A lot of brilliant soundbars have been released so far in 2025. And here at TechRadar, we’ve enjoyed testing a range of new models – from all-in-one machines like the Marshall Heston 120 through to stellar surround sound systems, such as the Samsung HW-Q990F.
But recently, I attended an event with JBL in Copenhagen, Denmark, where the audio specialist demoed its upcoming soundbar – and I’m expecting it to stack up to some of 2025’s best.
I’m talking about the JBL 1300MK2 – an 11.1.4 channel soundbar that boasts detachable wireless speakers, Dolby Atmos, and a 2,470W maximum power output. Yes, you read that last one correctly. Here’s what I learned about JBL’s new home theater product, and why it may well rival some of the best soundbars around.
Now that’s some serious power
Something that instantly struck me about the 1300MK2 was its immense power. And I’m not just going off that sky-high power output figure. During the demo, I watched a clip from Denis Villeneuve’s Dune, and its attention-grabbing, atmospheric score was delivered with intent and serious impact, with deep bass swallowing a large open space at Nordisk Film – one of the oldest film studios in the world.
Similarly, the zombie trucker scene in Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City demonstrated the immense firepower of the Bar 1300MK2. When a truck awkwardly swerved through a neighborhood, the shrill sound of squeaking tires and scraping past other vehicles sounded natural and tonally accurate. When the truck eventually toppled over and exploded, the boom of engulfing flames was palpable too.
Just generally, it seemed that the Bar 1300MK2 performed very well for movies. But how about music? See, this is an area where a lot of soundbars struggle, though we have been impressed with some recent releases like the aforementioned Marshall Heston 120 and KEF XIO. Well, from my first impressions, it seemed that the MK2 was following in the footsteps of its predecessor, the JBL Bar 1300X, with a high quality, expansive presentation.
We listened to a bass heavy Billie Eilish track and again, I was won over by the low-end heft on offer, but also the clarity and separation of vocals, and disciplined yet expressive highs. We’ll be putting the Bar 1300MK2 through its paces with our usual TechRadar testing playlist when we get one in for review, but again, the early signs are positive.
After this, I was shown a version of the JBL Bar 1300MK2 with transparent outer casing, which revealed the model’s high number of drivers and other internal components. For those who are interested, the Bar 1300MK2 has a whopping 29 drivers spread across the main bar, detachable wireless speakers, and sub. That’s nine more than the 1300X, which already blew our socks off!
Drilling into the details
Let’s speak a little more about the technical details and features, then, as this thing is impressive specs-wise. As well as Dolby Atmos, this bar supports the DTS:X spatial sound format. However, it also makes use of JBL’s own MultiBeam 3.0 tech, which uses beamforming and digital processing to supply a “wide, cinema-like soundstage”.
AI Sound Boost – something we’ve seen in products like the JBL Xtreme 4 – is also here. This will allow the dual-driver sub – which can reach down to 33Hz – to demonstrate improved audio output, enabling listeners to “hear the whole dynamic range” – or so JBL says. Inclusions like room calibration and EQ options will also be at hand so users can get a sound best tailored to their tastes.
I was also interested in a new Night mode, which makes use of the two detachable wireless speakers alone to deliver clear, yet less room-shaking sound. Those wireless speakers can also be used as standalone Bluetooth listening devices – and even paired with other JBL models via Auracast. Pretty neat!
There are many more nuggets that JBL showed off, like integrated music services in the JBL One app, PureVoice 2.0 for clearer dialogue, and 4K HDMI passthrough. All of this suggests that the 1300MK2 will be a worthy follow-up to its predecessor, which still sits on our guide to the best Dolby Atmos soundbars. But you’ll have to wait a little longer to hear our full thoughts, which we’ll bring to you as soon as possible.
The JBL Bar 1300MK2 is expected to be released in October 2025, with a price of $1,699.95 / £1,299.99 (about AU$2,600).
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- Looking for a new soundbar but working on a tight budget? The check out our list of the best cheap soundbars
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