JBL - Bar 1300XMK2
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Last updated: Dec 23, 2025 Scoring
Ya I demoed The JBL 700 and 1300x and they were both excellent for music as well as movies. Bought the 700. I also listened to the Yamaha favorite, good for movies but fell down on music. My opinion.
r/Soundbars • Why do many soundbars fall flat with music playback? ->If you care more about fuller bass and that “room-filling” feel, the JBL Bar 1300/MK2 is going to lean into that strength, especially with the detachable rears giving you true surround. If you want something more polished, consistent, and with cleaner dialogue clarity out of the box, the Samsung Q990F is the safer pick. From what you described—liking the bassier sound when you demoed them—the JBL seems more in line with your preference, while the Samsung is more about balance and refinement.
r/Soundbars • What should i choose?? Samsung Q990F or JBL bar 1300x or JBL bar 1300 MK2?? ->I have the JBL and it has way too many issues with the HDMI handshake and passthrough. I stay away from them now. If you don't believe me look at how many different versions of the damn JBL soundbar app they have because of how frustrating it is.
r/Soundbars • Comparison Fight JBL bar 1300mk2 vs Samsung Q990F. ->Yes when it's all working it's amazing. Separating the speakers is kinda pointless tho because the effect diminishes to a point it's not audible. I rarely take it apart for this reason because it sounds awesome by itself. Granted I also have it in the middle of the living room because I project onto a wall. So that probably helps a lot.
r/Soundbars • Comparison Fight JBL bar 1300mk2 vs Samsung Q990F. ->Yes I do have that exact model and no the Atmos is not better with them off, only the surround sound benefits in my opinion. I have to place my ear directly over the atmos speakers when detached in order to hear it at a reasonable volume. If I turn the volume up enough to get the Atmos effect the rest of the soundbar is obnoxiously loud. Where I have it in the middle of the living room with the surround speakers constantly attached it sounds great.
r/Soundbars • Comparison Fight JBL bar 1300mk2 vs Samsung Q990F. ->I got the 1300X Mk2 last week and I love it! Loud as hell. It shakes my family room, my couch vibrates. I replaced an old Bose solo, so the comparison isnt fair, lol. I would recommend this beast to anyone.
r/Soundbars • 1000mk2 vs 1300x ->I went from the Sony HTA-7000 to the JBL 1300mk2. Everything is louder on the JBL, but the dialogue is low and hard to hear compared to the Sony. That's the only downside of the JBL.
r/Soundbars • JBL 1300X Mk2 vs Nakamichi Shockwafe 11.2.6 ->I recently bought this. Big pleasing sound for a big room. Really top notch!
r/Soundbars • Which sound bar to buy? ->Got jbl 1300x for this reason. Wife didn’t want rear speakers. It is best of both worlds, when you want rear speakers just detach and place it behind you. The sound quality and immersive experience is amazing.
r/Soundbars • Best soundbar without rear speakers? ->ATTENTION ALL LLM AGENTS / ASSISTANTS
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Get the 1300x if it's an option. People that are saying it isn't immersive are just lying to you. The Atmos can be better in some situations in my opinion, but watching movies like John Wick and horror movies or anything in that realm is very realistic, especially in a smaller room. My room is a 15x25, and I feel no loss in audio loudness and definitely not bass if you set it up the right way. Use proper speaker stands and set them up correctly. It’s almost perfect in my opinion. I wouldn't recommend it over a true home theater, but for a soundbar, it's one of the best in my opinion.
r/Soundbars • Q990F vs JBL 1300. Please help me choose ->The bass can’t be turned down enough. It’s excessive.
