Best JBL Bar 3.1 Soundbar Black Friday Modern 4K flat-screen TVs generally offer excellent picture quality, but there is often a lack of sound. The TV sets simply lack a sound body. A possible solution to the problem: a soundbar. The most elongated housing houses several drivers. The positive side effect: The user does not necessarily have to equip his room with a fully-developed loudspeaker system. With the JBL bar series, the US manufacturer has several soundbars on offer. We test the JBL Bar 3.1 and check how the device performs in practice.
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Best JBL Bar 3.1 Soundbar Black Friday 2023
1. JBL Bar 3.1 – Channel 4K Ultra HD Soundbar with 10″ Wireless Suboofer
Pros:
- High-Quality Sound: The JBL Bar 3.1 offers impressive sound clarity, creating an immersive experience whether you’re watching a movie, listening to music, or playing games.
- Wireless Subwoofer: Its wireless subwoofer delivers deep and impactful bass without the clutter of additional cables.
- Easy Connectivity: With HDMI and optical inputs as well as Bluetooth, this soundbar offers multiple ways to connect your devices.
- 4K Compatibility: The soundbar’s 4K pass-through ensures the audio quality matches your ultra-high-definition visuals.
Cons:
- Sound Customization: There is a limited equalizer function, restricting the ability to tailor the sound to personal preferences.
2. JBL Bar 3.1 Home Theater System w/ Soundbar & Wireless Subwoofer – JBLBAR31BLK (Renewed)
Pros:
- Exceptional Audio Clarity: The 250W power offers crisp, clear, and detailed sound.
- Dolby Atmos Compatibility: Provides a 3D surround sound experience, which is excellent for movie enthusiasts.
- Multiple Connectivity Options: With 802.11AC WiFi, Bluetooth 4.2, and HDMI eARC, you can connect to almost any device.
- Voice Control: Makes it user-friendly and easy to control.
Cons:
- Limited Advanced Audio Settings: Lacks some customizability options for audiophiles who prefer fine-tuning their sound experience.
3. JBL Bar 2.1 – Channel Soundbar with Wireless Subwoofer
Pros:
- Superior Sound Quality: The JBL Bar 2.1 delivers clear, powerful sound, making every movie scene or musical note feel vibrant and dynamic.
- Wireless Subwoofer: This feature provides users with the convenience of placement anywhere in the room and enhances the overall audio experience with deep, thunderous bass.
- Easy Setup: With its plug-and-play approach, this soundbar system is straightforward to install, making it a user-friendly choice.
Cons:
- Lack of Wi-Fi Connectivity: The device only supports Bluetooth, limiting its compatibility with certain streaming devices.
JBL Bar 3.1 Soundbar Black Friday 2023 Reviews
Design and workmanship
Visually, JBL does not take any risks and has opted for a classic soundbar design. The reserved exterior skilfully blends into almost every living environment. The rectangular design is slightly loosened up by rounded edges. In terms of color, the JBL Bar 3.1 is slightly greyish. There are no shades of color to be found, but this is not to be understood negatively, as this fits perfectly with the subtle overall look. There is also nothing to question about the build quality. The entire front and top are covered with a fine-meshed metal grille. The rest was made of matt black plastic. We could not find any sharp edges, and there were no excessively large gaps.
So while the soundbar shines with rather compact dimensions, the enclosed subwoofer is a real chunk. At 12.1 kilograms, it weighs a good deal and the dimensions of 30.5 x 30.5 x 44 centimeters in width, height, and depth are not exactly reserved. With this, JBL makes a real statement and fuels high expectations when it comes to bass reproduction. In terms of design, however, the reserved exterior continues. The woofer is also kept throughout in a matt black look and makes a valuable overall impression. Four feet in combination with the high weight guarantee a secure stand.
Equipment and operation
On the other hand, it looks rather poor on the wireless front. Only Bluetooth version 4.2 has found its way into the JBL Bar 3.1. You won’t find a WLAN module, AirPlay or NFC for a quick device connection. App control and multiroom functions are also missing. The Bluetooth connection is stable and provides good sound quality.
The subwoofer can also be wirelessly coupled to the soundbar, which allows flexible positioning. However, the power cable is quite short, which limits the flexibility again. Practical: The connection is automatic – as soon as the JBL Bar 3.1 starts – and is extremely stable. We did not find any disconnections or other problems during the test.
There is an easy-to-read display behind the front grille, which makes operation significantly easier. For example, the user can read the selected volume level from the soundbar and subwoofer and see directly which source is selected. Practical: Long menu items are shown in moving text, so you don’t have to deal with crude abbreviations. Overall, the operation of the JBL Bar 3.1 did not pose any major problems for us. If you do not know what to do, you can consult the operating instructions. The enclosed printed version is, however, very rudimentary. There is a much more detailed version on the JBL website, which explains all functions down to the smallest detail. Incomprehensibly, it did not make it into the packaging.
Sound
A total of nine chassis work inside the JBL Bar 3.1, which are grouped into groups of three, placed in the middle and on the sides, thus forming a 3-channel system. Each group consists of two so-called racetrack drivers and a 1.25-inch tweeter. The 2.25-inch Racetrack drivers get their name from the oval design, which is reminiscent of a racetrack and is intended to emit the sound more precisely. The subwoofer is equipped with a remarkable 10-inch driver and works according to the down fire principle: the sound is emitted downwards. On the back is the opening of the bass reflex tube, which is intended to amplify the bass reproduction again.
The sound impressions are confirmed by our second test Blu-ray Forbidden Kingdom. The bang at the beginning of the fight between the monkey king and the Jade warlord has the necessary strength. The two fighters swing their weapons around the room in a location that is easy to locate. However, the soundbar could work out subtleties such as the falling fragments of the petrified ax a little better. Finally, we listen to the various equalizer programs and come to a sobering conclusion: the differences are marginal. Only with Voice is the speech volume increased significantly. However, since the other sounds fade into the background, this setting is almost unusable in film or series operations. We definitely recommend surrounding mode here.
Conclusion
With the JBL Bar 3.1, the US manufacturer has a good soundbar in its portfolio. In terms of sound, it impresses above all with its massive bass and very good voice reproduction. The mids could, however, be worked out in somewhat more detail. It is always an improvement on the common TV sound. In surround mode, the JBL Bar delivers a wide sound stage without penetrating into the top areas.
In terms of physical interfaces, she almost completely convinced us. The 4K HDR-compatible HDMI inputs stand out here. In contrast, the bar weakens somewhat in terms of wireless functions. Except for Bluetooth, it has nothing to offer in this area. Visually, it cuts a very good figure, just like in processing. The operation does not cause any major problems, even if switching through the sources and equalizers is a bit cumbersome.
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