Customer Ratings & Reviews

Sound quality is amazing. Just got it 3 days ago so I’m still getting things tuned in perfectly but very happy so far. Set up was very easy and the unit feels heavy and built well. Very clear sound at high volumes. It’s the best unit in its price range for sure. Really like the smaller form-factor too.

Great product I love the sound. It’s encouraging to get more JBL products. now, I will be getting some JBL speakers. This system is easy set up easy programming.

It’s absolutely awesome! I like it so much! JBL has very nice design and looks like IPhone in the world of receivers! The quality of sound is like in class “A-B”

The JBL MA710 is a top notch receiver. I really appreciate the minimalist modern design. It is packed with a bunch of modern features such as Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, eARC, Airplay 2, Google Chromecast, Bluetooth, Aptx Adaptive, optional Ethernet connection, and WiFi. It comes with 6 HDMI 4K with 3 inputs supporting 8k video and 1 output supporting eARC. The amplifier can connect up to 7.2 channels. The receiver looks and feels solid. It whoops 110W per channel with a max of 160 at 4 ohms and supports 2 subs. The unit comes with a quick start guide. The guide states to install the JBL premium app which I really think needs some improvements or redesigned, at least for iOS. In addition to the JBL premium app there is an EZ EQ application (room correction) that is recommended to download in order to calibrate your room to the ideal EQ settings. This app could be a little complicated especially for those who are new to this type of audio system setups. There is no guidance on what steps to take to start the calibration process. The EZ EQ app has some way to go. However, this can be easily solved with app updates. The receiver has a few options to customize the sound levels from each speaker connected. There is a setting to hear a tone from each connected speaker to make sure you are getting sound. You also have the option to adjust bass and treble and change the Dolby Surround sound and disable or enable the sound decoder. You can also change the settings to just hear stereo sound from 2.1 channels instead of all the channels. I listened to music through my apple tv 4k and I was able to get Dolby Atmos/Spatial Audio sound. The sound was superb. I also used Airplay to listen to music but the signal was not transmitted in Dolby Atmos, instead it changed to Stereo. In stereo it sounds good but Dolby Atmos/Spatial Audio is a game changer. When I used the Tv’s OS the receiver automatically changed from the Apple TV input to the eARC input so that the sound was from the television and not the Apple TV. Everything was responsive. I prefer using the Apple TV as I get the best audio (Dolby Atmos) and (Dolby Vision) video format going through the JBL receiver. The remote is simple but useful, you can change the inputs and change the settings with it. The settings menu shows on the receiver screen and also on the tv screen when a tv is connected. The controller also has an option to dim the receiver display. Lastly, batteries are included for the remote.The same buttons are located in the receiver in case you lose the controller. I have this receiver pair with the JBL Stage 2 series: 200P subwoofer, 250B bookshelf speakers, 280F floorstanding, 240H Dolby Atmos speakers and 245C center channel. Overall the receiver is responsive and it packs power. It has a great minimal design that would blend with modern decor. It is easy to use and set up. It supports most of the modern features, including 8K. In the box you get the receiver, remote, batteries, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth antennas, power cord and quick start guide.

Does not keep setting’s . You feel stupid for putting your settings after you turn the unit on each time.and the set up time don’t add up to the cost.

I currently have 4 full surround setup in my home (Family Room, Outside, Master Bedroom and Master Bath).  All are connected with AirPlay, and Google Cast.  So I'm familiar with "Stereo/Surround systems").  The system in my living room has a pretty good surround bar.  For years I've been  threatening to upgrade it, but my wife is fine with what we have, I'm not so much.  So I thought I'll do my upgrade in stages. First install the stereo components, then add center and rears.  Followed by a sub and Atmos "High" speakers.  The JBL MA710 receiver has all the features I'm looking for in the end, and the streaming functionality appears to be pretty complete.  Today with multiple smart devices connected to a system there are multiple ways to obtain audio/video sources. The MA710 has support for HDMI 8K signaling, this future proofs it somewhat, us in the US there are currently no 8K signal sources (FYI: there are in Japan and Korea).  But without a 8K TV, it really does not matter today (the 8K inputs can be used with HD or 4k inputs).  I am impressed with Dolby Atmos; vs its predecessors and DTS:X.  Although the MA710 does support Dolby Digital and DTS:X.   Installation of the receiver is almost automatic. The manual has a QR code that installs either an Android or iOS setup app.  From there it finds your receiver and walks you throught network setup, and a firmware upgrade process.  As long as your receiver is on to begin with the process is simple and flawless.  It set up a huge number of Streaming "radio" stations.  It also sets up hundreds of popular podcasts.  Based on how this was done I'm sure it will get updated regularly by JBL.  It also finds UPnP devices on your network (not all seem to be supported).  You can also connect a USB drive (for what?).  Bluetooth support is state of the art supporting BT: 5.3, Low Energy, APTX HD, APTX Adaptive.  It supports Apple AirPlay 2 and Chromecast.  It can be voice controlled with Google Home; considering I have over 100 devices controlled via Google home, I'm looking forward to this.  The JBL setup app is just the beginning.  They also have an EZ Set EQ app. which allows you to use your phone/tablet to equalize room acoustics (considering the speaker set up) you move around the room and tones come from the speakers in use.  You can also indicate if you prefer more or less bass. But unfortuntaly the EQ functionality can not manually be adjusted via their app (like most competing products).  Given that receivers today are primarily digital, this makes so much sense (excpt to it not being user adjustable).  This is great idea that is done in the same way several other manufacturers deal with speaker tuning (which is really what their EQ is doing).  I've used software like this to tune speakers or headphones before. And years ago my high end receivers had a microphone to do this, but it was not nearly as visual/easy to do.  And given my plans to add more speakers in the future this is a great tool to have/use. Not to mention it does a superb job.  The curve that arrived with is pretty close to what I'd have expected.  JBL also can interface (as is out of the box) with Control4 home control systems, Crestron and IP home control systems like Home Assistant (more for users to do here, but it's an open, well documented system). The receiver is a full 7.2 system with 110W RMS (20Hz-20kHz) @8Ω and 160W RMS @4Ω.  It has one optical input, one digital coax input and 2 stereo analog inputs (one can be used with a MM phono input).  It also has a secondary output zone, which is only stereo (I'd prefer to also have a second HDMI output so that two JBL MA710's could be linked together (I believe JBL's 'HP' receivers offer this).  I did my listening tests with two JBL 260F floor standing speakers.  I'll start by saying this combination is plenty loud.  At 35% it is loud enough to fill my 16x24 living room. I listened to Boston's first album and the sound was excellent, the speaker tuning improved the sound of the speakers in the listening room significantly.  Given this was only stereo it was excellent, not quite what I have in my other systems, but this is a huge step up from a sound bar.  The surrounding richness came throught very nicely.  I then listened to Pink Floyd's Animals, also great (and I know every note).  I then listened to the new Top Gun in 4k, I had to set the surround to Stereo 2.0, but the quality of the sound still rocked the room, not quite chest thumping, and the center vocals were deficient, but that was to be expected. All and all I'm very impressed, I have some wiring issues to overcome, but I'm convinced that seperate speakers still blow away what you can get out of a soundbar (and I have a good one).  It's now matter of hiding and getting wires to some speakers, the fact that the 260F speakers can have a set of 240H speakers placed on top of them to add height speakers, I see as an advantage, but I want to try rear high speakers before I decide.  Building a real Dolby Atmos 7.x setup requires a commitment.  I'm also almost there, getting and testing this receiver helped me move forward.

