JBL Bar Studio Review: Best Budget Soundbar?
8/10 (Expert Score)
JBL Bar Studio 20 Black JBLBARSBLKEP TV Audio Sound Bars.
Description
The Bar Studio 2.0 is JBL’s lower end range, but it promises to pack a determined sound for the price range. Does this live up to the expectations?
The first thing you’ll notice with the JBL Bar Studio is that there’s no separate subwoofer. This has become the norm with most brands, with an added subwoofer that can enrich the bass. The Bar Studio however, arriced with a built in subwoofer & a Pseudo surround sound. JBL claim that this will give you the same effects that a Subwoofer brings, but without the huge woofer actually taking up the corner of your living room. Let’s be honest, subwoofers have never looked very pretty!
When considering an audio system, it’s worth noting that you can’t compare all the units against eachother. For £120, there’s only so much technology that you’ll be able to achieve. This Bar Studio holds it’s own, but it can’t be compared to a full Yamaha Setup. In all fairness, you’ll actually struggle to find a soundbar as good as this… for less.
When you first setup your Bar Studio, you’ll most likely want to put something enriched with bass on. This is a typical thing to do, similar like testing how fast your car accelerates once you first purchase it, or how good the colours look on your new television.
You’ll actually be pretty surprised by the levels of bass that this thing has. It’s really, really rich. We didn’t expect it to be quite this good, due to the bar being limited to just two tweeters. I knew that JBL wouldn’t provide a tinny sound, but I really didn’t expect it to be that good.
I will mention that this was tested in a small room, where the sound isn’t required to travel more than 8 feet. It could face issues in a larger room so if you’re looking for this as a complete Home Cinema Setup, I don’t think it’s the correct product. It’s miles better than only having your standard TV audio, though.
The Bar Studio also comes with Bluetooth, meaning it can be connected to when you have little get-togethers, playing your favourite songs.
It also looks very classy, with the much-loved JBL logo at the centrepiece. It’s a soundbar that you’ll be happy to display next to your television.
DBB –
The sound from this thing is great and almost unbelievable for its size, when it works. However, really frustratingly, the sound cuts out regularly and briefly, during any quieter period, in any content, via any device, you may be watching or listening via. Whether the connection is HDMI or optical. Irrelevant, All scenarios tested. JBL have no firmware / fix yet for this, I am in dialogue with them and they do admit the known issue suggesting I return it. After research, the issue may be connected to overly zealous power saving regulations adherence.
Chris T. –
During quite moments in a film or TV programme, the sound bar will cut out, so there will be no ambient sound.They have said this is a known issue, and are working on a fix.This is not a cheap product and would expect it to have the basic functionality of a sound bar, which this is lacking.Will see if they come up with a fix in the next month, if not will return unit.Have received a new firmware update version 42.37, and all seem to working correctly now.
fatwomble –
Perfect for our home cinema
fatwomble –
Perfect for our home cinema
fatwomble –
Perfect for our home cinema
KS –
I like this soundbar and think it’s good value for money. We had trouble hearing our TV after moving to a bigger house and this certainly helps. However, it can be hard to turn it on and off. It is also tricky to control the bass at times, as it can be booming for music/noise and then the sound is quiet for voices. There are lots of ways to adjust it though, which is great.
KS –
I like this soundbar and think it’s good value for money. We had trouble hearing our TV after moving to a bigger house and this certainly helps. However, it can be hard to turn it on and off. It is also tricky to control the bass at times, as it can be booming for music/noise and then the sound is quiet for voices. There are lots of ways to adjust it though, which is great.
KS –
I like this soundbar and think it’s good value for money. We had trouble hearing our TV after moving to a bigger house and this certainly helps. However, it can be hard to turn it on and off. It is also tricky to control the bass at times, as it can be booming for music/noise and then the sound is quiet for voices. There are lots of ways to adjust it though, which is great.
KS –
I like this soundbar and think it’s good value for money. We had trouble hearing our TV after moving to a bigger house and this certainly helps. However, it can be hard to turn it on and off. It is also tricky to control the bass at times, as it can be booming for music/noise and then the sound is quiet for voices. There are lots of ways to adjust it though, which is great.
