The missing link in your multi-media set-up?
THE LINK BAR isn’t Wellington’s newest watering hole but the latest collaboration from JBL and Google that promises to improve not only the sound of your TV but also your multi-media experience.
That’s because it’s not just a $700 soundbar but a 4K home entertainment hub with built-in Android TV, voice-control, Google Assistant and Chromecast.
With the Link Bar, JBL and Google have simplified the myriad of connectivity needed for multiplatform home entertainment into a one-piece soundbar.
It boasts an extraordinary number of connections for a soundbar - three HDMI inputs and 1 HDMI ARC output to the TV - and doesn’t even require a separate subwoofer (although one can be connected).
Not only does it connect to Sky TV boxes, Blu-ray players and games consoles but also you don’t even need to juggle remote controls to switch from one device to another.
Just say, ‘‘OK Google, switch to Blu-ray player,’’ and the Link Bar will make the change in a fraction of the time it would take to find the right remote.
Similarly, simply saying ‘‘OK Google’’ will provide instant handsfree access to streaming Netflix content or YouTube videos while voice commands take the effort out of content searching.
Google’s intelligence learns from each person who accesses the soundbar, familiarising itself with their voice and commands.
There’s also a privacy switch for far-field microphones to maximise security against hackers while the on-board Chromecast supports both high-definition video and audio. Once connected on the same Wi-Fi network as the Link Bar, a smartphone, tablet or laptop can cast the latest chart-topper or viral video from Chromecast-compatible apps.
‘‘The JBL Link Bar gives consumers an intuitive way to enjoy an amazing viewing experience, along with powerful, rich sound,’’ Marcus Fry, brand activation director of JBL AUNZ at Harman, says. ‘‘We believe in having technology seamlessly integrate with your life, and the Link Bar is a natural progression of that philosophy.’’