JBL Bar 1300 or JBL Bar 1000MK2 for Soundbar?

LDerKaiZeRs on 29/09/2025 - 15:42
Last edited 29/09/2025 - 15:56 by 1 other user

Hi there,

I'm planning to buy a soundbar for my TCL Mini-LED TV and was hoping you could offer some insight. I'm deciding between the JBL Bar 1300 and the JBL Bar 1000MK2 coz' they’re both roughly the same price.

I'm leaning toward JBL because my partner doesn’t like rear surround speakers with cables running behind the couch nor any speaker stands — she prefers a clean, cable-free setup. JBL’s design works well for us since the surround speakers are wireless and can be reattached to the main soundbar when not in use.

The JBL Bar 1300 has more drivers (11.1.4) compared to the JBL Bar 1000MK2 (7.1.4). However, in terms of technology, the 1000MK2 is newer (will release in the beginning or 2nd week of October) and has more up‑to‑date systems, while the 1300 has been on the market for 2–3 years.

Our TV room is 4.6 x 5 m with a ceiling height of 2.4 m (W x L x H). Given the room size and setup preference, which model would you recommend?

I’d really appreciate your expert advice.

Thanks in advance!

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  spersephone on 29/09/2025 - 19:56

  I don't know specifically about the ones you're looking at, but I had trouble with my JBL soundbar. It worked beautifully but then started doing strange things, like turning up the volume suddenly and not responding to the remote. Eventually it stopped working at all. I had to get it fixed which took months, and then about a year later it was doing the same thing again. I gave up and bought something else.

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    DerKaiZeRs on 29/09/2025 - 20:12

    Could you please let me know which soundbar model you had and what you ultimately chose as a replacement?

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  spersephone on 30/09/2025 - 17:53

  I had a JBL 5.1 Surround Soundbar. I gave up in the end and bought a Bose TV soundbar. It's not quite as good, there's no doubt about that, but it was cheaper and works well enough for the time being.