JBL Bar 5.1
30-second review The JBL 5.1 is a few years old now, but in the world of audio devices a few years is merely a drop in the bucket. Often you can find the soundbar on sale, so it's still worth considering if you're in the market for a simple 5.1 system. So how does it work? The soundbar has two speakers that magnetically attach to either end of a central bar, meaning you can have a single unit, or you can disconnect the speakers, and put them behind your couch to create a truly wireless 5.1 surround sound system. It also comes with a subwoofer of the kind found in more traditional ‘wireless’ setups, as it's wired to a power supply but connects to the soundbar wirelessly. Each satellite speaker has a battery life of about 10 hours, and are charged when plugged into the soundbar. It’s an interesting proposition, and one that certainly makes the JBL Bar 5.1 stand out. The real question is, by making the system halfway between a soundbar and a surround sound system, do yo...