I swapped my Sonos soundbar for one with detachable rear speakers – genius or gimmick?

ZDNET’s key takeaways

• The JBL Bar 1000MK2 features a soundbar, two removable rear audio system, and an exterior subwoofer for $1,200.
• It is a versatile system, with highly effective audio efficiency appropriate for giant rooms.
• It isn’t an excellent choice for individuals who need everlasting rear audio system.

extra shopping for decisions

The unique JBL Bar 1000 made a compelling case for itself as a flexible soundbar for individuals who needed the choice of encompass sound audio system that weren’t essentially completely put in and have been straightforward to position as wanted. Now, JBL is again with a follow-up: the JBL Bar 1000MK2. 

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Like the unique, the soundbar comes with satellite tv for pc audio system that may magnetically connect to the soundbar when you do not need or want the encompass sound expertise. Then, when film evening comes, detach them from the edges of the soundbar for extra immersive audio. However at $1,200, the JBL Bar 1000MK2 actually is not low cost. Is it price shopping for? Or do you have to go for one thing else? Let’s dive in.

Versatility is vital

The most effective factor concerning the JBL Bar 1000MK2 is its versatile design. The design makes it straightforward for these with smaller residing rooms to get a encompass sound setup with out completely mounted, wired encompass audio system. It is sort of a genius idea. 

The 2 encompass audio system merely seem like a part of the soundbar itself once they’re hooked up to the edges, and so they cost once they’re hooked up. When you principally hold them hooked up to the soundbar and solely take them off for sure varieties of content material, you should not want to fret a lot about battery life — you may get 10 hours on a cost.

You needn’t connect them to the soundbar to cost them when you favor to maintain them in encompass positions, although. Every speaker has a small USB-C port on it that you need to use to energy it. So when you do need to place them in a extra everlasting place, you possibly can. 

Within the field, you may additionally get mounting {hardware} to mount the soundbar and the encompass audio system, which is useful. Many standalone soundbars at an analogous value level promote mounting gear individually. 

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The removable encompass audio system can be utilized independently of the soundbar. They every have Bluetooth connectivity, so you need to use them as particular person Bluetooth audio system round your property. 

Maybe the least versatile side of the JBL Bar 1000MK2’s design is the included 10-inch exterior subwoofer. I like that JBL has included a comparatively cumbersome subwoofer with the soundbar, however its dimension does make it harder to position in your front room than a slimmer subwoofer just like the Sonos Sub 4, which is my sub of alternative. You may have to discover a nook or one other space in your front room the place you possibly can place the subwoofer.

The flexibility extends past the overall design of the soundbar, although — you get versatile connectivity choices too. On the again of the soundbar, you may discover an HDMI eARC port for connecting the soundbar to your TV, however you may additionally get three HDMI 2.1 pass-through ports, which means you need to use the soundbar as a hub on your sources, together with fashionable sport consoles. 

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The soundbar connects to Wi-Fi, so it helps wi-fi streaming choices like AirPlay 2 and Google Solid. You may as well use the JBL One app to stream from platforms like Spotify Join and Tidal Join.

Immersive and highly effective audio

The design is not only a gimmick. The soundbar can also be very succesful on the subject of audio efficiency. When the encompass audio system are indifferent from the soundbar and positioned of their right positions, they ship immersive audio when watching content material encoded in Dolby Atmos. 

The immersion was fairly good; sound results from beside and above me translated effectively, although a number of that has to do with the truth that my residing area is well-suited to ceiling sound reflections, and your expertise might fluctuate when you have a different-shaped area.

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That mentioned, I used to be most shocked by how immersive the audio nonetheless was with the encompass audio system hooked up to the soundbar. To make certain, it wasn’t fairly as immersive as with the encompass audio system indifferent and within the encompass place, however the soundbar delivered a convincing encompass expertise utilizing reflections. 

Consequently, you possibly can principally hold the encompass audio system hooked up to the soundbar with out shedding an excessive amount of or with out feeling such as you’re actually lacking out. It is excellent for day-to-day watching or consuming content material that does not essentially depend on a encompass sound expertise. Then, when you will have a film evening, you possibly can transfer these encompass audio system to extend the extent of immersion.

The general frequency response on supply by the soundbar is spectacular too, and far of that’s owed to the included subwoofer. The subwoofer has a 10-inch driver, and it was capable of pump out deep and impactful bass that at instances verged on being a bit of a lot. 

Fortunately, you possibly can tweak the audio response within the JBL One app, so when you discover that the bass response is a bit excessive, you possibly can tone it down. I discovered the frequency response to be good each when watching TV and flicks and when listening to music casually. 

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The efficiency went past a great frequency response. The soundbar can get very loud, and it is well-suited to bigger residing rooms. This mannequin has a 960W whole energy output, which is a step up from the unique JBL Bar 1000’s 880W output. 

ZDNET’s shopping for recommendation

The JBL Bar 1000MK2 is definitely probably the greatest all-in-one residence theater soundbars. Along with sounding wonderful, it is probably the most versatile soundbar I’ve ever examined. When you like the thought of encompass sound however do not essentially need to completely set up rear audio system, the JBL Bar 1000MK2 is definitely the best way to go. 

When you’re prepared to spend (so much) extra and do not thoughts everlasting rear audio system, then it is nonetheless maybe price going for one thing just like the Arc Extremely with rear Sonos Period audio system and a Sonos subwoofer, which is at the very least $1,826 and at most $2,696. Or you possibly can go together with the Samsung HW-Q990F, a house theater-in-a-box that retails for $2,000. However on the Bar 1000MK2’s value level, you possibly can’t discover opponents with the identical stability of audio response and flexibility.