Customer Ratings & Reviews

In a word. Wow! Not enough? Let’s break it down. For context, I upgraded to this “9.1” (technically it’s 5.1.4) soundbar from a simpler 2.1 soundbar. Coming from that perspective this Atmos capable bar was a substantial, and surprisingly simple, upgrade to say the least. If you’re already coming from a 5.1 or better setup this may technically be an upgrade but not as drastic as it was for me. In short, the sound capability is amazing -- this is an Atmos capable soundbar that’s ridiculously simple to setup to access premium sound. Right up front, it’s not a substitute for running true overhead speakers if a peak Atmos audio experience is what you’re after, but for a “bar” that can be setup in literally minutes with no additional wiring this does remarkably well and, like me, will suffice and even delight you. Things to keep in mind if you want to get the most out of this outstanding soundbar: * The bar has HDMI and optical inputs, but going optical means you won’t get actual Atmos so use it only as a last resort. * You’ll want a TV and devices that support eARC. ARC is OK, and you can achieve a lower bandwidth version of Atmos with it, but eARC is required if you want Atmos in all its uncompressed glory. eARC also guarantees “lip sync” between devices. “Lip sync” is possible but optional in the regular ARC specification. * Although OTA (over the air) TV is not the mainstay it once was, evolving broadcast standards such as ATSC 3.0 incorporate 4k, HDR, and yes… even Dolby Atmos. So if OTA is one of your sources, you’ll want a TV that is ATSC 3.0 capable. Without reservation I praise the bar for its immersive sound, the power presence and simplicity of the wireless subwoofer, for the detachable wireless rear speakers, and for the super simple 2-step calibration that quickly tunes the surround timings to your primary listening position and the room as a whole. Stir in native Chromecast audio, Airplay, and Bluetooth and you have a very well rounded and capable audio bar on your hands. The system itself is so simple to setup that the real trick is setting up the rest of your components in such a way as to make sure you’re getting the best possible audio. To sum up a lot of experimentation on my part, I suggest bypassing your TV as the initial device and instead plug your primary HDMI source directly into the soundbar, and pass video to the TV through the bar’s HDMI eARC port. This gives the soundbar “dibs” on decoding the audio stream and, in my experience, is the best way to guarantee the best possible audio experience, eliminate delay, and prevent the TV from imposing its own limitations on the soundbar. To this point, one thing I found noticeably absent while setting this all up and testing with various input devices and streaming services is the lack of a clear unambiguous indicator as to what audio encoding you’re actually achieving. Near as I can tell this bar only indicates “PCM” or “Dolby Surround” -- and that’s as much detail as you’ll get out of it. PCM isn’t bad, but it definitely means you’re not taking advantage of the bar’s full capabilities. “Dolby Surround” is substantively and noticeably better but it’d be helpful and reassuring if the bar specifically indicated exactly what level of “Dolby Surround” it meant -- 5.1? 7.1? Atmos? Adding to the uncertainty is that the online manual states the bar will enhance even legacy audio formats to “provide an immersive 3D Atmos experience”. On one hand that’s great -- it means you’ll always get the best it can do under the circumstances. On the other hand it’s bad because that behind-the-scenes enhancement means you can’t trust even your own ears. I’m the type that thrives on objective information, especially when information on what audio encoding you’re getting, especially online, is scant, outdated, or outright unreliable. For a high end device like this, aimed I think squarely at people who at least fancy themselves audio savvy, you’d think it would happily provide exactly that kind of detail; Alas no. Don’t get me wrong, anything that indicates “Dolby Surround” definitely sounds incredible on this. But I’d prefer it to specifically indicate “Dolby 5.1” or “Dolby Atmos” if for no other reason than to conclusively demonstrate to all who care about such things that they are in the presence of audio Nirvana. The interface is simple but not as thoughtful as it could be or as I’d expect from a device of this caliber. Say for example that you just want to know what bass level, Atmos level, or rear speaker level you’re at. Too bad -- because tapping any of these buttons on the remote just once doesn’t show the current level, it automatically and instantly displays and steps the setting to the next level. While testing and tuning this bar to my liking I found myself repeatedly just wanting to know what level I was at, only to have to then cycle the setting several more times just to get back to where I started. I’ve owned several soundbars, I’ve never had one that didn’t consider the first tap just a wake-up to show the current value. It’s a small thing, but at this level the small things matter. The bottom line is I’m very happy with this bar. It is ridiculously indulgent compared to the simpler system I upgraded from. If you’re coming from a basic system, as I was, I hope you crack as big a smile as I did the first time you experience it. If you already have a 5.1+ setup the argument for this becomes less clear cut, especially considering so much online content is still encoded for just 5.1 anyway.

I have really enjoyed my soundbar and the big sub woofer

Wonderful. In 900$ deal we got 2 attachment speakers one large bar and suboofer. Performance is great.very satisfied.

super happy with this bad boy way more than i wanted to spend way worth every penny i definantly recomend this product i wasnt expecting the power or clarity that this packs

The best sound bar I’ve ever owned. The clarity is awesome. We’ll worth the money.

I love the sound this thing puts out, crisp sound. Its great for watching a movie with detachable speakers to sound like surround sound.

They sounded great but got so hot they shut down. Liked the idea but can’t recommend.

Awesome sound. However has some issues if you are planning to pair it with a Sony TV.

I just went in to take a look at the surround sounds mind you just looking.. i fell in love with the JBL ilove the way the sound its like your in a theater..

big full dimensional sound, Rear rechargeable speakers can be placed wherever you want!

We really love this JBL Surround Sound. It feels like you are in a theater. Will be purchasing a few more JBL items.

Not very powerful like it says, for the proce being 1000 could definitely be more powerful and more features

I’d love to give this system 5 stars, but the wireless speakers frequently cut in and out, and it’s very annoying. The system was easy to set up and configure, the sound is excellent, and the controls, while limited, are perfect for average family use. If there was a way to eliminate the wireless speakers cutting in and out I’d rate the system 5 stars.

Excellent sound quality. The only suggestion is that the wireless speakers should come with usb to keep connected as an option rather than taking out and charging everyday

I cannot be happier with the JBL SOUNDBAR 9.1. It's slick and small on top of the mantel, but they sound big and the sub makes the movies sounds ten fold better.

Great sound just missing the side caps that says it's included in the box. Called JBL they said call best buy. So I'm still missing the caps

When I say! This IS the BEST SOUND BAR EVER! I’ve bought plenty of sound bars… Samsung..Bose.. JBL speaker. I never paid this much but well worth it

I have tried a few before settling on the JBL-9.1-Cannel Soundbar and none of the came even close to it. I am very pleased with my choice!

Sound system sounds better then i believed it would. Love it!!

This is a great sound bar. The sound is very clear and the base is room shaking. Dolby Atmos is amazing even in a large room. Highly recommend this product.