At the end of 2024, I attended a listening session hosted by JBL to check out the audio company’s new Modern Audio A/V receivers and Stage2 speaker system. JBL pitched the receivers and speakers as a "baby’s first sound system" for those looking to upgrade from a soundbar to something more robust.

I’ve had an ancient LG soundbar hooked up to my TV for years, and a set of Sonos One smart speakers for music. I am that baby looking to upgrade their home theater.

To help ease me into the world of Hi-Fi, JBL sent me the mid-tier MA510 receiver, a pair of bookshelf speakers, a center channel, a 10-inch subwoofer, and two floorstanding speakers in a white colorway. It was far more than I was expecting and... it turns out, more speaker than my home can handle.

This is the beating heart of the s

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