If you are looking for the best JBL soundbar, you’re in the right place.
In this review, we feature the best JBL soundbars that provide a high-quality music experience with surround sound and Dolby Atmos capabilities. Most of these JBL soundbars come with a wireless subwoofer that delivers JBL signature sound with deep bass. The sound quality from these sound systems is crisp, clear and very well-defined, and can really elevate the entire listening experience in your home. Furthermore, we liked the fact that these soundbars from JBL can connect easily to your home theater receiver and TV, allowing for quick and easy setups. If you are looking for the best JBL soundbars for home entertainment, be sure to check out our top picks below!
Best JBL Soundbars – our top 3 picks
| Top 3 JBL Soundbars | ||
| JBL Bar 9.1 | JBL Bar 5.1 | JBL Bar 3.1 |
 |  |  |
| ✔️820W power output ✔️Dolby Atmos, DTS: X ✔️Wireless Bluetooth
| ✔️510W power output ✔️Dolby Digital, DTS ✔️Detachable speakers
| ✔️10″ wireless subwoofer ✔️Superb surround sound ✔️4K connectivity
|
Compare the Best JBL Soundbars
| Picture | Soundbar | Power Rating | Dimensions | Weight |
| JBL Bar 9.1 | 820W | 2.4″ x 48.4″ x 4.7″ | 24.5 lbs |
| JBL Bar 5.1 | 510W | 45” x 2.3” x 3.6” | 28.7 lbs |
| JBL Bar 3.1 | 450W | 40” x 2.3” x 3” | 26.7 lbs |
 | JBL Bar 2.1 | 300W | 38″ x 2.3″ x 2.7″ | 11.5 lbs |
 | JBL Bar 2.1 Channel | 300W | 36″ x 2.4″ x 2.3″ | 11.2 lbs |
 | JBL Bar 2.0 Soundbar | 80W | 24″ x 3.38″ x 2.2″ | 3.5 lbs |
 | JBL Boost TV Soundbar | 60W | 14.7″ x 3.3″ x 4.8″ | 4.25 lbs |
View the Best JBL Soundbar below
#1 Best Overall: JBL Bar 9.1 Soundbar System
Power rating: 820W power output
Features: Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, Bluetooth, Chromecast supported
What we liked: Immersive sound performance, great bass response
What we don’t: Auto-calibration issues, basic remote control
The JBL Bar 9.1 is hands down one of the best JBL soundbars you can find with a dedicated wireless subwoofer. Although this is not a true 9.1 sound system per se, the soundbar is equipped with 5 main acoustic drivers, 1 subwoofer and 4 Dolby Atmos/DTS:X drivers for mutli-channel surround sound. This is essentially a fully integrated sound system with Bluetooth, HDMI-in, Chromecast, DTS:X and fully wireless rear subwoofers. This sound system also delivers a massive 820W power output and comes with detachable, battery powered surround sound speakers for rear sound. Furthermore, it supports ultra-HD 4K pass-through with Dolby Vision and includes optical cables for direct connectivity.
In terms of sound performance, the JBL Bar 9.1 provides massive sound with 820 watts of total system power. The soundbar delivers crystal clear highs, detailed midranges and stunningly low bass from its 10” subwoofer. It also supports Chromecast and Airplay music streaming if you choose to listen to music. Watching movies with the JBL Bar 9.1 is truly a unique experience – you can hear details and sound effects in movies that you might not have experienced before. While this isn’t a true 9.1 sound system, it certainly delivers really good surround sound with great volume and sonic presence. It’s the type of system that makes you feel as though you are sitting in a real life cinema.
We liked the versatile features of the JBL Bar 9.1 system. It comes with Chrome-cast built-in with WiFi compatibility for you to stream all your favorite online music with high digital clarity. We also liked the fact that the system has Airplay 2 built-in for you to stream media from your Apple devices. The JBL Bar 9.1 also supports wireless Bluetooth streaming directly from your smartphone or tablet device.
