JBL releases a new range of Dolby Atmos soundbars for every budget, including a Sonos Arc rival

JBL soundbar 1000
(Image credit: JBL)

JBL is releasing an all-new line-up of Dolby Atmos soundbars with models to suit every budget.

All the soundbars in the four-strong new JBL Bar Series include support for Dolby Atmos and wireless music streaming via AirPlay 2, Alexa multi-room music and built-in Chromecast. The entire range can also be linked to voice assistant-enabled devices compatible with Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri.

With a similar design to JBL’s previous soundbars, the JBL Bar 1000 includes detachable battery-powered rear speakers for truly wireless surround sound and a 10-inch wireless (except for power) subwoofer. The system boasts 880-watts of output power and supports JBL’s proprietary beamforming technology called MultiBeam, which aims to provide a more immersive listening experience so that owners can "hear and feel surround sound without needing additional speakers". 

The JBL Bar 800 has a similar build to its big sibling with detachable wireless surround speakers and a 10-inch separate sub, but it drops two front and height channels for a smaller 720-watt 5.1.2 system. There's support onboard for Dolby Atmos but not JBL's MultiBeam technology. Priced at £800 (around $938 / AU$1351), the Bar 800 will also be available in Europe from October.

The entire range can be controlled using the JBL One app and includes customisable EQ settings as well as JBL's PureVoice setting, which automatically optimises dialogue clarity.

Mary is a staff writer at What Hi-Fi? and has over a decade of experience working as a sound engineer mixing live events, music and theatre. Her mixing credits include productions at The National Theatre and in the West End, as well as original musicals composed by Mark Knopfler, Tori Amos, Guy Chambers, Howard Goodall and Dan Gillespie Sells.