The Bar 700MK2’s rear speakers serve two quite different rooms in the same house. In the evening they can sit behind the sofa for surround sound. Later, you can move them beside the listener and mute the full-size bar and subwoofer for a much more local presentation.
In depth
JBL Bar 700MK2 review
Published
Best forHouseholds that want real surround speakers for a film and quiet near-seat listening later at night.
At a glance
- Channel configuration
- 7.1
- Included system
- Soundbar, 10-inch wireless subwoofer and two detachable surrounds
- Immersive audio
- Dolby AtmosDTS Virtual:X
- TV connection
- HDMI eARC
Pros
- Detachable battery-powered speakers can be placed behind the sofa for physical surround.
- Night Listening redirects sound to the small speakers and mutes the main system.
Cons
- The detachable speakers need periodic charging.
- There is a single HDMI source input.
Surround Sound
- 7.1 channels
- Dolby Atmos
- DTS Virtual:X
Two physical satellites give a sound engineer’s rear-channel cues somewhere to come from. The 7.1 layout has no dedicated height channel. Dolby Atmos compatibility lets the bar render the soundtrack, but a pair of removable rears and a ceiling-facing driver are two different tools.
Bass & Dialogue
- 10-inch wireless subwoofer
- PureVoice 2.0
The bass enclosure needs an outlet near a position you can live with. PureVoice adjusts speech emphasis according to the material and listening level. Try it on a quiet conversation before raising the master volume. It gives you a control to adjust, rather than proof that every room will sound equally clear.
Setup & Battery
- Detachable surrounds
- up to 10 hours rated playtime
Calibration is worthwhile after you choose the usual positions for the speakers. They can run from their batteries during a movie; JBL’s playtime rating varies with content and volume. Dock them when you are finished so that one side does not run down halfway through the next show.
Connectivity & Controls
- HDMI eARC
- 1 HDMI input
- JBL One app
In Night Listening mode the bar and subwoofer mute, leaving the detached speakers close to you. That can keep volume down without making a spouse wear headphones. Connect the TV through eARC and reserve the lone source input for whichever device benefits most from a direct connection.
Alternatives
The Bar 500MK2 keeps the separate 10-inch subwoofer but dispenses with detachable speakers. It is easier to live with if there is no place to put the rears even temporarily. The 1300XMK2 includes height channels and three HDMI inputs for a more elaborate film setup.
Verdict
The 700MK2’s best trick is controlling where sound comes from at different times of day. Buy it if the rears will actually move between those jobs. Otherwise the simpler 500MK2 saves the trouble of charging extra speakers.
About this review
This is a research-based review. The Fasit has not physically tested this product.
Sources & Research
Manufacturer documentation
The specifications and features discussed in this review come from manufacturer documentation.
JBL — Bar 700MK2 documentation