About the JBL Bar 3.1
Hear characters talk again
The powerful JBL Bar 3.1 system includes a wall-mount to fit neatly into your TV setup.
Hear characters talk again
Sound bars in general are an easy, space-friendly way to improve TV sound. But the JBL Bar 3.1 solves one very specific problem. Our customers often tell us that TV dialogue is too hard to hear and understand. JBL includes a center channel that's dedicated to making speech loud and clear — even in movies and shows with heavy action.
Powerful sound effects, too
But it's not all about speech. This system gives you a fully-formed home theater experience with deep bass and simulated surround sound. The bar features nine total drivers, positioned to deliver sound to a wide viewing area. And the included sub adds hard-hitting emphasis to big effects.
I heard this system briefly in our training room — a large space with a lot of open air. The Bar 3.1 was able to cut through the dead spots with full-bodied, exciting sound. Frankly, the sound added some depth and character to the mindless movie clip I was watching! I paid more attention to the on-screen action than I otherwise would have.
Space-friendly design with versatile connections
The bar is slim enough to fit under most TVs on a stand, but JBL included a bracket for wall-mounting. You'll find convenient home theater connections to go with this system's home theater performance. There are three 4K/HDR-ready HDMI inputs and one output for connecting the latest gear. Or you can simply connect your TV using the single included optical digital audio cable.
Quickly switch over to Bluetooth for music
Sound bars have now become one of the more popular ways to listen to music, too. So JBL made it easy to pair up and play. Their SoundShift feature swiftly — and automatically — switches over from your TV input to Bluetooth when it's time for some tunes.
Product highlights:
System:
- sound bar and wireless subwoofer
- delivers 3.1-channel sound
- dedicated center channel for clear dialogue
- built-in Bluetooth for wireless music streaming from smartphones and tablets
- JBL Soundshift™ automatically switches between your TV and Bluetooth audio sources
- learns your TV remote's volume commands
Sound Bar:
- three-channel sound bar with nine total drivers
- six 2-1/4" midrange drivers
- three 1-1/4" tweeters
- Dolby® Digital decoding
- Clear Dialogue mode and Virtual Surround Sound mode
- Night Mode curbs louder noises for late-night viewing
- wall-mountable (brackets included)
- 40"W x 2-1/2"H x 3"D
- weight: 5.1 lbs.
Subwoofer:
- syncs wirelessly to sound bar for easy placement
- 10" down-firing woofer
- on-board amplifier
- 16"W x 12"H x 12"D
- weight: 26 lbs.
Connections and General Info:
- 3 HDMI inputs
- HDCP 2.2 compatible for connecting to 4K video sources
- support 4K video with high dynamic range (HDR) and HDMI-CEC
- 1 optical digital audio input
- 1 analog stereo minijack input
- USB port for connecting a thumb drive
- HDMI cable included
- total system power: 450 watts
- system frequency response 35-20,000 Hz
- remote control included
- warranty: 1 year
- Our 60-day money-back guarantee
- MFR # JBLBAR31BLKAM
What's in the box:
- Active soundbar speaker
- Wireless powered sub
- AC power adapter (attached 4' DC cord)
- Two 5' AC power cords
- Remote control
- 2 "AAA" batteries
- 6.5' HDMI cable
- 4' Stereo minijack cable
- 2 Wall-mount brackets
- 2 Wall-mount bracket holders
- Quick-Start Guide
- Wall-Mount Template
- Important Safety Instructions
- Warranty Card
Featured review
Amazing sound and easy hookup. The Bass is fantastic, but not over done. Very happy with feature that allows me to hear the actors voices without overdoing the rest of the movie. Once again, a great find on Crutchfield.
Ryan from Bullhead City, AZ
Customer Q&A
Q
Are the speakers facing up towards the top or out towards the front? I want to mount this directly below a tv with only 1/2â?? space but donâ??t want the sound to be adversely affected by doing so.
A
Facing outwards
12 reasons to shop with us
Reason #1
One-on-one help from product experts
Our Advisors are here 7 days a week.
REVIEWS
Customer reviews
Loading reviews...
JBL Bar 3.1 reviews
Average review:
Customer photos
Another win!
Ryan from Bullhead City, AZ on 8/20/2019
Amazing sound and easy hookup. The Bass is fantastic, but not over done. Very happy with feature that allows me to hear the actors voices without overdoing the rest of the movie. Once again, a great find on Crutchfield.
