JBL has unveiled five new soundbars aimed at surround sound setups with several having detachable wireless speakers that can be set up around the room for more immersive audio arrangements. The JBL Bar Series, as it’s called, features the 300MK2, 500MK2, 800MK2, 1000MK2 and 1300MK2.
According to JBL, every soundbar in the series will come equipped with Harman’s MultiBeam 3.0 surround sound tech, as well as support for Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. The lineup will also feature Harman’s PureVoice 2.0 tech, which the company says actively analyzes media content to make dialogue in movies and TV programs easier to hear.
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All models also come with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity standard in addition to supporting AirPlay 2, Google Cast, Amazon Music HD, Roon Ready, Spotify Connect and Tidal Connect for music streaming.
Users can also customize a seven band EQ to really dial in the ideal soundscape depending on the environment, with additional customizations allowing for the programming of playlists to run on a single button press.
JBL Bar 1300MK2, 1000MK2, 800MK2 Offer Convertible Rear Speakers for Flex Setups
A unique feature the JBL Bar 1300MK2, 1000MK2, and 800MK2 models are getting is the ability to detach two of their rear speakers to be arranged in wireless configurations throughout the room. These speakers can also be converted into fronts by switching the soundbar into Night Listening mode, which adjusts the sound for low volume, more noise-conscious nighttime viewing.
Additionally, the Bar 1300MK2 is getting JBL’s first ever application for its AI Sound Boost, complementing the bar’s six upfiring speakers and dual 8-inch compact subs. According to JBL, the feature is meant to crank up the bass at lower volumes while “stabilizing” sound at higher volumes, all in the name of lowering distortion and upping clarity.
The Bar 1300MK2 also sports a whopping 2470W max power output in a 11.1.4 channel configuration, making it by far the most advanced soundbar of the lineup, with a price tag to match.
The Bar 500 and 300 MK2s, meanwhile, are designed to be the more affordable models of the lineup, with the Bar 1000 and 800 MK2s sitting right in the middle.
The announcement comes following the premiere of JBL’s three new Summit speakers—Makalu, Pumori and Ama—at High End Munich 2025, each sporting dramatically higher price tags than its new Bar Series, which, even at the high end, only cracks $1,199 MSRP for the Bar 1000MK2. For reference, the cheapest of the Summit Series, Ama, runs $19,995 MSRP for a pair of speakers.
The dichotomy between JBL top of the line and more affordable offerings is not unique in the custom integration space, though it has garnered unique attention in recent times. For a while, the company was part of a running joke among consumers over how prevalent the company’s cheaper speaker products were in daily culture, which CE Pro Executive Editor Zachary Comeau lamented, missed the fact that JBL is capable of outputting some quality sound with many of its products, as evidenced by its showing at ISE 2025 this year.
Currently the JBL Bar 1000MK2, 800MK2, 500 MK2 and Bar 300MK2 are available on jbl.com with the JBL Bar 1300M2 arriving in September 2025.
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