Compared to its rivals, JBL is renowned for hitting harder and with more bass. Additionally in the soundbar category. Of course, using the premium 5.1 Surround model, which clings to the TV room, you could not do it any differently. Not least of all because of a sizable subwoofer with a 10-inch bass component and a 300 watt amplifier. The subwoofer can be placed anywhere because it can wirelessly interact with the soundbar.
However, it shouldn’t be too far from the soundbar for the greatest sound quality. Because it plays at a high enough frequency that you can hear where it is, among other things. Powerful and dramatic sound is provided by the soundbar’s five oval midrange elements, three treble elements, sound processing, and five 50-watt amplifiers. Additionally, it provides a good imitation of true surround sound without the need for additional rear speakers.
By including wireless surround speakers that detach from the primary enclosure, JBL’s Bar 5.1 seeks to close the gap between the conventional soundbar and a multichannel arrangement. It is intended that you may remove these for movie night and then reattach them to the bar We have already seen this idea before. In 2013, Philips unveiled the HTL9100, a soundbar with removable surrounds that pairs with a subwoofer. It followed with the Fidelio B5 two years later. JBL has now accepted the concept. It has also accepted the £600 price tag Philips put on their multifunctional goods.
JBL Bar 5.1 review: Design
For its hefty price tag, the JBL Bar 5.1 looks rather cheap. Its design is primarily made of plastic, and while it seems sturdy, the buttons and screen aren’t as smooth as those on rivals like the Bose SoundTouch 300. A small display that is hidden beneath the soundbar’s main body and to the right of a small JBL logo is covered in a perforated mesh. Four manual buttons for power, volume, and input source are located on top. There are several various inputs on the back, including three HDMI connections, one USB port, one AUX port, and one optical port.
The satellite speakers adhere to the same design principles as the rest of the device and attach to the ends of the soundbar with remarkable ease using a strong magnetic connection. When they are connected, the entire device looks exactly like a conventional soundbar. The soundbar is 58mm height, so it will easily fit in front of most TVs, although it is obviously intended to be mounted to a wall below a screen. Everything you should need to mount the JBL Bar 5.1 to the wall is contained in the package.
JBL Bar 5.1 review: Features
The ability to switch between a 2.1 and 5.1 sound system is undoubtedly the JBL Bar 5.1’s most notable feature. This is incredibly effective and excellent. For those who wish to keep their setup as simple as possible, this system works well as a soundbar with a subwoofer and provides a room-filling sound. But if you want true surround sound, just remove the end speakers, which are locked in place by magnets, and set them in the back of the space.
The system has a calibration microphone, so you can quickly let it auto-setup the sound. If those rear speakers will always be positioned in the same location towards the back of the room, you only need to do this once. These battery-operated speakers automatically switch to 5.1 mode when you detach them; no additional action is required. The 10-hour battery life is the only cause for worry. In practice, though, you’re more likely to utilize 5.1 mode when watching a movie or the newest HBO drama that requires full sonic effect. Put them back into the soundbar, and they will begin to charge on their own.
Additionally, switching back to 2.1 for regular TV makes a movie seem more exceptional because the quick preparation phase truly ups the suspense of what’s about to happen. Another useful feature is SoundShift, which let you to switch between playing music from a Bluetooth-enabled phone and any of the soundbar inputs. Therefore, if you press play on your phone while viewing a movie, it will take precedence over the TV input and play your music instead. This is a useful bonus that can be disabled, making it perfect for commercial breaks.
JBL Bar 5.1 review: Performance
They sound modest at low and mid bass levels and powerful at high bass levels when played via the Bar 5.1 Surround. You should therefore increase the subwoofer’s output for movies, especially those like this one that have a lot of low-end in the sound effects and the score. Even with the sub at maximum, there is a good balance between lows and highs in the dialogue, which is clear and crisp.
The Bar 5.1 Surround produces powerful thunder during the Death Star explosion in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, especially when the bass is turned all the way up. The rumble is close to a theater experience when the system is turned up to its utmost intensity, although it’s not always as loud as you might think. Although the lows are powerful and the loudness is enough, the total power feels less than it does when music is playing. In other words, even while it produces considerable rumble, this system’s maximum volume is a little lower than you might prefer if you enjoy watching movies loudly.
JBL Bar 5.1 review: Setup
If your TV has HDMI ARC, you may simply use an HDMI cable to connect it to the soundbar’s HDMI out connection. It should work if you make sure that HDMI ARC is selected for your TV’s sound. As an alternative, you can attach a set-top box directly to the soundbar or use the optical digital audio output from your TV.
The Google Home app is used by the Bar 5.1 Surround to establish a wireless connection. However, you should read the online manual rather than the largely pointless quick instruction that is included in the box in order to comprehend that. The Google Home software should be downloaded, but the quick start instruction doesn’t explain why or what to do next.
Hold the power button down until “Setup Wifi” appears on the LED display to enter Wi-fi setup mode. (On the machine I tested, I was unable to make this appear, but I was still able to connect to Wi-fi.) Select the soundbar from the phone’s wifi settings panel. Launch Google Home after which you may register the speaker. Following that, you can use Chromecast or AirPlay 2 to play audio. The speaker and your phone can be connected via Bluetooth as well.
JBL Bar 5.1 review: Connectivity
Now let’s examine the connectivity possibilities that JBL has incorporated into this. As was already noted, all ports are situated in a unique inset in the backside’s center. The placement of JBL’s power connector near the other ports, in contrast to other manufacturers, makes grouping of all cables considerably simpler. The Bar 5.1 Surround’s connectors are as follows: a power connector, a USB port, a digital optical input, an Ethernet port for wired network connection, and two HDMI ports one input port and one output port from left to right.
Overall, one may say that this is the most straightforward of designs. Although the output has enhanced ARC functionality but no eARC, both HDMI ports support HDCP 2.3 and can pass-through 4K and Dolby Vision data. There is an optical port for individuals with older equipment, although it should be noted that the USB port only adds MP3 playback functionality for US models. This can only be used for service in all other regions, which is a strange distinction to make.
JBL Bar 5.1 review: Audio
The Bar 5.1 Surround maintains the high caliber of audio performance that JBL is renowned for. That is made possible by the presence of five front-facing drivers, two side-firing tweeters, a wireless 10-inch subwoofer, and powerful, prominent bass from those components, which together produce 550W of power. The Bar 5.1 Surround sounds fantastic for other reasons aside from its robust setup. You see, JBL has been manufacturing theater sound systems for over 75 years, using its own MultiBeam technology to provide an exceptionally detailed and spatially precise audio experience. The Bar 5.1 Surround uses the same technology.
While some 3D audio claims are little more than marketing gimmick, JBL actually lives up to the promise, and sometimes it’s mind-blowing. The soundbar’s incredible ability to disperse sound around the space, especially to the far left and right of the speaker system, makes watching movies and playing video games immensely immersive. The soundtrack, which features astounding sound separation and simulated directional audio, is nothing short of astonishing.
Final words
The JBL Bar 5.1 Soundbar is suitable for watching television and listening to talk shows. It can provide incredibly accurate and transparent discourse. It does not, however, come with an upgrade feature to further enhance vocal clarity. The bar offers an auto-volume option for prospective increases. Using Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, you can also stream your preferred audiobooks or webcasts to the bar. You receive Apple, AirPlay, and Chromecast integration. I would highly suggest this soundbar.
