Customer Ratings & Reviews

I don’t know where to begin. First of all this is an incredibly versatile and dynamic system. The detachable rear surround speakers are a game changer! They’re wireless and can be fully charged when attached back on the main unit soundbar. Depending on how much Dolby Atmos content you watch you may need to charge it each night before you go to bed or it may last 2-3 days before you need to charge. I know JBL states that the wireless speakers last for 10 hours but at least in my personal experience it feels closer to 12-14. It really depends on how home theater content you watch during the day and by home theater I mean specifically Dolby Atmos content. Before I bought this system I thought having to charge the speakers each night before bed would be a pain. But it is quite the opposite. It’s actually painless and fun to charge and to attach or detach them from the main unit. It sounds like it would be cumbersome but trust me when you actually do it you realize how much of a breeze and easy it is to do! The soundstage this thing produces is amazing! It has transformed my living room into a movie theater! The base is boomy and powerful but not too overwhelming and dialogue comes through perfect! Gaming is also out of this world! Just Buy it. Now!

The JBl Bar1300MK2 is AMAZING! The previous (Yamaha) soundbar I was using was great, but this JBL soundbar system truly makes you feel like you are in the movie or in a theater. The detachable speakers add so much depth and immersion while watching movies/shows. I have only had to turn it up to about 15-17 and it rocks. There have even been a few times when I was startled (in a fun way) by sound effects that felt as if they came from behind me. The bass is thunderous, but clear and crisp, yet subtle when it needs to be. Setup was as easy as plugging it in and downloading the app. I like that you can make adjustments to the sound settings for each of the speakers in the app. Watching movies at home has now gone up to a whole new level with this system!

The best surround system I've heard so far. I have a large room & this fits the bill perfectly. I love that the surround speakers detach from the main unit & are truly wireless. All you need is any usb-c cable for charging or attach them back to the main unit overnight. It also tells you what format youre listening to, whether it be surround or atmos, not just a color change on the unit. The surround speakers can also be used as Bluetooth speakers anywhere you want to listen to music. Too many pros & no cons so far.

Better than I expected! The Atmos effects make the sound feel it is above and all around you. I tried several different bars before this one and this has better drivers that fire in all directions to create a whole room soundscape.

I am absolutely loving the JBL 1300mk2. The sound quality is incredible, with amazing bass that really fills the room. What impresses me the most is how clear the voices remain, even when listening at a low volume. Highly recommend it!