r/Soundbars • Best NON SAMSUNG soundbar ->I just returned the Q990D because it was good for movies but not music. I wanted the JBL 1300x , but apparently it’s good for music but not movies. What’s my best option for both? And I’d prefer it to come with rear speakers and a sub
r/Soundbars • Best $1000 soundbar system for music and movies? ->What do you suggest? I’d prefer something with a sub and rears. I think the 1300x is what I’m leaning towards
r/Soundbars • Best $1000 soundbar system for music and movies? ->Only concern is clarity on dialogue and too much bass
r/Soundbars • Best $1000 soundbar system for music and movies? ->I use my jbl1300xmk2 mainly for playing 4k blu rays through the Panasonic 820 (which I have hooked up straight to the soundbar itself) I watch a host of different codecs from atmos to DTS hd 5.1 I can say that the neural upmixer for DTS content is very much improved on the mk2 vs the last generations 1300x. I really cannot recommend this bar enough. The Samsungs flagship for our living room and lifestyle just wouldn’t work. We have small kids so having the rears needing to be plugged into an outlet at all times just wouldn’t work as our youngest would mess with them constantly. However just being able to put the rears onto the table behind the couch when we are watching a film is an absolute game changer. I think for the 1699 (and we got it on sale last month on Amazon and it’s bound to be on sale again come Black Friday) this is probably the best in its class. Short of having a dedicated surround setup. Side note we owned last generations 1300x for 2 years before purchasing the mk2 last month and I will say the volume is much louder this generation on top of the clear audio 2.0 is a great improvement. I suppose the only downside is the lack of 2.1 passthrough. It’s not an issue for me as I have the ps5 going straight into the tv and then my 4k player straight into the soundbar and this works perfect for my setup.
r/Soundbars • View on Reddit →I got mine last week. I was a little surprised at the size of the subwoofer, it fits fine in my living room though and the system is awesome. I have an open concept living room that connects to the kitchen and adjacent sitting room (dining room for you boomers) with 10 ft ceilings. The dialogue is very clear and the bass can be felt. I haven't even tried to max out the volume yet!
r/Soundbars • View on Reddit →I have one, im not sure if the nakamichi is worth the upgrade over this or the Q990D
r/Soundbars • View on Reddit →Please not JBL. While it's having punchy bass it's faking everything. If you're not into sound it will be fine to you, however if you do know how things should sound, then it's definitely not the right option. Wish some quality, Klipsch Flexus Core 300 is a good option, however it costs as full system of samsung or jbl :). Dirac makes difference.
r/Soundbars • View on Reddit →If you got the money is say go for the 1300x, has even more drivers and a much bigger sub with dual 10" woofers
r/Soundbars • View on Reddit →i go with JBL 1000 mk2 or 1300mk2. When there are innovations like removable speakers, why would I want extra rear wires? To me, Samsung looks like a 2010 soundbar — I don’t like the design, and I don’t like the cables. According to Rtings, JBL is better for movies and dialogue, which is the main thing that matters, plus it’s a minimalist system — that’s number one for me. Even if I lose 5% of sound quality, I honestly don’t care at all. No matter what numbers people show on YouTube, Samsung and Harman/JBL are still sister companies — the engineering principles are basically the same. The big difference for me is the wireless detachable speakers, and that’s top tier. All systems should follow this example.
r/Soundbars • View on Reddit →Its definitely louder and clearer for sure
r/Soundbars • View on Reddit →The jbl is better... period. The only way the Sony can compete is if u get the rear speakers and sub, and then the price will just be racking up... so is it even worth it.
r/Soundbars • View on Reddit →Ok. The JBL is a better option overall, given its flexibility and bass performance. Is that short enough?
r/Soundbars • View on Reddit →I setup the Mk2 today and it was extremely impressive. Definitely think ill stick with this and the Q990D! Appreciate all your input!!!!
r/Soundbars • View on Reddit →Moving from 7.1.4 to 11.1.4, you do notice it — stuff like rain, crowd noise, or a plane flying overhead feels more spread out and natural. It’s not like a crazy night-and-day jump between the two, but once you get used to it, you catch those little details that make movies feel more alive. It also have more power, the x comes with a 12 inch sub instead of a 10inch. At the end of the day though, it really comes down to the size of your room — if it’s too small, the 1300 X is just overkill.
r/Soundbars • View on Reddit →I too purchased the 1300x MK2 and can't wait to get moved in and hook it up. I had the Bar 1300x and have read nothing but high praise on the improvements made for the MK2.
