Jbl Bar Studio 20-channel Soundbar With Bluetooth Review

With the Bar 2.0 All-In-I, JBL takes the concept of plug-and-play to extremes. This is a soundbar that's focused on ease-of-use, and one that eschews functionality that might brand the owner feel complex.

For example, JBL'due south previous entry-level soundbar – the Bar Studio, reviewed here – offered a choice of five preset EQ modes (Standard, Movie, Music, Voice and Sport), plus user adjustment of bass output, and the option of instigating a virtual surround way. Its replacement model throws all that away. The result is a supplied handset that's comically uncluttered, with just power, volume, mute and Tv/Bluetooth source buttons.

Setup is therefore blissfully uncomplicated. To connect to a TV, use either the HDMI ARC connexion (there's 
no boosted hookup for source switching) or digital optical audio input, and you're up and running. For other devices, at that place's the aforementioned Bluetooth provision (v4.two) ...and nothing else. Even the 3.5mm input of the Bar Studio has been left off the spec sail.

The soundbar itself is compact – merely 61cm wide and 6cm tall – and neatly styled, with rounded cabinet edges, a full-length grille on its front fascia, and command buttons on top. 
An LED status light denotes book changes. Raise the level and it expands horizontally, vaguely reminiscent of a Cylon'south visor (original serial, not the remake...).

JBL Bar 2.0 All-In-1 performance
Given the stripped-down spec, the Bar 2.0 All-In-Ane lives or dies on its functioning. Thankfully, information technology proves highly achieved, and reaps the rewards of an increase in onboard power over its forebear (now a claimed 80W rather than 30W), and, says JBL, improved commuter design.

The low-end attain is a suggested 70Hz (aided past a rear-firing bass port), which equates to enough depth to impart some 
of the scale of cinematic effects without ever flapping your trouser leg. But while information technology'due south by no ways a bass monster, its LF output integrates well with midrange details, for a smooth, fifty-fifty balance. This is an important trait, as there are no user EQ options.

For everyday TV viewing, the soundbar's strengths are its solid handling of dialogue, noticeable bass delivery and crisp, clean presentation of college-frequency effects. 
With a live football broadcast, the latter helps convey the crowd claps and whistles, and the scale of the stadium. Advertising jingles and TV theme tunes relish the actress bass weight then often missing from a flatscreen's speakers.

Dialogue-heavy textile tin can sound more lacking in soundstage width; JBL'southward twin racetrack commuter array gets more mileage out of layered film soundtracks.

During the opening chapters of WW2 activity/horror Overlord (Heaven Cinema), I was impressed past the soundbar's ability to mirror the onscreen mayhem within in its stereo soundfield. As our hero is thrown from the burning aircraft and begins to tumble through the air, the soundmix is brimful with details: anti-shipping gun hammering abroad, dawdling plane engines and terrified screams. These swirl and shift within the (ever in forepart of you) soundstage. JBL's processing contents itself with delineating straight stereo, just that'south not necessarily a drawback.

Meanwhile, Hans Zimmer's lush cord themes in the soundtrack for Widows (Blu-ray) are a good barometer of the bar's tonality and subtlety, and its ability to sound bigger than you'd expect.

A slight criticism is the sheer number of book steps – you can hammer away at 
the remote's key for quite a while earlier reaching the level y'all want. The soundbar doesn't listen being driven loud, although information technology's evidently not suited to a big room. Another gripe is that for UK buyers the bar'southward USB port is service just, just in the US it doubles every bit a media actor (MP3, WAV).

JBL Bar 2.0 All-In-I verdict
Overall, this is a strong case of a product that focuses on the main job in paw, and does it well. Supremely simple operation, punchy, authoritative sonics, and a sub-£200 ticket arrive easy to recommend.

HCC Verdict: 4.5/5

JBL Bar ii.0 All-In-One

Price: £150
uk.jbl.com

Nosotros say: Despite losing out on EQ and virtual surround features, this 2.0-channel TV add together-on is a fine mix of performance and ease-of-use.

Specification

Drive units:two x racetrack drivers (size unspecified)
Onboard power (claimed): 2 x 40W
Connections: ane 10 HDMI ARC; optical digital audio input
Dolby Atmos/DTS:X: No/No
Split Subwoofer: No
Remote control: Yes
Dimensions (soundbar): 614(westward) x 58(h) x xc(d)mm
Weight (soundbar): one.61kg

Features: Bluetooth (v4.ii); rear bass port; supplied HDMI cable; 70Hz-20kHz claimed frequency response

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Source: https://www.homecinemachoice.com/content/jbl-bar-20-all-one-soundbar-review

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