I was pretty excited when the new JBL Bar 1300 MK2 showed up, but I’ll be honest, the first thing that stood out wasn’t the sound… it was the box. This thing comes in one large package with both the soundbar and the subwoofer together, and because of that it’s very uneven and heavy on one side. The subwoofer is doing most of the heavy lifting, literally. The delivery driver even pointed out that the box was already starting to tear on one side when he got it. It was kind of splitting where the subwoofer section meets the soundbar section. Luckily, once I got everything inside and unboxed it, nothing was damaged at all. So the packaging itself does its job, but I do wish JBL would ship these separately. With a subwoofer this big and heavy, it would just make the whole delivery and handling process easier. Once I got everything unpacked, I set the subwoofer in place and got everything connected. I ran the soundbar through HDMI eARC to my TV, then connected my Blu-ray player and Xbox. Everything synced up the way you’d want it to. The soundbar powers on with the TV, volume is controlled with the TV remote, and overall it feels like a clean, integrated setup. I let the detachable rear speakers charge for a bit like the instructions suggested, then jumped into the JBL One app to finish setup. The app found the soundbar pretty quickly, but I did hit one weird moment where it said it was playing a tone and wanted me to press the input button on the bar. I never heard anything. I actually restarted that step a few times and even checked my wiring thinking something was wrong. Eventually I just pressed the button anyway and moved forward, and everything worked fine from there. After that it was just permissions, WiFi, and a firmware update that took about 15 minutes. Once everything was up and running, I started testing it out, and right away the soundbar itself impressed me. The sound is full, rich, and has a really strong presence. Even on its own, it fills the room well. It doesn’t feel like the sound is just coming straight at you, it spreads out and gives you that wide, almost 3D feel. You can tell the Dolby Atmos processing is doing something here, because the sound has a bit of movement and space to it. The subwoofer is easily one of the highlights of this system. It’s a large 12-inch unit, and you can absolutely tell. The bass is deep, powerful, and you feel it. Not just hear it. I usually keep it around the middle setting because that’s more than enough for everyday use, but when I’m watching a movie and want that full theater feel, I’ll turn it up and it delivers. Explosions hit hard, music feels full, and it really brings everything together. It can honestly be a bit much out of the box, so I like that you can dial it in to your preference. As for the rear speakers, I like the concept a lot. Being able to detach them from the soundbar, place them behind you, and get a true surround setup without running wires is a great idea. They charge when connected to the soundbar, and you can also charge them with USB-C if needed, for a more permanent surround sound installation. They double as carry-around Bluetooth speakers too, which is a really cool bonus. I’ve already used them around the house just for casual listening, and they work great for that. For surround sound though, my experience has been a little mixed. My couch is up against a wall, so I don’t have the ideal placement directly behind me like the instructions suggest. I’ve been placing them on side tables next to the couch, and while they do create a surround effect, it’s not as full or immersive as I was hoping to hear. You really have to be fairly close to them to notice the sound coming from them, unless it’s a really loud scene in the movie. Once you’re a few feet away, they start to fade into the background of the soundbar and subwoofer a bit. Even with the rear levels turned up, I still feel like they could use a little more power for true surround sound. They’re not bad, and they definitely add to the experience, but compared to how strong the soundbar and subwoofer are, they just don’t hit at the same level. I think in a room where you can place them properly behind you, they would perform better. That said, I do really like how portable and useful they are. Being able to use them on their own, take them into another room, or use them for late-night listening without turning on the full system is something I think is worth leaning into for future models and we might see other companies go this direction as well. That versatility is a big plus, IMO. The overall design of the system is really well thought out. The soundbar is low-profile, about 2 inches tall, which doesn’t block my television. It’s wide and has a premium feel to it, and I like that JBL includes magnetic end caps so when the side speakers are removed, the bar still looks complete. The rear speakers also have caps so they can stand on their own or be mounted, and the mounting hardware is included, which is nice. Everything snaps together cleanly and feels solid. The remote is simple and easy to use, which I like, but I do wish the buttons were labeled a bit better. They use icons instead of text, and I find myself forgetting what each one does sometimes. Not a huge deal, but it would’ve been nice to have clearer labeling like they show in the app. In terms of features, this system checks a lot of boxes. You’ve got support for Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, multiple HDMI inputs, eARC, Bluetooth, WiFi streaming with AirPlay, Chromecast, Spotify Connect, and the JBL One app for calibration and EQ adjustments. It’s a very complete setup without needing a receiver or extra components. Overall, I’m really happy with this soundbar system. The sound quality is excellent, the subwoofer is fantastic, and the soundbar itself delivers a very immersive experience. The rear speakers are a great idea and very versatile, even if they didn’t fully meet my expectations for surround sound in my specific setup. This feels like a true step up from a standard soundbar and gets you very close to a full home theater experience without the complexity of running wires and setting up a full speaker system. It’s powerful, flexible, and easy to use. I can already tell this is something I’ll be using for a long time. If you’re looking for a high-end soundbar system that delivers big sound, deep bass, and a lot of flexibility, I think you’re going to be really happy with this one.

I’ve owned a few JBL soundbars and speakers in the past but never anything of this size or caliber. I was quite shocked when I got the box and saw how large it was. I wasn't expecting such a large sized bar and subwoofer. This changed my expectation of this soundbar from being able to fill a medium room with sound to being capable of filling a larger room with sound. Setup was extremely easy and straightforward. Unbox, read the included quick setup instructions, cable everything up, connect the app, and I was up and running. The two surround speakers did need to charge a bit but that was to be expected. I really appreciate features like automatic room calibration that tunes the soundbar to the space you are in. It makes setup very quick and easy. It also is a great starting point for sound adjustments. I was content with the way it sounded following the calibration so that is how it is currently set up. The detachable surrounds are a treat. Especially if you are into Dolby Atmos. Being able to detach and wirelessly run these surrounds in a Dolby Atmos setting is very convenient. My wife doesn't like to have speakers on the end tables so this gives me the ability to detach them when I want to use them, enjoy the surround experience and then put them back on the soundbar when I am finished. This is a feature people with similar dilemmas as mine would seek out in a sound bar system so I applaud JBL for the design choice. This also provides versatility with being able to bring the speaker into a different room to continue listening to the song/podcast/movie you are listening to. They also double as bluetooth speakers as well. The versatility of this system is fantastic. The soundbar also has the perfect number of I/O ports for connectivity including 3 HDMI ports with 4k Dolby Vision passthrough as well as an HDMI eARC output. The sound quality is fantastic and as I said above can absolutely fill a large room. The total system output is 1570 Watts with a dedicated 12” wireless subwoofer. It is an absolute soundstage with the 11.1.4 setup. It includes 6 up-firing drivers to handle overhead Dolby Atmos and DTS:X effects. The PureVoice 2.0 improves upon the previous technology and provides great dialogue clarity during loud scenes. It also features MultiBeam 3.0 technology for better spatial audio processing. The subwoofer provides an amazing level of bass output that is controlled and not overpowering. I was a little nervous because I have it in a medium size open concept area but it provides a perfect amount of output and is very controllable according to the levels I want. This soundbar is a star and stands out in a very competitive market against top tier brands with top tier price tags. I have both Sonos gear as well as this JBL soundbar and in my main room, I prefer the JBL over the Sonos. I really enjoy the soundbar and would highly recommend it. Its stylish and sounds great!

