Bogdan Petrovan / Android Authority
TL;DR
- The JBL Bar 1300X landed at CES 2023.
- This modular system has two detachable rear speakers for when you want that full surround experience.
- The soundbar goes for $1,700 and will be available on February 19.
Generally, soundbars exist as an in-between solution to bad TV audio. If you want better sound than your TV alone can provide but don’t want a full surround system, a soundbar is a good middle ground.
The JBL Bar 1300X, though, blurs the line. Launched at CES 2023, this soundbar has detachable rear speakers that allow you to get that full surround experience when you want it. The rear speakers are fully wireless, so you can snap them off when necessary and put them wherever needed. When you’re done, you can snap them back.
Each rear speaker has enough battery life to last about 10 hours, according to JBL. Attaching them to the main unit recharges them. The soundbar and rear speakers also support Bluetooth, so this doubles as a Bluetooth sound system for your living room.
With all this power and versatility, you’ll be ponying up some serious cash. The JBL Bar 1300X costs $1,700 and hits store shelves on February 19. Obviously, you could get a decent surround system for that kind of money. However, that requires a lot of space, wires, and some level of expertise, so this is a great solution for folks who don’t want that hassle.
