I'm a sucker for an original idea.

Almost six years ago I stumbled across a home theatre system that almost restored my faith in modern hi-fi. By the mid 2010's we'd just about hit the peak of soundbar dominance; TVs had got very skinny but their speakers hadn't evolved as quickly as their picture quality, so if you wanted even half-decent sound to go with your high-def 4K image, you'd have to invest in something external.

Even then, JBL had some quality solutions - including a soundbar/subwoofer combo with a difference; detachable rear speakers. You connected them to charge, then you could put them... well, anywhere really. No strings (or wires) attached.

I liked the JBL concept. It did a decent job and was a step closer to the truly wireless world I've always imagined we'd be living in by now.

Sure, the detachable speakers looked a bit weird and when wall mounted, they drooped a bit when they were attached to each end of the soundbar, but a pretty cool idea nonetheless.

One of those gimmick concepts that never really caught on, I suppose.

The JBL Bar 1000MK2 takes that concept and runs with it - all the way to the finish line.

As opposed to 2018, today, wireless speaker systems are everywhere. Except for one thing; they're not really wireless. Or to be more precise; they're only HALF wireless. If I told my kids I used to run speaker cables under the carpet and across the ceiling to connect my speakers to my head unit, they'd look at me like I was crazy. Actually, first they'd probably ask what a head unit was, then just laugh at me.

And although most 2026 home theatres connect a soundbar or centre speaker with their surround speakers and subwoofers via Wi-Fi or some other dedicated wireless connection, all those speakers still need to be plugged into something; power.

That's fine if you have a wall outlet close to where you want a speaker. If not, you're basically back to early century me, running an extension cord between power-point and speaker as inconspicuously as possible.

Not with the JBL Bar 1000MK2 though. At least not for the two "rear" speakers, anyway.

But we're getting ahead of ourselves. What are we actually dealing with here, home theatre-wise?

It's a 7.1.4 channel system pumping out a total of 960W - which should be more than enough for most homes. JBL does offer an even bigger system - a whopping 2470W bundle that will really test your neighbours' patience. For now, let's keep it civilised and stick to the Bar 1000MK2 - if you can call a system with a 9kg, 300W 10-inch subwoofer civilised. JBL doesn't usually skimp when it comes to bass and this is clearly no exception. I love it. I struggled to find somewhere to fit a sub this big, but I love it.

The main soundbar itself has my favourite feature; flatness. My TV sits on a relatively low stand and I've reviewed some soundbars that get so carried away with boring stuff like the number of drivers and sound quality, they're too tall and actually obscure the bottom of my screen.

At just 52mm high, the JBL Bar 1000MK2 fits easily under my telly and although it's jam-packed with all the speakers you need for convincing Dolby Atmos or DTS:X performance, it's not all that wide either - which leaves plenty of room for the two detachable speakers.

So about them. They're great. Really great. Each wireless speaker contains its own racetrack and up-firing full-range drivers and they don't have to be used as left and right surrounds. You can put them in a whole other room for a more-than-adequate stereo simulcast of whatever's playing on the main system, or put them in two separate rooms, instantly creating a genuine multi-zone sound system.

There's even the option to use the two detachables without the soundbar and sub for a more intimate listening experience that's less likely to keep other housemates awake.

These are settings that can be accessed via the JBL ONE app which makes setup easy - including a short calibration process that'll ensure your space makes the most of the 3D, 360-degree cinematic effects the Bar 1000MK2 can produce.

It also comes with its own remote, of course, so you can easily tweak things on the fly.

The other important thing to note about the detachable speakers is the design is much more robust and aesthetically pleasing than the somewhat clumsy connection offered by that early model in 2018. There are now subtle magnetic caps for both speakers and the soundbar to keep everything looking stylish and when the speakers are connected, it's now a good, firm fit - no more droop whatsoever for wall-mounted installations.

You won't have to detach and reattach nearly so often either. It's amazing how rechargeable battery life has improved over the last few years - I've found I can get almost a week's use from the Bar 1000MK2's detached speakers before having to put them back on to charge overnight.

Whether it's Multibeam, DTS:X or Dolby Atmos performance you're looking for, this system nails it. Surround and height effects are convincing, dialogue sounds clear over music and the bass rumble is... well, this is a JBL after all, so no complaints there... except maybe from the neighbours.

One day, perhaps the subwoofer will be rechargeable too and then we really would have a truly wireless system. In the meantime, if you'd rather not have to attach and detach speakers every few days, you have the option of powering them via an independent USB-C power source - although that's not included. There are also screw mounting holes if you choose to stick the speakers on the wall or on stands. Wall mounting hardware IS in the box.

Versatility is the key here and the Bar 1000MK2 is a system that really does allow you to use it the way you want - even down to the extra HDMI inputs and passthrough options on the back. At under NZ$1,700.00 it offers excellent performance for the price, even before you get to those totally wire-free rear speakers. Now JBL has perfected that concept, they're just the icing on an awesome audio cake.