Customer reviews from jbl.com
JBL - Refurbished Excellent - 9.1-Channel Soundbar with Wireless Subwoofer and Dolby Atmos/DTS:X - Black
Average customer rating
3.9
(106 Reviews)
Rating breakdown 106 reviews
5 Stars
59
4 Stars
16
3 Stars
11
2 Stars
5
1 Star
15
84%of customers recommend this product.
(
48 out of
57)
Customer Reviews for JBL - Refurbished Excellent - 9.1-Channel Soundbar with Wireless Subwoofer and Dolby Atmos/DTS:X - Black
Customer Rating
5
Great sound, easy setup, time for a movie!
on July 29, 2020
Posted by: Simple71
from Lincoln,NE.
I’m quite impressed by the sound quality, ease of setup, and simple wireless connectivity. Sure beats running wires, trying to figure out what is the best setting on the old receiver. I’m done with all the stuff it use to take to get great surround sound. This JBL 9.1 sound bar is a dream. I wasn’t disappointed and you won’t be either! I’d say more but I’ve got a movie to watch.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting jbl.com
Customer Rating
5
Huge Upgrade, Huge Sound
on July 1, 2020
Posted by: dilahoot
from Bloomington, IN, United States
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I've had a few weeks to use the JBL Bar 9.1 in my home theater system and I am extremely satisfied with this system. It has proven to be a major upgrade for me in even more ways than I predicted.
The setup was very straightforward to the point where the lengthiest part was dealing with packaging. The bar and subwoofer are sleek looking and that sleekness is made even more striking by the lack of cables. The subwoofer is rather large, but I personally think it is a simple, elegant design and can be "hidden" in a room. The bar is rather large, but that is due to the detachable rear speakers. I will say that I didn't anticipate how much of an aesthetic improvement it is to have rear speakers that don't need to be wired. Also, it just makes sense that you have the option of that rear sound and don't need to commit to it always being there by mounting some rather ugly looking speakers in the corner of a room and running tacky wiring down to the bar.
The sound is impressive and a *huge* upgrade over my setup before, which was just using the sound from the TV itself. My video games are clearer, with obvious surround sound improvements. When I want to get immersed in a film, detaching the speakers and utilizing the Dolby Atmos feature is second to none. This soundbar does something that I think is critical in a home theater system - it provides sound that is clear and not overpowering. Too often with home theater systems you get sound that is extremely loud during action sequences, but too low to understand dialogue or get the subtle musical cues of slower, more somber moments. This bar provides a clear and powerful audio experience when watching movies. Also, as someone who hasn't experienced a top-of-the-line theater outside of IMAX, I was thrilled with the amount of immersion the Dolby Atmos feature provides. It is great to have such a high quality theater experience waiting for me at home during these current times with COVID-19 shutting down theaters across the country.
Something I had not anticipated when waiting for this product was how I would be able to implement various devices on my home network to be able to play audio through the speaker. While this certainly isn't the highest quality available to listen to music, it is a very good option for a powerful home sound system. I utilize Apple Airplay and play music from my iPad and iPhone with ease. I have tested the sound from multiple albums known for their pristine production quality, such as Steely Dan's "Aja" and Fleetwood Mac's "Rumors" and the sound was crisp and clear. I also tested in with various heavier albums, such as Emperor's "In The Nightside Eclipse" and Morbid Angel's "Altars of Madness" and the music was heavy hitting while being clear and defined.
