The JBL MA710 AV Receiver offers premium audio quality and a focus on ease-of-use, the MA Series models offer the flexibility of a wide range of input sources and listening modes so you can enjoy your content easily and quickly with the fewest number of steps, all from a product with a unique and modern appearance.

The JBL MA710 7.2 Channel 8K AV Receiver is a great value and versatile unit and sits above the MA310 and MA510, offering 7 amplified channels (rather than 5) and 8K support, along with pre-outs for upto 2 subs. The amplifier modules have an impressive output of 110 Watts per channel into 8 Ohms.

AV receivers are used to control the switching between video sources and a display device. They can also be used for normal stereo music playback. Six HDMI inputs are provided along with one output. Its future proofed with 8K support and the excellent front panel display makes using this AVR easy.

Versatile connectivity

Connectivity with the JBL MA710 includes everything you need for video and audio playback. The six HDMI inputs are compatible with 8K playback as well as HDCP and also includes eARC, which allows you to control the overall volume with your TV screen remote. HDR10 is supported along with 8K video at 60Hz and 4K at 120Hz. Digital sources can be connected digitally via optical or coaxial connectors. There are also analogue inputs for other music sources.

High Res Streaming

The JBL MA710 has good streaming support and can be connected via Bluetooth or WiFi. PCM playback is supported at 192kHz 24-bit resolution. Formats available include MP3, WMA, ALAC, FLAC, and more. The HDMI system can also carry eight PCM audio channels from a Blu-ray player. Additionally, the latest Dolby Digital and DTS compressed bitstreams are supported.

A 7.2 system can be created using the JBL MA710 7.2 Channel 8K AV Receiver. This comprises a front left and right pair of speakers along with a centre channel. Additionally, there are two rear surround channels and two side channels. You can also connect upto two subwoofers – to create either 7.1 channels with 1 sub or 7.2 channels with 2 subs. You can also use this AVR to support a simpler 5.1 or 5.2 channel set-up, with the ability to upgrade to 7.1/7.2 channels in future.

Surround sound encoding methods

There is a complex array of different surround sound formats and speaker layouts. Multi-channel sound for films has been around since the 1940s. However, surround sound did not make it into the home until the 1980’s. The first format was known as Dolby Surround and only had two extra channels. Dolby Prologic receivers were used to decode the extra tracks. Later came Dolby Digital. This is still the most common format and added more discreet channels. It is used on DVD and Blu-ray discs. Nowadays Dolby Digital supports 7 channels or more with Dolby Atmos.

Dolby Digital and DTS

Dolby Digital first emerged in the 1990s and featured six discreet channels. However, a rival system known as DTS came out in the 1990s. DTS stands for Digital Theatre System and has a higher bitrate than Dolby Digital. Both systems have evolved to carry more channels and better-quality audio. The MA710 supports the very latest versions of these sound formats as often seen on 4K UHD, blu rays and streaming services.

JBL Stage Loudspeakers

JBL released the JBL MA710 at the same time as a new range of JBL Stage speakers. The main left and right channels can be fed to either floor-standing or bookshelf speakers. There is also a good centre speaker with four bass drivers. Additionally, the bookshelf speakers can be used as rear or side speakers. Two sizes of subwoofer are also available. Atmos is supported with a pair of optional Dolby Atmos systems which will bounce sound off the ceiling as an alternative to installing speakers in the ceiling itself.