JBL Bar 1300MK2 - You've Never Seen a Soundbar do THIS!
An independent UK reviewer's full review of the Bar 1300MK2 system, the international version of this soundbar.
JBL · 2025
JBL Bar 1300XMK2
JBL's 11.1.4 flagship with detachable battery surrounds and a 12-inch sub: huge Atmos sound, but HDMI passthrough stops at 4K 60Hz.
Where to buy
List $1,700
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The verdict
Reviewers rank this among the strongest all-in-one Atmos systems: TechRadar found its power, bass and height effects exceptional, and SoundGuys said the detachable rears and deep subwoofer brought movie nights close to a cinema. It is large and expensive, and console players should connect the console to the TV and send sound back over eARC, since passthrough on the bar is limited to 4K 60Hz.
The Bar 1300XMK2 is the US version of JBL's flagship Bar 1300MK2 system: an 11.1.4-channel Dolby Atmos and DTS:X soundbar whose two battery-powered surround speakers dock on the bar's ends, paired with a wireless 12-inch subwoofer. It has three HDMI inputs plus eARC, optical and Ethernet, streams over Wi-Fi with AirPlay 2 and Chromecast, and uses the JBL One app for room calibration and PureVoice 2.0 dialogue enhancement. TechRadar gave the international model full marks for performance. The main catch for gamers is that none of the HDMI inputs pass 4K 120Hz or ALLM.
Strengths
- TechRadar scored its sound five out of five, citing huge output from 29 drivers, deep bass and convincing Atmos height.
- Battery-powered surrounds detach for real rear effects, recharge when docked and double as Bluetooth speakers.
- Three HDMI inputs plus eARC, optical, Ethernet and USB, an unusually generous set of connections for a soundbar.
- Streams over Wi-Fi with AirPlay 2 and Chromecast as well as Bluetooth and Auracast.
- Room calibration and PureVoice 2.0 dialogue enhancement are built into the JBL One app, and reviewers found speech very clear.
Weak spots
- None of the HDMI inputs pass 4K 120Hz or ALLM, so consoles are better connected to the TV.
- Large footprint: the bar is about a metre wide on its own, over 55 inches with the surrounds docked, and the subwoofer is bulky.
- Expensive next to simpler Atmos bars, though TechRadar still rated its value highly.
- TechRadar found vocals slightly recessed on some music until the EQ was adjusted, and called the styling plain.
Great for
- Medium and large living rooms that want real rear effects without running speaker wire
- Movie fans who want deep bass and strong Atmos height from one system
- Setups with several HDMI sources that run at 4K 60Hz
Skip if
- Gamers who need 4K 120Hz or ALLM passthrough through the soundbar
- Small rooms or narrow TV stands
Full specifications
From the manufacturer unless noted. Shown for this model.
Sound
- ChannelsWritten as bar.sub.height, or total channels. 5.1.2 means five main channels, a subwoofer and two overhead “height” channels.
- 11.1.4
- Stated power
- 1,570 W
- Subwoofer included
- Yes
- Rear speakers included
- Yes
- Room correction
- Room calibration in the JBL One appsource
- Dialogue enhancementA setting that lifts voices above music and effects, useful if dialogue is hard to follow.
- PureVoice 2.0 dialogue enhancement
Audio formats
- Dolby Atmos
- Yes
- DTS:X
- Yes
Connections
Wireless
- Wi-Fi
- Yes
- Bluetooth
- Bluetooth 5.3 on the bar; 5.4 on the detachable surroundssource
- Apple AirPlay
- Yes
- Google Cast
- Yes
Size & placement
Warranty
- Warranty
- 1 years
Primary source: abt.com
Setup notes
- Connects to the TV through HDMI eARC; the three HDMI inputs pass 4K at up to 60Hz with Dolby Vision, but not 4K 120Hz or ALLM.
- For 4K 120Hz gaming, connect the console to the TV and return audio to the bar over eARC, the workaround SoundGuys used with a PS5.
- Also has optical, Ethernet and a USB port; USB music playback works on the US model only, per TechRadar.
- The detachable surrounds last about 10 hours per charge, recharge when docked and can charge over USB-C while playing.
- With both surrounds docked the bar is 55.3 inches wide, per Abt; it is 40.6 inches without them, and end caps are included.
- Supports Dolby Atmos and DTS:X; the bar uses Bluetooth 5.3 and the surrounds Bluetooth 5.4.
Video reviews
Each video was checked to exist and to be about the JBL Bar 1300XMK2.
This Is Not a Normal Soundbar! | JBL BAR 1300 MK2 review
An independent review of the Bar 1300MK2 that looks at how the system differs from a typical single soundbar.
🎬 JBL Bar 1300 MK2 Review – Ultimate Home Cinema Upgrade?
A review that weighs whether the Bar 1300MK2 works as a complete home cinema upgrade.
What reviewers found
Summaries in our own words. Follow the link to read each review in full.
- TechRadar
Harry Padoan
Date unknown
Positive · Performance 5/5, Features 4.5/5, Design 4.5/5, Value 4.5/5
Testing the international Bar 1300MK2, the reviewer found enormous output, floor-shaking bass, very clear speech and excellent Atmos height, plus flexible battery surrounds and a capable app. The marks against it are passthrough capped at 4K 60Hz and an unremarkable look.
Read the original Living with the US model, the writer found the rear speakers put effects beside and behind the couch and the subwoofer added bass you can feel, while speech and music stayed clear. The downsides were cost, size, a bulky sub and no 4K 120Hz passthrough for a PS5.
Read the original
What owners are saying
From Reddit and forums, paraphrased with a link to the original discussion. Community reports are anecdotal.
An owner of both a Samsung Q990F and the 1300MK2 recommends the JBL, praising how flexible the detachable rears are; they mostly leave them docked on the bar and only move them behind the seats for films.
Read the originalAfter roughly a year of ownership, this user reports no regrets with the 1300MK2 and suggests a new Bar 1000MK2 buyer would have done better to step up to it.
Read the original
Questions
What is the difference between the JBL Bar 1300MK2 and the Bar 1300XMK2?
They share the same 11.1.4 bar and detachable surrounds. The Bar 1300XMK2 is the version sold in the US and comes with a slightly larger subwoofer, per TechRadar; SoundGuys describes it as a 12-inch unit.
Does the Bar 1300XMK2 support 4K 120Hz passthrough?
No. Its three HDMI inputs pass 4K at up to 60Hz and do not support ALLM, per TechRadar. Connect a console to the TV and send its sound back to the bar over eARC instead.
Can the rear speakers be used on their own?
Yes. They are battery powered with about 10 hours of playback, charge when docked on the bar, and can be used separately as Bluetooth speakers. JBL includes caps to cover the bar's ends when they are removed.
Does it support AirPlay and Chromecast?
Yes. Abt's listing includes Apple AirPlay 2 and Chromecast alongside Bluetooth, and names Amazon Alexa as the supported voice assistant.
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Sources for this page
Last reviewed Nov 10, 2026. Released October 2025. Spotted an error? Tell us.