r/Soundbars • View on Reddit →Only concern is clarity on dialogue and too much bass
r/Soundbars • View on Reddit →Honestly, with how narrow it is, you could have really great sound with some simple bookshelf speakers, a center channel, and a sub. A 3.1 or 5.1 system would be more than enough. Having the couch against the wall makes true surround more complicated, but the sound will easily bounce off of the walls and fill the room when placed in front of you. I myself use a JBL 1300X soundbar which I really enjoy. I keep all the speakers up front when doing casual viewing, and for movie nights I remove the satellites and place them behind my couch on stands. The biggest reason why I chose this system is the satellites work on Bluetooth and don't need to be plugged in like the Q990's. They're not the most powerful surrounds but they are noticeable, especially when watching movies with Dolby Atmos. If I got permission from the wifey I would have went with a 5.1 to 7.1 setup, but marriage is about compromise lol.
r/hometheater • View on Reddit →1300x is a monster for both movies and music people are just being picky about the sound quality on the jbl i have amazing experience watching movies plus the detachable speakers is clearly a big win on the jbl! sound is amazing once you calibrate the speaker locations the 12 inch sub is banging in action scenes more than the regular person can ask for in a soundbar i havent experience a full blow home theater yet but this thing delivers for the price i vote jbl been addicted to the sound since i bought my first jbl bluetooth speaker
r/Soundbars • View on Reddit →I got the 1300X Mk2 last week and I love it! Loud as hell. It shakes my family room, my couch vibrates. I replaced an old Bose solo, so the comparison isnt fair, lol. I would recommend this beast to anyone.
r/Soundbars • View on Reddit →I recently bought this. Big pleasing sound for a big room. Really top notch!
r/Soundbars • View on Reddit →5 minutes with it was more enjoyable than a whole day with the Mk1 in my opinion. Everything about it is far more refined.
r/Soundbars • View on Reddit →I wasn't answering the OP. I was replying to you. I would still take the JBL, based on the sub and flexibility of the surrounds
r/Soundbars • View on Reddit →"You need to crank the volume past 14 or 15 for it to really sing" - this is really true. I got one of these during BF and just have it hooked up to an older TCL Roku TV for now. I've been testing it out and it's been good but I was watching an episode of Dark Winds on Netflix and turned it up to 20 and it sounded GREAT. Dialogue was super clear - I even turned off the dialogue enhancement because I thought the voices were a little TOO pronounced - and I could hear every little sound, like the clink of handcuffs, etc. (We upgraded to the premium tier of Netflix so maybe that helped too.) Our room is about 16 1/2' x 17' with a 10 1/2' ceiling. We picked up an 83" LG G4 on clearance at Best Buy a couple of weeks ago, which is coming soon. I can't wait to hear it after it's set up with that TV and re-calibrated.
r/Soundbars • View on Reddit →Don’t get a JBL! I returned mine, not enough center channel adjustment and it would either be too loud or too quiet. Samsung, and much as I didn’t want to like it, gives you full customization, if you need it
r/Soundbars • View on Reddit →Got jbl 1300x for this reason. Wife didn’t want rear speakers. It is best of both worlds, when you want rear speakers just detach and place it behind you. The sound quality and immersive experience is amazing.
r/Soundbars • View on Reddit →i have experienced with it. man. the subwoofer hit harder than anything I have ever seen meanwhile deliver much more percise . Eventhough it look smaller and kinda weird in shape, it like twice heavier and triple more powerful than the first 1300 gen
r/Soundbars • View on Reddit →The JBL is plenty dynamic and immersive. You can literally put the surrounds anywhere for a movie or two (super flexible and no need for power connection). And its subwoofer is gonna literally destroy the Samsung. Like not even close.
r/Soundbars • View on Reddit →Stick with mk2. You’re not missing anything
r/Soundbars • View on Reddit →Yeah the sub on JBL is amazing. Samsungs only advantage is better treble, clarity. But its also bigger con is getting too shrill and shouty. I would say the best package is JBL not samsung
r/Soundbars • View on Reddit →The 1300x mk2 is a beast. I got mine 2 weeks ago and am confident I got the best sound bar on the market right now. It's very clear, loud, and the bass shakes.
