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JBL BAR 9.1 True Wireless Surround Sound – Now with Dolby Atmos…

The new JBL BAR 9.1 True Wireless Surround Sound promises nothing less than to set new standards in home audio and bring the ultimate cinema feeling to your living room.


Why should you settle for stereo when you have a soundbar for attractive TV sound? This question was raised by Harman Industries International at the CES 2020 in Las Vegas and the answer was presented immediately, which is, not surprisingly, a resounding no. The latest soundbar in the JBL BAR series is designed to bring overwhelming cinema sound into the living room. The new JBL BAR 9.1 True Wireless Surround Sound is, according to the company, the first soundbar in the company’s range to feature Dolby Atmos and, as announced, can now be found in specialist shops these days.

The new JBL BAR 9.1 True Wireless Surround Sound is designed as a solution for movie lovers who want to immerse themselves in the movie experience, but at the same time want a solution that is as compact as possible and easy to integrate into the living room. This new soundbar is designed not only to have a wirelessly controlled subwoofer, but also surround speakers that are also wirelessly controlled and rechargeable, eliminating the need for power cables. It also features streaming via Google Chromecast and Apple AirPlay 2.

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The concept of detachable surround speakers is not new, but it’s an exciting one. In essence, the new JBL BAR 9.1 True Wireless Surround Sound is therefore also a system consisting primarily of the actual soundbar and a subwoofer, which is a subwoofer with a 10-inch woofer. The additional surround speakers are first connected to the soundbar, which charges the battery integrated in the speakers. If you want to enjoy surround sound, remove the two speakers and place them behind the listening position. According to the manufacturer, the integrated battery is sufficient for up to ten hours of movie enjoyment, which is more than enough for a cosy evening. Then connect the speakers to the sound bar again.

The connection between the TV set and the soundbar is of course via HDMI, whereby the JBL BAR 9.1 True Wireless Surround Sound supports an eARC, i.e. an enhanced audio return channel, in order to be able to transmit Dolby Atmos-encoded content from the TV. Of course, HDMI CEC is also supported, so that central control can be carried out using the TV’s remote control alone. Nevertheless, a suitable remote control for the soundbar is included in the scope of delivery. The JBL BAR 9.1 True Wireless Surround Sound also has an HDMI input, which is not only equipped for content in 4 K Ultra HD, but also supports Dolby Vision.

The new JBL BAR 9.1 True Wireless Surround Sound naturally generates Dolby Atmos via additional drivers which are directed upwards and thus reproduce immersive surround sound via ceiling reflections. The rear surround speakers are solely responsible for the horizontal surround image.

Harman Industries International has not yet gone into more detail about the actual driver configuration, but only promises that the new JBL BAR 9.1 True Wireless Surround Sound has a total output of 820 watts, so that a rich, room-filling, ultimately gripping sound can be achieved.

How could it be otherwise? Of course, the new JBL BAR 9.1 True Wireless Surround Sound is not only designed for good TV sound, but also as an all-in-one audio system. In addition to analogue and digital audio interfaces, audio streaming is available as soon as the soundbar is connected to the network via WiFi. The developers rely on two platforms that we already mentioned, namely Google Chromecast and Apple AirPlay 2.

This ensures that you can access a wide range of online services, you only need the corresponding app for Apple iOS or Google Android on your smartphone or tablet. Multiroom audio streaming is also possible with other Google Chromecast or Apple AirPlay compatible systems in the household. This also ensures that voice control solutions can be used in the smart home to control the JBL BAR 9.1 True Wireless Surround Sound. However, it is important to mention that this requires the appropriate Smart Speakers for Google Assistant or Apple Siri, the JBL BAR 9.1 True Wireless Surround Sound alone cannot do this.

Anyone who wants to use smartphones or tablets directly as a source without a network infrastructure can of course also do so, using the Bluetooth module integrated into the JBL BAR 9.1 True Wireless Surround Sound.

“The JBL Bar 9.1 True Wireless Surround Sound with Dolby Atmos sets a new standard for the audio experience at home. We are pleased to offer for the first time with JBL Dolby Atmos to deliver professional, state-of-the-art audio technology directly into our customers’ living rooms”.

Dave Rogers, President Lifestyle Audio Division at Harman Industries International

The new JBL BAR 9.1 True Wireless Surround Sound should be available in specialist shops these days, and only in the black version. The recommended retail price is € 999,-.

Getting to the point

The new JBL BAR 9.1 True Wireless Surround Sound is designed as a solution for film lovers who want to immerse themselves completely in the film experience, but who also want a solution that is as compact as possible and easy to integrate into the living room. This new soundbar is designed not only to have a wirelessly controlled subwoofer, but also surround speakers that are also wirelessly controlled and rechargeable, eliminating the need for power cables. It also features streaming via Google Chromecast and Apple AirPlay 2.

Manufacturer:Harman Industries International
Distribution:Harman Deutschland GmbH
Price:€ 999,-
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Michael Holzinger

Michael Holzinger, founder and editor-in-chief of HiFi BLOG and sempre-audio.at, has been working for years as a journalist in the fields of IT, photography, telecommunications and consumer electronics.

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