Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

CES 2021: JBL Introduces New Dolby Atmos Sound Bar With AirPlay 2 Support

MacRumors

MacRumors

macrumors bot
Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
67,487
37,761


JBL today introduced the latest addition to its sound bar lineup, the JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam. With support for AirPlay 2, the Bar 5.0 is ideal for Apple users, as audio can be wirelessly streamed to the sound bar from devices like the iPhone and iPad.

jbl-sound-bar-5-multibeam.jpg

AirPlay 2 allows for multi-room audio when the JBL sound bar is paired with other AirPlay 2 devices, such as the HomePod, Apple TV, select Sonos speakers, and more. Additionally, users can use Siri to control audio playback.

The sound bar delivers surround sound, with support for both Dolby Atmos and JBL's proprietary beamforming technology MultiBeam:
Equipped with four passive radiators for deep and punchy bass, the Bar 5.0 produces clear, heightened and room filling JBL 3D Surround Sound, without the need for an additional subwoofer. Highlighted within the Bar 5.0 is HARMAN's MultiBeam technology that enables users to hear and feel surround sound without needing additional surround speakers, generating an immersive listening experience. In addition, Virtual Dolby Atmos allows the Bar 5.0 to reproduce the audio height dimensions from a movie or TV show, turning any living space into a 3D personal theater.
Click to expand...
JBL says the sound bar will be available on JBL.com and at select retailers in Spring 2021, priced at $399.95 in the United States.

jbl-sa750-amplifier.jpg

JBL is introducing several other products ahead of CES 2021, including a new retro-inspired integrated amplifier with AirPlay 2 support. The new SA750 amplifier is priced at $3,000 in the United States, with availability beginning April 2021.

Article Link: CES 2021: JBL Introduces New Dolby Atmos Sound Bar With AirPlay 2 Support
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2021/01/07/jbl-dolby-atmos-sound-bar-with-airplay-2/
Mike_Trivisonno said:
Wow. That amp is seriously good looking! Add to Cart!
Click to expand...
Eh it does "look" nice but generally retro-inspired products made today lose a lot in the translation from the original. Usually they tend to feel cheaply made. Also with all the discrete components commonly used in amplifiers back in the day it would be a very expensive audio product to create that today, such as the McIntosh systems.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ralph_sws
satchmo said:
Dumb question: If I connect this Airplay 2 equipped Sound Bar to a TV, can I mirror my iPad video or just audio?
Click to expand...
Probably just audio. I have a Sonos Arc connected to my TV via HDMI and it even displays a graphic image if I switch to that HDMI input. But it's only available for audio Airplay.
 
  • Like
Reactions: satchmo
gplusplus said:
An Atmos soundbar is an oxymoron. Dolby is allowing their brand to be diluted. Shame.
Click to expand...

exactly. atmos really needs independent ceiling mounted speakers. some of the very high end sound bars with atmos do an "ok" job of reflecting sound upwards independently but lets face it... $399 for ATMOS in a sound bar with Airplay 2? this won't sound good, or at the least won't sound like "surround" or "ATMOS" sound, no freaking way.
 
  • Wow
  • Disagree
  • Like
Reactions: itsmeaustend, Big Ron and gplusplus
This is pretty much the Q70 sound bar from Samsung rewrapped in a different package.
As the owner of the Q70 sound bar with hearing issues, I'd recommend anyone with hearing sensitivity or "hyperaucusis" to stay AWAY. They use aluminum drivers for the "sound beaming" which pretty much are harsh noise makers aimed at the ceiling to bounce treble at your ears. Even with Treble -5 level this crap is awful.
 
  • Like
Reactions: gplusplus
gplusplus said:
An Atmos soundbar is an oxymoron. Dolby is allowing their brand to be diluted. Shame.
Click to expand...
Seriously. I think getting some sort of surround sound effect is possible using a single soundbar setup, but it will require the device to scan for the acoustic characteristics of the room first and change its "beamforming" configuration to adjust to the environment kinda like how HomePod does it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: EdRed
gplusplus said:
An Atmos soundbar is an oxymoron. Dolby is allowing their brand to be diluted. Shame.
Click to expand...
Agreed. And the "good" ones are priced so high it makes more sense to just buy a dedicated surround sound system. I love a soundbar setup for a bedroom, office, entertaining space but for the main TV just get a speaker system.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: macdragonfl
satchmo said:
Dumb question: If I connect this Airplay 2 equipped Sound Bar to a TV, can I mirror my iPad video or just audio?
Click to expand...
I’m gonna guess that it’s audio only - not enough information available for more than a guess. You can use an Apple TV to mirror an iPad’s video, and/or some newer TVs support AirPlay.
 
  • Like
Reactions: satchmo
mnsportsgeek said:
Agreed. And the good ones are priced so high it makes more sense to just buy a dedicated surround sound system. I love a soundbar setup for a bedroom, office, entertaining space but for the main TV just get a speaker system.
Click to expand...

There is still a market for them though. Some people just can’t or won’t have speakers dotted around their living room. I have been in that position before. Then it’s a case of weighing up how much you’re prepared to spend for what sort of quality.
 
  • Like
Reactions: KeithBN
wow. $3000 for that tiny Amplifier.
I am a collector of old school HI FI. Bob Carver, Sunfire, Crest, SoundCraftsmen.....

Thats a lot of money!

 
The keyword here is that it has support for Atmos. Meaning, it is one speaker in an array needed. I have 2 Homepods with the latest firmware. Virtualized Atmos my @$$. I have a Sonos system of the Arc, 2 One SL's, and the current Sub.
Buying this product is a waste of money.
 
steve23094 said:
There is still a market for them though. Some people just can’t or won’t have speakers dotted around their living room. I have been in that position before. Then it’s a case of weighing up how much you’re prepared to spend for what sort of quality.
Click to expand...
Good point. However, take a walk through Best Buy (for ex.) and sales is all about the sound bar... I believe a lot of people don't even realize they also have other affordable options for setting up a home theater.
 
Last edited:
gplusplus said:
An Atmos soundbar is an oxymoron. Dolby is allowing their brand to be diluted. Shame.
Click to expand...
It could be argued Dolby is in a tough spot, what with the patent on the original Dolby Digital (AC3) having expired and industry shifting towards MPEG-H for (3D) spatial audio considerations in broadcast. As such, I believe they mean the "Atmos" brand is more about offering immersive audio from a variety of playback systems, rather than just being "speakers on the ceiling."
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back