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  1. Home
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  4. JBL
  5. Bar 500MK2
  6. Review

JBL Bar 500MK2  Soundbar Review

Notice: Below are the preliminary measurements for the JBL Bar 500MK2. Insiders have early access to the test results, and some measurements may be updated before publication.

The full review will be published in a few days.
Tested using Methodology v1.3 
JBL Bar 500MK2
Channels
5.1
 12

Changelog

  1.  Updated Jan 27, 2026: Early access published.
  2.  Updated Jan 16, 2026: Our testers have started testing this product.
  3.  Updated Aug 20, 2025: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
  4.  Updated Aug 12, 2025: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

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Test Results

perceptual testing image
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Design
Style - Bar
SAMPLE
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Style - Subwoofer
SAMPLE
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Sub Wireless
LockedLocked
Enclosure
LockedLocked
Style - Satellites
Satellite Wireless
LockedLocked
Dimensions - Bar
SAMPLE
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WidthLockedLock" (Lock cm)
HeightLockedLock" (Lock cm)
DepthLockedLock" (Lock cm)
Dimensions - Subwoofer
SAMPLE
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WidthLockedLock" (Lock cm)
HeightLockedLock" (Lock cm)
DepthLockedLock" (Lock cm)
Dimensions - Satellites
WidthLockedN/A
HeightLockedN/A
DepthLockedN/A
Mounting
SAMPLE
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Mountable Bar
LockedLocked
Bar Brackets Included
LockedLocked
Mountable Satellites
LockedLocked
Satellite Brackets Included
LockedLocked
0.0
Build Quality
SAMPLE
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In The Box
SAMPLE
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Sound
0.0
Stereo Frequency Response
SAMPLE
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SAMPLE
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SAMPLE
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Channels
LockedLocked
Tested Preset
LockedLocked
Slope
LockedLock
Standard Error
LockedLock dB
Low-Frequency Extension
LockedLock Hz
High-Frequency Extension
LockedLock kHz
LEARN ABOUT STEREO FREQUENCY RESPONSE 
0.0
Stereo Frequency Response With Preliminary Calibration
SAMPLE
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Suggested Preset
LockedLocked
Suggested Bass Setting
LockedLock
Suggested Treble Setting
LockedN/A
Slope
LockedLock
Standard Error
LockedLock dB
Low-Frequency Extension
LockedLock Hz
High-Frequency Extension
LockedLock kHz
0.0
Stereo Soundstage
SAMPLE
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Crosstalk Error
LockedLock dB
LEARN ABOUT STEREO SOUNDSTAGE 
0.0
Stereo Dynamics
SAMPLE
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SPL @ Max Volume
LockedLock dB SPL
DRC @ 90dB
LockedLock dB
DRC @ Max Volume
LockedLock dB
LEARN ABOUT STEREO DYNAMICS 
0.0
Center
SAMPLE
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SAMPLE
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Localization
LockedLocked
Slope
LockedLock
Std. Err.
LockedLock dB
SPL @ Max Volume
LockedLock dB SPL
Weighted THD @ 80dB
LockedLock
Weighted THD @ Max Volume
LockedLock
LEARN ABOUT CENTER 
0.0
Surround 5.1
SAMPLE
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SAMPLE
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Localization
LockedLocked
Slope
LockedLock
Std. Err.
LockedLock dB
SPL @ Max Volume
LockedLock dB SPL
Weighted THD @ 80dB
LockedLock
Weighted THD @ Max Volume
LockedLock
7.1 Rears
LockedLocked
