JBL Bar 5.1 Surround review
Our Verdict
The bass-rich JBL Bar 5.1 Surround soundbar creates an encompassing audio, if you tin figure out how to take reward of its talents.
For
- Large bass
- Clear dialog
- Impressive virtual surround sound
Against
- More difficult to set up than it should exist
- Overly large subwoofer
- No Atmos
Tom'southward Guide Verdict
The bass-rich JBL Bar five.1 Surround soundbar creates an encompassing sound, if you can figure out how to take advantage of its talents.
Pros
- +
Big bass
- +
Clear dialog
- +
Impressive virtual environment sound
Cons
- -
More difficult to set upwards than it should exist
- -
Overly big subwoofer
- -
No Atmos
At effectually $500, JBL Bar 5.ane Environs sits in a middle basis among soundbars. Nosotros take plenty of options for less – ordinarily smaller 2.ane systems — and we take many choices that are more than expensive, which include support for Dolby Atmos. But there aren't that many soundbars for $500 anymore.
Bar 5.ane Environment produces a bigger, bolder sound than less expensive models, only isn't quite as engaging as a arrangement that takes reward of Atmos. If your TV doesn't support Atmos and you want something that will knock your socks off with bass, the JBL Bar v.1 Surround may be the right fit — as long as you have space for the subwoofer and y'all don't mind piffling with the unit to get it correctly set up.
Read on for our total JBL Bar 5.1 Surround review.
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JBL Bar 5.1 Surround: Design
JBL'due south latest Bar 5.i changes its approach to five.1 environment sound. The previous model had detachable wireless surrounds that you could place backside you to create a true v.1 system. Bar five.i Surroundings, the new version, keeps all the speakers in the master soundbar and uses "Multibeam" tech to create virtual environment audio.
Bar 5.i Surround has both a small footprint and an extremely big one. The principal soundbar itself is rather svelte at forty x three.94 x 2.28 inches and its charcoal-colored instance blends nicely with most TVs.
The wireless subwoofer, on the other hand, is an absolute monster at 17.3 x 12 x 12 inches. It's the height that really stands out, especially compared to other wireless subs that are paired with soundbars – they usually try to be as small as possible. The subwoofer transducer itself is only 10 inches, which begs the question of why the subwoofer casing needs to be so big. Just if you've got room for information technology and love bass, more power to you.
The main soundbar uses its space much more efficiently, packing in 5 drivers and two tweeters, one on each cease of the soundbar.
The soundbar has just a few controls on acme: power, volume and input. On the dorsum, there are connections for HDMI out (supporting audio render channel, or ARC, for a single connection to your Idiot box); HDMI in (to connect a set peak box or game console, for instance); optical digital audio, if you lot prefer to connect to your Idiot box that fashion or don't have a Television receiver that supports ARC; USB; and Ethernet for wired connection to your network. Bar 5.1 Environment also has Wi-fi and Bluetooth for wireless connections.
There'southward an LED display on the right front of the unit. It tells you lot which input you've switched to and the book level. I found it hard to clearly read unless I was seated directly in front of the soundbar.
Bar 5.one Surroundings comes with a elementary remote with buttons for power, volume, switching inputs and adjusting the bass level. If y'all connect the soundbar to your TV via HDMI ARC, you should be able to use your Goggle box's remote to control the volume and power.
JBL Bar 5.1 Environment: Operation
Bar v.ane Surround'south virtual environs sound worked surprisingly well and overall it produced a rich, encompassing sound. Voices were clear and like shooting fish in a barrel to sympathise, though I found the treble to be a bit harsh in some cases. It definitely sounded amend than cheaper alternatives, such as the Yamaha YAS-209, but tin't lucifer more than expensive units with Atmos such every bit the Sonos Arc.
When Thor throws his Stormbreaker axe during the Wakanda battle in Avengers Infinity War, I could hear the axe motion effectually the room — information technology was nigh as practiced as a true 5.1 organisation. The subwoofer delivered impressive rumble when Thor unleashed his lightning on the Outriders. While watching Hamilton, the vocals were prominent in the front end while the music swelled throughout the room thanks to the virtual environs audio.
The soundbar handles music almost as well as it does movies and TV. Information technology performed best on songs that highlight vocals and bass, such equally Taylor Swift'southward "the last not bad american dynasty." It struggled somewhat on the layered sounds of Fiona Apple tree's "Shameika," muddling together the instruments, but Apple's voice and the rhythm were singled-out. Similarly, Jason Isbell's vocalism was articulate on "What've I Done to Help," but his acoustic guitar was low in the mix.
Bar five.1 Environment volition get plenty loud to fill your living room. Information technology measured 90 decibels at max volume and didn't distort much when pushed to its limit.
JBL Bar 5.1 Environs: Setup
Soundbars are supposed to be uncomplicated to fix, and the Bar 5.1 Environment is — but only to a indicate.
If your TV has HDMI ARC, just connect your Tv to the soundbar's HDMI out port via an HDMI cable. Brand sure your Idiot box sound is set to HDMI ARC, and it should work. Alternatively you can use the optical digital audio output from your Television receiver or connect a set top box directly to the soundbar.
The Bar 5.1 Surround uses the Google Home app for connecting to Wi-fi. But to understand that, you need to read the online manual, not the relatively useless quick guide that comes in the box. The quick start guide indicates you should download the Google Home app, but doesn't explain why or what to do next.
To put it in Wi-fi gear up fashion, you hold the power button down until yous run into "Setup Wifi" on the LED display. (I couldn't become this to appear on the unit I tested, but was able to connect to Wi-fi anyway). Go to your Wifi settings screen on your phone and select the soundbar. And so launch Google Home and add together the speaker to your account. After you do this, you lot can play audio via Chromecast or AirPlay ii. You lot can also pair the speaker with your phone via Bluetooth.
Yous'll as well want to have reward of the soundbar'due south automatic calibration to get the best surround sound effect. To do this, printing the HDMI push button on the remote until you encounter "Calibrate" appear on the LED display. The soundbar volition ship a series of sounds that help it measure the room and optimize the audio.
The Bar 5.ane Surround offers few other adjustments. You can set up the bass from level 1 to five using the Bass button on the remote. You can also switch to "Smart" mode, which boosts sound effects. Doing this is more complicated than it should be: you can only do it past holding the mute button for three seconds, and so pressing the + button.
JBL Bar v.ane Surround: Verdict
JBL'southward Bar v.1 Surround may non offer true 5.1 surround sound, but its virtual version is an excellent approximation. Its giant subwoofer tin rumble the floor during action sequences and adds depth to voices. Overall, it'south a solid mid-priced soundbar — one of few on the market place in this price range. While it was harder to set up properly than most soundbars, that should be a one-time pain.
Since it did so well with virtual surround audio, I institute myself wondering how it would handle the precision of Atmos — and missing the experience. While you tin can find some soundbars in this price range that support Atmos, you generally have to pay a premium to go it. Our current favorite is the $799 Sonos Arc, just that doesn't include a subwoofer.
If big bass matters virtually to you when watching your TV, y'all'll be happy with the feel Bar 5.1 Environment delivers.
Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/reviews/jbl-bar-51-surround
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