Pros:
Cons:
0 of 0 found this helpful
More than I need
Crutchfield customer from La Puente, CA on 4/11/2019
If there was a 4 1/2 that would be my review. The bass is more than I need, the surround sound is great and the dialog enhancement works well. Hook up was the same as my old bar and the difference is unbelievable. There have been light pops from the sub but I can barely hear them. Three or four times the sound stopped working after I changed the channel. Had to turn the bar off and back on again to bring the sound back. Haven't tried the blue tooth or a movie yet. So far this is all I need and more.
Pros: Ease of installation. Sound and bass. Dialog enhancement.
Cons: Occasional pops from the sub and loss of sound 2 or 3 times when changing channel . Turned unit off and on to correct the issue.
2 of 2 found this helpful
Compatible with other remotes, very good sound
Gary from Saint Paul, MN on 2/13/2019
Very good sound and deep, mellow base. Did what I was hoping for. This soundbar is also very compatible with the volume and on/off signals from our TV remote. We have an LG TV. I am using the optical connection to the soundbar and still working through a bothersome lag between the video and audio sync. Hopefully will figure that out soon.
Pros:
Cons:
2 of 2 found this helpful
JBL Bar 3.1
Crutchfield customer from E Northport, NY on 2/11/2019
Great bar! Plenty control over sound types. Bass is awesome ' I use it with my 65 inch LG OLED. Just what I needed to enjoy movies and other good programs. Advisor Lee , helped me with my setup. Got the bar up and running right away. Can't beat this JBL bar , price is in a sweet spot of pricing.
Pros:
Cons:
1 of 2 found this helpful
JBL Bar 3.1
Crutchfield customer from Fairview Park, OH on 1/31/2019
This bar worked great for several months but then I would get no sound upon input changes, specifically to ARC and back to HDMI 1. Sometimes it would work and other times it would not. I contacted JBL and I spent a lot of time with them troubleshooting including updating the firmware and changing wires and how it was connected. After all of that, they agreed that the product was defective and it was still covered under the 1 year warranty. They would not however, replace my unit with a new like unit. This was very disappointing to me. They wanted to send me a used refurbished model. I purchased a new model and would expect to receive the same through a warranty transaction. I did not buy a refurbished model I purchased a new model. I will say the tech support I received was great and its too bad that the company does not value their customers as much as they should. For this reason, I would not buy from JBL/Harmon.
Pros:
Cons:
11 of 12 found this helpful
JBL Bar 3.1
Crutchfield customer from Atlanta, GA on 1/17/2019
The JBL is great. The 'center' speakers in the bar definitely help with dialogue. The sub rumbles nicely. I had a Denon before this (it was a refurbished that ultimately succumbed to it's original injuries) It was warmer sounding, with richer mids and a more effective surround sound emulation. The JBL is crisper in the highs and lower in lows. It's clearer in the room. Set up was breeze. I'm happy
Pros:
Cons:
2 of 2 found this helpful
Disappointing
Michael from Martinsburg, WV on 1/12/2019
There is very little bass from the subwoofer. No midrange from the soundbar. You have to select the correct input every time you turn it on, meaning it doesn't remember the last input setting it was on, but all soundbars seem to do this. Why I don't know. Although I never read others complaining about this, so it must only annoy me. Over all I am disappointed in this soundbar. My inexpensive Sony soundbar sounds much better. Do yourself a favor and check out a Sony model.
Pros: Small and light weight.
Cons: Poor sound quality
3 of 16 found this helpful
JBL 3.1 Soundbar
Ray from Grand Rapids, MI on 1/2/2019
I'm still learning the HDMI ARC output... TV sound (2018 LG OLED) is tricky - voices are soft, explosions are super loud. Might mess the optical output and see if that helps? Or maybe pump all peripherals into the soundbar instead of the TV? Regardless, music (via Blue Tooth) is outstanding. As others have noted, the relatively small sub puts out a ton of sound. For the price, this package rocks. Shout-out to Dee, my product adviser, for talking me out of a more expensive Bose system and into this JBL.
Pros: As a music source, this package is killer!
Cons: Not necessarily the product's fault, could be my lack of expertise, but getting movies to sound clear while not being overly loud is tricky. See review.