KS –
I like this soundbar and think it’s good value for money. We had trouble hearing our TV after moving to a bigger house and this certainly helps. However, it can be hard to turn it on and off. It is also tricky to control the bass at times, as it can be booming for music/noise and then the sound is quiet for voices. There are lots of ways to adjust it though, which is great.
KS –
I like this soundbar and think it’s good value for money. We had trouble hearing our TV after moving to a bigger house and this certainly helps. However, it can be hard to turn it on and off. It is also tricky to control the bass at times, as it can be booming for music/noise and then the sound is quiet for voices. There are lots of ways to adjust it though, which is great.
KS –
I like this soundbar and think it’s good value for money. We had trouble hearing our TV after moving to a bigger house and this certainly helps. However, it can be hard to turn it on and off. It is also tricky to control the bass at times, as it can be booming for music/noise and then the sound is quiet for voices. There are lots of ways to adjust it though, which is great.
KS –
I like this soundbar and think it’s good value for money. We had trouble hearing our TV after moving to a bigger house and this certainly helps. However, it can be hard to turn it on and off. It is also tricky to control the bass at times, as it can be booming for music/noise and then the sound is quiet for voices. There are lots of ways to adjust it though, which is great.
KS –
I like this soundbar and think it’s good value for money. We had trouble hearing our TV after moving to a bigger house and this certainly helps. However, it can be hard to turn it on and off. It is also tricky to control the bass at times, as it can be booming for music/noise and then the sound is quiet for voices. There are lots of ways to adjust it though, which is great.
KS –
I like this soundbar and think it’s good value for money. We had trouble hearing our TV after moving to a bigger house and this certainly helps. However, it can be hard to turn it on and off. It is also tricky to control the bass at times, as it can be booming for music/noise and then the sound is quiet for voices. There are lots of ways to adjust it though, which is great.
KS –
I like this soundbar and think it’s good value for money. We had trouble hearing our TV after moving to a bigger house and this certainly helps. However, it can be hard to turn it on and off. It is also tricky to control the bass at times, as it can be booming for music/noise and then the sound is quiet for voices. There are lots of ways to adjust it though, which is great.
KS –
I like this soundbar and think it’s good value for money. We had trouble hearing our TV after moving to a bigger house and this certainly helps. However, it can be hard to turn it on and off. It is also tricky to control the bass at times, as it can be booming for music/noise and then the sound is quiet for voices. There are lots of ways to adjust it though, which is great.
KS –
I like this soundbar and think it’s good value for money. We had trouble hearing our TV after moving to a bigger house and this certainly helps. However, it can be hard to turn it on and off. It is also tricky to control the bass at times, as it can be booming for music/noise and then the sound is quiet for voices. There are lots of ways to adjust it though, which is great.
Dnak –
Brilliant sound bar, I was tempted initially to go for a cheap sound bar but based on external reviews I thought let me try this out. Sound quality is great. Iv mounted to my kitchen tv and it’s great. Iv connected it via hdmi and therefore i can control it all from my tv remote control and no need for yet another remote. My tv had awful sound esp because it’s in a large open room without anything for the sound to bounce off, the built in speakers are at the back of the tv which just doesn’t work well. But this sound bar has solved the issue. Amazing quality.Tip – I wouldn’t bother with a optical cable because it means you can’t control the sound bar with your tv remote.
Dnak –
Brilliant sound bar, I was tempted initially to go for a cheap sound bar but based on external reviews I thought let me try this out. Sound quality is great. Iv mounted to my kitchen tv and it’s great. Iv connected it via hdmi and therefore i can control it all from my tv remote control and no need for yet another remote. My tv had awful sound esp because it’s in a large open room without anything for the sound to bounce off, the built in speakers are at the back of the tv which just doesn’t work well. But this sound bar has solved the issue. Amazing quality.Tip – I wouldn’t bother with a optical cable because it means you can’t control the sound bar with your tv remote.
Dnak –
Brilliant sound bar, I was tempted initially to go for a cheap sound bar but based on external reviews I thought let me try this out. Sound quality is great. Iv mounted to my kitchen tv and it’s great. Iv connected it via hdmi and therefore i can control it all from my tv remote control and no need for yet another remote. My tv had awful sound esp because it’s in a large open room without anything for the sound to bounce off, the built in speakers are at the back of the tv which just doesn’t work well. But this sound bar has solved the issue. Amazing quality.Tip – I wouldn’t bother with a optical cable because it means you can’t control the sound bar with your tv remote.
