JBL Link Bar Updates?

by 0bri3n

As many of you have seen the JBL Link Bar and Subwoofer are on sale as a package deal at BestBuy for $199. For those of you who have owned the device, have there been any software updates? Has the device gotten any better since its launch? I have an Nvidia Shield in the living room that I use as a Plex server, and I'm planning to use the JBL Link Bar in the bedroom to stream local movies stored on my server. Will the limited specs be able to run this smoothly? I have a Mi Box S as well, but the JBL would be a significant upgrade in the sound department.

TotallyFrankstallone

I had mine for 6 months and it was awful the entire time. Never any updates or fixes. It was a total waste of time and money. I eventually got JBL to take it back and offer a full refund since I bought it directly from them. I would not suggest the linkbar for your house. I would not suggest it for a mouse. I would not suggest it for here. I would not suggest it for there.

513

The SoC in the Link Bar is basically the exact same as an S905X found in a Mi Box S, but with HDMI-In support.

jhoff80

There is one software update that came out about 45 days after launch (after the return period) and it broke things (now I have to re-select the homescreen 3 times before it'll stop going to the CEC input). Nothing since then.

Oh, and there was a server-side update around 9 months ago that let you add the Link Bar to a speaker group. And that went away 1-2 months ago too.

I like the idea of it, but honestly, stay away. There's a reason for the clearance prices.

BiggussDikkuss

ALL AMLogic chipset based devices (Inc. JBL Link Bar) running Android TV have varying degrees of HDMI CEC problems, that have never been addressed by the Software Dev. Kit supplier AMLogic.

TiVo with their new shiny Stream 4K are yet another such device that has encountered serious CEC control problems. It really is no surprise if you have been around these AML chipset devices for years now.....

trytoholdon

Mine has definitely gotten a bit better. The Assistant used to almost never work, but now it works well. Still no Prime Video though.

If the Nvidia Shield had hands free voice control and could accept as many inputs as the Link Bar (3), I would probably switch.

13devil13

I had one, lasted a week with it. Extremely buggy and inconsistent. That’s just the sound bar itself, never used Android TV aspects. Sounded great when it worked but audio would cut out, wouldn’t reliably turn on, random volume changes, etc.

Right back to Best Buy.

Grabbed a Sonos Beam, while not as booming as the Link Bar with sub, at least it works.

armandocorti25

I just received the August Security Update, so far i think this update fix the HDMI input mess

armandocorti25

Another year to receive the update with the fix 😪