The JBL MA710 7.2ch AV Receiver with Dolby Atmos is an excellent mid to upper tier home theater receiver that delivers an immersive and cinematic audio experience. With its powerful amplification, advanced future proof features, versatile range of connectivity options, and minimalist sleek design, the MA710 is a great centerpiece for any home theater system. Amplification The MA710 is powered by a discrete 7-channel amplifier that delivers 110 watts @ 8 ohms and 160 watts @ 4 ohms. This ensures that your movies, music, and games will be reproduced with clarity and precision, even at high volumes, which this can definitely produce. I am personally using this in my game room with a 4K gaming console, and a 240Hz gaming monitor. I have also added a single down firing subwoofer to the system that I already owned. This combination has me in gaming bliss using only two JBL Stage2 260F FloorStanding Loudspeakers (a fantastic combo with this receiver) and an added subwoofer. I can’t even imagine what it will be like adding a center channel and additional surround speakers in the future. Having the flexibility to upgrade the amount of speakers you prefer to use is awesome and will only further the enjoyment of the system, unleashing even more detailed sound effects and immersion for both movies and gaming. Features The MA710 is packed with features that make it easy to enjoy your favorite entertainment. These features include: Support for the latest surround sound formats, including Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. These formats deliver an immersive crystal clear audio experience that makes you feel like you're right in the middle of the action. The MA710 supports both 4K and 8K devices (three each) for state of the art visuals. The MA710 has built-in Bluetooth, so you can stream music from your smartphone, tablet, or other Bluetooth-enabled device. Having the ability to stream directly to a full blown audio system, as opposed to a single Bluetooth speaker, is a game changer, and a feature I use daily. HDMI eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel) is a feature of HDMI 2.1 that allows for high-quality audio to be sent from a TV to a soundbar or AV receiver. It is an improvement over the original ARC (Audio Return Channel) feature, which was introduced with HDMI 1.4. If you have a TV and soundbar or AV receiver that support HDMI eARC, you can connect them using an HDMI cable to experience the best possible audio quality. The MA710 also features a moving magnet phono input and ground for all of the vinyl lovers out there. This is a huge added bonus, considering vinyl is coming back into style. Design The MA710 has a sleek and stylish minimalist design that will complement any home theater decor. The front panel showcases a display that presents the active input, volume level, and other pertinent details. Two prominent knobs are located on each side of the front panel—one dedicated to volume/mute adjustment and the other to input selection. Additionally, five buttons are placed in-between the knobs, each serving a specific function: cycling through surround options, accessing the menu, returning to the previous screen, and adjusting the display's brightness. The rear panel has a variety of inputs and outputs, including 3xHDMI 8K, 3xHDMI 4K, optical, coaxial digital, USB, ethernet, two RCA analog inputs, and a moving magnet phono input. There are also a host of speaker terminals to accommodate seven speakers (Front L/R, Center, Surround L/R, Rear Surround/Height Back L/R), up to two mono subwoofers, and an eARC HDMI output. Very versatile! Performance The MA710 delivers an outstanding audio performance. The sound is clear, detailed, and powerful. By powerful, I mean LOUD. If you have nice speakers hooked up to this receiver, you should be happy with the volume levels it can produce. The receiver also does an excellent job of reproducing surround sound effects, creating an immersive and realistic audio experience. My subwoofer was a single RCA cable plug and play and it sounded great as soon as I plugged it in. That said, you can go into the menus and tailor each speaker set to your desired level and distance very easily if needed. Conclusion The JBL MA710 7.2ch AV Receiver with Dolby Atmos is an excellent home theater receiver that offers an immersive and cinematic audio/video experience. With its powerful amplification, advanced features, and minimalist sleek design, the MA710 is the perfect centerpiece for any home theater system. It is affordable, easy to use, very loud if you want it to be, and it sounds incredible. It is a great option to consider for anyone that wants a versatile, future proof, receiver from a highly trusted name in audio technology.

