There are soundbars after which there are soundbars. By that, I imply some fashions make a modest try to enhance on a TV’s built-in audio system, boosting dialogue readability and inflicting results like explosions to sound extra lifelike. After which there are others that try to totally exchange a separate encompass sound speaker system linked to the most effective AV receivers – the JBL Bar 1300X, for instance.
Like all of the finest Dolby Atmos soundbarsJBL’s Bar 1300X ($1,699 / £1,400 / AU$2,440) options up-firing drivers that bounce overhead results in film soundtracks off your room’s ceiling for a extra three-dimensional presentation. With the Bar 1300X, nevertheless, the system’s wi-fi encompass audio system additionally characteristic up-firing drivers for Dolby Atmos. That particular characteristic places JBL’s flagship soundbar system within the firm of different main fashions just like the Samsung HW-Q990Bone other 11.1.4-channel providing just like the JBL and one which sits at an identical high-end worth tier.
I not too long ago made the choice to interrupt down my dwelling theater’s 5.1.2 Dolby Atmos speaker system and depend on a soundbar-based one as a substitute. One cause for this was I needed to see how a lot I’d be lacking from a sound high quality perspective, and one other was I merely needed to reduce the quantity of gear taking on area within the room.
I’ve had a couple of soundbars rotate by means of the area since, and may actually state that I’ve missed the large, immersive sound that my common speaker-based system offers. However then I connected JBL’s Bar 1300X…
JBL’s flagship soundbar system offers all the important thing encompasses a film fanatic would hunt down. It has processing for each Dolby Atmos and DTS:X codecs, a sizeable 12-inch wi-fi subwoofer powered by 300 watts (1,170 watts whole for the system), and 4 HDMI ports (1 with eARC) that assist Dolby Imaginative and prescient passthrough. These up-firing drivers on the wi-fi encompass audio system are augmented by an extra 4 on the soundbar itself, and the complete system could be arrange and mechanically calibrated for finest efficiency utilizing the corporate’s JBL One management app.
A novel characteristic of the Bar 1300X is its rechargeable encompass audio system, a design that makes them really wi-fi. You dock the audio system on both aspect of the soundbar to cost up their lithium-ion batteries, after which detach and place them on the rear corners of the room for viewing/listening. The audio system run for as much as 10 hours, and so they additionally include USB-C charging cables should you choose for them to stay absolutely powered and extra completely put in.
However built-in rechargeable batteries aren’t the one notable factor about JBL’s surrounds, which will also be used as transportable Bluetooth audio system, and may even be wirelessly paired for stereo playback. By no means has a encompass speaker provided a lot utility as those included with the Bar 1300X.
Ears on with the JBL Bar 1300X
Setup of JBL’s soundbar system was an extremely easy course of. I simply charged up the surrounds, put them and the subwoofer in place, after which downloaded the JBL One app. The soundbar mechanically made a wi-fi reference to the opposite audio system, and I used to be prompted to step by means of sound calibration – a 3-minute course of.
JBL’s clear, well-organized app (a {hardware} distant management can be supplied) enables you to tweak the rear channel speaker stage and offers three-point EQ to regulate bass, mids, and treble. You’ll be able to add Amazon Music Limitless, Tidal, Qobuz, Spotify, and extra of the most effective music streaming providers to stream and management from the app; alternatively, you may stream instantly from inside music apps to the soundbar utilizing Chromecast built-in and AirPlay 2. The Bar 1300X additionally works with Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri for voice management.
Listening to some bass-heavy digital music confirmed that the system’s 12-inch subwoofer was a robust bass beast – even after sound calibration, I wanted to tone the bass down utilizing the EQ adjustment. Afterwards, JBL’s sub sounded low-reaching and clear, and it was easily built-in with the remainder of the system.
Checking in on Tremendous Bowl LVII, the voices of the announcers have been clear and pure, whereas the system’s upmixing to unfold the sound to all audio system gave me a way of being within the crowd.
However it was actually once I checked out a couple of acquainted scenes from films with Dolby Atmos soundtracks that the Bar 1300X revealed itself to be a succesful substitute for my speaker-based 5.1.2 system. Watching a scene from 1917 the place planes fly overhead in a area that the British troopers are crossing, the sound of the planes believably appeared to be coming from overhead. And in a later scene the place a German airplane crashes right into a barn the place the troopers are resting, the accompanying sound results had scarily pinpoint spatial accuracy.
One other go-to speaker analysis film scene for me is one in John Wick 3 the place Wick fights a bunch of thugs in an antiques warehouse. The smashing of glass show instances, touchdown of kicks and hits, and the zing of knives tossed at torsos and heads all had a dynamic affect. On this and different scenes there was additionally a way of being wrapped within the soundtrack, with no hole between the sound coming from the audio system on the entrance and rear of the room.
I’m off to an excellent begin with the JBL Bar 1300X and have actually solely simply unpacked it. A full evaluate is within the works, and at this fee, it’s a probable contender for our greatest soundbars listing. Whereas the Bar 1300X’s excessive value might be a tricky promote for a lot of, the incredible array of options on provide right here make it a compelling selection for somebody in search of a no-comprise soundbar system – one that may simply stand in for a extra conventional AV receiver-based rig.
