- JBL reveals his new Sound Bars Dolby Atmos, the MK2 series
- It is headed by the flagship JBL bar1300mk2, a sound bar of 11.1.4 channel
- Four other sound bars also appear in the range
JBL has revealed its new Dolby Atmos sound bar, the MK2 bar series.
The range is headed by the JBL Bar1300MK2-Sucesor of the JBL 1300X Bar 2,470W.
The other sound bars in the range include JBL bar1000mk2, JBL bar 700mk2, JBL bar 500mk2 and JBL bar 300mk2.
See the grid below to obtain the channel configuration of each sound bar, energy output and the inclusion of the subwoofer and the rear speaker:
|
Sound bar |
Channel configuration |
Total output power |
Subwoofer/rear speakers |
|
JBL Bar 1300mk2 |
11.1.4 |
2,470W |
Compact subwoofer of 8 ” / 2 removable wireless rear speakers with Bluetooth functionality |
|
JBL Bar 1000mk2 |
7.1.4 |
960W |
10 “/ 2 removable wireless speaker subwoofer |
|
JBL Bar 700mk2 |
7.1 |
780W |
10 ” / 2 removable wireless speaker subwoofer |
|
JBL Bar 500mk2 |
5.1 |
750W |
10 ” / no additional speakers |
|
JBL Bar 300mk2 |
5.0 |
450W |
There is no additional subwoofer or speakers |
The JBL bar range will be released first in June 2025 with the 1000mk2 bar, 700mk2 bar, 500mk2 bar and 300mk2 bar released during this time and the JBL BAR 1300mk2 flagship will be launched later in the year in October 2025.
The price of the JBL bars range is as follows: we still have no prices for countries outside the United States:
- JBL Bar 1300mk2: $ 1,699.95
- JBL Bar 1000mk2: $ 1,199
- JBL Bar 700mk2: $ 899
- JBL Bar 500mk2: $ 649
- JBL Bar 300mk2: $ 449
JBL bars range: features
Each sound bar at the JBL MK2 bar will come with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, AirPlay 2, Google Cast, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect and Roon Ready features. All but the 300mk2 bar will admit Amazon Music HD, although the 300mk2 bar will admit Samsung’s intelligent smartthings.
Each sound bar in the range will also admit Dolby Atmos in some way, with the 1300mk2 flagship bar and 1000mk2 bar that admits true Dolby Atmos, while the three upstream models will admit Virtual Dolby atmospos.
It is also worth noting that only the 1300mk2 bar and 1000mk2 bar will admit DTS: X at the launch. The other three will receive DTS: Virtual X later in the year through an update.
As for other technologies, all sound bars will admit Multibeam 3.0 technology, which is said to create an immersive and enveloping sound experience from a single sound bar. All will support Purevoice 2.0 for improved dialogue and speech.
All sound bars are also compatible with the JBL One platform, compatible with the JBL One application, for the transmission of space audio and space audio from compatible music services.
Put the Dolby Atmos flagship in war?
We have had many options when it comes to the best Dolby Atmos sound bars in recent months. Both the Sonos Arc Ultra and the Marshall Heston 120 have proven excellent sound bars all in one for less than $ 1,000, winning 4 of 5 and 5 stars of 5 of 5 respectively in their criticisms.
Last year, the Samsung HW-Q990D was consolidated as our favorite solution of the multiple cash system thanks to its incredible power and immersive and nuanced sound, and we are eager to have its successor in our hands, the Samsung HW-Q990F, very soon.
But could the 1300mk2 bar and the 1000mk2 bar be about to notice these sound bars? In terms of characteristics, both bars are full of support ready for transmission services (although they are also their rivals), but they are the removable rear speakers of the 1300 mk2 bar which makes it highlight: something that we loved of its predecessor, bar 1300x when we reviewed it. It is a useful solution to maintain the configuration of its tidy speaker when it is not in use.
The 1000mk2 bar can be a bit more expensive than the Sonos Arc Ultra and the Marshall Heston 120 ($ 200 more to be precise), but it has the additional benefit of a subwoofer included that will probably give it an advantage in the Lower department.
The JBL Bar 1300 MK2, with a price of $ 1,699, seems to be launched at a price similar to the Samsung HW-Q990F, which has fallen to $ 1,599.99 recently, but offers 2.470W of total power at 756W of Q990F, which would actually put it more in line with the JBL bar 1000mk2.
On paper, JBL bars have all the potential to offer more power to similar prices to many rivals and if you can get the right performance, JBL could really shake the Dolby Atmos sound bar again.
