The subwoofer really packs a punch, measuring about 13 x 16 inches and weighing in at 18 pounds. Once you’ve set it up, you won’t be moving it around much, but it makes a huge difference in the sound quality of the Bar 500MK2. With a 10-inch driver, it easily hits its advertised 40-Hz low end.
The controls on the soundbar itself are minimal—just volume and input buttons tucked away in the center of the sleek matte black design. You also get a remote that allows you to tweak the settings from your couch. A handy LED screen is discreetly located behind the grille on the right side, offering clear, easy-to-understand information, a nice change from the flashy lights you often see on other brands.
When it comes to audio power, the Bar 500MK2 boasts an impressive 750 watts of total output from both the speaker and the subwoofer. This is a significant upgrade over built-in TV speakers. For its size, the Bar 500MK2 filled my testing area with some of the most immersive sound I’ve experienced without needing rear surround speakers. It has a remarkable ability to create a surround sound effect, making you feel like sounds are coming from the sides or behind you, especially during intense gaming sessions like Gran Turismo 7 on the PlayStation 5 Pro.
The Dolby Atmos effects in movies are also top-notch. While watching my 4K Blu-ray of Ford Vs. Ferrari, I could hear cars zooming past my head with such realistic precision that I instinctively leaned to the side. When listening to tracks like Agave Fire Pit’s “Goodnight,” I was struck by how clearly it presented the vocal effects right in the center of the stereo image.
Photograph: Parker Hall
