JBL Bar 1000MK2 vs JBL Bar 500MK2

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Bar 1000MK2 compared with Bar 500MK2

	JBLBar 1000MK2	JBLBar 500MK2
Overview
Released
Released	June 2025	June 2025
Sound
Type
Type	Soundbar	Soundbar
Channels
Channels	7.1.4	5.1
Dolby Atmos
Dolby Atmos	Yes	Yes
Drivers
Drivers	Main bar has six 44 × 80 mm racetrack drivers, two 25 mm tweeters and two 70 mm upward-firing drivers; rear pair has two 44 × 90 mm racetrack drivers and two 70 mm upward-firing drivers; subwoofer has one 260 mm driver	Soundbar with five 42 × 80 mm racetrack drivers and four 20 mm tweeters; subwoofer with a 10-inch (260 mm) driver
Amplifiers
Amplifiers	Total 960 W maximum or 480 W RMS at 1% THD; maximum main bar 500 W, rear pair 2 × 80 W, subwoofer 300 W. The UK web table mislabels 960 W as RMS; the maker's PDF specifies 960 W maximum and 480 W RMS	750 W maximum in total (450 W soundbar, 300 W subwoofer, at 1% THD); 375 W RMS
Frequency response
Frequency response	33 Hz–20 kHz (-6 dB)	40 Hz – 20 kHz (−6 dB)
Audio formats
Audio formats	Dolby Atmos and DTS:X	Dolby Atmos (virtual) and DTS Virtual:X (DTS Virtual:X added by software update in late 2025)
Room tuning
Room tuning	Automatic calibration, MultiBeam 3.0, PureVoice 2.0 and SmartDetails	Room calibration; MultiBeam 3.0, PureVoice 2.0 dialogue enhancement and SmartDetails; 7-band EQ in the JBL One app
Connections
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi	Yes	Yes
Bluetooth
Bluetooth	Yes	Yes
AirPlay
AirPlay	Yes	Yes
HDMI eARC
HDMI eARC	Yes	Yes
Voice assistants
Voice assistants	None	None
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi	Wi-Fi 6 (802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax), 2.4 and 5 GHz	Wi-Fi 6 (802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax), 2.4 and 5 GHz
Bluetooth
Bluetooth	Bluetooth 5.3, A2DP and AVRCP	Bluetooth 5.3; A2DP 1.3, AVRCP 1.5
Ports
Ports	Three HDMI inputs, one eARC output, optical and USB-A service port; HDR10+ and Dolby Vision passthrough. What Hi-Fi confirms 4K passthrough is limited to 60 Hz; TechRadar confirms Ethernet	HDMI in (4K Dolby Vision and HDR10+ passthrough, HDCP 2.3); HDMI out with eARC; optical in; USB-A (music playback on US models only, otherwise for service)
Streaming
Streaming	AirPlay, Google Cast, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect and Roon Ready	AirPlay, Google Cast, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Roon Ready
Multi-room
Multi-room	Detachable speakers support TV Broadcasting and rear-only Night Listening, with main bar and subwoofer muted; the maker's description controls What Hi-Fi's contrary Night mode wording	–
App
App	JBL One with equaliser and software updates	JBL One app
Design
Weight
Weight	5.5 kg	2.9 kg (better)
Battery life detail
Battery life detail	Detachable speakers up to 10 hours each, depending on content and volume; 3.635 V, 6600 mAh. Dock to recharge or use USB-C power (TechRadar)	–
Controls
Controls	Remote and JBL One; Google Assistant and Siri require an external compatible speaker, not a built-in voice assistant	Remote control; works with separate Google Assistant or Siri speakers
Mounting
Mounting	Main bar and rear wall brackets included	Two L-shaped wall brackets for the soundbar in the box
Size
Size	Main bar 854 × 52 × 128 mm, 1203 mm wide with rears attached; each rear 189 × 52 × 128 mm; subwoofer 325 × 400 × 325 mm (width × height × depth). Main weight is bar only; each rear 0.9 kg, subwoofer 9.1 kg	Soundbar 940 × 50.5 × 104 mm (W × H × D); subwoofer 325 × 400 × 325 mm, 8.1 kg
Colours
Colours	Black	Black, White
In the box
In the box	Main bar, two detachable rear speakers, subwoofer, remote with batteries, power cords, HDMI cable, wall brackets and four side caps; June 2025 first release confirmed by TechRadar	Soundbar, wireless subwoofer, remote with two batteries, power cords, HDMI cable, two wall brackets, wall-mount template, quick start guide, safety instructions and warranty card