The JBL Bar 1300X MK2 11.1.4 channel soundbar with subwoofer is an audio upgrade that my home much needed. This is a very simple to unbox and set up for convenience. The Dolby Atmos and DTS:X experience offered by this soundbar package is fantastic. No extra gear is needed, as this is simply a plug and play system. In the box you get the main soundbar with detachable left and detachable right wireless surround sound speakers. There is also a 12 inch wireless subwoofer that simply needs to plug into a power outlet. The power cords, a remote, an HDMI cable, and wall-mounting brackets are included if you decide to go that route. One nice feature of the detachable surround sound speakers is that you can use them as Bluetooth speakers to take with you in another room of the house if you so choose to. It's like getting a full surround system soundbar, and then also having the flexibility of portable speakers in other locations of your home. The soundbar and subwoofer design looks upscale, classy, modern, and appropriate for any setting. Connectivity includes Bluetooth 5.3, HDMI eARC, 4K HDR and Dolby Vision passthrough, 4 total HDMI ports, an optical audio port, a hardwired Ethernet port, and a USB service port. The system works very efficiently with modern television sets, bringing shows, music, movies, and entertainment to life with richer sound than my previous soundbars could deliver. Regarding audio and sound quality, I'm very impressed. The Dolby Atmos soundstage feels so encompassing all around me. I can feel and hear the sound move through the room with precision when I'm watching the appropriate 4K content. The overhead audio feels incredible in my living room space; I hear small and large sounds from front, side, back, and above my seated position. This subwoofer delivers deep bass that powers loud, explosive scenes in movies and music. I feel as if this soundbar can do everything in a fairly compact format. The subwoofer delivers deep thunderous sound, and the soundbar delivers crisp, precise audio in all the content I've watched. The detachable speakers are a fantastic touch because they don't require wires and dock right back onto the main body of the soundbar to charge up. The system delivers gigantic room filling audio with a minimal footprint.

So I have had this for about a week now and honestly im still kind of blown away by it. i upgraded from a basic soundbar and yeah this is on a completely different level. the first movie i watched with it i literally paused it just to be like “what was that sound??” because it felt like stuff was actually happening around me, not just in front of me. The biggest thing is the surround sound. those detachable speakers are actually really cool, like you can put them behind you and it legit feels like a full home theater setup without running wires everywhere. it supports dolby atmos and all that and you can tell, the sound kinda moves around the room which is wild. explosions sound huge, but even small details like footsteps or rain are way more noticeable. Bass is also kinda crazy. the subwoofer hits hard, like i had to turn it down a bit because it was shaking stuff on my shelf lol. its not just loud either, it actually sounds clean and not muddy. dialogue is clear too which i was worried about with something this powerful, but voices still come through nice and easy to understand. The setup was easier than i expected. i thought something this big and expensive would be annoying but it was mostly plug and play. it also connects to bluetooth and stuff so i have been using it for music too and yeah it sounds great for that as well. only small thing is its big, like you need some space for it. but i mean you kinda expect that. Overall, I am honestly really impressed. It feels like you are getting a full theater experience at home without all the hassle. if you watch a lot of movies or play games this thing is 100% worth it imo.

JBL BAR 1300X Mk2 I have long wanted the JBL BAR 1300x (mark 1) since it’s release in 2023, but instead opted for then Samsung top of the soundbar line near $2k Q-990C. I felt the original JBL was a bit boom at the impact of voice dialog. The performance I felt then on the Samsung was a step above with slightly larger surround speakers while sacrificing bass quality that I knew was a serious JBL strength. Boy was I missing out, not that the Samsung isn’t great in its own right, but because the overall impact of this new 1300X mark 2 is head and shoulders above the Samsung Q-990C. Best sound bar I’ve ever heard, rivals a full Dolby Digital 7.2.4 system in another room. Giant shipping box, largely bc package box is not rectangular, but includes a square section for the sub and separate long narrow piece for the sound bar panels. I was Concerned bc outer box was dented but internal contents perfectly solid and compact. No issues there. Setting the JbL Sub next to Samsung Q990-C sub the latter looks like a toy while JBL looks like a tank. Size comparison not close, expecting performance to match or exceed based on hefty weight compared to Samsung. Both subs are ported [look up and compare port frequencies] Now the new JBL sound quality provides is far far superior. Watching NCAA March Madness, it literally makes the room feel and sound much larger than reality. Dialog is super clear and basketball sneakers are crisp and clear. Out of the box sounded decent but the real magic was apparent after a couple minutes of JBL One app calibration, could not be easier. I did have one issue that is frustrating though, that is when watching Apple TV the sound randomly mutes itself, requiring the JBL remote to turn off / on to resolve, or at times exit the program on Apple TV and re-establish the HDMI handshake. I called JBL support and they have some suggestions that resolved the issue, it was in Apple TV HDMI audio-continuity. The addition of 60-day Roon is also a really nice touch to an already FABULOUS Product. Needless to say, the Samsung Q990C is now relegated to a bed room TV. PROS +11.1.4 Dolby Atmos/DTS X +super simple 15 min setup +exceptional performance +snappy JBL One app +excellent auto calibration +app also handles Spotify +12-inch powered sub is a MONSTER +multibeam technology, + clear voice +detachable wireless surround speakers +docking to sound bar for battery charging +surround speakers can also act as bluetooth stereo pair (Unique feature) +3 HDMI source inputs plus eArc, and optical input +Roon subscription 60-day trial CONS -issue with Apple TV audio dropouts (requires power on) -no HDMI 2.1 ports (only 2.0) -No 4k/120 Hz passthrough (60hz limit) -Lacks the ability to add another pair of surround speakers -weight 35 pound subwoofer and 20 pound soundbar (a good thing) CONCLUSION I did not directly compare with the Samsung Q990-F (new model) nor Sonos Arc Ultra, but after using this JBL Bar 1300x Mk2 for a few weeks, I have no qualms nor reason to. The JBL just seems so refined from the 2023 mark 1 that it’s not a fair comparison. The bass is tight and anchors audio where it is intended to be. The stereo separation and height effect is SUPER IMMERSIVE, side, top, wrap around, that even my wife who’s not discerning noticed the immediate impact, so we can now watch more movies and shows on this system instead of the dedicated home theater. Recommendation : STRONG BUY

