You’ve got to hand it to JBL. When it comes to design innovation, the storied audio brand really goes for it. Nowhere is that more obvious than in its pricey new flagship soundbar, the shapeshifting Bar 1300X. The system includes 11.1.4 channels of burly Dolby Atmos sound, as well as discrete surround speakers that magnetically connect and detach from the main bar like Star Trek shuttlecraft. Unique to JBL soundbars, the intriguing design allows for multiple sound configurations, as well as fully wireless surrounds—no outlets required.
The upshot is a cleaner surround setup than rivals from Samsung, Sonos, and pretty much anyone else, all of which require power cables for their “wireless” surround speakers. But you’re still trading wires for batteries; the speakers must return to the mother ship every 12 hours to juice up. So unless you’ve got a fully open floor plan, I’m not sure the Bar 1300X really answers the question of whether going fully wireless confers a distinct advantage over buying a low-profile extension cord.
One thing that’s not in question is just how fantastic this system is at bombarding your room with thrilling Dolby Atmos sound. In the dozens of soundbars I’ve auditioned, only a small few can compete with the Bar 1300X in this department. The system is expensive and won’t be for everyone, but if you’re looking for a different way to load up serious cinematic immersion, JBL’s Bar 1300X could be your ticket.
IKEA With an App
The Bar 1300X’s setup and controls are a little tricky at first, partly due to its whacky design and partly because it doesn’t come with a full owner’s manual. After we reached out to JBL, the company added the latter to the website for download, which should help with some of the more complicated particulars.
Once you’ve fished the massive sub and bar from the Tetris-shaped box, it’s simple enough to connect to your TV over HDMI ARC/eARC with the included cable, and there’s an ample suite of inputs, including three spare HDMI ports. But the near-wordless quickstart guide does its best impression of instructions for a Kullen or Hemnes or other Ikea dresser, which can lead to some confusion. It took me some time to realize that you need to remove the inconspicuous end caps (which aren’t always pictured) before attaching the breakaway speakers.
The JBL One app walks you through basics like Wi-Fi connection and the two-step calibration process that locks in sound. This is key because, unlike any number of competitors, the Bar 1300X offers zero sound modes or presets. There’s also no way to adjust the center channel, choose between stereo or surround virtualization, or adjust the right/left surrounds independently.
You do get a couple of EQ options and the ability to raise and lower the volume of the height channels. You can also adjust the surrounds, but there are only three levels of control there. Given all that, the Bar 1300X does a remarkable job of adjusting to your room for immersive, relatively well-balanced sound. After braving the setup, less-experienced users may find the mostly plug-and-play controls easier than those of more traditional home theater fare.
There are a few other ways to tinker, like adding streaming services in the app to go along with options like Spotify Connect, AirPlay 2, and Chromecast. You can also connect the system to other JBL products and access a few smart features via Google Assistant and Alexa with the help of a secondary smart speaker.
Excellent Dolby Atmos
Photograph: JBL
Like most bars at this price, the Bar 1300X is positively loaded with speakers—including six racetrack drivers and five tweeters in the bar alone—to bounce sound forward and to the sides. But JBL also adds two secret weapons that help the system submerge your listening room in a sound tornado.