6 of 7 found this helpful
JBL Bar 3.1
Ruben from Aguada, PR on 1/1/2019
Ahora es que mi home theater está completo!!! El sonido es brutal.!!!!
Pros:
Cons:
1 of 2 found this helpful
Good mid level system.
Logan from Port Saint Lucie, FL on 12/22/2018
For the price and overall, I am happy with the JBL Bar 3.1. Like others have said, the bass is superb. The 10" down firing, rear ported is just perfect for my smaller living room. On to the negatives. The sound bar on the 3.1 could definitely use more mid-range. The deep bass and the pingy bass from the tiny drivers really clash when playing any music with loud kicks and deep bass. The equalizer settings are pretty bad. Everything other than the movie setting doesn't sound good in my opinion. On the music setting, the bass is muted tremendously versus the "movie" mode. A user adjusted equalizer setting would have been really nice. The 4k pass through feature sounded nice but in my case it was more hassle than it was worth. I ended up running an optical cable from my TV to the sound bar for simplicity. My living setup has a LG TV which I use with a PlayStation 4 and an Amazon fire stick. I also use an Amazon Echo as the primary audio source which is connected to the sound bar via an aux cable. You cannot do 2 things at once when you use the HDMI pass through. I cannot use my PlayStation and listen to music via my Amazon Echo. The JLB sound bar does not switch automatically to AUX when sound is detected when any other source is used. For example, if I'm watching TV via fire TV and my Amazon echo is outputting audio (intercom, alarm ect), I cannot hear the audio unless I physically change the audio source from HDMI to Aux. Good system, nice fea
Pros: Bass Easy Bluetooth connection Great treble HDMI output/inputs
Cons: Lack of mids. Subpar equalizer settings
7 of 7 found this helpful
JBL Bar 3.1
al from San Diego, CA on 12/22/2018
Amendment to my last review. I am having issues with hooking up my JBL Bar 3.1 to my Blue Ray dvd player because my TV is a non HDMI TV. Everything else is working properly after buying the right additional cables. Still working with Crutchfield staff to iron out my installation issues. (Their staff is awesome!)
Pros: Awesome Bass and vocal clarity.
Cons: Still not able to hook up my Blue Ray DVD player to my unit and non HDMI TV
1 of 2 found this helpful
JBL Bar 3.1
Al from San Diego, CA on 12/22/2018
The JBL Bar 3.1 soundbar is an awesome sounding unit! Got an awesome deal on the JBL Bar 3.1.......best one online! Your staff, especially Oakley, was exceptional in assisting me with my installation issues. They are continuing to help me address my installation issues.
Pros: Exceptional Bass and vocal clarity
Cons: Could not hook up my older TV that does not have HDMI. Will buy new TV in 2019 to resolve the issue
1 of 1 found this helpful
JBL Bar 3.1
Crutchfield customer from Delray Beach, FL on 12/22/2018
0 of 1 found this helpful
Extremely pleased
Crutchfield customer from Gordonsville, VA on 12/21/2018
Bought the sound bar based on a knowledgeable friend's advice and am extremely happy with it. The sound, now its installed at home is very, very good (way better than store displays I've seen). Dialogue very clear and when I'm able to turn up the volume for music videos theresult is as good as being at the concert!
Pros: Equally to my liking whether watching regular tv shows, movies, or DVD rock and classical music concerts.
Cons: Zero
2 of 2 found this helpful
JBL Rocks!
Dave from Palmer Lake, CO on 12/21/2018
Awesome deal! JBL is the best. The sound is amazing and the setup was a breeze. On some settings, there was more bass than I could ask for. With the free shipping, what's not to love?
Pros:
Cons:
1 of 1 found this helpful
Great sound, easy installation!
Joel from Fayetteville NC on 12/17/2018
Absolutely love it. Very simple to set up and mount, very simple to tune the sound and very flexible connection options. Overall very happy and I don't think you can beat it for the price! Also have to give 5 thumbs up for shipping, I had it next day... And I ordered at 3 in the afternoon!
Pros:
Cons:
1 of 1 found this helpful
JBL Bar 3.1
Crutchfield customer from Matthews, NC on 12/10/2018
0 of 2 found this helpful
Easily mounted to TV. Great bass.
David from Chicago, IL on 12/10/2018
The deep bass really makes a difference. It's great. I was able to attach my sound bar to my LG TV which was a major requirement for my setup. The bar itself is very light (~8 pounds) which is light enough for most wall mounts.