I’ve spent some time with the updated version of the JBL 1300 series soundbar, and once again, I’m blown away. I upgraded from the previous model, and while both are excellent, the BAR1300MK2 brings some clear improvements that really stand out. The sound is incredible. It hits all the highs, mids, and booming lows. And when I say booming, I mean it. The entire range is crisp and clean. One thing I noticed right away is how well it balances volume. You don’t get those moments where dialogue is too quiet and action scenes are overwhelming. Everything feels properly leveled. The detachable surround speakers are one of my favorite features. Being able to pop them off and place them behind you creates a seriously immersive experience. Watching sports feels like you are in the crowd, and movies come alive with sound that moves naturally around you. You can hear effects travel from behind to the front and across the room. It’s awesome. You can dock the rear speakers back onto the soundbar to charge them, but I gave each one a USB-C wall charger so they are always ready to go. Set it and forget it. Setup was quick and actually fun. To get the most out of it, I highly recommend downloading the JBL One app. It connects easily and walks you through everything step by step with clear visuals. The calibration feature sends out sound pulses to map your room and optimize the audio, and it works really well. I was up and running in under 10 minutes. The app adds a ton of value. You can check battery levels for the detachable speakers, adjust EQ settings, use it as a remote, control music, and more. It makes the whole experience seamless. There isn’t one bad thing I can say about this soundbar. The LED display is easy to read from across the room and turns off after use, so there are no distracting lights. The included remote looks a bit basic, but it has everything you need. That said, it synced right up with my TV remote, so I rarely even use it. Another great touch is that it comes with mounting brackets for both the soundbar and the detachable speakers. They really thought of everything. It feels like a complete, ready-to-go setup right out of the box. Honestly, I have nothing negative to say about this soundbar. Watching movies with it is incredible. Action scenes feel intense and immersive, and the subwoofer adds a level of depth that pulls you right in. There were multiple moments where my wife and I looked at each other with wide eyes like, “Did you just hear that?” It’s that good. I highly recommend the BAR1300MK2 over the previous 1300X. Both are great, but the MK2 takes it to another level. Absolutely loving this soundbar!

