![JBL Modern Audio AVR and Stage 2 speakers](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gUaaiwzYdAtZqcfAmvTArT-415-80.png)
Quick Summary
JBL has announced two home cinema products that could greatly improve your viewing experience.
The JBL Modern Audio AV receivers start from £499 / €549, while the Stage 2 loudspeakers will set you back from £329 / €375 a pair.
Home cinema (theater, for our American chums) had a golden period in the mid-2000s during the age of DVDs and Blu-ray, being the Holy Grail for many looking to get the best AV experience indoors. And while it's still massively important to AV purists, along with physical media, the humble Dolby Atmos soundbar has somewhat taken over,
That's more than fine for many, and the best soundbars provide excellent alternatives to a full surround system, but they don't quite replace the visceral feeling you get from a 5.1 setup (or more). There's still a great market for speaker systems and AV receivers, therefore.
That's something JBL believes. It has announced a range of mid- to high-end AVRs and loudspeaker packages to cater for those who aren't willing to settle for a soundbar. And they look stunning, to boot.
The JBL Modern Audio lineup of receivers starts at £499 / €549 for the 5.2-channel, 60W MA310 and rises up to £1,899 / €1,899 for the 9.2-channel, 140W beast that is the MA9100HP.
Available in Latte (white) and Espresso (black) colourways to match the brand's new speakers, the AVRs have sleek, clean fascias with up to full-colour displays front and centre. They are also each Wi-Fi-enabled and can stream Spotify, plus any tracks on a mobile phone via Bluetooth, AirPlay or Chromecast.
The matching JBL Stage 2 speakers come in various guises, with bookshelf, floorstanders, and subwoofers in the range, along with a dedicated centre channel and Dolby Atmos upfiring height modules.
They start at £329 / €375 for a pair (of the Stage 240B bookshelf units), rising to £1,198 / €1,398 for a pair of the magnificent-looking Stage 280F floorstanding loudspeakers.
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Getting the ultimate home cinema solution could turn out pricey, considering, but surely the end result will be worth it. Far better than the tinny, tiny drivers hidden in your flatscreen TV, that's for sure.
Indeed, you might even fancy upgrading your set while you're at it.
Rik is T3’s news editor, which means he looks after the news team and the up-to-the-minute coverage of all the hottest gadgets and products you’ll definitely want to read about. And, with more than 35 years of experience in tech and entertainment journalism, including editing and writing for numerous websites, magazines, and newspapers, he’s always got an eye on the next big thing.
Rik also has extensive knowledge of AV, TV streaming and smart home kit, plus just about everything to do with games since the late 80s. Prior to T3, he spent 13 years at Pocket-lint heading up its news team, and was a TV producer and presenter on such shows as Channel 4's GamesMaster, plus Sky's Games World, Game Over, and Virtual World of Sport.
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