The JBL Bar 500MK2 is a 5.1-channel soundbar from JBL, listed at $650. It ships with a wireless subwoofer, so the price covers the bass as well as the bar.
JBL Bar 500MK2 Pros and Cons
Drawn from the published figures on this page, not from listening.
- ✓A dedicated centre channel for dialogue
- ✓Subwoofer included in the box
- ✓Can grow into true surround with optional rear speakers
- ✓HDMI eARC carries lossless Dolby TrueHD and Atmos from the TV
- ✓HDMI input with 4K pass-through - a spare port for a console or player
- ✓Wi-Fi streaming with AirPlay 2, Google Cast, Spotify Connect
- ✓Room correction tunes the sound to where it is placed
- ✓Dialogue enhancement
- ✓Learns your TV remote
- ✗Decodes Dolby Atmos but has no height channels, so overhead effects are simulated
- ✗No DTS:X, so DTS soundtracks play without their height layer
Channels and Surround Sound
The 5.1 badge means 5 ear-level channels (left, centre, right and 2 for width or surround), 1 subwoofer channel. It decodes Dolby Atmos, but with no height channels the overhead layer is created by processing rather than by drivers aimed at the ceiling. Virtual surround: MultiBeam 3.0.
Subwoofer, Rear Speakers and Mounting
A wireless subwoofer is included, rated at 150 watts, measuring 12.81 x 15.75 x 14.38 in (W x H x D). Rear surround speakers are optional, so it can become a true surround system later. Wall-mountable: Yes (bracket included).
Connections
The JBL Bar 500MK2 has HDMI eARC to the TV - the connection that carries lossless Dolby TrueHD and Atmos from the TV's own apps and inputs; 1 HDMI input with 4K video pass-through (HDMI 2.0); optical digital input; USB-A input.
Streaming, Control and Sound Modes
Wi-Fi (2.4, 5.0 GHZ), with AirPlay 2, Google Cast, Spotify Connect, TIDAL, Amazon Music, Pandora, SiriusXM, TuneIn, YouTube Music; Bluetooth; voice control: Google Assistant optional; app control (Apple iOS, Android); a remote in the box. Sound features: dialogue enhancement, room correction, learns the TV remote.
Size and Which TV It Suits
The bar measures 37.06 x 2.13 x 4.94 in (W x H x D), or 941 x 54 x 126 mm, and weighs 6.5 lbs. It is no wider than the screen of a 43-inch TV (37.5 in wide) or larger, which is where a soundbar looks in proportion. At 2.13 in tall it should clear the bottom of most TVs sitting on their own feet.
Open the soundbar size simulator to try another TV or compare two bars.
JBL Bar 500MK2 Specifications
| Sound |
|---|
| Channels | 5.1 |
| Dolby Atmos | Yes |
| DTS:X | No |
| Drivers | Tweeters: 0.75" Dome (4); Woofers: 1.625" x 3.1875" Cone (5); Subwoofer: 10" Cone; Enclosure: Ported |
| Power (bar, total) | 225 watts |
| Power (subwoofer) | 150 watts |
| Frequency response | 33-20K Hz |
| Subwoofer | Included |
| Rear speakers | Optional |
| Virtual surround | MultiBeam 3.0 |
| Dialogue enhancement | Yes |
| Night mode | No |
| Room correction | Yes |
| Connections |
|---|
| HDMI to TV | eARC |
| HDMI inputs | 1 |
| Video pass-through | 4K |
| HDMI version | 2.0 |
| Optical inputs | Yes |
| Analogue input | No |
| USB | USB-A |
| Subwoofer output | No |
| HDMI CEC | Yes |
| Streaming and Control |
|---|
| Wi-Fi | 802.11ax |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Streaming | AirPlay 2, Google Cast, Spotify Connect, TIDAL, Amazon Music, Pandora, SiriusXM, TuneIn, YouTube Music |
| Voice control | Google Assistant optional |
| App | Apple iOS, Android |
| Remote included | Yes |
| Learns TV remote | Yes |
| Physical |
|---|
| Dimensions (W x H x D) | 37.06 x 2.13 x 4.94 in / 941 x 54 x 126 mm |
| Weight | 6.5 lbs / 2.95 kg |
| Subwoofer size | 12.81 x 15.75 x 14.38 in (W x H x D), 20 lbs |
| Wall mounting | Yes (bracket included) |
| Warranty | 1 Year parts, 1 Year labour |
| List price | $650 |
Power is the maker's total across all drivers and is not comparable to an amplifier's per-channel rating.