JBL Bar 500 MK2 5.1 Dolby Atmos Sound Bar (2025)(International Version)

JBL Bar 500MK2: Big Sound and a 10-Inch Subwoofer, From a Single Bar

The JBL Bar 500MK2 is a 5.1-channel soundbar system built for people who want a serious upgrade over television speakers without wiring a room for surround sound. One bar, one wireless 10-inch subwoofer, and you are done.

HK$2,980 (was HK$4,980), in stock, International Version.

What You Get — and What You Don't

We would rather you knew this before you order than after it arrives.

The Bar 500MK2 has no rear speakers. Everything you hear comes from the bar in front of you and the subwoofer. Surround effects are produced by MultiBeam 3.0, which fires sound at your side walls and uses the reflections to widen the soundstage well beyond the physical width of the bar.

It works, and it works well in a normal-sized Hong Kong living room. But it is not the same thing as having speakers behind the sofa.

The same applies to Dolby Atmos. The 500MK2 plays Atmos soundtracks and processes the height information through MultiBeam — it does not have upward-firing drivers. You get a taller, more open sound; you do not get an object moving distinctly across the ceiling.

If you want real rear channels, that is the JBL Bar 800MK2 at HK$4,480 — HK$1,500 more, with detachable wireless rear speakers included. If you want real height channels as well, that is the JBL Bar 1300MK2 at HK$9,780.

For a lot of flats, the 500MK2 is the right answer anyway — see "Is this the right one for you?" below.

Specifications

The 10-Inch Subwoofer Is the Point

At this price, the specification that matters most is the subwoofer. Ten inches is a large driver for a system at HK$2,980 — it is the same size as the one in the Bar 800MK2, which costs HK$1,500 more.

That is where the money went, and it is the right place for it. A big wireless sub is what makes an explosion land in your chest rather than just in your ears, and it is the difference you notice within about ten seconds of switching it on.

Because it is wireless, you can put it where the bass actually works — usually along the same wall as the TV, or in a corner — rather than where the cable reaches.

Key Features

MultiBeam 3.0

Beam-forming that bounces sound off your side walls to create width the bar physically cannot produce on its own. It is the technology doing the surround work in this system, and it needs reflective side walls to do its job — see the room notes below.

PureVoice 2.0

Dialogue enhancement. Lifts vocal frequencies in real time so speech stays intelligible when a scene gets loud. If your current complaint is turning the volume up to hear the dialogue and then being blown out of your seat by the next explosion, this is the feature aimed squarely at you.

SmartDetails

Brings up quiet background texture — rain, footsteps, room ambience — that ordinary TV speakers flatten out entirely.

Easy Sound Calibration

Tunes the output to your room's shape and furnishings. Worth running once after installation; it takes a couple of minutes and it matters more in a hard-surfaced flat than most people expect.

Connectivity

• HDMI out with eARC — one cable to the television
• HDMI in with 4K Dolby Vision pass-through — run a games console or streaming box through the bar without losing picture quality
• Bluetooth 5.3
• Dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz / 5 GHz)
• AirPlay, Google Cast, Spotify Connect, Roon Ready

Is This the Right One for You?

Buy the Bar 500MK2 if:

• Your sofa is against the back wall and there is nowhere to put rear speakers anyway
• You want the biggest bass upgrade available for under HK$3,000
• You want one bar and one sub, set up in fifteen minutes, and nothing else in the room
• Dialogue clarity is your actual problem — PureVoice 2.0 addresses it directly

Spend more if:

• You have space behind the seating — the Bar 800MK2 (HK$4,480) puts real speakers there
• You have a flat ceiling and want genuine overhead effects — the Bar 1300MK2 (HK$9,780) has four height channels
• You own a Samsung TV and want Q-Symphony — the Samsung HW-Q990H (HK$7,980) pairs with it

Spend less if:

• You just want dialogue to be audible and have no room for a subwoofer — the JBL Bar 2.0 All-in-One MK2 (HK$980) is a single bar, no sub

One room note: MultiBeam relies on reflections off your side walls. In a narrow room with hard walls it performs above its specification. In a wide open-plan space, or with heavy curtains and soft furnishings on both sides, the surround effect narrows — and that is the case where the 800MK2's physical rear speakers earn their extra HK$1,500.

Not sure which? WhatsApp us your room dimensions and we will tell you straight — including when the cheaper one is the right answer.

Buying From Elechid

• Three years' warranty — free on-site inspection and free repair labour. Replacement parts are quoted first and work proceeds only after you confirm.
• First 10 days — a fault within 10 days of installation means a free replacement, and you may switch to a different model.
• Kwun Tong showroom — book an appointment and hear it against the 800MK2 and 1300MK2 before deciding.

Delivery and setup for soundbars are quoted separately — WhatsApp us or see the full delivery and warranty terms.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the JBL Bar 500MK2 come with rear speakers?

No. It is a 5.1 system produced from the soundbar and the wireless subwoofer only. Surround effects come from MultiBeam 3.0 beam-forming. For physical rear speakers, see the JBL Bar 800MK2.

Does the JBL Bar 500MK2 support Dolby Atmos?

Yes, it plays Dolby Atmos soundtracks. It renders the height information through MultiBeam processing rather than upward-firing drivers, so you get a taller and more open sound rather than distinct overhead placement.

Does it include a subwoofer?

Yes — a wireless subwoofer with a 10-inch driver, the same size as the one supplied with the Bar 800MK2.

Can it stream music wirelessly?

Yes. Bluetooth 5.3, dual-band Wi-Fi, AirPlay, Google Cast, Spotify Connect and Roon Ready.

Will it work with a non-JBL television?

Yes. It connects over HDMI eARC to any television with an eARC or ARC port, regardless of brand.

Can I connect a PS5 or Xbox directly to it?

Yes. The HDMI input supports 4K Dolby Vision pass-through, so a console can run through the soundbar without losing picture quality.

Compare the full soundbar range, read our 2026 high-end soundbar guide, or see the JBL Bar 1300MK2 review if you are considering the flagship.