Pros:
Cons:
1 of 2 found this helpful
Shakes the house
Crutchfield customer from Cape Coral, FL on 12/10/2018
0 of 1 found this helpful
Full sound, deep bass
Scranton from Marietta, GA on 12/9/2018
Sounds great. Clear full sound and deep thunderous bass. I can't tell the difference between this product and others selling at twice the price.
Pros: Easy setup. Three HDMI ports with pass through. When used with modern components with control through HDMI, all components turn on and off with a single button press. This has multiple sound modes including dialog enhancement. Sound is full rich and bass is thunderous. Fit and finish is nice. I would buy it again without hesitation.
Cons: None that I can think of.
3 of 4 found this helpful
Very Impressed !
Derrick from Hollis, NY on 12/9/2018
The JBL sound Bar has incredible sound. I've heard other soundbars like Samsung's and nothing compares to the rich Highs and deep bass of the JBL Bar 3.1
Pros:
Cons:
2 of 2 found this helpful
JBL Bar 3.1
Crutchfield customer from Macon, GA on 12/8/2018
0 of 1 found this helpful
JBL Bar 3.1
Todd from Okc, OK on 12/2/2018
Had to have a replacement system sent to me because the bar and sub wouldn't pair. The second one is working fine, the sound is ok but not dynamic. I didn't enjoy the process of sending the defective one back.
Pros: Sound is ok.
Cons: Sound is just ok. I had to send the system back because the soundbar and sub would not pair.
0 of 1 found this helpful
JBL Bar 3.1
Tom from Murrysville, PA on 12/1/2018
Fast, easy install, and great sound. The JBL 3.1 Bar replaced a Yamaha 7.1 theater system to reduce clutter, wiring and complexity.. The system paired with the Harmony Remote Hub as an "Amplifier/ JBL /Bar". It also pairs directly with a Xfinity X1 Remote. It is connected to two HDMI input sources, and passes through to the TV with an HDMI ARC cable. I also have connected the TV directly with HDMI and used Digital Optical to the sound bar. Both options work with no apparent video or sound quality difference between the configurations. The subwoofer paired instantly with no button pushes on my part. The Soundbar also syncs easily with the Amazon Echo or iPhone in Bluetooth mode, however no Airplay. At normal listening levels the JBL produces a better sound quality with appropriate bass levels and clear center voice channel. When put to the test with Blu-Ray disk playback the sound is impressive without distortion. Although this system has no rear channel, the sound is immersive and satisfying. I'm happy with this unit and think it's a great value, especially with the Black Friday price and using Crutchfield reward points, and free two day shipping.
Pros: Fast, easy install, and great sound, bigger than it's size. Works with universal remotes and Alexa through Harmony Hub Easy Bluetooth sync Wireless remote sub-woofer Bluetooth 4.2
Cons: None so far
6 of 6 found this helpful
Great Sound, Doesn't Work Right
Jonathan from Norfolk, Va on 12/1/2018
The sound is great for what it is, a soundbar, and it has a lot off bass. I'm giving it two stars because of the functionality. The HDMI inputs are very glitchy. They intermittently drop sound or video, or sometimes both. The ARC drops synch every second or third time the power is cycled. I have tried multiple confingurations to include connecting all peripherals directly to the tv, which works okay but the ARC still drops synch. Very frustrating to say the least.
Pros: Sounds Good, good bass
Cons: Doesn't work right, have to scroll through all input settings in order to switch between HDMI inputs, HDMI connections are located in such a manner that it's hard to tidy the cables.
4 of 6 found this helpful
3.1 JBL sound bar
Helen from Midland, TX on 11/21/2018
I had a Sony before this and I could hear the bass I will keep working on this
Pros: just got it hooked up the only think as of today
Cons: Haven't heard any bass yet I have switch to several stations and no bass Hope I can figure it out before long
1 of 13 found this helpful
JBL Bar 3.1
Steve from Troy, MI on 11/18/2018
0 of 0 found this helpful
JBL Bar 3.1
Crutchfield customer from Interlachen, FL on 11/4/2018
What a great product, sound is amazing and setup was a breeze. I highly recommend.
Pros:
Cons:
1 of 1 found this helpful
CLEAR, CLEAN SOUND WITH BASS!!!
