The subwoofer is no joke, at about 13 x 16 inches and 18 pounds, but it’s not something you’ll need to move once you’ve set it up, and it contributes significantly (pun intended) to the depth and breadth of the Bar 500MK2’s sound. With a 10-inch driver, this is more than enough to hit the 40Hz floor.
The controls on the bar are minimal, with the volume and input buttons hidden in the center of the matte black bar, and an included remote that lets you adjust settings. There’s a convenient LED display hidden inside the right front of the grille that tells you in plain English what’s going on, which is a nice departure from the variety of lights and colors offered by many brands.
Jamming
The impressive 750-watt total output of the soundbar and subwoofer truly represents a bold departure from any built-in TV speakers. In fact, for a small bar, the Bar 500MK2 filled my test room with some of the most immersive sound I’ve heard from a bar that didn’t include rear surround speakers.
It has the uncanny ability to bounce the sounds around you in a way that makes it feel like they are coming from the sides or back, especially when playing Gran Turismo 7 On PlayStation 5 Pro.
Dolby Atmos effects in movies are equally impressive. While watching the 4K Blu-ray version ford vs. ferrari, Cars compressed out of my head in such vivid detail that I sometimes felt like I needed to get out of the way. When listening to music like “Good Night” by Agave Fire Pit, I was impressed by how clearly it was able to deliver sound effects in the center of the stereo image.
Photo: Parker Hall