JBL Bar 1300X hands-on: Spectacular immersive sound by way of removable audio system

JBL revealed five new soundbar models at CES 2023, however the Bar 1300X sits on the high of the lineup. The 11.1.4-channel speaker is able to 1,170 watts of output with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X onboard for immersive 3D sound. Inside, there are 21 complete drivers, six of that are upfiring. That half dozen is thrice greater than some firms provide, a call JBL says is supposed to take advantage of out of its MultiBeam spatial audio tech. 

In 2020, JBL first debuted a soundbar with detachable rear satellite speakers. On the Bar 1300X these items pack in a single upfiring speaker every and might last as long as 10 hours on a cost (they cost while you reattach them to the principle bar). Being fully wi-fi, you are free to place them wherever you want. Additionally they double as Bluetooth audio system, each individually or a stereo pair. When you take away the audio system, there are snap-on covers included as you will expose side-pointing tweeters you will wish to shield. When it comes to connection, there’s one HDMI/ARC to connect with your TV and three further HDMI inputs. 

Throughout my demo, I used to be in a position to watch a chaotic chase scene from Prepared Participant One. With the rear audio system indifferent and located behind me, I used to be impressed by how immersive the audio was from the 1300X. The footage was loud with tons occurring, however the audio remained crisp and clear, and most significantly, the directional audio enhanced the viewing expertise. There was additionally loads booming bass from the 12-inch wi-fi subwoofer. 

JBL’s PureVoice is accessible throughout its whole 2023 lineup to reinforce dialogue when different loud sounds are additionally a part of a scene. This characteristic is spectacular as effectively, boosting spoken phrases with out taking away from the whole lot else that is occurring. The tech performs equally effectively on the $400 entry-level Bar 300 too, an all-in-one possibility that musters nice immersive audio from a single speaker. The 300 is the one mannequin in JBL’s 2023 lineup that does not include a sub, although it does have built-in woofers. The corporate says you possibly can’t add a wi-fi sub both because the Bar 300 is not suitable with them even if you buy it individually. 

The $1,700 Bar 1300X, like the remainder of JBL’s new soundbars, will likely be accessible February nineteenth.