LEARN ABOUT SURROUND 5.1 
0.0
Height (Atmos)
SAMPLE
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SAMPLE
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Localization
LockedLocked
Slope
LockedLock
Std. Err.
LockedLock dB
SPL @ Max Volume
LockedLock dB SPL
Weighted THD @ 80dB
LockedLock
Weighted THD @ Max Volume
LockedLock
LEARN ABOUT HEIGHT (ATMOS) 
0.0
Sound Enhancement Features
Room Correction
LockedLocked
Dialogue Enhancement
LockedLocked
Auto-Volume/Night Mode
LockedLocked
Subwoofer Level Adjustment
LockedLocked
Bass Adjustment
LockedLocked
Treble Adjustment
LockedLocked
EQ
LockedLocked
Surround Level Adjustment
LockedLocked
Rear Level Adjustment
LockedLocked
Height Level Adjustment
LockedLocked
Virtual Surround
LockedLocked
LEARN ABOUT SOUND ENHANCEMENT FEATURES 
Connectivity
Inputs/Outputs - Bar
SAMPLE
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Optical Audio In
LockedLocked
HDMI Out
LockedLocked
HDMI 2.1 Class Bandwidth
LockedLocked
Full HDMI In
LockedLocked
Analog Audio In 3.5mm (Aux)
LockedLocked
RCA In
LockedLocked
USB for Files
LockedLocked
Ethernet
LockedLocked
Subwoofer Output
LockedLocked
0.0
Audio Format Support: ARC/eARC
Dolby Atmos
LockedLocked
Dolby Digital
LockedLocked
Dolby Digital Plus
LockedLocked
Dolby TrueHD
LockedLocked
DTS
LockedLocked
DTS:X
LockedLocked
DTS-HD MA
LockedLocked
PCM Channels
LockedLocked
0.0
Audio Format Support: HDMI In
Dolby Atmos
LockedLocked
Dolby Digital
LockedLocked
Dolby Digital Plus
LockedLocked
Dolby TrueHD
LockedLocked
DTS
LockedLocked
DTS:X
LockedLocked
DTS-HD MA
LockedLocked
PCM Channels
LockedLocked
0.0
Audio Format Support: Optical
Dolby Digital
LockedLocked
DTS
LockedLocked
PCM Channels
LockedLocked
0.0
Audio Latency: ARC
SAMPLE
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JBL Bar 500MK2 ARC Latency Video Sample
PCM-2.0 ch
LockedLock ms
PCM-5.1 ch
LockedLock ms
Dolby MAT (PCM) Atmos
LockedLock ms
Dolby Digital
LockedLock ms
Dolby Digital Plus
LockedLock ms
Dolby Digital Plus Atmos
LockedLock ms
LEARN ABOUT AUDIO LATENCY: ARC 
0.0
Audio Latency: HDMI In
SAMPLE
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JBL Bar 500MK2 HDMI Latency Video Sample
PCM-2.0 ch
LockedLock ms
PCM-5.1 ch
LockedLock ms
Dolby MAT (PCM) Atmos
LockedLock ms
Dolby Digital
LockedLock ms
Dolby Digital Plus
LockedLock ms
Dolby Digital Plus Atmos
LockedLock ms
LEARN ABOUT AUDIO LATENCY: HDMI IN 
0.0
Audio Latency: Optical
SAMPLE
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JBL Bar 500MK2 Optical Latency Video Sample
PCM-2.0 ch
LockedLock ms
Dolby Digital
LockedLock ms
LEARN ABOUT AUDIO LATENCY: OPTICAL 
0.0
Video Passthrough To TV
1080p Max Refresh Rate
LockedLocked
1080p @ 4:4:4 Max Refresh Rate
LockedLocked
4k Max Refresh Rate
LockedLocked
4k @ 120Hz @ 10-Bit
LockedLocked
4k @ 4:4:4 Max Refresh Rate
LockedLocked
8k Max Refresh Rate
LockedLocked
HDR10 Passthrough
LockedLocked
HDR10+ Passthrough
LockedLocked
Dolby Vision Passthrough
LockedLocked
HDMI Forum VRR Passthrough
LockedLocked
FreeSync Passthrough
LockedLocked
G-SYNC Passthrough
LockedLocked
ALLM Passthrough
LockedLocked
0.0
Wireless Playback
Bluetooth
LockedLocked
Wi-Fi Playback
LockedLocked
Chromecast built-in
LockedLocked
Apple AirPlay
LockedLocked
Spotify Connect
LockedLocked
Additional Features
Interface
SAMPLE
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Display
LockedLocked
Bar Controls
SAMPLE
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Remote
SAMPLE
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Voice Assistants Support
Amazon Alexa
LockedLocked
Google Assistant
LockedLocked
Apple Siri
LockedLocked
Microphone Mute
LockedLocked
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