora on behalf of San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora, and a Special Style Award chosen from participating car clubs and attendees.

An esteemed panel of judges from the European Mobile Music Association (EMMA), including Adison de Ocampo, Bong Matias, Dong Matias, Arvin Ramos, Martin de Costa, and Peter Gaw, evaluated the car audio entries on-site. Style awards were meticulously chosen by Bryan Revilla of MSC, Jonathan Chio of B2B and Kevin Carlos of SPMF.

JBL Car Audio Tunefest went beyond being a mere stage for a car audio competition; it evolved into a gathering of enthusiasts from various owner clubs and communities, including B2B, MSC, SPMF, Grupo

Toyota, Miata Club Philippines, Nissan Kicks E-Power Club, FJ Cruiser Club Of The Philippines, Porsche owners, Buzzhype Motorsport, BanaweBoy, EverSince Street Club, and more.

Supported by major industry players such as BMW, BYD, Changan, Chery, Ford, GAC, Honda, Hyundai, Jeep, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi Motors, Nissan, and Subaru, the event provided attendees with the opportunity to explore the latest features of each manufacturer’s hero models, ranging from conventional to hybrid to electric.

Attendees were treated to exclusive experiences, including listening to the first JBL Arena setup in Franz Gaw’s Toyota GR Yaris installed by JC Car Audio and witnessing MSC’s Porsche Cayenne off-road build with a full JBL ClubSQ system and the JBL Basspro Go portable subwoofer. Professional-grade car cleaning was offered by Sonax Philippines, featuring an exclusive event trial promotion of its new Ceramic Series product line. Additionally, Vinyl Frog Philippines sponsored a special full SUV wrap.

Refreshments added to the festive atmosphere, with crowd-favorite vendors such as Bahn Mi Kitchen, Coffee Nook, Crepe Talk, EDSA BDG, and Slap Stacks Burgers serving up Vietnamese-style sandwiches, specialty coffee, custom coolers, savory and sweet treats, cocktails/mocktails, and grill fare.

JBL Car Audio Tunefest 2023 wasn’t just about showcasing the best in car audio; it was a testament to how an entire community can uplift an industry, uniting in celebration of common passions and interests. The event aimed to be a reminder of the power of collective enthusiasm and its positive impact on an industry.

The official winners of the JBL Car Audio Competition categories are as follows: Stadium Category – Mickey’s Autosound, champion; MSO Audio, 2nd place; SimpleSound, 3rd place. Open Stage Category – Natune Car Audio, champion; David’s Street Sound, 2nd place; Team Car Center, 3rd place. Sound & Style Category

– JC Car Audio, champion; Team Car Center, 2nd place; David’s Street Sound, 3rd place. Mayor’s Choice Award – SimpleSound, Open Stage; Audio Essential, Open Stage; JC Car Audio, Sound & Style. People’s Choice Award – SimpleSound, Stadium; ZT Car Accessories, Open Stage; and Audio Essential, Sound & Style.