The JBL MA710A receiver is a phenomenal addition to a surround sound system. It is sleek and low profile, with two large knobs and only a few buttons, yet houses all the power necessary to create a soundscape environment ready for movies and music. Setting it up was straightforward: hooked it up to the power, the speakers, and the tv. I used HDMI to connect it to my tv. There are two apps that further help the set-up process, the JBL Audio app and the EZ Set EQ. The JLB Audio app allows the receiver to update its firmware and connect to the Wi-Fi network. It also streams radio stations from around the world, podcasts, and connects to speakers wirelessly. It is really simple in its functions, but it works well and that is what matters most. It has no trouble finding and connecting to the receiver. The EZ Set EQ app is to calibrate the speakers to the room. It could be better and definitely needs improvement. It froze up a couple of times, once in the calibration stage, which left me with white noise playing until I forced quit and restarted the app. Another annoyance with the app was the way in which it labels the speakers, I could not always tell what speaker it was referring to until I started calibration and waited to see which speaker would go on. Regardless of the process, I was able to get them all calibrated, and it makes a worthwhile difference to go through the process. For reference, I have all seven channels connected to JBL Stage 2 speakers plus a subwoofer. I wired each speaker with 12/2 speaker wire as was recommended for the 6 Ohm speaker system. I used a bare wire connections for now, but will probably upgrade to banana plugs or spade connectors in the future. The receiver distributes the sound beautifully according to the settings used. The movie preset really makes the room feel like a home theater, whereas the music preset is perfect for filling up the room with music harmoniously. To top it off, Dolby Atmos enriches the experience making it even more immersive to the senses. What is great about the receiver is that is connects to the tv and allows the tv controllers to adjust the volume. The included controller is simple and sleek. Although I do wish there was more options to make switching the settings around faster and more convenient, but I do appreciate that it at least allows me to change surround sound settings quickly. In addition to the usual settings, it includes a party mode with its own volume setting. This mode boosts the sound to outdoor party levels and really makes the subwoofers bump the bass both deep and punchy. There are many inputs available to choose from several 2.1 and 2.0 HDMI ports, a coaxial, optical, analog, and audio input, as well as Bluetooth, Airplay, and Google Cast. There are three optional antennas to receive signal from and there is a LAN connection as well. This receiver hits all the right notes in the right places. It packs a powerful punch while encased in a sleek, aesthetic box. It is easy navigate for those who have not used one in years and easy to set-up as well. I really enjoy that the front is so streamlined and lacks all the extra buttons, ports, and knobs others have. I have been exploring and loving its capabilities since I got it, and it has made it difficult to go without it now. I highly recommend it.

The JBL MA710 is more than just an AV receiver, this baby is an investment for any home theater enthusiast that, in my opinion, is sure to serve you well for many years, maybe even a couple decades or more! I’ve been using it for a week now and I’m so happy that I got it! It came very well packaged with custom foam inserts that wrap around the unit to ensure it arrives safely. It’s also double boxed in heavy cardboard so that it doesn’t take on any damage during shipment. This 7.2-channel receiver supports 8K video!! This makes it a perfect match for the latest UHD TVs and provides a truly state of the art audio-visual experience. Setting the receiver up was quick and easy. The instructions are clear and well written so that anyone, even people with little experience, should be able to set it up without needing help. The MA710 is extremely versatile, featuring HDMI 2.1 ports that support 8K/60Hz and 4K/120Hz video making this receiver ideal for both gaming and cinematic viewing. The sound quality is equally impressive, thanks to Dolby Atmos and DTS! You’ll want to have Atmos ready speakers to take full advantage of this rich and immersive sound experience which creates a dynamic, three-dimensional audio environment. Whether you're watching a blockbuster movie or streaming your favorite music, the MA710 delivers a crystal clear sound experience with plenty of power. The receiver also features built-in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, making it easy to stream music from your various devices. I found the JBL Music App to be intuitive and straight-forward, allowing me to control the receiver's functions with ease. Integrating the MA710 with other JBL Stage speakers is a simple process, but does take a bit of finesse working with the speaker wires and getting them to fit into the little hole just right before you screw it down. This is the perfect receiver for you if you're looking to build a cohesive, high-performance home theater system… This is where you want to start. The JBL MA710 is a top-of-the-line, high tech, AV receiver that offers exceptional performance and capabilities that will remain cutting edge for many years. This receiver is a great investment for any serious home theater setup. I’m extremely happy with the performance, design and look of the unit, and I highly recommend this receiver to anyone in the market for something new, featuring the latest tech, that will last for years.

