Verdict
An exciting and powerful surround organization from JBL , the Bar 1300 is a versatile surround system that offers a pleasingly unmortgaged and elaborated strait .
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
The Bar 1300 is JBL ’s flagship effort , and described as its most in advance soundbar system yet .
It has the same channel count asSamsung ’s Q990Dsoundbar system , using six up - firing drivers and Harman ’s MultiBeam technology to produce an immersive house of cards of auditory sensation . Add in a 10 - in wireless subwoofer and over 1000W of power , and the JBL could surrender a surround sound operation for the age .
Design
The JBL Bar 1300 is a modular system , the first that I ’ve total across in reviewing soundbar systems . It has speakers on its end that can detach and work as rearward speakers to create a true surround auditory sensation system .
It ’s a cagy approximation although it does signify that , when attached , to the master bar is well over a cadence in width ( 1376 mm ) . Even for the stand I use , which is for 65 - inch screens , the Bar 1300 was hanging off the edge .
Aesthetically there ’s not much to talk about with its grey nondescript finish that does n’t give the belief of a premium home film speaker . But unlike theLG US95TRit has a presentation , which is worthful in price of realise first - script what soundtracks ( or audio in oecumenical ) the soundbar is fiddle as well as adjusting configurations . There are ascendance onboard the main bar but with a remote dominance box with it and an app , I doubt you ’ll use them often .
The remote control has plenty of button but I never felt I needed to expend it as the JBL One app replicates the layout . And given the measure ’s wireless stream documentation , the app is my preference over using the remote and eventually mislay it down the side of a sofa .
There are a ton of connection in the bar ’s recessed expanse ; the Bar 1300 features three HDMI inputs , output ( eARC / ARC ) , digital optical out and a USB input , although in usual JBL behaviour , the USB input offers playback functionality in the US and is Robert William Service - only elsewhere .
The 10 - inch subwoofer is , quite honestly , a beast and one of the big I ’ve interpret in a soundbar system . It comes with a fanny - firing porthole , which implies you ’ll want to back it against a rampart . Again , my preference with all soundbars is to keep it closer to the main unit rather than further away . The size of the sub means you ca n’t really hide it either .
The detachable rear speakers can be slightly difficult to extract from the main unit with its magnetic connection , and sometimes require a degree of force . They ’re not too big , and depending on the type of pedestal you have , that magnetised connection sit them in home neatly . you’re able to view bombardment levels and as they ’re detachable ( and can be bulwark - mounted ) , they can be used as standalone Bluetooth speakers , sum to the systems tractability .
Features
Like the Samsung HW - Q990D , JBL ’s flagship bar feature 11.1.4 channel of sound and boast an absurd 1170W of power , with the soundbar receiving 670W , the sub 300W and the detachable speakers 110W each .
Wireless connectivity admit build up - in Wi - Fi with Google Cast ( which , like the LG , needs to be enabled first),AirPlay 2 , Alexa Multi - Room Audio , Spotify Connect , and Tidal Connect . Bluetooth 5.0is supported with the independent soundbar while there ’s Bluetooth 5.2 for the rear speakers . The rear speakers can last for 12 hr on their own great power .
Dolby Atmos andDTS : Ximmersive sound is cover with JBL ’s MultiBeam engineering science helping to enhance the operation . Though there ’s no mention of other soundtracks supported , you could bet your bottom dollar mark it ’ll cover bequest version of Dolby and DTS too .
There is a two - microscope stage calibration process that you could run to better the staging and how the Bar 1300 optimise its immersive performance , and I ’d urge you do run it , if only to hear how far the bar can push auditory sensation around the room . It ’s quite fun .
HDMI passthrough include 4 KiB , HDR10 andDolby Vision , but there ’s no mention ofVRRandALLM , which think of gamers wo n’t get the best performance when routing consoles through the bar ’s HDMI inputs .
There is n’t much in term of smarts away from reportage of Alexa and Google but only in their ‘ Works with ’ version , which means you ’ll need to link up a vox - enable speaker to get hands - gratuitous control . Siri is covered for Apple smart systems , and the Bar 1300 can posture within a Google Home fresh system as well .
