JL Audio to Allow Authorized Internet Sales Through Crutchfield

After years of not allowing online sales of their products and actively fighting unauthorized online sales, JL Audio is turning a new leaf and bringing a single online retailer onboard. I had to confirm this myself with two brick and mortar dealers before I went ahead and posted this up simply because I did not believe it. JL Audio has sent out letters to all of their mobile audio and marine dealers letting them know that JL will be selling their products through Crutchfield. Oddly enough the only dealer I called that had not seen the letter was Sound Advice (Tweeter), the same big box retailer whose dwindling sales has supposedly motivated JL Audio to sell online.

It was made official in a post by Manville Smith (JL Audio VP of Marketing) on CarAudioForum.com, "I can now announce that, later this year, Crutchfield will offer JL Audio marine and car products for sale online and via their catalog."

Sources at Crutchfield have also told us that the JL Audio products will be showing up in the Crutchfield online store and catalog sometime in October. It is expected that only a part of the JL Audio line will be available initially, and we cannot confirm at this point if that includes the W7 subwoofers.

This is huge news in the car audio industry simply because JL Audio was the largest manufacturer that did not allow online sales of their products.

I know all of you probably have as many questions as I do, and rest assured we will speak with someone at JL regarding this and have more info during the week.