The JBL Bar 500MK2 5.1 Dolby Atmos soundbar has dropped to its lowest price ever on Amazon after a $100 discount off its MSRP of $649.95. This soundbar was announced this summer alongside four other models as one of the company's entry-level choices.
Although Rtings has not yet reviewed the Bar 500MK2, it has reviewed the prior Bar 500, which comes with two fewer speakers, and found it to be a good choice for music and movies. However, it falls short in its ability to immerse viewers when viewing Dolby Atmos content due to the lack of rear speakers.
The Bar 500MK2 does not have physical rear speakers, so it relies on MultiBeam 3.0 technology to bounce audio from the main bar's five racetrack drivers and four tweeters off the walls and ceiling to simulate a 3D sound field that includes right, left, center, and height channels. Automatic sound calibration adjusts the speaker output to produce the best possible sound, according to JBL.
Deep bass is handled by the large 10-inch subwoofer, with a total combined system power of 750 watts, allowing the system to cover a frequency range of 40 Hz to 20 kHz.
Dialogue is processed by PureVoice 2.0 technology to help ensure clear voices at all volume levels, while soundtracks are processed by SmartDetails technology to bring out the subtle details of the sound mix, according to the company. Owners can further adjust the equalization using the JBL One smartphone app.
The JBL soundbar supports music streams from Bluetooth 5.3 connected phones and audio sources. It also supports Google Cast and Apple AirPlay over 802.11ax Wi-Fi networks, including multi-room playback with other connected speakers. The Bar 500MK2 connects to televisions using an optical or HDMI cable.