Overall, I think this is a pretty impressive AV receiver for the features it has. I’m not impressed with the apps, that either don’t work or crash. More on that later in the review. Technically, going by old school standards, the MA710 and its siblings are not receivers as they lack an AM and FM tuner. Even though it has WiFi and Bluetooth and those are radios, in my opinion, they don’t count. This unit should be categorized as an integrated amplifier. It has inputs and EQ controls and that’s why it fits that category. I’m not listing all the specs as those are already covered. However, I will where necessary. Build quality looks and feels premium. I really like vacuum fluorescent display. I like the feel of the input knob and volume knobs. I don’t much care for the “safe to turn beyond 11” printed on the volume knob. Silly over use of a classic line, er, theme, from a classic movie. BTW, I’ve played with lead guitar players that would have cranked it to 1100 if they could. That’s why I used earplugs when necessary. I think it goes to 99. I didn’t turn it that high. The unit was well packed and comes with a quick start guide that directs you go download the JBL Premium Audio app. The app will guide you to connect your WiFi router to the receiver. The Android app on my Galaxy S23 Ultra didn’t work for me the first 3 times I used it. It showed the MA710 and wanted my WiFi password. I gave it that 3 times and 3 times it hung, but on the 3rd time I noticed that the MA710 was displaying that it was getting an update. The app was hung saying connecting. I closed the app again and brought it back up. This time it was connected to the MA710 and I was able access options for radio streaming services, Podcasts, UPnP and USB. If you can’t get WiFi to connect, there’s an ethernet port on the back of the unit. I didn’t test that port and doubt all but a very few will use it. There’s a lot of streaming radio channels to choose from. I think most have commercials. Some I listened to did and some didn’t. Sorry, but I don’t do Chromecast or Podcast, so that wasn’t tested. Several times when I have brought up the app, I got a blank screen and had to close it and bring it up again. Also, you must hit a back arrow at the top to go back to the previous page. Hitting the back button on the boom of the screen and you’re back to the app’s opening screen. JBL, please fix! Then there’s the EZ EQ android app. I only got it to work once. It generates white noise and you “sweep” the room for the app to set the EQ for the room. The graph shows you the frequency response changes made to optimize the sound in that room and saves it in the receiver, I assume. You can enable or disable the EQ setting the app creates. Directions are vague. Both apps have no help or instructions that I can find. Cool option when it works. Also, the apps do not appear to let you set the receiver up, select surround sound modes or speaker options, change inputs or even the volume to individual speaker groups. You must use the controls on the MA710 or the remote to do that. I didn’t find a way to set the volumes individually for each of the speaker components. Next you will need to set the system up. Go into the menu and tell it what kind of speakers you have, which speakers, size, distance apart and such. You can do this on the unit’s screen, or plug it into a TV via HDMI and use the TV’s screen. The latter is better because it shows more info. You have the options of using as many speakers as the device allows or as few speakers as you want. Want to listen to music only with just Left and Right speakers? No problem. Just tell it that in setup. The MA710 supports center channel, surround, surround height for Dolby Atmos and a couple of powered subwoofers. Also, a second line level out for another room, known as Party. Now for inputs and there’s plenty. For video there’s a total of 6 HDMI inputs and 3 support 8k video. You can input FHD or 4K into any of the 6. There is only 1 HDMI output, with eARC. The specs in the listing states 2. No, just 1. For audio there’s 2 digital inputs. Coaxial - S/PDIF and optical – TOSlink. 1 phono input with a ground connection. Ironically, there’s no ground pin on the power cord. Probably a good thing. I could tell some stories about grounding problems in old buildings and equipment problems. And there’s 2, not just 1, analog audio input. The specs are incorrect here too. Sound quality is superb. The MA710 is a digital amplifier as opposed to old school class A, AB and C amps. I’m not going to explain the differences here because it gets a bit complicated. Do research it for an interesting read if you’re not familiar with the differences. I connected it to the JBL 260F speakers that came with it to review. It made them walk and talk without overheating and cutting out. I played my usual music I like to test a system with. Steely Dan, Alan Parsons, as well as some classical to hard rock to classic country. Sorry, no metal or rap. I ran my Sony ES series CD changer into the MA710 via optical and analog inputs. I couldn’t tell the difference between the two. Maybe some golden eared audiophiles can. Strangely, I never saw any “audiophile” gear in any recording studios I was ever in. Pros don’t use RCA patch cables on Neve mixing consoles. Rant over. The MA710 delivered clean crisp highs and punchy bass that didn’t break up when the volume went up. I connected my 42 year old Technics turntable to it and played a vintage half speed master LP, ABBA Arrival, on it. Sounded as good as I expected it to. I connected my Sony DAT deck to it and discovered that it no longer functions. Bummer. I streamed music from my phone to it without a problem. No adjusting the bass and treble with BT streaming. Use the phone’s music app(s) to adjust the EQ. Speaking of EQ, does the room EQ settings from the app stay in place when you change inputs? I don’t know. I assume they do. And sound from the TV via eARC sounded as good as anything else depending on what was playing on the TV. In other words, if you’re watching a 1960s sitcom, don’t expect twenty first century sound quality. But I’m sure that’s a no brainer. Maybe AI will fix that in the future. LOL! I also hooked my 37 year old Polk Audio Monitor 10Bs to it. It rocked those too! I also borrowed a pair of surround and center speakers form one of my other AV setups and tested those with the MA710. Sounded great. But I never could find an adjustment for the volume levels for center and surround. The remote that it comes with looks and feels good and I like the clicking button tactile response. Much better than the typical rubber buttons that can be mushy and quit working over time. It lets you change inputs, adjust overall volume, cycle through surround sound options, and dim the display and navigate the menu. But the glossy finish shows hand and finger prints big time. Conclusion: The MA710 packs a solid punch sound wise and feature wise. The support apps need some work. At least the Android ones do. I would give it a 4.5 star rating if I could due to the one app required to connect the WiFi gave me trouble during setup and still crashes from time to time. If it didn’t work at all, then no WiFi streaming and I would have to give it 3 stars on that alone. That’s like removing a key feature. I don’t think the room EQ app is as important, and to get the most out of it, JBL recommends that you buy a USB mic to attach to your phone when using the app. I’m giving it 5 stars and hoping JBL fixes those apps and they might work better on an iPhone than Android.