Ryan from Seal Beach, CA on 10/13/2018
I have a keen ear for sound and I have been always a Bose fan but JBL's price has been super affordable for the quality. This sound bar is a great alternative to surround sound, I live in an apartment and this is perfect, it sounds amazing, crisp, clear and the bass is more then enough. My girlfriend hates when I listen to the TV loud but she has been listening to the TV loud now!!! Great buy, couldn't recommend anything else!
Pros: Affordable for the Quality Great sound Great bass Very easy to use
Cons: None
10 of 10 found this helpful
JBL Bar 3.1
Daniel from Long Island, NY on 10/9/2018
If you are looking for a simple CLEAN setup for your TV system with good bass, below $500... this is the one for you. I am a person that's very big on hearing good clean bass and good audio and this does it for me. Just buy it... You won't regret it.
Pros:
Cons:
4 of 4 found this helpful
JBL Bar 3.1
Crutchfield customer from Maynard, MA on 9/12/2018
1 of 1 found this helpful
Great sound bar
Steven from Ogdensburg, NY on 7/19/2018
I am very happy with my purchase sounds great deep base and clearly is awesome with a good price
Pros: Fits under TV and does not take up much room
Cons:
3 of 3 found this helpful
Easy Setup
Mike from Dumfries, VA on 7/8/2018
Easy setup nice sounding. Had a slight problem connecting the sub but after several attempts got it to work
Pros: Setup. Sounds much better than tv speakers.
Cons:
2 of 2 found this helpful
JBL Bar 3.1
Crutchfield customer from Gaithersburg, MD on 6/29/2018
System sounds great in large open space, fills the room. Only issue I experienced was my older 55" TV would not deliver sound over the hdmi cable. Used a digital optic cable and everything worked great. Soundbar and sub worth the money!
Pros:
Cons:
4 of 6 found this helpful
Big sound, low profile, allows for audio customizing.
Glenn from Lambertville, MI on 5/6/2018
Set up was very easy. Some cite location of HDMI plugs as a problem. They are a bit difficult to reach but, being recessed makes it much easier to neatly locate the sound bar under TV. Subwoofer is excellent. Be careful when unpacking because down firing sub has no protective grill cloth (speaker paper is exposed). We have cats, so I will have to fashion some sort of screen in case a cat toy gets stuck under there. There are buttons to set for viewing and listening including one for "voice". This is effective at enhancing movie dialogue without amplifying everything else that comes thru a traditional center speaker (snare drum, other sound track music). These settings will be a matter of taste (instruction booklet is lacking) . "Sports" setting sounds great for "live" music concert DVD's. Sound varies from movie to movie also depending on the taste of the people who put it together. I have for decades, preferred the crisp JBL tweeters and more recently grown to like the aggressive sub woofer sound. So, thanks to Crutchfield for leading me back to the JBL fold. I like knowing that I can always call Brooke should any questions arise.
Pros: Handles large sound load with some head room to spare.
Cons: Need small fingers for HDMI (only once)
9 of 9 found this helpful
JBL Bar 3.1
Crutchfield customer from Port Deposit, MD on 5/6/2018
Very happy with the sound bar. Got it to go with a new 4K TV and wasn't really expecting that much of a difference. Improvement is very noticeable as compared to the TV speakers. The subwoofer makes a huge difference and sounds great.
Pros:
Cons:
4 of 4 found this helpful
Great system
Cain from Anna, TX on 5/6/2018
Love this system I wanted something with some bass to work with my 4k Blu Ray player and this is it. We also stream Pandora thru and when set on music is very clear and nice. The great part is that it works with my Samsung TV right out of the box! For the money this system cannot be beat!
Pros: Good bass, we have an open downstairs and can hear the sound perfectly.
Cons:
6 of 6 found this helpful
Not disappointed
Jim from Conroe, TX on 4/2/2018
Good quality product. Had difficulty setting the unit up. Not to the point where I had to call for help
Pros: Great sound throughout the audio range. Bass is unbelievable. Good built quality
Cons: Set up instruction should be clearer with more detail. HDMI connections are a little awkward to connect.
