JBL BAR 9.1
SoundbarProduct Gallery
Product Overview
JBL BAR 9.1 is a premium soundbar system with two detachable, wireless surrounds and a wireless subwoofer for flexibility in placement and 820W powerful listening experience. The JBL BAR 9.1 also supports Dolby Atmos, thanks to its three custom up-firing drivers, to deliver 5.1.4 (9.1) channel surround sound.
The two battery-powered detachable, wireless rear speakers help create impressive home theatre experience without the usual hassle. BAR 9.1 also supports Dolby Vision as well as Chromecast and Airplay 2, allowing easy music streaming.
In the same generation, JBL also markets the 2.0-channel Bar 2.0, 2.1-channel Bar 2.1, and 5.1-channel Bar 5.1.
Ratings
What we found
Pros
- Simple to set up and use
- Dolby Atmos built-in
- Built-in subwoofer
Cons
- Subwoofer isn't as good as wired rear speakers
What external reviewers found
External score 66%
Pros
- Great audio reproduction
- Excellent sound quality
- Excellent build quality
- Very good surround performance
Cons
- Lack of customization options
- Weak dynamics
- No Dolby Atmos
- Dull, dull sound
- No EQ settings
- Some compression at max volume
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Price Comparison
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Specifications
| Detachable surround | Subwoofer |
|---|
External Reviews
digitaltrends[1]
Reviewer score 58% (normalized by Neofiliac)JBL Bar 9.1 is an innovative solution to an age-old problem: Getting better immersive sound without losing the simplicity of a soundbar. With an effortless setup and wireless speakers you can place almost anywhere, it's a very slick design. However, barebones input options, minimal audio settings, and lackluster music reproduction are tough drawbacks to swallow at this price.
Pros
- Excellent sound quality
- Built-in remote control
- Easy to use
Cons
- No Dolby Atmos
- No dialogue-enhancement mode
- No EQ settings
pcmag[2]
Reviewer score 82% (normalized by Neofiliac)The JBL Bar 9.1 can deliver room-shaking thunder or a more refined bass experience. It's a pricey soundbar at $1,000, but you also get an immersive, wireless rear channel experience. We'd like to see better EQ options for the price and a properly calibrated sub.
Pros
- Powerful audio performance with deep bass depth
- Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision support
- Wireless rear channels
Cons
- No treble volume adjuster
rtings[3]
Reviewer score 73% (normalized by Neofiliac)The JBL Bar 9.1 has a balanced sound profile right out-of-the-box with just a touch of extra bass. While it can get loud enough for a large or crowded room, there's some compression at max volume. Still, it can reproduce dialogue clearly and accurately, and you can stream podcasts or audiobooks directly to the bar via a variety of wireless connections.
Pros
- Well-balanced sound profile
- Lots of wireless connectivity options
- Very good surround performance
- Great audio reproduction
Cons
- Some compression at max volume
- Doesn't have a dialogue enhancement feature
t3[4]
Reviewer score 53% (normalized by Neofiliac)The JBL Bar 9.1 is capable of prodigious volume, but if you want it loud then the quiet bits are going to be loud too. The sub digs as deep and hits as hard as a box this big, but in terms of tonal or textural light-and-shade, there's not much going on here. The height channels, in particular, lack definition – the JBL has no problem getting sound effects up high, but having done that it struggles to make them distinct or move them with any kind of positivity. By comparison, the Sonos Arc is a one-trick pony.
Pros
- Dolby Atmos and Atmos surround sound
- Decent build quality
Cons
- Subwoofer is a little monotonal
- No definition
techhive[5]
Reviewer score 80% (normalized by Neofiliac)The JBL Bar 9.1 sounds crisp and clear in both Smart and Standard modes. The four up-firing drivers deliver palpable height cues. Music sounds detailed and alive with the wireless surrounds docked. There is no "pure" or "direct" mode for the HDMI and optical inputs.
Pros
- Clean, crisp sound
- Dolby Atmos and DTS:X upmixing
- Easy to set up
Cons
- Lack of customization options
techradar[6]
Reviewer score 84% (normalized by Neofiliac)The JBL Bar 9.1 comes with upward-firing drivers, detachable wireless surround speakers, and a 10-inch wireless subwoofer. Available in April, the soundbar will cost $999 – that works out at around £760 / AU$1450 based on current conversion rates. Dolby Atmos audio feels truly spacious thanks to those upwards firing drivers that bounce sound off of your ceiling.
Pros
- Impressive Dolby Atmos audio
- Dolby Vision and 4K-compatible
Cons
- Somewhat limited sonic'sweet spot'
trustedreviews[7]
Reviewer score 58% (normalized by Neofiliac)The JBL Bar 9.1 is a Dolby Atmos soundbar with a wireless subwoofer. With the modules deployed as rear speakers and the auto-calibration process run, the positioning of effects is much more reminiscent of a true Atmos system than any other soundbar, at any price, can manage. The impression of height is persuasive, the placement of rear surround effects is unarguable and low-frequency presence is prodigious. But when you get beyond the straight-ahead size of the sound the JBL is capable of serving up, limitations quite quickly manifest themselves.
Pros
- Dolby Atmos sound
- Impressive build quality
Cons
- Not the most dynamic system you’ll ever hear
- Bass lacks subtlety
whathifi[8]
Reviewer score 41% (normalized by Neofiliac)Atmos speakers are firing on all cylinders to create a worthy soundstage. When the noises start moving, the JBL's spatial skills break down somewhat. Dynamics are particularly poor, even at the subtler end of the spectrum. The 70s/80s soundtrack doesn't have the appeal it should and, for all its static spatial trickery, this JBL bar comes a little unstuck with the fast-paced effects.
Pros
- Room-filling sound
- Attractive design
- Excellent build quality
Cons
- Dull, dull sound
- Weak dynamics
Also Check
References
- ^ JBL Bar 9.1 review: Wireless Dolby Atmos with a few flaws. [digitaltrends].
- ^ JBL Bar 9.1 Review. [pcmag].
- ^ JBL Bar 9.1 Soundbar Review. [rtings].
- ^ JBL Bar 9.1 review: a clever Dolby Atmos soundbar with secret surround sound. [t3].
- ^ JBL Bar 9.1 review: This 5.1.4 soundbar boasts truly wireless surround speakers. [techhive].
- ^ Hands on: JBL Bar 9.1 review. [techradar].
- ^ JBL Bar 9.1 Review. [trustedreviews].
- ^ JBL Bar 9.1 review. [whathifi].
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