I bought this receiver for my cousin as a replacement for a very old Yamaha RX-V663 AV receiver. I've owned Denon, Yamaha, Onkyo, Sony and Pioneer Elite AVRs so I've tried them all. What made me decide on the JBL MA710 were several factors: 1 - Class D amps: Run cooler, use less power, provide more continuous power to multiple concurrently connected speakers vs typical class A/B AVRs. 2 - Up to date hardware wise: HDMI 2.1, 4k120Hz, VRR, ALLM 3 - Connectivity: Tidal Connect, Spotify Connect, Airplay 2, BT w/ aptX, Roon support 4 - Simple UI for the non-techie owner; fewer buttons on the device and a relatively simple but functional remote. Now, I set up and calibrated the receiver; so there are some call-outs here. There's no full auto speaker calibration built in like MCACC or Audyssey. You can pay $300 for Dirac Live software or you can use JBL's Easy EQ Setup. I did the latter. I purchased the recommended calibrated microphone and hooked it up to my Android phone. Then did the following: 1a - Measured speaker distances from a central seating position and input that into the receiver setup. 1b - Calibrated speaker levels and subwoofer levels manually using an audio analyzer / SPL app on the phone (to ~75dB) 2 - Ran the Easy EQ calibration (once for the front left/right speakers, once for the center speaker) (my cousin doesn't use surrounds - but you'd do the same for surrounds) 3 - Verified the calibration settings were uploaded to the receiver 4 - Again manually adjusted the subwoofer level using the microphone / app (EZ Eq setup doesn't cover the sub). Now - outside of measuring the speaker distances, you could skip all this. But if you are used to doing some calibration, I'd say go ahead and just do the phone based one. If you're on iPhone, you don't need a special mic. Initial impressions: - Airplay, Tidal Connect, Spotify Connect all work reliably with no cut-outs, etc. - I played some songs via Tidal Connect (ie. lossless music) and it's very nice sounding receiver. - Plenty of power and volume even at a volume level of 30. - He's using Sony Core speakers so not the most high end setup, but once the sub was dialed in it sounded great. Other Call-outs: - My cousin has an Xfinity cable box and a Fire Cube and wanted to minimize the # of remotes. - Since the MA710 does NOT have dedicated source buttons on the remote, you will have trouble setting up automation w/ Alexa if your sources go into the receiver and out to the TV. - As such, in this case, we hooked up the sources to the TV and used eARC to output audio to the receiver; same end result but it avoided Alexa having to try to switch receiver inputs. Overall, I get what JBL was going for with the MA710 and I like it. I am super comfortable with A/V tech but I know not everyone has that level of OCD. So I like this product. Having owned Pioneer Elite AVRs with ICE (class D) amps, I am good with the class D amps on this receiver. I do wish that the calibration process was built-in to the receiver with a conventional microphone - honestly the actual process is more complicated than just including something similar to MCACC / Audyssey for a newbie. Overall, I'd recommend this AVR. For the money you're getting all the important stuff - latest hardware, latest connectivity, good all-channels-driven power, and great sound quality w/ a (mostly) streamlined user experience. AND you get all this for a very very reasonable price. Definitely recommended.