That being said, we did experience some auto-calibration issues with this soundbar and calibrating the system is a 2 stage process. It also comes with a good remote control but we did wish that the remote control had more buttons for night modes or smart modes. The battery life for the rear JBL soundbar speakers has been pretty good and you can watch several TV shows and movies without requiring to constantly charge them.
Overall, the JBL Bar 9.1 is really an immersive home theater surround sound system. It’s one of the best JBL soundbars you can find with an integrated wireless subwoofer, and comes complete with a host of functionality for you to connect to multiple devices and Chromecast.
#2 Best 5.1 Soundbar: JBL Bar 5.1 Channel Soundbar
Power rating: 510W of total system power
Features: Dolby Digital, Dolby Pro Logic II and DTS
What we liked: Rich surround sound with great bass
What we don’t: Detachable speakers take 3 hours to fully charge
The JBL Bar 5.1 is one of the best JBL soundbars we have tested that delivers a true 5.1 surround sound experience. This soundbar is capable of transforming into a 5.1 home theater with surround sound speakers for a vibrant movie listening experience. This JBL soundbar features two detachable battery-powered wireless surround speakers with 10 hours of playtime and delivers a massive 510W of total system power. It also comes with a 10 inch wireless subwoofer and comes with three HDMI inputs to connect to 4K devices.
One of the things that we really liked about the JBL Bar 5.1 is that it supports Dolby Digital, Dolby Pro Logic II and DTS for a full cinematic sound experience with movies and video games. The level of soundstage and separation that you get from the JBL bar is pretty incredible, with crystal clear highs, detailed dialogues and midranges, and good bass performance. The 10 inch subwoofer delivers really powerful bass performance and offers flexible placemen without any wiring (it’s entirely wireless). This soundbar also supports ultra-HD with 4K devices.
The JBL soundbar is designed to work with your TV remote control, so you can use your existing TV remote control for both TV and the JBL soundbar. This soundbar also supports JBL Soundshift which allows you to switch between sound from your TV and sound from your smartphone and tablet devices. Our only quibble with the JBL Soundbar 5.1 is that the side wireless speakers need to be charged and it takes approximately 3 hours to reach a full charge. The entire setup is a breeze and took only a mere 5 minutes from start to connecting the JBL bar to the TV via HDMI ARC.
On the whole, the JBL Bar 5.1 is one of the best JBL soundbars available next to the JBL Bar 9.1. It may not be a high-end setup, but it delivers really good surround sound and deep bass for a superb cinematic movie watching experience.
#3 Best Value: JBL Bar 3.1 Channel 4K Ultra HD Soundbar
Power rating: 450W max power, 103 dB SPL
Features: 10” wireless subwoofer, 4K connectivity
What we liked: Deep bass and wireless Bluetooth streaming
What we don’t: Lacks Dolby Digital functionality
If you are looking for a 3.1 soundbar setup, go for the JBL Bar 3.1 soundbar system. It’s one of the best JBL soundbars available that supports 4K Ultra HD channels with a 10” wireless subwoofer. The soundbar is designed to make movies come alive with crystal clear and vibrant sound performance, and boasts a maximum 450W of power with a max SPL of 103dB. It has a wide frequency range of 35 Hz to 20 kHz and delivers really pristine soundstage and sound quality. The soundbar also supports wireless Bluetooth music streaming and supports true 4K connectivity with 3 HDMI in/1 HDMI ARC output. The soundbar also has a dedicated amplifier and speakers for center channel for clear dialogues.
We really liked the sound performance of the JBL Bar 3.1. Although this system is not as expansive as a true 5.1 surround sound system, this sound system delivered above expectations with extremely loud surround sound and powerful bass response. The sound bar itself is relatively small, but it delivers really loud sound that can make your room windows vibrate. You can really push this sound system to maximum volume without hearing a hint of distortion.