Quick verdict: If you want real surround sound without running wires all over your room, this system absolutely delivers. It’s powerful, immersive, and the detachable speakers make it far more flexible than most soundbars I’ve used. I recently picked up the JBL Bar 1300X MK2 to upgrade my living room setup and after spending some time with it I can honestly say it’s one of the best sound systems I’ve owned. I was already using a soundbar before this, but the difference once I added the detachable surrounds and subwoofer from this system was night and day. I wanted something that could give me a true surround sound experience without running wires everywhere, and this setup pulls it off extremely well. The detachable wireless surround speakers are easily the coolest feature. They attach magnetically to the ends of the soundbar when charging, but you can pull them off and place them behind your seating area for a real surround sound setup. Once they’re positioned they connect automatically and the difference compared to a standard soundbar is huge. Movies, games, and even TV shows suddenly feel much more immersive because sound is actually coming from behind you instead of being simulated from the front. Sound quality overall is excellent. The Dolby Atmos and DTS:X effects really open up the soundstage and make everything feel bigger. Action scenes have a lot of impact while dialogue still comes through clearly, which is something many soundbars struggle with. The subwoofer deserves credit too because it delivers deep, powerful bass that you can really feel without sounding muddy or overwhelming the rest of the system. One feature I didn’t realize I’d appreciate as much as I do is how flexible the wireless speakers are. At night if other people are sleeping, you can turn off the soundbar and subwoofer and just use the detachable surround speakers. It keeps the volume more contained while still giving you a surprisingly full listening experience. It’s perfect for late-night movies or gaming without waking the house. Those surround speakers are also useful outside of the home theater setup. They can connect directly to your phone as standard Bluetooth speakers, which is great if you want to listen to music somewhere else. What’s really cool is someone can still be using the soundbar and subwoofer for a movie or game while another person connects to the detachable speakers with their phone. Charging the speakers is also more flexible than I expected. Normally they recharge when attached back to the soundbar, but they also have USB-C charging ports. That means you can leave them where they are and run a cable if you want, or charge them while you’re using them as standalone Bluetooth speakers. The JBL One app is also very well done. Setup was straightforward and the app actually explains how the different sound modes and speaker configurations work instead of just throwing settings at you. Adjusting calibration, speaker levels, and sound profiles is simple and easy to understand. Overall I’ve been extremely happy with this system. It delivers a powerful Atmos experience, it’s easy to set up, and the detachable speakers make it much more versatile than a typical soundbar system. If you want something that gets close to a full surround sound system without turning your living room into a wiring project, this is definitely worth considering. Pros • Excellent Dolby Atmos and surround immersion • Detachable wireless speakers add a lot of flexibility • Surround speakers can double as standalone Bluetooth speakers • USB-C charging option lets you charge speakers without docking them • Strong, deep bass from the subwoofer • Easy setup and intuitive JBL One app Cons • Premium price compared to basic soundbars • Surround speakers still need periodic charging (either docked or via USB-C) If you’re expecting a tiny soundbar to magically replace a full home theater, this probably isn’t it. But if you want something that gets surprisingly close to a real surround setup without needing a receiver, speaker wire, and a complicated install, this system is an awesome middle ground.

If you are looking for a soundbar that will turn your home into a mini movie theater, the JBL Bar 1300MK2 is the one for you. A few years back, I had the opportunity to test out the Bar 9.1 and back then the Bar 9.1 sounded amazing with similar features such as the detachable speakers. The new Bar 1300 MK2 even blew its own predecessor out of the water. The Bar1300 isn’t your typical soundbar, it’s a full 11.1.4 channel surround sound system detachable rear speakers, Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and a gigantic subwoofer. So, lets go over what the Bar 1300MK2 has to offer. Design and Build: Right out of the box the Bar 1300 feels premium. The soundbar weighs about 19 pounds and measures about 55.3 inches wide, 2.5 inches in height, and 5.4 inches in depth. The included subwoofer weighs about 34 pounds, 10.9 inches in height, 12.4 inches in width, and 10.8 in depth. The soundbar feature 8x (50x75mm) racetrack drivers, 7x 1" (25mm) tweeters, 4x 3" (75mm) up-firing full-range drivers offering a combined output power of 950W. The surround sound speakers offer 2x (50x90mm) racetrack drivers, 1x 2" (50mm) full-range drivers, 1x 3" (75mm) up-firing full-range drivers with a combined output of 2 x 160W. The subwoofer offers a 12” driver with 300W of power with total combined output of 1570W of raw entertainment. One of best features of this soundbar system is the detachable surround sound speakers that can be literally placed anywhere you like with a charge up to 10 hours and recharge when placed back on the soundbar. The speakers also double as portable Bluetooth speakers for your listening pleasure. Setup and Connectivity: The setup on this soundbar was a breeze. You plug in the soundbar, connect the detachable speakers and also plug in the massive subwoofer. Once everything is connected, download the JBL One app. The app will detect the correct system and perform any necessary updates and adjust the EQ/Surround sound settings and you are ready to enjoy the new JBL MK1300 and believe me your will really enjoy this soundbar. The Bar1300 offers various connectivity options: HDMI eARC output 3 HDMI Inputs WIFI and Bluetooth Experience: My experience with the Bar1300 was truly magical. The 11.1.4 Channel configuration brings everything to life. The front, side, height and rear channels create an amazing 3D experience whether is watching a movie or enjoying your favorite music, the sound and the music just surrounds you to bring you into a truly amazing experience. The sub is a monster. Explosions hit hard, sci fi engines rumble, and big action scenes feel huge. Out of the box, the bass can be a bit too much in smaller rooms, but you can dial it back. Once you balance it, you get a really fun, cinematic sound that’s easy to enjoy. Dialogue are handled well, too. Voices stay intelligible even when everything else gets crazy thanks to JBL’s updated Pure Voice technology. I tested the Bar 1300 alongside my current soundbar setup and there was a significant difference between the two. The Bar1300 was just more immersive, offering a richer and fuller 3D experience with an explosive and punchy bass. My current setup did not stand a chance against this beast. Concluison: All in all, the JBL Bar1300 MK2 isn’t just another soundbar—it’s a full home theater packed into one sleek system. The detachable rear speakers and chest-thumping bass make movie nights and gaming sessions feel truly cinematic, while Dolby Atmos and DTS:X pull you right into the action. If you want a powerful, wireless, and ridiculously immersive setup without the hassle of cables everywhere, this one’s hard to beat.

