Subj : I tried JBLs new Dolby Atmos soundbar, and it impressed me with i To : All From : TechnologyDaily Date : Fri Oct 03 2025 22:15:09 I tried JBLs new Dolby Atmos soundbar, and it impressed me with its almighty power and detachable wireless speakers Date: Fri, 03 Oct 2025 21:00:00 +0000 Description: I tried JBLs new soundbar with detachable wireless speakers and true Dolby Atmos heres why Im looking forward to testing it in full. FULL STORY ====================================================================== A lot of brilliant soundbars have been released so far in 2025. And here at TechRadar, weve enjoyed testing a range of new models from all-in-one machines like the Marshall Heston 120 through to stellar surround sound systems, such as the Samsung HW-Q990F. But recently, I attended an event with JBL in Copenhagen, Denmark, where the audio specialist demoed its upcoming soundbar and Im expecting it to stack up to some of 2025s best. Im talking about the JBL 1300MK2 an 11.1.4 channel soundbar that boasts detachable wireless speakers, Dolby Atmos, and a 2,470W maximum power output. Yes, you read that last one correctly. Heres what I learned about JBLs new home theater product, and why it may well rival some of the best soundbars around. Now thats some serious power It won't actually be clear when you purchase it, by the way... this was just for display! (Image credit: Future / Harry Padoan) Something that instantly struck me about the 1300MK2 was its immense power. And Im not just going off that sky-high power output figure. During the demo, I watched a clip from Denis Villeneuves Dune , and its attention-grabbing, atmospheric score was delivered with intent and serious impact, with deep bass swallowing a large open space at Nordisk Film one of the oldest film studios in the world. Similarly, the zombie trucker scene in Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City demonstrated the immense firepower of the Bar 1300MK2. When a truck awkwardly swerved through a neighborhood, the shrill sound of squeaking tires and scraping past other vehicles sounded natural and tonally accurate. When the truck eventually toppled over and exploded, the boom of engulfing flames was palpable too. Just generally, it seemed that the Bar 1300MK2 performed very well for movies. But how about music? See, this is an area where a lot of soundbars struggle, though we have been impressed with some recent releases like the aforementioned Marshall Heston 120 and KEF XIO . Well, from my first impressions, it seemed that the MK2 was following in the footsteps of its predecessor, the JBL Bar 1300X , with a high quality, expansive presentation. We listened to a bass heavy Billie Eilish track and again, I was won over by the low-end heft on offer, but also the clarity and separation of vocals, and disciplined yet expressive highs. Well be putting the Bar 1300MK2 through its paces with our usual TechRadar testing playlist when we get one in for review, but again, the early signs are positive. After this, I was shown a version of the JBL Bar 1300MK2 with transparent outer casing, which revealed the models high number of drivers and other internal components. For those who are interested, the Bar 1300MK2 has a whopping 29 drivers spread across the main bar, detachable wireless speakers, and sub. Thats nine more than the 1300X, which already blew our socks off! Drilling into the details (Image credit: Future / Harry Padoan) Lets speak a little more about the technical details and features, then, as this thing is impressive specs-wise. As well as Dolby Atmos, this bar supports the DTS:X spatial sound format. However, it also makes use of JBLs own MultiBeam 3.0 tech, which uses beamforming and digital processing to supply a wide, cinema-like soundstage. AI Sound Boost something weve seen in products like the JBL Xtreme 4 is also here. This will allow the dual-driver sub which can reach down to 33Hz to demonstrate improved audio output, enabling listeners to hear the whole dynamic range or so JBL says. Inclusions like room calibration and EQ options will also be at hand so users can get a sound best tailored to their tastes. I was also interested in a new Night mode, which makes use of the two detachable wireless speakers alone to deliver clear, yet less room-shaking sound. Those wireless speakers can also be used as standalone Bluetooth listening devices and even paired with other JBL models via Auracast. Pretty neat! There are many more nuggets that JBL showed off, like integrated music services in the JBL One app, PureVoice 2.0 for clearer dialogue, and 4K HDMI passthrough. All of this suggests that the 1300MK2 will be a worthy follow-up to its predecessor, which still sits on our guide to the best Dolby Atmos soundbars . But youll have to wait a little longer to hear our full thoughts, which well bring to you as soon as possible. The JBL Bar 1300MK2 is expected to be released in October 2025, with a price of $1,699.95 / 1,299.99 (about AU$2,600). Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button! And of course you can also follow TechRadar on TikTok for news, reviews, unboxings in video form, and get regular updates from us on WhatsApp too. You may also like Looking for a new soundbar but working on a tight budget? The check out our list of the best cheap soundbars Or maybe you want a new TV to go with the upcoming JBL Bar 1300MK2? Well head on over to our best TVs guide ====================================================================== Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/televisions/soundbars/jbl-bar-1300-mk2-first-impress ions --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A49 (Linux/64) * Origin: tqwNet Technology News (1337:1/100) .