JBL adds Dolby Atmos support to smart soundbar lineup

The JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam packs a great deal of technology into a compact package that fits neatly on your entertainment center. This is the first soundbar to adapt both Virtual Dolby Atmos and JBL’s beamforming technology. It requires little know-how to setup, and you can use it to play video games, listen to music, and watch movies.

JBL outfitted the new unit with four passive radiators, so bass notes should sound plenty loud. The overall footprint of the hardware is small, relative to soundbar and subwoofer combinations. An advanced DSP powers Virtual Dolby Atmos, which adds dimension to your media by creating the sensation of overhead and bilateral sound.

This soundbar was designed with simplicity in mind, and it integrates many popular music providers. The JBL Multibeam also supports wireless streaming services like Alexa Multi-Room Music groups, Apple AirPlay 2, and Chromecast built-in. If you don’t want to use any of those Wi-Fi streaming options, you can always fall back on Bluetooth streaming instead.

The JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam will be available in black this spring and retail for $399.95.

JBL keeps the party going with its luxury offerings

JBL’s CES 2021 announcements didn’t stop with the JBL 5.0 Bar Multibeam, the Harman subsidiary also announced a host of luxury products that are sure to please audiophiles.

JBL celebrates its 75th anniversary with retrofitted hardware

The JBL L100 Classic 75 design pays homage to the original JBL L100 Classic and introduces new hardware. The teak cabinets stand atop a pair of JS-120 floor stands, and special edition badges adorn the front and rear panels of the loudspeakers. Inside, each loudspeaker is a JT025Ti2-4 25mm titanium dome tweeter and a JM125PC-8 125mm midrange driver, which sits directly above a 300mm woofer.

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The JBL SA750 Integrated Amplifier is the perfect partner for the L100. This retro-looking amplifier features modern tech like Dirac Live room calibration for optimal audio reproduction in any room. It includes a high-resolution DAC, switchable MM/MC phono input, and support for full MQA file decoding. It’s also Roon Ready, so you can connect it to your Roon Core device. You can even enjoy popular Wi-Fi streaming services like Chromecast and Apple AirPlay 2.

The SA750 uses Class G amplification, which decreases power consumption and increases efficiency relative to standard Class A/B amps. You have a slew of analog connection options with the JBL SA750 including ethernet, Wi-Fi, USB, RCA, optical, and coaxial cables.

There are only 750 pairs of the JBL L100 Classic 75, and each pair will retail for $5,500 per this April. The JBL SA750 will also be available this April and retail for $3,000.

Deck the halls, and ceilings, with JBL Synthesis loudspeakers

To round it all out, JBL also announced the Synthesis Custom Loudspeakers (SCL) line. The SCL-1 and SSW-1 are large-format solutions for premium, large-scale and high-channel count systems. The SCL-1 LCR Loudspeaker is JBL’s flagship product within the Synthesis SCL line. It’s decked out with dual 76mm drivers, a pair of 304mm woofers, and a horn for improved efficiency. You can custom-tune it from the front panel controls, and choose between bi-wire, bi-amp, and complete bypass of the internal crossover network. The SSW-1 Subwoofer complements the SCL-1, and weighs an incredible 150kg.

JBL kept rolling with the luxury announcements and expanded its loudspeaker lineup with four new architectural speaker models in its SCL series. The JBL SCL-5 In-Ceiling Loudspeaker, SCL-6 In-Wall Loudspeaker, SCL-7 In-Wall Loudspeaker, and SCL-8 In-Ceiling Loudspeaker all include annular ring diaphragm compression drivers and a brand new Cat Claw mounting mechanism. This is superior to the standard dog leg design; It’s easier to install the units, saving time and money.

The JBL SCL-1 and SSW-1 will be available in March and retail for $1,500 and $7,500 respectively. All SCL in-ceiling and in-wall models will be available in February. The SCL-5 will cost $2,000; the SCL-6 will cost $1,500; the SCL-7 will cost $1,000; and the SCL-8 will cost $1,000.