I'm no audiophile, but this JBL BAR1300MK2 soundbar setup is legitimately the best home sound system I have ever heard in someone's house, and it's in MINE. The clever side speakers are a top feature for me, just charge them with the bar when not using, then grab and mount to the wall for epic surround during movies. The subwoofer is easily bigger (not taller, but way more volume) vs my 4 year old daughter, and it's rated for 300w by itself! It just flat out RUMBLES my whole house, even though it's in the basement and we have 2 above ground stories. Movies and shows are so much more immersive even though I had a decent soundbar/subwoofer combo. eARC makes attaching to a new TV extremely easy, and it connected to the sub right away after an update. I was expecting a bit more setup, but it was quite easy. Plus, it includes the mounting hardware needed to wall mount the speakers and main bar! (it has 3 HDMI in, so it has plenty of input for multiple devices, without using up the connections to your TV if needed) JBL has a winner with the BAR1300MK2 11.1.4 system!

This soundbar sounds better than my Bravia Theater Bar 9 with its own subwoofer. Better bass response from the JBL subwoofer! The JBL subwoofer is HUGE! The biggest innovation with the JBL BAR1300XMK2 is that this soundbar has 2 rear wireless channel speakers that connect to the main soundbar physically, but can be removed and placed behind you. Having them directly connected to the soundbar charges them, as these detachable speakers are completely wireless. That is a great thing for me, as my previous setup had rear surround speakers, paired wirelessly to the soundbar, but still required a power cord connection for each speaker to an electrical outlet. It made for a bit of a mess of two power cords that had to be fed under my couch and to an outlet at a not very convenient location in my living room. I made it work, however this setup, the two rear channels are powered by rechargeable batteries!! I just charge them up when not using them directly on the soundbar itself, and detach them and position them right behind my couch. No trying to hide my power cords to the outlet. Each of these speakers can also be charged via a USB cable with a phone charger if you prefer as well. Not only that, but these rear speakers can also be taken away with you and used on their own as a separate bluetooth speaker. I think the rears sound pretty good as rear surround speakers, but there is no deep bass on the speakers when they are used on their own. They aren’t as good as dedicated bluetooth speakers made for something like music. However these are great for listening to podcasts and audiobooks for me as I am in the kitchen. The soundbar itself has 3 HDMI inputs for video sources (more details on that later for gamers), 1 HDMI in that you need to be sure to run to your tv’s “eARC” HDMI port to receive true surround sound signal. There is also an ethernet port, an optical (toslink) input port, a USB port, and of course the electrical port. All of these are on the back of the soundbar. Also included is a physical remote. Most of the setup is actually done via app on your phone. I set mine up via the JBL One app on my android phone. This soundbar will also directly support Dolby ATMOS and DTS-X. Although most streaming content is some flavor of Dolby these days, true home theater enthusiasts will be playing from 4K Blu-Ray discs for the best audio ever. Many of these physical discs will be mixed for DTS-X, which is as good, or in some cases a superior format than Dolby ATMOS. If your soundbar does not support both formats your soundtrack will not play back as intended. I personally would never get any surround sound set-up that does not support both Dolby ATMOS and DTS-X formats. The only downside here with this soundbar is that I wish JBL would clearly state this is not a soundbar capable of HDMI 2.1 / 4k 120hz. This would really only be an issue should your TV not have a HDMI 2.1k 4K 120hz port on it directly for xbox series, PlayStation or PC gamers. The Xbox Series X has a test option to tell you what your setup is capable of, and when I connect directly from my xbox series x to the JBL soundbar, it will not do 120hz or VRR (variable refresh rate). You are limited to 60hz - that means you will not be able to have frame rates higher than 60 frames per second if your game can actually play faster than that. For me, this was not an issue on a LG C1 OLED tv, where I have 2 dedicated HDMI 2.1 ports. I have a Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 directly connected there, and the HDMI from the TV to the soundbar. No issues, and it even passes through the surround sound over to the soundbar as true “bitstream” audio. This will also sometimes be called “pass-through” audio. For testing the soundbar, I have my NVIDIA Shield directly connected to the JBL soundbar. I also made sure that my NVIDIA Shield also is set to only “bitstream” audio out, so that the soundbar correctly recognizes all supported surround formats. I have test video files that I play out of a video player for the major formats, Dolby Digital, Dolby ATMOS and DTS-X. All properly showed they were bitstreaming the audio directly to the soundbar. I then played a 4K Blu-Ray of one of the best surround sound movies ever, DUNE (2021). This is one of the most amazing surround sound mixes for an action/sci-fi move, and really highlights how great this soundbar is. The bass is incredible!! The rear wireless surrounds sound great when the mix uses them (it is a lot in a movie like this). If anything with this JBL soundbar, you will actually want to lower the bass down a little bit, as at it’s default settings it is pretty deep as it is. This JBL soundbar in my opinion sounds better than a soundbar I have had for about 2 years that was far more expensive and also sounded fantastic. Overall, this is a really impressive setup that I think sounds better than other soundbars that cost much more. I could not recommend it more, however keep in mind if you are a gamer that wants or needs 4K 120HZ with VRR, it will not work if you connect HDM from the console or PC directly to the inputs directly to the soundbar. This might be an issue for some that may not have enough HDMI 2.1 ports directly on their TVs.

