
The rear speakers have a built-in battery with a duration of 10 hours, and are charged by being docked to the sides of the soundbar itself when not in use. Though they can run on continuous power with a USB charger, should you wish. No, here the rear speakers are completely wireless. And not the type you find on the Samsung HW-Q96R, where each speaker is plugged into an electrical outlet. Unlike the new Sonos Arc, it also supports DTS: X, and stands out with wireless rear speakers. Bar 9.1, as it is called, is JBL’s first soundbar with real 3D sound “from the sky” with Dolby Atmos. Now the latest top model will be able to ride.


They are battery powered and last for about 10 hours. The side speakers on the JBL Bar 9.1 can be hooked off and used as completely wireless rear speakers. The big brother Bar 5.1 Surround was far more powerful and more entertaining when it went under the microscope this spring, but this one was also coarse-grained and a new remote control did not go down well, with its hidden functions that required reading the user manual. That it was cheaper was not enough, it landed between two chairs. It did not go quite so well with little brother Bar 2.1, who in addition to being rough in the goal, also did not have enough power to weigh up. And at £ 600, it was just right priced to run away with the victory in the group test.

What it lacked in nuances and delicacies made up for in sheer sheer power and playfulness. The first time I opened my eyes to JBL’s soundbars was when I tested Bar 3.1 a couple of years ago.