Overall, this sound bar has improved my home audio experience in every way. From watching films to listening to music, this sound bar packs a punch and presents a sleek, modern option for home theaters. I highly recommend this product to anyone with the budget and desire to improve their home theater setup.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting jbl.com
Customer Rating
5
Great Sound, Deep Bass
on July 6, 2020
Posted by: MattM49
from Bishop, CA, United States
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I will start this off by saying: those living in an apartment or tight living quarters, I wouldn't recommend buying this. That being said, this soundbar offers great sound that is unparalleled to much of what I've heard before. The bass is extremely clean and deep; it's something that a bass head like myself can appreciate! I typically use the soundbar for casting Spotify and I have noticed some slight problems that might be addressed with a future update. The only problem I've noticed is that the soundbar will reset it's sound settings after each song which shouldn't affect most but might be mildly annoying for those who do intend to use this in tight quarters! I found myself jumping to the remote after each song to reset the bass level to 1 so my neighbor didn't call the cops on me for a noise violation. I ended up connecting the subwoofer to a smart plug that turns off between the hours of silence to avoid such a problem. The only thing I can think to mention is that this is actually a 5.1.4 setup. It has 5 forward-firing speakers, 1 subwoofer, and 4 upward-firing speakers. I'm not sure why JBL markets this as a 9.1 setup, because I've been personally looking for a 5.1.4 setup and I only figured out that this matched what I was looking for after doing some research. Other than all of that, JBL has done a great job in terms of sound quality and I look forward to seeing what they have next. Just please JBL—please—be more forward thinking in terms of technological advancements! I'd like to see USB-C instead of Micro USB, “next” and “previous” controls on the remote for casting, and even lower bass levels.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting jbl.com
Customer Rating
3
Potential To Be Great
on October 6, 2020
Posted by: Timmy84
I've had this sound bar for about a month now, and I'm both happy and frustrated with it. When working properly, this sound bar delivers a really nice sound, exciting ATMOS effects, deep bass tones and really enjoyable 5.1.4 surround.
What I also like:
• The convenience and clean look this system can bring to any room. These are truly wireless rear speakers
• I know I stated ATMOS above, but these speakers deliver. I have over 10 foot tall ceilings and these have no problem bouncing the sound off that height. The sound you get from above you is a really cool sensation.
• eARC capability to passthrough DOLBY VISION, ATMOS, HDR10, DTX...all the good stuff to enjoy movies' latest features.
• The magnetic connection of the rear speakers to the main unit. It's a nice, solid bond that will not accidentally fall out.
• The power this system delivers. The max volume is about 32, and I've never gone above 18 (just testing it out) because it started getting ridiculously loud. I usually leave the level between 11-13 for a really good "theater" loudness/feeling.
• The convenience and clean look this system can bring to any room. These are truly wireless rear speakers
• I know I stated ATMOS above, but these speakers deliver. I have over 10 foot tall ceilings and these have no problem bouncing the sound off that height. The sound you get from above you is a really cool sensation.
• eARC capability to passthrough DOLBY VISION, ATMOS, HDR10, DTX...all the good stuff to enjoy movies' latest features.
• The magnetic connection of the rear speakers to the main unit. It's a nice, solid bond that will not accidentally fall out.
• The power this system delivers. The max volume is about 32, and I've never gone above 18 (just testing it out) because it started getting ridiculously loud. I usually leave the level between 11-13 for a really good "theater" loudness/feeling.
What I don't like...The following are pretty frequent complaints I've read on multiple website, by other consumers who bought this system:
• When detached from the main sound bar, the rear speakers can become distorted, with the sound cutting in and out. Putting my ear next to the rear speakers, I can sometimes hear static.
• The Sound bar turns itself on all the time, kicking it out of standby mode, which saves energy and charges the rear speakers.
• No EQ setting – A brand new system like this should have at least an app to adjust/customize the settings to you preferences.
• If I try to calibrate/pair the rear speakers more than 15 feet from the main sound bar, the calibration fails and will not pair properly.
• When detached from the main sound bar, the rear speakers can become distorted, with the sound cutting in and out. Putting my ear next to the rear speakers, I can sometimes hear static.
• The Sound bar turns itself on all the time, kicking it out of standby mode, which saves energy and charges the rear speakers.
• No EQ setting – A brand new system like this should have at least an app to adjust/customize the settings to you preferences.
• If I try to calibrate/pair the rear speakers more than 15 feet from the main sound bar, the calibration fails and will not pair properly.
When the rears are attached to the main bar, there are no problems and everything sounds fine, but you don't have the full surround sound experience.
I'm really hoping there is an update soon to address all of the problems the rear speakers have when detached from the sound bar; the random times the system turns itself off; and to make available EQ settings. If there are no updates soon to address these problems, I will be returning this soon for a new system, or a refund. I hope others have better luck than me, as this system has potential to be a great addition to your home theater.