Dnak –
Brilliant sound bar, I was tempted initially to go for a cheap sound bar but based on external reviews I thought let me try this out. Sound quality is great. Iv mounted to my kitchen tv and it’s great. Iv connected it via hdmi and therefore i can control it all from my tv remote control and no need for yet another remote. My tv had awful sound esp because it’s in a large open room without anything for the sound to bounce off, the built in speakers are at the back of the tv which just doesn’t work well. But this sound bar has solved the issue. Amazing quality.Tip – I wouldn’t bother with a optical cable because it means you can’t control the sound bar with your tv remote.
Dnak –
Brilliant sound bar, I was tempted initially to go for a cheap sound bar but based on external reviews I thought let me try this out. Sound quality is great. Iv mounted to my kitchen tv and it’s great. Iv connected it via hdmi and therefore i can control it all from my tv remote control and no need for yet another remote. My tv had awful sound esp because it’s in a large open room without anything for the sound to bounce off, the built in speakers are at the back of the tv which just doesn’t work well. But this sound bar has solved the issue. Amazing quality.Tip – I wouldn’t bother with a optical cable because it means you can’t control the sound bar with your tv remote.
Dnak –
Brilliant sound bar, I was tempted initially to go for a cheap sound bar but based on external reviews I thought let me try this out. Sound quality is great. Iv mounted to my kitchen tv and it’s great. Iv connected it via hdmi and therefore i can control it all from my tv remote control and no need for yet another remote. My tv had awful sound esp because it’s in a large open room without anything for the sound to bounce off, the built in speakers are at the back of the tv which just doesn’t work well. But this sound bar has solved the issue. Amazing quality.Tip – I wouldn’t bother with a optical cable because it means you can’t control the sound bar with your tv remote.
Dnak –
Brilliant sound bar, I was tempted initially to go for a cheap sound bar but based on external reviews I thought let me try this out. Sound quality is great. Iv mounted to my kitchen tv and it’s great. Iv connected it via hdmi and therefore i can control it all from my tv remote control and no need for yet another remote. My tv had awful sound esp because it’s in a large open room without anything for the sound to bounce off, the built in speakers are at the back of the tv which just doesn’t work well. But this sound bar has solved the issue. Amazing quality.Tip – I wouldn’t bother with a optical cable because it means you can’t control the sound bar with your tv remote.
Dnak –
Brilliant sound bar, I was tempted initially to go for a cheap sound bar but based on external reviews I thought let me try this out. Sound quality is great. Iv mounted to my kitchen tv and it’s great. Iv connected it via hdmi and therefore i can control it all from my tv remote control and no need for yet another remote. My tv had awful sound esp because it’s in a large open room without anything for the sound to bounce off, the built in speakers are at the back of the tv which just doesn’t work well. But this sound bar has solved the issue. Amazing quality.Tip – I wouldn’t bother with a optical cable because it means you can’t control the sound bar with your tv remote.
Dnak –
Brilliant sound bar, I was tempted initially to go for a cheap sound bar but based on external reviews I thought let me try this out. Sound quality is great. Iv mounted to my kitchen tv and it’s great. Iv connected it via hdmi and therefore i can control it all from my tv remote control and no need for yet another remote. My tv had awful sound esp because it’s in a large open room without anything for the sound to bounce off, the built in speakers are at the back of the tv which just doesn’t work well. But this sound bar has solved the issue. Amazing quality.Tip – I wouldn’t bother with a optical cable because it means you can’t control the sound bar with your tv remote.
Dnak –
Brilliant sound bar, I was tempted initially to go for a cheap sound bar but based on external reviews I thought let me try this out. Sound quality is great. Iv mounted to my kitchen tv and it’s great. Iv connected it via hdmi and therefore i can control it all from my tv remote control and no need for yet another remote. My tv had awful sound esp because it’s in a large open room without anything for the sound to bounce off, the built in speakers are at the back of the tv which just doesn’t work well. But this sound bar has solved the issue. Amazing quality.Tip – I wouldn’t bother with a optical cable because it means you can’t control the sound bar with your tv remote.