JBL is giving its home-cinema lineup a fairly interesting twist with the new Cinema SB MK2 series. The company has introduced four new soundbars designed to make better TV audio more accessible, but the standout feature isn’t Dolby Atmos or the wireless subwoofer. It’s the ability to turn a pair of JBL portable speakers into wireless rear surround speakers.

The new lineup consists of the JBL SB510MK2, SB550MK2, SB580MK2, and flagship SB595MK2. They’re designed to cover different levels of home-theater setups, from an all-in-one soundbar with a built-in subwoofer to a 3.1.2-channel Atmos system with up-firing drivers and a wireless subwoofer.

Your JBL Flip 7 speakers can become rear surrounds

The biggest new feature is JBL’s SurroundPlay technology. It allows a compatible pair of JBL portable speakers to wirelessly connect to the Cinema SB MK2 soundbar and act as rear surround channels.

At launch, the only supported portable speaker is the JBL Flip 7. That means someone who already owns two Flip 7 speakers can potentially use them for movie-night surround sound instead of buying a separate set of dedicated rear speakers.

It’s an unusually practical approach. The Flip 7s can serve as rear speakers when you’re watching a movie, then go back to being portable Bluetooth speakers when you’re done.

All four Cinema SB MK2 models also have a dedicated center channel, which JBL says is designed to keep dialogue clear during action-heavy and bass-heavy scenes. Bluetooth and Auracast connectivity are also supported across the range.

Four soundbars, four different setups

At the top of the lineup is the JBL SB595MK2. It delivers 440W of power through a 3.1.2-channel configuration, with two up-firing drivers and a wireless 6.5-inch subwoofer. It supports True Dolby Atmos and includes HDMI input and HDMI eARC.

The SB580MK2 also delivers 440W and comes with a wireless 6.5-inch subwoofer, but uses a 3.1-channel configuration. It supports Dolby Atmos and includes HDMI input and eARC.

The SB550MK2 steps down to 360W and uses a 5.25-inch wireless subwoofer. It has a 3.1-channel configuration and Dolby Audio support, with HDMI ARC for connecting to a TV.

Finally, the SB510MK2 is the simplest option. It delivers 200W through a 3.1-channel setup and puts the subwoofer directly inside the soundbar rather than including a separate wireless bass unit. It supports Dolby Audio and HDMI ARC.

There’s also an interesting packaging change across most of the range. The SB595MK2, SB580MK2, and SB550MK2 use a foldable design that allows the soundbar to fold into a U-shape for packaging. JBL says this reduces packed volume by up to 20%, making the systems easier to transport and helping reduce their transportation carbon footprint.

The JBL Cinema SB MK2 series will be available in select markets starting October 1, 2026, through JBL’s website. JBL has not announced US pricing in the launch announcement. European pricing reported for the range starts at €199.99 for the SB510MK2 and reaches €449.99 for the SB595MK2.

For JBL owners, though, SurroundPlay could be the most interesting part of the entire lineup. A pair of Flip 7s sitting around the house can suddenly have another job: movie-theater rear speakers.