Sound Quality
There ’s a clear , crisp and detailed auditory sensation the JBL make for to all types of audio recording routed through its talker . Midrange clarity is fantabulous , and the PureVoice Dialogue Enhancement tech help overturn voices to where they ought to be on screen . With the LG US95TR , I feel the dialog height was materialistic out of the box seat , but the JBL Bar 1300 seems to judge it right . The performance of Shallow from A Star is Born sounds born and light , almost as if you ’re on the stage with them during the performance ( or at least in the gang ) .
The active range of the speaker unit is brilliant . Transitions between restrained and loud and vice versa are handled seamlessly , which makes the Bar 1300 a groovy choice for watch action chronological succession in Heat or a horror film such as Get Out . When it gets loud , the JBL make very loud . I dare n’t go above volume level 18 given it was already room - pick and flash .
With the bank robbery sequence in Heat , there ’s very good sharpness and high levels of detail in the sound . The sequence feels clearer and more detailed than it did with the LG , with more punch to the gunshots than the quiet , raspy tone the US95TR provided .
John Wick Chapter 4 is a case for the potent bass the JBL Bar 1300 has to bid . The opening view of Wick education features punches that sound truly explosive , landing with so much impingement they voice savagely severely but there ’s no distortion or feeling that the bass is going to bottom out and deform .
The Omaha beach chronological sequence in Saving Private Ryan is telling in the sizing and plate of the soundstage make . you may hear the action at law in the overheads as bomb calorimeter go off , but it ’s the width of the soundstage in front that most impressed me . Sounds are flung far from the bar and with decent height for a wall of sound that has depth to it . The rears competently satiate in the blank space with action and ambient sounds so you do get a environment experience .
But in a similar fashion to theLG US95TR , the JBL Bar 1300 does miss out on a greater sense of peak . When Maverick take on off in his experimental jet , you’re able to sense the ascend upward , but it ’s not as high-pitched as I would like . Even adjusting the options does n’t seem to lift it too far .
When K lands on Sapper Morton ’s farm , there ’s a better sense of definition and detail than there was on the LG – I can place the spinster ’s position well – but I would favour a well signified of clarity and presence in the heights .
And bass is secure , but there are moments where I finger it can overwhelm the bar ’s feel for contingent . In Tenet , the bass was so loud it smothered other aspects of the film ’s profound aim . I checked the hoagie ’s bass level I found it was only at 3 ( out of 5 ) . I would n’t desire to put it louder than that .
Trying non - immersive audio recording and withPrime Video ’s Rings of Power , the Bar 1300 put in a clear , dynamic performance with big bass , undecomposed ambience ply in the rears and fantabulous dialogue clarity . There was one singular quirk in which dialogue in a scene from the 5th episode of time of year 2 appeared to come from both the front and rearward loudspeaker at the same clip , which made it more difficult to hear what was said .
With music , the soundbar is clear and balanced . voice sound natural and bass is rich – it ’s a surefooted operation from the measure , though Dolby Atmos euphony does n’t always sound as large as you might imagine . I could n’t prove its Bluetooth performance as for whatever rationality , the stripe and my smartphone just did n’t want to get along .
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Should you buy it?
The 10 - inch sub is tremendous and puts in a commanding performance , and for the most part , it does that with control .
Though they are passably even in term of transmission channel count and features , we ’d argue the Samsung HW - Q990D is the more immersive performing artist .
Final Thoughts
It may not see much like a premium soundbar , but the JBL Bar 1300 is an excellent flagship sound system . It offer magnate , lucidity , and plenty of detail across all types of soundtracks .
Its good sense of height is better than the LG US95TR , though it could be better and more obvious in that respect . The detachable speakers are a clever musical theme and offer more flexibility to those in create a surround audio system .
It has come down in monetary value in some places compared to theSamsung HW - Q990D , make it a full choice if you ca n’t spring the cash for that exemplar .
Trusted Score
How we test
We essay every soundbar we go over soundly over an extended period of time . We practice industry - standard tests to compare features properly . We ’ll always tell you what we rule . We never , ever , consent money to review a product .
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FAQs
There ’s no VRR or ALLM passthrough on the JBL Bar 1300 .
