There’s a well-known secret among reviewers: when we truly enjoy a product, we tend to delay writing the review because we know it means eventually having to return it. That’s certainly been the case with the JBL BAR1000 MK2 soundbar. Many thanks to Erikson Consumer, JBL’s Canadian distributor, for their patience while I spent extra time putting this unit through its paces. During my extended testing, I rewatched all the Jason Bourne films, caught up on Apple’s “Slow Horses,” and enjoyed most of the Baseball World Series—each experience enhanced by the BAR1000 MK2’s exceptional sound quality. The thought of reverting to my old, tired soundbar is genuinely disheartening.
Soundbars continue to be a strong growth segment in the audio industry. While elaborate five- or seven-speaker systems had their time, more homeowners and casual listeners are now drawn to the simplicity, compactness, and affordability of soundbars. According to Mordor Intelligence, the global soundbar market is valued at US$9.53 billion in 2025, with nearly 34% of sales happening in North America. This popularity is driven by advanced features like wireless connectivity for subwoofers and rear speakers, support for modern codecs such as Dolby Atmos, and flexible installation options—from wall mounting to tabletop placement. Today’s soundbars, including the BAR1000 MK2, can almost replicate the sound separation once exclusive to 7.1 systems.
The BAR1000 MK2 is categorized as a 7.1.4 system: seven ear-level speakers, a wireless subwoofer, and four overhead “Atmos” channels—all connected with just a power cable and a single HDMI (Arc) line to your TV. No extra wires for the subwoofer or rear speakers make this a perfect home theatre solution for smaller spaces like urban condos or bedrooms.
One reason I’m reluctant to return the BAR1000 MK2 is how it has transformed our bedroom TV experience with minimal space and effort. The system includes a low-profile soundbar supporting Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, plus a wireless 10-inch down-firing subwoofer that delivers strong, fully adjustable bass. The standout feature is the pair of detachable, battery-powered rear speakers. They dock at the soundbar’s ends for charging and storage, then easily detach and can be placed wherever suits your room—I found the bedside tables ideal.
Setup is straightforward thanks to a built-in calibration tool that detects rear speaker placement, ensuring precise sound direction. For example, the Paris car chase in “The Bourne Identity” felt immersive, with sirens approaching from behind and tires screeching to the right.
The detachable rear speakers offer about 10 hours of battery life. The soundbar supports Bluetooth 5.3 and WiFi, so it doubles as a stand-alone audio system for streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music. I was also able to connect a Bluesound device via optical input, integrating the BAR1000 MK2 into my whole-home audio setup.
Set-up is a breeze: I had the system playing within five minutes of unboxing. The calibration tool is user-friendly, with instructions displayed on the soundbar’s LED. Detaching and positioning the rear speakers is simple (just remember to power them on, as they sometimes don’t automatically), and the included remote is responsive, offering customizable controls for Dolby Atmos levels, rear speaker volume, and five bass settings.
In truth, the hardest part of this review is explaining to Erikson Consumer why I’ve kept the soundbar so long—I could have awarded it five stars after just a few minutes. Perhaps I can convince them I need a year-long durability test. If not, I’ll be adding the BAR1000 MK2 to my Christmas wish list!
The JBL BAR1000 MK2 is readily available with an MSRP of $1699.00 CDN