tldr; Solid mid-range option. Detachable rears work well. Not true Atmos but virtual surround is convincing for the price.
$349.99 on AmazonScores based on sentiment analysis of topic-related comments
Best praise vs top criticism for JBL Bar 5.1 Surround
“Yeah, true, but a lot of people don’t even think about rear speakers just because they have nowhere to put them. In that case, the JBL 5.1 is a really solid option, and for under $300 it’s probably a steal.”
“I had the Bar 5.1 and can tell you it isn't the same. The Bar 5.1 has no Atmos support. I'd ask for a refund if it was me.”
210 Reddit opinions analyzed • Last updated 4/5/2026