JBL behind the Bar

It’s JBL’s most expansive soundbar series to date — and literally expansive in the case of the JBL Bar 5.1 (pictured right), which transforms from a soundbar into a wireless 5.1-channel system when you detach two battery-powered wireless surround speakers from the ends of the bar. It’s a concept we saw some years ago from Philips, and a clever one in that the wireless speakers are used at the front, kept on charge, for normal TV viewing, popping off for special occasions such as movie nights and sports matches.

The Bar 5.1 includes a wireless 10-inch subwoofer as well, with a total quoted 510W of system power, three UHD-compatible HDMI inputs, Bluetooth, and both Dolby Digital and DTS processing. The rears should last 10 hours on battery power once charged.

The Bar 5.1 system is available with an RRP of $999. The other three units in the range are the $699 JBL Bar 3.1, the $499 JBL Bar 2.1, and the $259.95 JBL Bar Studio, this last of the four being a 2.0-channel bar without a subwoofer. More information: www.jbl.com.au