The Bar 1000MK2 is a 7.1.4-channel soundbar system from JBL with two detachable wireless surround speakers and a separate 10 inch wireless subwoofer. It belongs to the MK2 soundbar range introduced in 2025, where it sits above the Bar 700MK2 and below the Bar 1300MK2. It decodes Dolby Atmos and DTS:X and adds height channels through up-firing drivers in both the bar and the surround units.
Key specs that matter
Maximum power at 1% THD is 960 W in total, or 480 W RMS, split into 500 W for the soundbar, 2 x 80 W for the surrounds and 300 W for the subwoofer. The bar holds six 44 x 80 mm racetrack drivers, two 25 mm tweeters and two 70 mm up-firing full-range drivers. The surround speakers use 44 x 90 mm racetrack drivers and 70 mm up-firing units, and the subwoofer has a 260 mm driver. Frequency response is 33 Hz to 20 kHz at -6 dB. Connections are three HDMI inputs and an eARC output, all to HDCP 2.3, and HDR10+ and Dolby Vision passthrough, plus optical, Bluetooth 5.3 and USB-A, which plays MP3 files only on the US version. Wi-Fi 6 works on both 2.4 and 5 GHz. The bar measures 854 x 52 x 128 mm alone and 1203 mm wide with the surrounds attached, and weighs 5.5 kg. Each surround weighs 0.9 kg, and the 325 x 400 x 325 mm subwoofer weighs 9.1 kg.
Engineering and use context
The surround speakers dock on each end of the bar, where they charge, and can be lifted off and placed behind the listener for films. Their lithium batteries, rated at 3.635 V and 6600 mAh, run for up to 10 hours between charges. The up-firing drivers direct sound at the ceiling, which reflects it down to create the height layer of Dolby Atmos and DTS:X mixes. MultiBeam 3.0 widens the front channels by steering sound towards the side walls, and PureVoice 2.0 raises the dialogue level in response to the other content and the volume setting. Broadcasting lets one surround speaker be carried into another room to play the same audio. In night listening mode the bar and subwoofer are muted and the surrounds play close to the listener. Setup and EQ run through the JBL ONE app, which also handles an easy sound calibration process. HDMI cables and wall brackets for the bar and the surrounds come in the box, together with a remote control.
Pairing
The three HDMI inputs accept a games console, a streaming box and a disc player, passing 4K Dolby Vision video to a television connected over eARC. Wi-Fi streaming and Bluetooth cover music sources without extra equipment.
Alternatives
The JBL Bar 700MK2 keeps the detachable-surround idea in a 7.1-channel system without up-firing drivers.