JBL is no stranger to home audio. The parent company Harmon holds many brands deeply entrenched in pro audio, and acoustic research. JBL’s products tend to fill the more consumer friendly products, but absent from their portfolio for quite a while are AVRs. JBL introduced the Synthesis series based on their acquisition of Arcam. Honestly I’ve been out of the truly nerdy side of Audio Video Receivers’s (AVR) for a while, so the depth and history of the relationship is lost on me; however I will say JBL has been out of this game for a while. The MA series is JBL’s introduction to the lower end AVR market, a space dominated for years by fairly well known names. Does the MA701 have what it takes to help JBL return across the market. First of all, let’s take a look at the new lineup. You have the MA310, MA510, and MA710. The MA310 solves the basic needs of a 5.1 surround setup, but with pretty anemic power output. The MA510 offers a bit more grunt, 5.1 Atmos, and 8K support. The MA710 is the mac daddy of the entry level and it boasts Atmos, 7.2, 6 HDMI ports with 3 of them are version 2.1 supporting 8K or more likely for most use cases, 4K 10-bit HDR. eARC is support from the output HDMI port and means you can receive high definition Atmos from your TV and its input source. The MA710 comes out of the box with the remote, batteries, power cord, some documentation you can probably ignore, and the MA710 unit. On first inspection, you’ll notice some high quality surfaces, and fit and finish. JBL is making a nice product here, and it shows. Just like other lines in its series (including the Stage 2 speakers) there is a hint of orange just behind the front of the unit. Normally invisible, it stands as a nice brand identifier and gives a bit of character. The MA710 is available in black or white, so there is a desire to carry a design aesthetic. The back panel of the unit carries a good set of connectors. Most importantly are the HDMI 2.1 ports, of which there are 3 and they are marked ‘8K’. The other HDMI 2.0 ports support 4K, but don’t do fancy tricks like VRR, ALLM, or high refresh rates at 4K HDR. Beneath the HDMI are the speaker terminals that offer several ways to connect your speakers, including banana plugs. In addition to multiple digital in’s (coax, and optical), there are phono plugs if you want to get your record player on. A set of analog stereo input, as well as a zone 2 output are found back here, along with 2 subwoofer outputs. A dedicated ground terminal, USB, and network jack round out the back along with 3 antennas (2 for WiFi, 1 for bluetooth). The unit supports 5GHz wifi, even the rarely supported 5.8GHz band (but not 6Ghz AX, this is WiFi6, not WiFi6e). Setup is fairly straightforward, except for the fact that the unit literally locked me at a fairly high volume as it updated the firmware without a prompt or warning. To be fair, I plugged it directly into my network jack, so if there was a WiFi update flow, I bypassed it. Once it did its forceful firmware update, the unit allowed me to continue setup. Setup doesn’t prompt, you have to seek it out, but just do the first several speaker menus under setup and you’re golden. There are basic adjustments for audio tuning: speaker size (small or large), and what speakers you have in your setup: front, center, surround, rear surround and subwoofer. Once you have them selected, you need to measure how far the listening area is from the speaker setup and input the distances. Now comes the tricky part, there are apps that are supposed to be used to help you setup the unit, which to be fair again, I bypassed with my pesky RJ45 network cable. If you download the app, it will discover the unit, and let you adjust some basic settings. And by basic, I mean very basic, and mostly network setup. You can play USB content (who does this?), uPNP (Universal Plug and Play, which hit its stride in 2006), and internet radio. A bit of digging, I found this is just a website hosted by the AVR on port 80, with no security. I’m mildly annoyed by this, but the worst that can happen is borked network configuration. Here’s the kicker, this app is different than JBL’s one app, which you use for almost all of JBL’s other home audio. To make matters worse, this isn’t the app that tunes and does room correction, which there is no link to. You need to download the manual to find the ‘Ez Set EQ’ app that, if you’re a lucky iOS device owner, allows you to use your cell phone to calibrate the speakers for the room. Otherwise if you’re an Android owner, its recommended to buy a specific microphone to connect to calibrate. This Ez Set EQ app is by far one of the most interesting pieces of this pie. It does an extraordinary job of room correcting, and making your surround setup sound its best. You basically walk around your room letting the phone listen to the speakers for 60 seconds for each zone. Once it’s done, the EQ will tune to compensate for the room. It's quite effective, and the before and after are quite pronounced. Physical design is attractive. The aforementioned orange coloration is the only thing that stands out from the otherwise black exterior. The front of the unit is flanked with 2 jog dials, one for input, and the other for volume. The volume has text reminding you it's safe to turn to past 11, a nice touch (if the volume scale wasn’t 0-100 it would have been even better). There are 3 buttons for functions: back, menu and select plug selector buttons. This mirrors the remote to some extent, which for an AVR is super simplistic. The on screen display is very basic. The menu is mirrored on the on device display, but only offers a black on white text aesthetic. For a unit so polished physically, this seems like an user interface from the late 90’s. That said, you won’t spend a lot of time here; maybe basic things like changing labels for your inputs. The volume OSD is unobtrusive, that’s about the only good thing I can say about it. Sound quality is solid. I’m no audiophile, so I won’t try to give it a signature, but the power is strong. 160W when doing stereo duty per channel, and 110w when powering all 7 channels (again only driving 2 channels). In practice, it glady powered the fairly large Onkyo THX speakers I've had for a while. I’m also in transition to newer speakers, and I’ve tried it with a set of floor standing speakers that it powered to painful levels no problem. Now, the HDMI and 8K support: works well. I will say I had a devil of a time, and never successfully got it to work reliably with my Hisense TV. It would swap back and forth, black screen flash, stop working randomly. This receiver and my Hisense TV hated each other more than any two pieces of electronics I’ve ever owned. To the point I thought I had a bad unit, with constant flickering, input switching, and sometimes refusing to even display a signal. It didn’t even want to work correctly in eARC not even passing a video signal.. Then I moved the unit to its actual use case: with my projector and surround setup. There it worked flawlessly. CEC worked fine, 4K HDR pass through, and pretty much everything I threw at it. The AVR remote will not pass any CEC navigation, so keep in mind, the auto power on/off, and trickle down volume seem to be the extent of the CEC feature set. Overall for an entry level 7.1 Atmos receiver, the MA710 is a solid unit from an audio standpoint. CEC compatibility, OSD, and a confusing app setup aside, the features are quite good, and having HDMI 2.1 that sports VRR, and ALLM offers those with PS5’s or XBox Series X’s some recourse for their fancy feature set. There are quite a few options loved by fans in this market, but it’s good to see JBL back in it, offering unique features, like Ez Set EQ, and an overall simplified user experience. I hope there’s more time spent on the out of the box welcome as well as the on screen display of the unit. Still, it’s an attractive, powerful unit that’s definitely worth consideration.

The JBL MA710 is, in some ways, the perfect mixture of old and new school audio components and design - in my view, it's the perfect centerpiece for a modern audio system. Is it right to be the centerpiece of your system? Read on to find out. As a bit of background, my primary testing setup is with two JBL 260F floorstanding speakers in a stereo configuration, though I did also add a 10" subwoofer and satellite speakers to test those capabilities. The display used is a 4K projector. First off, this receiver supports the modern standards you want to see in surround, namely Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. And with support for up to 8K @ 60Hz video and 850W of audio power, it can certainly back up those ratings. Setup, as with most modern electronics is done via an app that is available for iOS or Android (at least if you want to use the Wifi / internet streaming radio options) and the app seems to be straight-forward and easy to use. You can also set up with the the app, though then some of the advanced streaming and settings will be lost though core functions will work fine. There's also an "automatic" room adjustment setting which is handy, but you'll get the best results if you use that as a base then "tinker" to some degree to your own ear tastes. So in these senses, it's definitely a very modern receiver - it even lacks the AM/FM tuner that my older model had (which we seldom/never used, favoring streaming audio instead these days). The inputs are a mixture of old(er) and new with three 8K-capable HDMI in, three more 4K-capable, the aforementioned WiFi (for both streaming radio and casting / Apple Airplay), gigabit ethernet, USB and Bluetooth. But you also get some ports that have been around a bit longer with optical in, coax in, analog RCA jacks and even a phono input. Output is similarly balanced with an 8K eARC HDMI out for video....and standard wire / banana plug jacks for speakers (RCA for the subwoofers, of course). All the ports are laid out and labeled as you would expect. Accessories are simple with a power cable, 3 WiFi / Bluetooth antennas and a simple IR remote (with batteries). Performance-wise, the speaker simply knocks it out of the park. On any of the combinations of speakers I tried, the sound is clear and packs a punch from any source (streaming boxes, video game consoles, PCs, or internet sources). Of course your experience will GREATLY depend on your sources and speakers, but with the JBL MA710, you know it won't be the receiver that is holding you back. Video is passed through cleanly without a delay and without any degradation. I was able to use end to end 4K with HDR without any issues (I don't have any "8K" sources just yet outside of cranking my PC up...but then I don't have an 8K display / projector - I assume this would work just fine, but could only test up to 4K). Style-wise, the receiver is simple and fits in well in most setups (old or new) - I do like that they've balanced the large volume knob (always nice to see in place of up / down buttons) with a second knob that controls input selection (since there is no tuner here). The balance of the two knobs makes the receiver more pleasing to the eye in my opinion and gives it a bit of an old-school look (or an analog look, if you prefer). The footprint of the receiver is fairly standard though it is a little shorter (height-wise) than my prior receiver which is just fine with me. And while it's not a lead brick, it does follow the old adage about sound equipment that heavier is indeed better. And the whole device is the quality you would expect from JBL (these days, a subsidiary brand of HARMAN which itself is a subsidiary of Samsung - all names known for quality electronics and home theater). So if you're looking for a top notch and to some degree "future proof" receiver to be the heart of your AV system for years to come, the JBL MA710 is a great option to look into - give it a try today!