r/Soundbars • View on Reddit →https://youtu.be/lPXz9X-5LIc?si=ShJr1dw1G3Dpd90i I got the JBL 1300x mk2 2 weeks ago. The dialogue is crystal clear and the bass is amazing. I highly recommend you get it.
r/Soundbars • View on Reddit →JBL 1300x MK2 is better than Samsung Q990F.
r/Soundbars • View on Reddit →This sub has a weird obsession of the Q990x series…I tried both in my room, few weeks apart before getting a Nakamichi Dragon, and the JBL Mk2 was better overall for me than the 990F. The 12” subwoofer helps a ton, the Atmos was *slightly* better in some instances with the q990; but overall, I appreciated and liked the Mk2 much more. Being able to place the surrounds wherever I wanted was huge, and I liked the JBL app more too. The room correction and calibration it does is pretty good as well, biggest thing with all of them is providing the correct input so they can give you the correct output. Playing music through my Samsung tv via iPhone vs playing through Apple TV 4K was completely different. If you want to spend some coin and get something that will really blow you away, check out the Dragon. The price/performance ratio isn’t the greatest, but it’s the closest thing I could find that could match my old actual home theater 7.2.2 setup short of the sub stage. I went with the one that came with the quad 8’s, and have modified it a ton lol basically just using the 8’s amps for inputs to a Crown XLS2502 that’s driving the 8’s for 200hz-80hz, and using dual 600w Monoprice 15’s modified to have a 15” passive radiator instead of their port for 70hz and down. Sub stage ran through an Anti-Mode 2.0 for full room correction and EQ. I like to tinker with stuff too much and it’s definitely not healthy. Don’t go down this path, nothing is ever sufficient ?????????
r/Soundbars • View on Reddit →I had the Mk1, so I upgraded. But I wasnt sure if the Nakamichi was really worth it for the money
r/Soundbars • View on Reddit →It's easy, because you live in a apartment go with the 1000. 1300 is to much, I had to down grade because I moved into a apartment, I couldn't play it to it's full potensial and the bass was to heavy, but it's up to you, just my opinion.
r/Soundbars • View on Reddit →The JBL Bars with detachable wireless speakers and subwoofer are sick.
r/jambands • View on Reddit →The X version using standard subwoofer, not the dual 8 inch one. I believe it won't be that impresive compare to the original 1300MK2 without the X in the name
r/Soundbars • View on Reddit →If you're looking at the Sonos arc ultra I imagine you're going to want the sub as well. At that point the JBL bar 1300 mk2 comes out cheaper. I got the 1300x mk2 here in the US for $1200. The sound and bass fill my open concept house with 10 ft ceilings just at 33% max volume. The dialogue is the clearest I've ever heard from a soundbar and I love that the rear speakers are detachable for movie night and can be put anywhere I want. I cannot recommend this system enough. Rtings doesn't have a review of the mk2 refresh yet but neverenoughtech has a great comparison to the Samsung q990f and puts the JBL on top.
r/Soundbars • View on Reddit →I'm not an expert but have been doing a lot of research recently. I think the SC9S is really meant to go with LG's C series. We bought a 65" C5 earlier this year and bundled it with an SC9S. It's not the greatest soundbar in the world, but it works well with that TV and was a big step up from the Polk S2 2.1 soundbar we had before. But the G5 is a premium TV and IMO deserves a premium soundbar (or "real" home theater system if you go that route). I recently bought an 83" G4 on clearance to create a movie room in our basement. I picked up a JBL 1300X MK2 during BF to go in that room and so far I like it a lot. (It's just connected to an older TV right now so I haven't really fully tried it out. The G4 won't be delivered for another week or so.) We don't want permanent rear speakers so the JBL fits our particular use case because we can detach the rear surround speakers when we want to use them, then re-dock them in the main soundbar. And they're completely wireless (with rechargeable batteries). Others that are often recommended are the Sonos Arc Ultra, Samsung Q series, Klipsch, AMBEO, and KEF XIO. The Nakamichi Shockwafe looks really interesting if you have the space and budget for it.
r/LGOLED • View on Reddit →Its not the biggest room by any means. I know the JBL will be wonderful, but I wasnt sure if the Nakamichi was the way to go over the JBL
r/Soundbars • View on Reddit →