As for soundbars, I’m mixed on their prevalence, nothing will truly replace a full Dolby Atmos receiver or amp-based system, especially with additional spatial speaker components. However, for an apartment type situation or where the use case merits “soundbar” you can’t do much better than the JBL Bar 1300XMK2. Thia setup includes a 12-inch subwoofer with a 300-watt output, enclosed in a black box that looks frankly like a smooth-edged end table. So, let’s go through the composition of this system and break it down: main soundbar 950 watts and substantial, the end sections of the main soundbar can be detached as rear surround speakers, independent via Bluetooth with mono output on each *OR* act in tandem as a stereo setup. The detachable speaker setup is brilliant and works well in the various modes mentioned as well as a broadcast mode, which extends TV sourced sound to wherever you want to place the detachable speakers. This feature is great for TV sports sound casting. As I referenced previously, the subwoofer is sizeable and punchy without much distortion or baffling anomalies. A standalone remote is included and is handy to access advanced modes. How does this perform, you ask ? We watched a recent Guy Ritchie release “Fountain of Youth” with John Krasinski. The opening car scene reverberated throughout my room. I detached the surround speakers and placed them behind us at the edges of the room. Under challenging conditions (large open floor plan) the Atmos driven sound field was impressive, tire screeches and V8 vroom emanated from the subwoofer. The JBL Bar 1300XMK2 11.1.4 setup delivered an immersive experience for a relatively painless setup process. As for the setup, the JBL One app can walk you through the setup process, which includes soundbar setup, subwoofer connection and any applicable firmware updates (of which one prompted me in the app to download and apply). Once the system is in place, detaching the speakers and calibrating using the microphones in your smartphone was painless. I was up and running within 30 minutes. The only issues I encountered is the surround speakers should remain attached to the main soundbar prior to setup charging overnight before setup. Also using the surrounds as a standalone speaker or both as a stereo set was difficult, I had issues pairing as a set, they both wanted to pair individually. Once I straightened the connections out, I tested the stereo setup, the beauty of two wireless battery powered speakers are placement and separation. Given these features placement almost became an art. Standalone or in a stereo setup I found the speakers more than capable. JBL also provides end caps to fully round out each speaker (and to protect the charging contacts). Overall, this was the most impressive sound bar experiences to date, even surpassing my current Sony Theater 8 Bravia setup (where I had to purchase the subwoofer separately). Both are Dolby Atmos capable, however the flexibility of removable/dockable speakers really added to new heights in soundbar evolution. >>> Pros >> Power full and loud with 1570 watt total system output at 1% Total Harmonic Distortion >> Dolby Atmos and DTS X capable >> flexibility with docking speakers for surround field or standalone use >> Broadcasting TV audio output, AirPlay 2, Google Cast and Spotify connect >> remote with most functions >> a plethora of I/O options including three HDMI inputs and 1 HDMI ARC, 10/100 Mbps LAN port, USB media playback and Wi-Fi 2.4 and 5ghz >> HDR10+ and Dolby Vision passthrough >> <<< Cons << needs an Apple Music app that can pass Dolby Atmos << dynamic range is good but tails off at higher volumes << not compact, especially the subwoofer (this is also a plus).

Programs that are in Dolby Atmos sound amazing! Surround sound is amazing! Dialog is crystal clear and the base can rattle a 10-foot double pane patio slider. At one time I had a nice home theater but as the house was not wired for such all the speaker wires everywhere was a huge pain. I opted for a JBL Bar 9.1 and it was adequate for some time but after several years I upgraded my TV and bought this JBL soundbar and wow what an upgrade it has been! Setup is extremely easy. I did use the app for the initial install to upgrade firmware and tweak default settings just a tad for my environment. I have also used the night listening feature more than I anticipated and very much appreciate that feature now for late nights. The only con I have noticed is that the surround speakers have disconnected from the main soundbar on two occasions even though they are plugged into nearby power. But they quickly reconnected and everything seems to be fine on a normal daily usage basis. The soundbar & surrounds fill the 17’ x 21’ living room with vaulted ceiling and the adjoining dining & kitchen area so I don’t have any complaints about sound quality, loudness, or room size limitations for my needs. The soundbar is also very well built and is quite solid. I will say it is much larger than the old JBL bar. With the surrounds attached it is pretty massive and stretches across the entire cabinet the TV is on. I do recommend it but do check the specs and make sure it will fit where you intend to place it.