The wireless subwoofer that comes with the JBL Bar 3.1 also punches above its weight. The subwoofer delivers some seriously good low-end, the kind of bass that you can literally feel in your chest. When you push the subwoofer to max volume, the sound remains tight and clean without any distortion. It’s also designed as a down-firing subwoofer and has enough power to fill up your entire room with clean bass. Because the subwoofer is down-firing, you can’t really tell where the bass is coming from which is really good for cinematic movie effects and home theater.
The JBL Bar 3.1 allows you to hear details in movies and music which you might not have noticed before. It also delivers a massive 450W of total system power and you can connect up to 3 4K devices via HDMI inputs. One thing that we really liked about this system is that you can control the soundbar with your existing TV remote control.
Overall, the JBL Bar 3.1 is one of the best JBL soundbars available and we highly recommend them due to their cost-effective design and superb sound performance.
#4 Best Value: JBL Bar 2.1
Power rating: 300W of total system power
Features: HDMI and optical cable connectivity
What we liked: Easy setup with HDMI or optical cable connection
What we don’t: Does not support Dolby DTS:X
The JBL Bar 2.1 is one of the best JBL soundbars that’s cost effective and value for money. This JBL soundbar has an impressive 300W of total system power, and comes with a wireless 6.5” subwoofer for deep bass response. We also liked the fact that the JBL Bar 2.1 allows for wireless music streaming via Bluetooth directly from your smartphone and tablet device. The JBL Bar also provides JBL signature sound performance from your TV without any extra wires or speakers. The soundbar also comes with a HDMI or optical cable connection which is easy to setup and use.
We really liked the sound performance of the JBL Bar 2.1 sound system. The soundbar delivers big sound with very little distortion, and the bass performance from this soundbar is deep and punchy. The bass feels nicely accentuated and has that level of punch and depth which makes music and movies very entertaining to listen to. The dialogue and vocal performances are loud and crystal clear, and you can clearly here the movie dialogues from the TV without any issues. When we connected the soundbar to the TV system via optical, there were no delays and the system is easy to install and setup.
Apart from the sound performance, the JBL Bar 2.1 supports Dolby Digital and JBL surround sound for a real cinematic surround experience. It also delivers 300 watts of JBL signature sound which can really loud and fill your entire room with crisp and clean music performance. The soundbar has a wide frequency range of 40 Hz to 20kHz which is pretty decent.
Overall, the JBL Bar 2.1 is one of the best JBL soundbars that delivers good value for money and we highly recommend them.
#5 Best Slim Profile: JBL Bar 2.1 Channel Soundbar
Power rating: 300W total system power
Features: Dolby Digital, JBL surround sound
What we liked: HDMI, USB and aux connections
What we don’t: Somewhat lacking in midrange frequencies
The JBL Bar 2.1 channel soundbar with wireless subwoofer is designed with a slimmer profile for room aesthetics. It’s one of the best JBL soundbars that delivers JBL signature sound with crystal clear highs, detailed midranges and good bass response. This soundbar system features Dolby Digital, JBL surround sound and delivers maximum of 300W of system power. It also comes with a wireless 6.5” subwoofer to provide balanced sound and deep bass performance for cinematic movies. This soundbar is very easy to setup and also comes with a HDMI input with AUX and USB connections for connectivity to your TV. You can also pair it with your existing TV remote control which is very convenient.
If you are particular about sound and want an inexpensive option, the JBL Bar 2.1 is definitely a great choice. This soundbar does deliver really clean and vibrant sound performance especially for the size. They have crisp highs and rich tight bass with plenty of depth. We were pretty surprised that the compact wireless subwoofer could deliver this level of bass with depth and punch. The 6.5” subwoofer delivers deep lows like a 12” subwoofer can. The dialogue feels crisp and the DTS audio works like a charm on this soundbar. You can also turn on Surround Sound and the sound effects bounce all over the room for a 3D immersive listening experience.