0 of 2 found this helpful
JBL Bar 3.1
Crutchfield customer from Steubenville,ohio on 2/23/2018
Has changed the way we watch and listened to TV. Whole family is pleased with ability to lower volume while dialogue is enhanced
Pros:
Cons:
7 of 7 found this helpful
JBL Bar 3.1
Crutchfield customer from Wadsworth, OH on 2/23/2018
Slim and powerful with excellent vocal clarity and deep playing sub (10 inch wireless)
Pros:
Cons:
4 of 4 found this helpful
JBL Bar 3.1
Tom from Lanoka Harbor, NJ on 2/16/2018
Awesome bass great sound
Pros: Jbl awesome sound
Cons: None
1 of 1 found this helpful
JBL Bar 3.1
Glen from Hendersonville, NC on 2/15/2018
Crisp, clear sound reproduction, with an awesome base. The remote is great, and the sound bar synced easily with our new Samsung 4G TV. Thank you, Crutchfield!!
Pros: Great looks and attention to detail Easy to set up Top rate brand reputation - you can't go wrong with JBL
Cons: More often than not I'm dialing back the subwoofer (it's a monster)
3 of 3 found this helpful
JBL Bar 3.1
Crutchfield customer from Egg Hbr Twp, NJ on 2/11/2018
1 of 2 found this helpful
JBL Bar 3.1
Crutchfield customer from Homestead, FL on 1/24/2018
Do not buy this sound bar if you expect technical help from customer service. The bar sounds great unfortunately the sub only paired with the bar the first 2 days. Now it will not connect. I contacted customer service, waited two days for a response only to be told I was being referred to a "specialist". Wait another two days for an email telling me to do exactly what I had been doing which was attempting to do a manual pairing. I respond that it doesn't work and wait a few more days. Their technical specialist doesn't know jack. They are reading from a book. Now I have a bar without a sub. I wish it had a wired option that would be easy. My next one will and it will not be a JBL prank or any associated company.
Pros: When it works it sounds great
Cons: Sub does not pair to bar Customer service is extremely poor
8 of 28 found this helpful
Very impressive bang for the buck!
Mike from Bremerton, WA on 1/9/2018
Great sound I know there are probably better systems out there that cost over twice as much but for the price difference they are really not worth it. The sound (highs and lows) are excellent. Setup was a breeze and I'm so glad we have evolved to wireless subwoofers because it gives better options for placement. I would highly recommend this system. Pairing was a breeze with the Xfinity remote.
Pros: pairs easily if you have a Comcast Xfinity remote. Subwoofer can be placed anywhere in the room. the Price!
Cons: i can't think of any yet
5 of 5 found this helpful
Sound bars
gilbert from Woodhaven, NY on 1/4/2018
Great sound good bass easy to set up
Pros: Great sound
Cons: None
3 of 4 found this helpful
JBL Bar 3.1
Eduardo from Cary, IL on 12/24/2017
Awesome sound bar, great clarity. Tons of bass, for a small sub.
Pros:
Cons:
6 of 6 found this helpful
JBL Bar 3.1
Sherwin from Bowie, MD on 12/7/2017
I bought this JBL sound bar and wireless sub and have been totally impressed with the sound quality. At first I purchased the Sony HT-CT800 and returned this product. The system just didn't produce the quality I was looking for. The bass and highs were very weak! The JBL however is in my opinion the next best thing to the Bose or Sonos especially if you don't want to spend $1300. For the price, the JBL will not disappoint you! The bass is incredible with it's 10" woofer!
Pros: See above!!!
Cons: None!