I swear I've been out of the loop for 10yrs. You buy a receiver and and you don't bother for a long time if you grabbed a decent one and I've had four receivers in my lifetime, not including amps. #2 is still being used after 20 some years as my gaming PC receiver. Before using it for that purpose I had two Class D Amps to run the speakers. Back when I got those amps class D was mainly in those small amps and car systems. Now they've upped the game and put them in quality receivers. What made me have to look this up is because my first impression when unboxing was, "Dang, this is light!" I can use one hand and grip it like a book and carry it. It's 7lbs lighter than my A/B receiver and thinner while being only 15watts per channel less. Looking at the insides through the holes they could have made it even smaller if they chose, which I wouldn't have been against. It would open up options for placement with a smaller chasis. If you ever owned a receiver you'll be familiar with the bar of buttons on the remote. Buttons, buttons, and more buttons. Don't get me wrong, those buttons are helpful to get to where you want to be quickly. The MA710 looks more like a streaming device remote. It a little too simple for my tastes because it means you have to click, click, clickity-click and more click to do what would take a single push on the monster remote. The one good thing is that once everything is set up I can forget about the remote and use a third party universal remote afterwards. I usually don't have to grab a receiver remote after the first week of setting up or buying new speakers. After a few days of tweaking I finally got the sound levels just where I like them on my 5.1.2 setup. Holy smokes, class D has come a long way. My old puny D's had hissing any time I wasn't using them but still had good sound for computer gaming. The MA710 is lightyears beyond those old amps. Sound is clear, beautiful, and fills the room. With all the inputs I have a few leftover ports for more devices. I used to have to swap if as I switched between my consoles and HTPC (I don't use those three devices as much as I use four streaming devices - Shield Pro 2019, Fire Cube 3gen, Roku Ultra, and Apple TV) so they swap as needed. I'm extremely impressed with the MA710 that I can't find very many negatives yet. After a few weeks when the infatuation dies down I can start nit-picking at the flaws. But for now, I've found true love, lol. My only hope is that Class D is as reliable as A/B. The 20yr old on my PC will have to go soon as I'll have to switch to HDMI out for sound and it's so old it doesn't have an HDMI port.

I like to feel like I’m in the theater or at a live concert when I’m watching a movie or listening to music, so I demand a lot from a sound system. The JBL MA710 AV Receiver has been delivering quite a dynamic and immersive sound experience across all of my connected devices so far. There are plenty of 8K HDMI inputs for my TV, video game, blu-ray player, video camera, and laptop. I wasn’t sure how my old-school record player was going to sound when I connected it to the phono input, but the albums sound great when I play them! I have two JBL Stage2 260F Dual 6.25" Floor-standing speakers hooked up to it, which are plenty loud with the seven channels of the low-noise Class D amplifier the MA710 delivers to them. The 7-channel Dolby Atmos and DTS:X help make movies sound near movie-theater quality without one, so I haven’t decided if I want to add subwoofers yet, but there are two outputs available for them. The receiver offers zone support so audio can be heard in a secondary location, but the downside is that it only supports one additional zone. I would have preferred multi-room zoning. The receiver’s on-screen display makes setup and operation really easy. And It’s simple to adjust the EQ using its EZ Set EQ feature also. The receiver itself is a bit on the chunky side, but the black color and muted display panel allows it to blend in and not look so obtrusive. Its display is easy to read and can be dimmed or turned off. The included remote is compact in size and has a good operational range. However, being all black, it would have been a nice feature to have softly backlit buttons or illuminated labels, so you know what you’re pushing in the dark. There is one area that I think JBL missed the mark on with the MA710 given today’s technology. And that’s that there are no built-in streaming services, like Apple Music or Spotify. It does have Bluetooth, Apple AIrPlay 2 and Google Chromecast you can use to connect to an external device for music streaming. Overall, though, this is a solid performing, easy to use AV receiver that provides a well-above average quality listening experience.