We liked the fact that the JBL Bar 2.1 is easy to setup. It has HDMI inputs as well as AUX and USB wired connections that enable you to connect to various home entertainment systems including your TV. It is also Bluetooth enabled if you want to stream music directly from your smartphone device.
Finally, this soundbar has JBL Soundshift features which allow you to instantly switch between sound from your TV and sound from your mobile or tablet devices, which is pretty covneneint.
If you are looking for one of the best JBL soundbars with a slim profile and good aesthetic, the JBL Bar 2.1 is definitely a great choice.
#6 Best Basic: JBL Bar 2.0 Soundbar
Power rating: 80W of total system power
Features: HDMI, optical cable connections
What we liked: Low-profile design, compact and slim
What we don’t: Somewhat lacking in deep bass
The JBL Bar 2.0 is designed as a basic soundbar that delivers really good sound quality. It’s one of the best JBL soundbars that deliver 80W of total system power with good bass and dynamic audio quality. It also supports wireless music streaming via Bluetooth from your tablet or smartphone device. This soundbar is designed to produce JBL surround sound which provides an immersive experience for your TV without the need for extra wiring or additional speakers. The HDMI or optical cable connections.
The JBL Bar 2.0 features a compact and low-profile design that’s designed to fit into your living room without occupying much space. This is especially useful if space constraints are a big factor in your home audio installation. They can pair with 32 inch TVs very well and deliver good surround sound with crisp dialogue performance. The fact that the JBL Bar 2.0 uses a HDMI-ARC input also allows a remote that controls the TV to also control the volume and power of the soundbar.
Installing this soundbar is actually much easier than we thought. The soundbar comes with pre-threated holes for mounting and wall brackets that allow you to mount them on the wall.
In terms of sound quality, the JBL Bar 2.0 provides really good bass and crystal clear highs with crisp midranges. Movies sound much better and the soundbar delivers a tonne of volume output for a more vibrant music experience. You can really push up the volume on this soundbar without hearing any distortion which is definitely a good thing. It also supports Dolby Digital codecs for an immersive 3D sound experience.
Overall, the JBL Bar 2.0 is one of the best JBL soundbars that delivers a cost-effective solution for home audio with very good sound quality and a slim profile design.
#7 Most Compact: JBL Boost TV Bluetooth Soundbar
Power rating: 60 watts soundbar system
Features: Dual bass port design, virtual surround sound
What we liked: Compact and slim soundbar, good bass
What we don’t: Lacks mounting options
If you are looking for a compact and small soundbar for your TV, go for the JBL Boost TV Bluetooth soundbar. It’s one of the best JBL soundbars that’s compact and very easy to fit into your home audio installation. This soundbar supports optical digital audio with Dolby Digital compatibility. Furthermore, the JBL Boost supports wireless Bluetooth streaming and comes with a dual bass port design for deeper bass response. The JBL Boost also allows you to experience virtual surround sound without additional wires or speakesr with Harman display surround. Overall, it’s one of the best JBL soundbars that’s compact and designed to fit into smaller home audio spaces.
We were pretty impressed by how loud the JBL Boost soundbar sounded. It augments the TV sound dramatically and delivers crisp dialogues with decent bass. Although the soundbar does not come with an additional wireless subwoofer, the bass feels adequately and well-defined. It also pairs easily with your smartphone device so you can play music directly with wireless Bluetooth. The soundbar produces surprisingly large amount of volume despite its small and compact size – you can really push the volume up without hearing any distortion and it will easily fill a small to medium size room with rich and clear sound.
This soundbar is easy to setup and you can connect it directly to your TV with simple analog or digital optical cable. It also features JBL Soundshift technology which works with your TV and wireless mobile device at the same time to switch between sound from your TV and your smartphone. The sound bar also supports JBL Connect technology which allows you to link multiple JBL Connect soundbars together.
Overall, the JBL Boost is one of the best JBL soundbars that comes in a compact and slim design with virtual surround sound.