Response from jbl.comBy Mario at Customer Support, Customer Service, October 7, 2020
We appreciate the feedback you've provided to us. We understand that our JBL Bar 9.1 did not meet your expectations. We're always looking for ways to improve so please contact us so we can help you: https://bit.ly/2zwFkYM
Written by a customer while visiting jbl.com
Customer Rating
5
Terrific
on September 5, 2020
Posted by: Elliot123
from New York, NY
Very happy with this product. Excellent quality sound and extremely easy setup. Highly recommended.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting jbl.com
Customer Rating
2
Almost a good soundbar
on August 14, 2021
Posted by: Phorke
from FL
I've had the JBL 9.1 soundbar for almost a year now. It is so close to being a good soundbar. When it works, it's wonderful. However, there are 3 consistent problems that have never been resolved.
1. Sometimes the rear speaks just decide not to charge. On multiple occasions I've gone days without disconnecting the rears from the main bar. Then when I pull them off and set them up, the bar will tell me I need to dock and charge the speakers and the speakers will turn off.
2. Some days, the bar refuses to recognize the remote. I've tried replacing the batteries but it just won't recognize any of the inputs. I have to restart the bar multiple times before it finally starts working.
3. The worst offender of all is when the sounds just decides to blip out for a second. Sometimes it will only happen once or twice in a 2+ hr movie. Sometimes it will happen 10 times in a 30 minute show. After it blips out, it displays the audio signal type as if it just lost audio signal.
1. Sometimes the rear speaks just decide not to charge. On multiple occasions I've gone days without disconnecting the rears from the main bar. Then when I pull them off and set them up, the bar will tell me I need to dock and charge the speakers and the speakers will turn off.
2. Some days, the bar refuses to recognize the remote. I've tried replacing the batteries but it just won't recognize any of the inputs. I have to restart the bar multiple times before it finally starts working.
3. The worst offender of all is when the sounds just decides to blip out for a second. Sometimes it will only happen once or twice in a 2+ hr movie. Sometimes it will happen 10 times in a 30 minute show. After it blips out, it displays the audio signal type as if it just lost audio signal.
I made the mistake of assuming these would all be resolved with firmware updates as they are all very likely software oriented. But it seems like JBL pretty much stopped supporting this bar right after release because I have only seen 1 firmware update.
Put simply, it is not worth the price paid which saddens me because (in theory) it was the perfect solution for my entertainment situation.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Response from jbl.comBy Iggy at Customer Support, Iggy at Customer Support, August 15, 2021
Thank you for taking the time to provide us with your feedback. We are sorry to hear that the volume level of our JBL Bar 9.1 didn't meet your expectations. We're always looking for ways to improve. We'll make sure to submit your feedback to the appropriate department.
Written by a customer while visiting jbl.com
Customer Rating
5
OMG! All About That Bass!
on June 4, 2020
Posted by: iceman7seven
from Galena, Ohio
This is by far one of the best sounbars out there on the market thats provides an immersive dimention of sound to my movies and music. The deep bass subwolfer is also so powerful that you can feel the rumbles across the room!! Total immersion at its best!!! Love it!
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting jbl.com
Customer Rating
5
Great deep bass and no wires
on June 24, 2020
Posted by: Frankie9592
from Wellston, Oklahoma
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] We’ve been enjoying this awesome sound bar for a week now. I wonder how we ever enjoyed a movie without this system. It is so easy to install (took 15 minutes or so) And its very Easy to use.You can remove The end speakers and strategically place them to get some awesome surround sound. Then you put them back to let them charge for the next time. No wires!! The bass is very nice. The overall sound is great!!
The sound bar is kinda flat so it sits in front of my tv without blocking the remote control to the tv like our old bar did.
Even with the bass turned down, the system has a nice rich sound. I know I keep saying that, but it’s true.
This thing sounds so good!! Jbl really did a great job with this one.
If you want some great surround sound without the wires, get this. I wouldn’t hesitate to pay even more. It’s worth it.
The sound bar is kinda flat so it sits in front of my tv without blocking the remote control to the tv like our old bar did.
Even with the bass turned down, the system has a nice rich sound. I know I keep saying that, but it’s true.
This thing sounds so good!! Jbl really did a great job with this one.
If you want some great surround sound without the wires, get this. I wouldn’t hesitate to pay even more. It’s worth it.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting jbl.com