This JBL MA710 7.2 Channel 8K AV Receiver with Dolby Atmos, is loaded with features. This is how one takes their home theater to the next level. I use this with a pair of Stage2 260F Dual 6.25" Floor-standing Loudspeakers. The setup is astounding. The design is ultra-modern, yet sophisticated enough to make any home theater room look and feel welcoming and inviting. This comes in two color options, black or white. I have black. What you get in the box is the receiver, IR remote control, batteries, Bluetooth antenna, WiFi antenna, power supply and adapter, user manual/quick setup guide. What you will need is an HDMI cable or speaker wire. I used HDMI to connect to the TV, and 12 gauge speaker wire to connect to the speakers. Wire strippers for the speaker wire, banana plugs for the speaker wire (optional). Measuring tape. You will want to download the JBL Premium Audio App for free, on your smartphone or tablet. The app will help you with setup. Setup is not hard at all. There is a lot this receiver can do, so there are choices to make. This can be connected through so many different ways, like wirelessly, wired, HDMI inputs and outputs, Bluetooth, WiFi, Apple AirPlay2, Google ChromeCast, SmartThings, USB Input, Digital and Analog Inputs, Phono Turntable Input and Ground, Party or Zone 2 Output for Party Mode, Subwoofer outputs, and Speaker Level Output Connectors. Party Mode, which is Zone 2, lets you play music on a different set of speakers in another room. It’s pretty cool and a great feature to have. One of my favorite things this has is so simple. I can use my smartphone or tablet, and by using a streaming music service that you can use by connecting your account to your JBL Premium Audio App, is select the receiver in your streaming music app, and it turns on your receiver, and plays your music to your speakers. This is your ultimate entertainment system. I highly recommend this.

I'm no great audiophile, but I upgraded from a 15+ year old Pioneer AVR and could not be happier. It just sounds so clean to me and I love the looks of this modern unit. With the available bandwidth of the HDMI ports, this thing is basically future-proof. The ultra critics (audiophiles) can always find something to rip on, but this thing is perfect for me. I LOVE jamming loud music and having loud audio for sports and for fun TV/movie soundtracks. It just sound great. Just do it.

The JBL MA710 is the second receiver I have set up on the home, JBL has gone with a much simpler style to the front panel with some accenting style that goes with the speakers in the same series of product. The reciever supports eARC which allows you to plug the one HDMI cable to your television and output audio and video using the one cable, it's also works with my remotes power to adjust the audio levels. Chromecast is built in to the receiver and I was able to connect using my google home app with no issues. The 3 8K ports are HDMI 2.1 while the 3 4K are HDMI 2.0, it's great that HDMI 2.1 is offered as anything that you want to use with a higher refresh rate or even VRR will require this. I plugged both of my current gen consoles into these and use the others for any older consoles I plug in. The receiver also features a Phono input which I love, I moved my record player from my previous receiver to this one. I plugged the receiver in to my network and it automatically pulled updated software. Everything I feel has been plug and play in my experience, it was all very easy and I feel with the simple front panel and remote that JBL may be trying to release a product that doesn't feel over complicated and easy for anyone looking to get into home audio without feeling overwhelmed by the receiver. I appreciate the smaller receiver and the dimmable display, the accent of orange and the "safe to turn beyond 11" make this a welcome addition to my gaming space.

This is my review for the JBL-MA710 7.2ch AV Receiver w/Dolby Atmos We paired this with: -2 X Stage2 260F Dual 6.25" Floor Standing Loudspeakers JBL Receiver was packed very well. Setting up the audio system did take some time, we kept getting an error on the amplifier screen saying : “System Protected” we could not figure out for the life of us what that meant, a quick google search determined it was the speaker wires possibly touching or being to short so we have to remove all the wiring and start over to make sure no wires were not touching. We also had some issues with the volume, the volume would not go up or down with the remote control or turning the knob, I thought we got a faulty system but I guess the protection mode kicked in and we had to reset it to get it out of that error as well. I really wish it was easier to set up a bluetooth device on this, there was so many steps you have to take in order to get a device to connect. Possibly just adding a button to connect to a Bluetooth device would be easier. Other than the issues listed above, when we finally fixed those snags everything about the system is wonderful, sound is great!

(Note: I would have actually given a 4 1/2 stars rating but can only pick full star increments) JBL markets the MA710 as an easy to set up option to a sound bar. While it is a better sound option it is not an easier to set up solution. Most modern AVR's have a set up routine that guides you through the essential set up by gathering the necessary information along the way and performing a evaluation of your systems components, speakers, subwoofers, room, etc. The MA710 does none of this. However these options can be performed manually fairly easily but also require time and measurements by the owner. I myself find this to be a better way to fully customize the AVR. Two phone apps are available but one is basically useless as it mostly only controls music options available. You can not access the AVR's menu to alter settings or even adjust the volume. The other app, EZ Set EQ, aids in the wireless network setup and performs a room evaluation based on the sound characteristics of your room. This is easy to perform if you have an iPhone, but if you use an Android phone it requires an optional microphone. Aside from the negatives above I really like this AVR. I took the time to go through all the menu options, which are accessible via TV OSD or on the AVR display itself, and found the resulting sound to be extremely good. Having a laser measuring device and a decibel meter helps to adjust distance to speaker and individual speaker levels. Music sounded clean and true to life on the attached JBL 260F speakers. The sub was clean and present, actually made me jump when action scene explosions occurred. Center channel intelligibility was great with the JBL 245C center channel. I didn't use any of the surround effect options opting for the Native setting and it was awesome when in Atmos. The MA710 has all the needed inputs including 8K HDMI. It supports eARC/ARC and CEC. Speaker connections are easy especially if you have speaker cables with banana clips. Back panel is well labeled. The front display is large enough to use and read at a distance and has several levels of dimmability as well as the option to completely turn it off. The provided remote is small but has the necessary buttons to perform the most used functions. Bottom line if you are willing to put in the effort to set up the MA710 it will not disappoint!!