13 of 13 found this helpful
More details on the JBL Bar 3.1
Features & specs
| General | ||
|---|---|---|
| Enclosure | Sealed(spkr)/Ported(sub) | |
| Design | Bar | |
| Pieces in System | 2 | |
| Color | Black | |
| Tweeter | 1.25 (3) | |
| Midrange | None | |
| Woofer | 2.25 (6) | |
| Separate Subwoofer | Yes | |
| Subwoofer Driver | 10 | |
| Features | ||
| Surround Sound Decoding | 5.1-channel | |
| Dolby Atmos | No | |
| DTS:X | No | |
| Dialogue Enhancement | Yes | |
| Auto Volume | No | |
| 4K Video Compatible | Yes | |
| HDR Video Compatible | HDR10 | |
| Audio Return Channel | Yes | |
| Remote IR Passthrough | No | |
| Works with TV Remote (IR) | Yes | |
| Voice Control | No | |
| Apple AirPlay | N | |
| Control by App | N | |
| Bluetooth Connectivity | Built-in (4.2) | |
| Wi-Fi | No | |
| Wall-mountable | Yes | |
| Mounting Bracket Included | Yes | |
| Surface Mount Stand Included | No | |
| Speaker Parts Warranty | 1 Year | |
| Speaker Labor Warranty | 1 Year | |
| Amplifier Parts Warranty | 1 Year | |
| Amplifier Labor Warranty | 1 Year | |
| Specifications | ||
| System Frequency Response | 35-20k Hz | |
| Powered System | Yes | |
| Sound Bar RMS Power | 75 | |
| Subwoofer RMS Power | 150 | |
| Inputs and Outputs | ||
| Mini Stereo Audio Inputs | 1 | |
| RCA Stereo Audio Inputs | None | |
| Optical Digital Audio Inputs | 1 | |
| Coaxial Digital Audio Inputs | None | |
| HDMI Inputs | 3 | |
| HDMI Outputs | 1 | |
| USB Port | Yes | |
| Subwoofer Output | N | |
| Dimensions | ||
| Sound Bar (inches) | 2-3/8H x 40-1/8W x 3-1/16D | |
| Sound Bar Weight | 5.1 lbs | |
| Subwoofer (inches) | 17-5/16H x 12-1/16W x 13-11/16D | |
| Subwoofer Weight | 26.7 lbs | |
Product Research
Features
Active Soundbar: The JBL BAR 3.1's active soundbar speaker features a dedicated left, right, and center channel for excellent stereo imaging and enhanced voice clarity. Each channel of the soundbar speaker houses one 1.25" tweeter and two 2.25" racetrack drivers. The three 1.25" tweeters and six 2.25 racetracks drivers are powered by a 150 watt (Peak) amplifier for dynamic sound performance.
- JBL Surround Technology: The soundbar incorporates JBL's Surround Sound Technology with six sound modes to choose from - including Standard, Movie, Music, Voice, Sports, and Off (Stereo).
- Night Mode: There is a Night mode that reduces major volume differences between soft and loud passages, so a more uniform volume level can be maintained.
- Audio Sync: The Audio Sync feature makes sure that the sound from the BAR 3.1 is in sync with the video on your TV; the Audio Sync can be adjusted from 0-250ms.
Wireless Powered Sub: The JBL BAR 3.1's wireless powered sub features a down-firing 10" woofer in a bass reflex enclosure with a rear-firing port. A built-in 300 watt (Peak) amplifier is used to drive the 10" woofer and deliver deep, impactful bass. Because the powered sub is wireless, it puts no unsightly cables between the soundbar and subwoofer (still requires a AC power cord connection). You can adjust the bass level (0-20) of the powered sub from the included IR remote.
HDMI 2.0a Connectivity: The JBL BAR 3.1 is equipped with three HDMI inputs and one HDMI ARC output. All of its HDMI inputs and output support the latest HDMI 2.0a specification with ultra high-definition 4K video pass-through, HDCP 2.2 compatibility, HDR (High Dynamic Range), ARC, & Dolby Digital (up to 5.1ch).
- 4K Pass-Through: The BAR 3.1 lets you maintain 4K quality from source to screen by allowing 4K video to "pass through" and be displayed on a 4K TV or projector, without compromising image quality. Giving you the pure 4K experience makes this soundbar the perfect partner for 4K-capable TVs and Ultra-HD Blu-ray players. 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i, and 1080p video signal are also supported.
- HDCP 2.2: HDCP 2.2 is supported by all of the soundbar's HDMI jacks. HDCP 2.2 is short for "High bandwidth Digital Content Protection" and is used for 4K video copyright protection for compatibility with Ultra HD Blu-ray players and 4K Satellite/Cable providers.
- HDR (High Dynamic Range Video): HDR (High Dynamic Range) reproduces a greater dynamic range of luminosity or brightness levels, bringing greater contrast & wider color spectrum to the screen. This increased contrast reveals the subtle nuances of the image, from detailed blacks and shadows to the brightest whites and colors, plus greater depth. Previously hidden areas of dark shadow and sunlight are now full of clarity and detail. The BAR 3.1 supports HDR10, the most popular HDR format.
- ARC (Audio Return Channel): This feature of the soundbar speaker system's HDMI output allows audio to be sent from your compatible HDTV to the BAR 3.1 through the same HDMI cable already being used to send audio and video to your HDTV. This eliminates the need for extra cables connected to your television.
