JBL Bar 500MK2 Review: Compact design, diverse connectivity but still limited

Experience the JBL Bar 500MK2 soundbar: Who is it suitable for? ( Video : Media Dan Tri).

+ Advantages:

- Convenient design, easy to install.

- Vibrant sound quality, solid bass.

- Support various connections.

+ Limitations:

- Surround sound cannot be compared with systems with satellite speakers.

- USB-A port does not support music playback.

- JBL One control application does not support Vietnamese yet.

+ Editor's Advice:

JBL Bar 500MK2 will be suitable for users who love high-end home audio experience but do not want the complexity of a multi-channel speaker system. This is also a choice worth considering for those who like vibrant sound quality, lots of bass to watch action movies, play games and listen to young music.

In addition, a small limitation is that the JBL One control application does not currently support Vietnamese language.

Design and connectivity

Along with the development of the TV market, soundbars are becoming more and more popular and gradually becoming indispensable devices when users want to upgrade the sound experience in their home entertainment system.

JBL Bar 500MK2 inherits many design features of the Bar 500 version launched in 2023. The device has meticulous workmanship, good finishing with a sturdy frame, no unnecessary details in the design.

The JBL Bar 500MK2 speaker system includes a sound bar and a subwoofer. The sound bar and subwoofer are wirelessly connected to each other, making the arrangement of the equipment more convenient and neat.

The soundbar measures 940mm x 50.5mm x 104mm (Width x Height x Depth). The length of the device will be suitable for TV models with a size of 50 inches or more. The moderate height does not cause the screen to be obscured when placed on a shelf with the TV. In addition, users can also hang it on the wall if they want thanks to the hooks available in the box.

The front has an LED screen, providing basic information such as volume, input or sound mode. The screen is hidden under the speaker mesh and has a pixelated display effect. The screen size is just enough for users to observe within a distance of 2-3m. On the top, JBL arranges basic touch keys to increase and decrease the volume and select the source.

The connection ports and power port are neatly arranged on the back. The device also has a built-in USB-A port. However, in the Vietnamese market, this USB-A port has limited features and is only used for software upgrade purposes, and does not support music playback via USB.

In addition to wired connections, the JBL Bar 500MK2 also supports wireless connections Bluetooth 5.3, WiFi, AirPlay and Chromecast. Users can connect and play music from smartphones, tablets, laptops without having to depend on the TV.

The subwoofer measures 325mm x 400mm x 325mm (Width x Height x Depth). It weighs a relatively heavy 8.1kg. However, users will rarely need to move the device, so this is not a big problem.

Currently, most soundbars on the market only have a single black color option. Meanwhile, the JBL Bar 500MK2 offers 2 color options: black and white. This helps users easily choose the color version that suits the interior space in the family.

The JBL Bar 500MK2's remote control is compact with simple, easy-to-use buttons. Through the remote control, users can fine-tune all functions on the speaker from changing the bass, turning on and off the Dolby Atmos effect, adjusting the sound,...

Sound Modes and Smart Features

The JBL Bar 500MK2 system has a total capacity of 750W, including a 450W soundbar and a 300W subwoofer. The soundbar has a total of 9 speakers, including 5 full-range racetrack drivers and 4 tweeters placed at both ends. Meanwhile, the subwoofer has a large design to help the system enhance bass effectively.

When watching movies, the sound is spread out and spread throughout the room. PureVoice 2.0 and SmartDetail technology automatically optimizes the voice based on the ambient sound and the soundbar volume, helping to reproduce the details of the dialogue.

In terms of music listening ability, JBL Bar 500MK2 is suitable for EDM, Dance or Rap, Hip Hop genres that are popular today with strong, powerful bass, creating a fast rhythm.

The device allows you to adjust the bass with 5 levels via the remote control or smartphone application. This is a big plus that helps create a versatile sound space, suitable for many genres of music and movies.

The JBL Bar 500MK2 also supports MultiBeam 3.0 and Dolby Atmos technology, which supports surround sound simulation. Depending on the room space and usage area, the effectiveness of the surround sound effect may vary.

In fact, the experience is significantly better than conventional soundbars with only front-facing speakers, but it still cannot compare to systems with separate satellite speakers. If you are more demanding about surround sound effects, users can consider upgrading to high-end versions such as JBL Bar 800MK2 or Bar 1000MK2.

Users can also control the speaker via the JBL One app on their smartphone. The software also provides the ability to adjust EQ, audio delay, etc. However, it is quite unfortunate that this control app does not currently support the Vietnamese language.

Summary

JBL Bar 500MK2 is sold in the Vietnamese market at a price of 17.9 million VND. The device competes with some products such as Soundbar Klipsch Cinema 800, Denon Home Soundbar 550.

However, due to physical limitations, the device's ability to simulate surround sound cannot be compared to soundbar systems with separate satellite speakers. If you have strict requirements for this feature, users should upgrade to higher-end versions. In addition, a small limitation is that the JBL One control application does not currently support Vietnamese language.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/cong-nghe/danh-gia-jbl-bar-500mk2-thiet-ke-gon-ket-noi-da-dang-nhung-con-han-che-20250813225206563.htm