JBL MA510 AV Receiver Review

Verdict

JBL becomes an AV receiver believer with the MA 510, a smartly easy multichannel home cinema amplifier that shrugs its shoulders at Dolby Atmos, yet embraces 8 k and streaming

Introduction

This entry-level JBL home cinema receiver intends to remove years of accrued intricacy, to use a simple path right into home theatre sound. It doesn’t included a button-laden remote control, or a back panel peppered with redundant connection.

Rather we get a 5 1 flat, surround loudspeaker arrangement, with audio codec assistance that covers Dolby Digital and DTS-HD. Dolby Atmos is AWOL. If you’re having flashbacks to the very early days of home cinema, you’re not the only one.

Availability

The MA 510 is readily available now and sells for ₤ 699 in the UK. This positions it at the more economical end of the AV receiver market (you could describe it as upper-budget). In the US, the model costs $ 599, and it ought to retail for around AUS$ 1350 when released in Australia. It rests over the MA 310 in JBL’s inaugural MA (Modern Audio) schedule, but below the MA 710, which is a 7 1 design.

Design

• Dimensions: 432.0 x 347 6 x 109 2 mm
• Weight: 5 4 kg

JBL has actually selected a minimalist aesthetic for its MA line, with some neat separating attributes. Readily available in either black or white liveries, the MA 510’s glossy fascia is mounted by trademark JBL orange trim.

There are two rotary dials on the front of the device, the left offering easy input selection, the one to the right quantity (decorated rather tongue in cheek with the message ‘Safe to transform beyond 11). Both dials sound off if you provide a mild yank, which I’ll think to be willful.

Attributes

• 4 HDMI inputs
• Five channels of amplification
• Dolby Digital and DTS-HD assistance
• No calibration microphone provided

The back of the receiver is quite uninhabited. There are speaker terminals for Center, Left and Right fronts, plus Rear Surrounds. Certainly there are no height terminals, as they are surplus to needs.

All four HDMI inputs support resolutions as much as 8 K. This HDMI quartet is likewise compatible with Dolby Vision and HDR 10 sources, along with VRR (Variable Refresh Price), ALLM (Car Reduced Latency Mode), and QFT (Quick Structure Transport) for gaming. There’s a single HDMI output, which is eARC allowed.

Added connections consist of a set of analogue stereo inputs, single coaxial and optical inputs, a USB input, and stipulation for two subwoofer links. A set of screw-on antennas allows Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

It’s worth keeping in mind though that there’s no earphone jack. There’s no second zone arrangement either.

One evident discomfort point for brand-new AVR proprietors is installation. The likes of Denon and Marantz might have refined onscreen hand-holding, it’s still a task that will intimidate newbies.

The MA 510 is more accommodating. There’s no calibration mic provided. The arrangement regular boils down to manually inputting the range from each audio speaker to your seats position, and then setting signal degrees (a doddle if you have an SPL meter convenient).

You can obtain a bit extra granular though. The JBL EZ EQ is a standalone application that works with the MA AV receiver live. Download and install to an iPhone, and you can adjust the system making use of the iPhone’s inner microphone. Android customers require to affix a different microphone to their smart device to do the exact same (guaranteeing it is much less most likely to be used).

The MA 510 supports Dolby Digital Plus and DTS-HD codecs, sufficient for basic multichannel sound from streaming solutions and Blu-ray/DVD discs. Dolby Atmos and DTS: X are not offered.

The JBL Premium Audio application provides control, Web radio, attached UPnP devices and regional USB drives. Google Chromecast, Apple Airplay 2, Spotify Connect, and Tidal Connect are additionally provided.

The MA 510 collaborate with SmartThings, and can function together with various other Smartthings gadgets in a connected environment.

Performance

• Smooth surround steerage
• Punchy discussion
• Dolby Digital Plus assistance

The MA 510 is unambiguously amusing. Not just is centre channel expression excellent, with vocals easily marked versus contending sound and hubbub, sonic panning around the front soundstage is silky smooth. Ranked at 75 W, the AV receiver had enough dynamic power to stress lots my average-sized listening room.

While the AVR might lack specific assistance for Dolby Atmos, it’s clear to resources. When playing a Dolby Atmos inscribed Blu-ray disc, the bitstream automatically folds up to Dolby TrueHD and 5 1 Running through some well-trodden Dolby trial clips, like Amaze and Leaf, I was surprised just exactly how well incorporated its presentation was.

When the Zero flies right into framework at the opening of Godzilla Minus One (Netflix), it effortlessly shifts from rear to front; after that landing gear opens up with a rewarding metallic beat, in the left and right channels.

In a similar way, when Big G strikes that night, air assault alarms flower across the front L/C/R as Godzilla’s roar decomposes right into the rear channels. The spooky echo reinforces the height and scale of the beast. In both instances, the entire soundstage is totally uniform, with no dips or sonic cracks between loudspeaker settings.

Even though there was no height channel in play, I was surrounded and submersed.

The MA 510 isn’t simply for movies. There are various ways to delight in the AVR with music. You can toggle with two channel stereo, stereo with the subwoofer, an All Stereo mode or Pro Reasoning interpolation right into 5 1 I favored the latter, however after that I’m a heathen.

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