Note: The ARC-enabled HDMI input of many televisions only sends an audio signal in 5.1ch when receiving Dolby Digital from the TV's built-in tuner, network connection, or connected USB device; and will output only 2ch stereo from sources connected to the TV via HDMI, or RCA (like your Blue-ray/DVD player or satellite/cable box).
Optical Digital & Analog 3.5mm Inputs: In addition to HDMI connectivity, the JBL BAR 3.1 is outfitted with one optical (toslink) digital input and one analog stereo minijack (3.5mm) input. The optical digital input will support 2ch PCM and Dolby Digital (up to 5.1ch).
Note: The digital optical output terminals of most newer flat-panel TVs only send an audio signal in 5.1ch when receiving Dolby Digital surround sound from the TV's built-in tuner, network connection, or connected USB device; and will output only 2ch stereo from sources connected to the TV via HDMI, or RCA (like your Blue-ray/DVD player or satellite/cable box).
USB-A 2.0 Port: The JBL BAR 3.1 features a USB (type-A) 2.0 port for connection of a USB MSC (mass storage class) device, such as a USB thumbdrive or portable digital audio player. You'll be able to playback MP3 and WAV music files stored on a USB MSC device (formatted in FAT 16/FAT32) through the JBL soundbar system. The system can recognize up to 2,000 MP3 files. You'll also get basic playback control (such as Play/Pause, Previous/Next Track, and Random/Repeat) from the included IR remote. Advanced music browsing and song/artist/album info display are not supported. The USB port can also be used to charge (5V/1A) your connected device.
- Supported MP3 Files: 16kHz-48kHz sampling rate with 80kbps-320kbps bitrate.
- Supported WAV Files: 16kHz-48kHz sampling rate with up to a 3000kbps bitrate.
Note: The USB port does not support Apple iOS or Android OS device playback.
Bluetooth Audio Streaming: The JBL BAR 3.1 is equipped with built-in Bluetooth 4.2 with support for wireless audio streaming (A2DP 1.3) and playback control (AVRCP 1.6). You'll be able to wirelessly stream stored music, music apps, and other audio content from your Bluetooth-enabled device (such as your smartphone, tablet, laptop, or computer) to the soundbar speaker system. You'll also be able to control basic playback functions (such as Play/Pause & Previous/Next Track) from the included IR remote. You will still use your Bluetooth source device for advanced music browsing and to view song/artist/album info. You can pair multiple Bluetooth devices with the BAR 3.1, but only one device can be used for playback at a time. The system has a wireless Bluetooth range of approximately 32'.
Note: The JBL BAR 3.1 does not support Bluetooth hands-free communication for making and answering phone calls.
JBL SoundShift Technology: The JBL BAR 3.1 is further enhanced with JBL SoundShift technology, which allows you to instantly switch between sound from your TV and sound from your Bluetooth source device.
Remote Control: The JBL BAR 3.1 comes with an IR remote for wireless control of the soundbar system, as well as basic playback control of USB & Bluetooth connected devices. The system also supports "System Standby" and "One Touch Play" HDMI CEC commands. In addition, the BAR 3.1 can respond to "Volume Up/Down" and "Mute" commands from most Samsung, Sony, LG, and Vizio TV remote controls automatically (no programming required). If your TV's remote does not control the soundbar automatically, you can program the BAR 3.1 to respond your TV remote's "Volume Up/Down" and "Mute" commands.
Front-Panel Display: The front-panel display indicates source selection, surround modes, and other audio settings. The front-panel display can be dimmed and will disappear after five seconds. The front-panel display does not offer song/artist/album information.
Mounting Options: You can place the JBL BAR 3.1's soundbar speaker on a shelf or tabletop, or wall-mount it with the included brackets. Because the powered subwoofer is wireless, you can position it any where in the room (within 25').
Power Requirements: Both, the active soundbar and wireless powered sub, will need to be plugged into an AC wall outlet, surge protector, or power conditioner.
Auto On + Standby: The JBL BAR 3.1 system will automatically power on whenever it senses an audio signal from its HDMI & Optical source inputs. The JBL BAR 3.1 will automatically switch to standby mode after approximately 10 minutes of button inactivity and no audio playback from a connected source.
Loading accessories...
Customer Q&A
Q Crutchfield asked: Why did you buy this?
3 questions already asked
Loading articles...
