JBL Bar 800MK2 review
The JBL Bar 800MK2 is the mid-range option in the audio specialist’s MK2 line, delivering surround sound though its main bar, detachable rear speakers, and mighty subwoofer. It comes with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X support, a wide range of connectivity options, and an expansive 7. 1 channel configuration — but is it actually worth buying? I’ve spent a bunch of hours testing the JBL Bar 800MK2 for myself, putting it to the test with 4K UHD Blu-rays as well as Dolby Atmos and stereo format music. Here’s whether I’d recommend it or not. Let’s start by talking about performance, an area where this model certainly excels. Like a lot of the best soundbars , the JBL Bar 800MK2 produces beautifully expansive sound with powerful bass and clear dialogue, and it consistently impressed me during testing. It makes use of six full-range drivers and two tweeters in the main bar, two full rangers in each surround speaker, and a ten-inch bass unit in the sub, with a solid 780W maximum power output, so you’re really going to feel the action in every scene when watching movies. (Image credit: Future) For instance, when watching a 4K Blu-ray of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie , I was blown away by the thunderous bass on offer as a UFO airlifted Peach’s Castle into the stratosphere, with a regimented, rippling sound emanating from the sub. As the chaos unfurled, crashing waves hit with tremendous impact, and as Toads jumped into the water, their movement was tracked with commendable precision. Similarly, the sound of Yoshi’s tongue flicking across the scene was mapped perfectly, making for an immensely immersive viewing experience, with the width of his motion far exceeding the limited confines of the soundbar. The JBL Bar 800MK2 skips on dedicated up-firing drivers, so you’re not going to get the most convincing verticality while watching Atmos movies, but I was still seriously impressed with the virtual recreation of height effects. For example, in Top Gun Maverick , the sound of Tom Cruise flying a jet up and overhead sounded surprisingly life-like, and it genuinely seemed as if I could hear the upward trajectory. The low-end rumble of jet engines also shook our testing room to its foundations, but all the while, dialogue continued to come through clearly in the mix. Speaking of dialogue, the JBL Bar 800MK2 is well equipped to deliver clear and concise speech at all times. That’s in part thanks to the PureVoice setting, which enables you to push vocals forward without ruining the fidelity of sounds elsewhere in the frequency range. I never felt like PureVoice made the movie’s audio seem unbalanced, and it proved to be super-effective, especially in more crowded, action-packed sequences where dialogue can sometimes take a backseat. I was also really impressed with the sound quality coming from the detachable rear speakers. They sounded brilliantly balanced from where I was sitting, but you can easily change their volume level in the JBL One app to suit your room setup. They gave Dolby Atmos movies an ultra-expansive quality, and provided controlled highs and clear mids, making for stellar surround sound. Even when it came to music, the JBL Bar 800MK2 performed fantastically well. With an Atmos mix of Stayin’ Alive by the Bee Gees, the system whipped up a strikingly expansive presentation with articulate drums in the treble range, great vocal clarity, and warm bass that never sounded overly assertive. The rears also combined really nicely here, which was a relief as I’ve found that the surround channels on some rival models don’t always seem cohesive with the rest of the system. Stereo music impressed me too, with deep and agile bass, detailed mids, and solid instrument separation. (Image credit: Future) So yes, despite lacking dedicated up-firing drivers, the virtual Atmos on the 800MK2 works very well, and it handles the fundamentals with ease too. But how does this model fare elsewhere? In terms of features, this system is a strong all-rounder. On top of the PureVoice setting I mentioned, there’s a Night Mode that uses the detachable speakers only, voice assistant support, AirPlay and Google Cast support, EQ options, and much more. All of these features can be tapped into over on the JBL One app, which is intuitive and incredibly easy to use. There are a few sound-related features I’d like to highlight too. The first is MultiBeam 3. 0, which is intended to create a “wide, cinema-like soundstage”. This feature harnesses beamforming and digital processing to achieve its goal, and works a treat. There’s also a sound calibration option, which is quick and seamless, and provides optimized three-dimensional sound for your space, no matter how it’s set up. The Bar 800MK2 also has a very solid set of connectivity options. You get the usual HDMI eARC, digital optical, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth, but also Ethernet and an HDMI input (just one, rather than the three on the Bar 1300MK2). The HDMI input supports 4K passthrough, but only at 60Hz, so it’s not the best option if you’re looking for peak-performance gaming or anything. Before we wrap up, I also want to talk about design. On the one hand, the JBL Bar 800MK2 is ingenious. Its use of battery powered rear speakers makes it incredibly versatile. You can place these anywhere in your room for a flexible, wire-free setup, and the speakers can even function as standalone Bluetooth speakers. If they run low on charge, they can even be used while connected to a USB-C power cable. That alone is a huge plus. But that’s actually where my praise runs dry. The JBL Bar 800MK2 looks quite cheap for the price you pay, with a plasticky one-note appearance. The sub is also very bulky — even more so than the more powerful alternative you get with the JBL Bar 1300MK2. But then again, what the system lacks in style, it certainly makes up for in substance. When all’s said and done, is the JBL Bar 800MK2 worth the money? Well, its list price of £899 / AU$1,199. 95 (about $1,200) may seem steep, but realistically, you’ll be paying less than £650 / AU$850 for it now. At that price, the Bar 800MK2 is well worth it…