JBL Bar 1300XMK2 Soundbar
By JBL · Soundbars · Desk & Streaming Setup · More from JBL
- 11.1.4-channel sound system
- 1570W max output power
- 12-inch (311mm) wireless subwoofer
- 33 Hz-20 kHz frequency response
- 3 HDMI inputs, 1 eARC output
Price not listed
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- WalmartView at Walmart
- AmazonView at Amazon (paid link)
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Summary
An 11.1.4 soundbar system with detachable rear satellites that double as Bluetooth speakers and a wireless subwoofer, supporting Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. Check the passthrough limit before you buy: 4K video is limited to 60 Hz.
Strengths
- Balanced sound with strong bass and clear dialogue, rated “amazing” for mixed usage and music by RTINGS.
- Gets very loud with very little compression and can fill a large room.
- Detachable satellites double as portable Bluetooth speakers and can charge while in use.
- Extensive customization: room correction, seven-band EQ, dialogue enhancement, adjustable surround and height.
- Crystal clear dialogue and immersive Dolby Atmos via true wireless rears, per Tom’s Guide.
- 10-hour battery life per satellite and broadcast and night listening modes.
Weaknesses
- No 4K at 120 Hz passthrough; 4K is limited to 60 Hz.
- Latency could be lower across all input types.
- No calibration off toggle and the subwoofer default level seems high.
- Bass is restricted to the front at low volumes.
- Stereo pairing of the detached rears can be finicky.
- Manufacturer warranty period and terms are unknown.
Verified specifications
| Channels | 11.1.4. |
|---|---|
| Audio formats | Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. |
| Connections | eARC, 3 HDMI In, Optical, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi/Ethernet streaming; USB also listed by Tom’s Guide. |
| Streaming | AirPlay, Google Cast, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Roon (60-day trial). |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 on the bar, 5.4 on the surround speakers. |
| Room correction and a seven-band EQ. | |
| Dialogue enhancement (PureVoice 2.0). | |
| Adjustable surround and height effects. | |
| Detachable rear satellites that can double as portable Bluetooth speakers. | |
| MultiBeam 3.0 side-surround beamforming. | |
| SmartDetails sound enhancement. | |
| AI Sound Boost processing. | |
| Satellites-only night mode. | |
| Broadcast mode (extends audio to detached rears). | |
| Room calibration. | |
| Detachable satellite battery life | 10 hours each. |
| Satellite recharge time | about 4 hours; can charge while in use via USB-C. |
| RTINGS test bench | 1.3; overall score 8.8. |
| RTINGS usage ratings | Mixed Usage “amazing”, Music “amazing”, Dialogue/TV Shows “excellent”, Movies “impressive”. |
| RTINGS | gets very loud with very little compression and can fill a large room. |
| TechRadar | crystal-clear dialogue, seismic bass, precise treble. |
| Tom's Guide | audio no longer stutters after long pauses (a flaw of the previous model that was fixed). |
| Tom's Guide | 4K pass-through is limited to 60 Hz. |
| Launch date | September 2025. |
| Sweetwater price | $1,399.95 with $300 instant savings through 2026-11-01; original price $1,699.95; in stock. |
| Weight | soundbar 13 lb; subwoofer 26 lb; rear satellites 2.8 lb each. |
| Dimensions | soundbar 40.6 × 2.3 × 5.4 in (1030 × 58 × 136 mm); subwoofer 12.4 × 10.9 × 10.8 in (315 × 277 × 275 mm); rear satellites 8 × 2.3 × 5.4 in (202 × 58 × 136 mm). |
| Colors | Black. |
| Power | 1570 W per Sweetwater; Tom’s Guide and What Hi-Fi? quote 2470 W total system power, with 1200 W to the subwoofer; TechRadar says almost 2,500 W. |
| Drivers | 7 silk-dome tweeters, 8 racetrack drivers and 4 up-firing drivers in the bar; 2 racetracks, 1 angled driver and 1 up-firing driver per rear; 2 eight-inch (200 mm) drivers in the subwoofer. |
| In the box | wall-mounting kit and template, end caps for bar and rears, remote control, power cords, HDMI cable, side caps. |
| Warranty | Sweetwater includes a free 2-Year Total Confidence Coverage warranty on purchases through its store; manufacturer warranty period is unknown. |
Full research notes and sources
Sound and movies
RTINGS describes the sound as impressively balanced, with a little extra bass that adds weight without overwhelming the mix, clear vocals, instruments easy to place in a soundstage slightly wider than either end of the bar, and more than enough bass for techno and EDM. It gets very loud with very little compression and can fill a large room. For movies, Dolby Atmos and DTS:X support plus detachable satellites and the large subwoofer create a spacious, cinematic feel, with epic soundtracks and trackable object movement such as helicopters. Dialogue is described as clear, natural, and easy to follow, with “Movie” mode bringing dialogue forward without sounding shouty. Tom’s Guide’s listening tests used “Top Gun: Maverick” on 4K Blu-ray, Netflix TV shows, and music on Qobuz via AirPlay, finding outstanding movie performance with bombastic yet controlled bass and phenomenal Dolby Atmos, with only a desire for slightly more rear width at maximum surround volume. What Hi-Fi?
Detachable satellites and battery
The satellites can be placed as rear surrounds or used as portable Bluetooth speakers, and they charge via USB-C, including while in use. Each satellite is rated for 10 hours of battery life and recharges in about 4 hours. Broadcast mode extends audio to the detached rears and a satellites-only night mode is available. What Hi-Fi? found the rears sound great alone but pairing them in stereo was finicky, and bass is restricted to the front at low volumes.
Connectivity and setup
Connections include eARC, 3 HDMI inputs, Optical, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and Ethernet streaming, with USB also listed by Tom’s Guide. Streaming support covers AirPlay, Google Cast, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, and a 60-day Roon trial. Room correction, a seven-band EQ, dialogue enhancement (PureVoice 2.0), and adjustable surround and height effects are included.
TechRadar noted it is well priced against rivals such as the Samsung HW-Q990F, which is regularly selling for $1,599 and offers 4K 120 Hz passthrough but lacks battery-powered detachable speakers and has a smaller speaker array. At the stated $1,699.95 MSRP it is expensive but competitive; discounted prices of about $1,299 to $1,399 improve value. Sweetwater lists $1,399.95 with $300 instant savings through 2026-11-01, Walmart lists $1,299.77, Best Buy lists $1,399.95, and JBL Australia lists AU$1,599.95 on sale. Value thresholds from the research: at or below $1,300 the system is a strong value; $1,301 to $1,450 is good value; $1,451 to $1,700 is fair; above $1,700 the purchase depends on how much the buyer values the detachable-satellite features.
Which model this is
This page covers the US-market JBL Bar 1300XMK2, the “X” version with a slightly larger subwoofer; the international model is the JBL Bar 1300MK2. It launched in September 2025 and is sold in Black. The Amazon listing for this model is ASIN B0FN1JLNCN. Do not confuse it with the earlier JBL Bar 1300X.
Sources
Manufacturer:
- No manufacturer page was fetched during research.
Independent reviews:
Owner reports:
- No owner reports were accessible.