Overall, this is a great soundbar. Easy to setup, tuning is fast, and the fit and finish is superb. The wireless rear speakers install instantly, and the batteries last a decent amount. I have them connected with USB-C cables and they work flawless without having to worry about charging them. This is not going to replace dedicated speakers but for the price, these kick butt. The subwoofer does take up a lot of space so just be aware of that if you're putting this thing in a small living room or bedroom. The app for JBL actually works. It's easy to use unlike Bose which this replaced. Overall, awesome speaker setup.

I’ve been thinking for years about upgrading my home theater audio. My old system is a 10-15 yr old ‘theater in a box’, a receiver with wired 5.1 separate speakers. I’ve been hesitant to upgrade because if you ask any audiophile, they will tell you a sound bar will never give you the front stage that separate speakers do. Well, I’m here to tell you that is not always true, there are exceptions to every rule. Our ‘home theater’, i.e. our living room, is not an ideal space for any sound system or theater. We essentially have a great room that contains the living room, dining, kitchen and entry all in one room. A 85” tv hangs on the living room area wall, with our seating area about 15’ away. The wall to the left is about 7’ from the center line of the TV and the wall to the right is 18’ feet away. The ceiling is also vaulted, from left to right, with the peak about 8’ to the right of the TV centerline. Just trying to paint a picture so you realize this is not an optimal setup, but we work with what we have. On to the good stuff. The JBL BAR1300mk2 is a beast, the box it showed up in is huge and heavy. You might want to have 2 people available for the unboxing. My outer box was smashed up a little bit with tape falling off, but parts contained in the inner JBL box were packed well and came out fine and undamaged. Setup was quick and simple. I set the JBL bar on the media console under our tv, attached the wireless surround speakers on each end of the BAR1300mk2, plugged in the power cable and plugged in an HDMI cable from my TV EARC to the JBL EARC. The subwoofer is wireless but uses its own power cable. I set that off to the side of our media console and plugged it into the outlet. All the wireless speakers were pre paired. Next up was to install the JBL One app on my android phone and run it. The app will step you through connecting to the JBL BAR, setting up the wifi, and running the calibration. I did have a little trouble getting the app to connect to the bar at first, but after a couple tries it worked. During setup and calibration I removed the wireless surrounds and placed them on our couch seats and then behind the couch on either side as shown in the directions. Now that everything is installed and powered up it is finally time to hear this beast. I pulled up some dolby surround tests online and played them. Quite frankly I was blown away from the start. I played through many test clips, parts of movies, and anything I could find as a test, and I couldn’t find/hear anything bad. I would shut my eyes, play a test, point my finger at where I was hearing the sound come from, open my eyes and I was not pointing at the speakers on the JBL bar, I was pointing at where my old separate left and right speakers were still hanging to the side of the TV. The front sound stage is wider than the bar, even though my setup isn’t ideal. I even reconnected the old system and did some back to back testing, and again was literally blown away. If I were to describe the difference in one sentence: The old system is lifeless and muddy while the JBL BAR1300mk2 is crisp, clear, vibrant and articulate. Another relevant comparison that I’ve noticed. On our previous system, while watching movies or even some TV shows, my wife or myself always have the remote in hand turning the volume up during dialog so we could hear and understand the words without having to turn on closed captions, and turning it down during the loud action scenes. After watching a few movies and shows now with the JBL, I don't think I’ve caught myself or my wife touching the remote during the movie. I’m not sure if this is part of the Pure Voice available as an option in the app, or if it's from the system as a whole being so clear and articulate. Either way it’s awesome. On a side note, while I was playing a test track with rain/storm/thunder, the JBL sub hit with the thunder and my wife actually giggled. As a whole the entire system is awesome, I haven’t changed anything yet from the initial setup/calibration. The eq is still flat, rear volume is set to default or wherever the calibration put it. The PureVoice5 is on as set from default. Bass level set to default. No part of the audio spectrum is overbearing, the sub will hit hard and low so you can feel it in your chest when needed or rumble unobtrusively as the audio engineers mixed. The surrounds are there and fill in, but don't just give you loud ‘noises’ right behind your head. The entire sound stage/bubble/area is filled in, you feel like you are sitting in the sound bubble in the movie, and not just listening to speakers near the TV. Even with my non optimal setup, the sound truly turns 3 dimensional. I wish I hadn’t waited so long to upgrade and try a sound bar as a replacement to my old separate 5.1 system, but the JBL BAR1300mk2 was well worth the wait. 5 stars all day long for JBL.

I purchase this a few weeks ago .. im a owner of the jbl 9.1 . Excellent soundbar to. So i put the trigger after i see a offer and i order it. The bar looks and fell premium. The subwoofer is a monster. App controller, easy setup SOUND like cinema . SUBWOOFER PUNCH... . I have lttle issue with rear speaker maybe a glitch.i dont use it by 2 daÿs and the rear attatch to bar goes to charge mode. But better than this impossible