JBL MA710 Review
For the younger generation, JBL is known as a major player when it comes to trendy Bluetooth speakers or headphones. However, the American brand has also always had solid expertise in cinema. This makes it a perfect fit for our home cinema special, where we’ve chosen to take a closer look at an AV receiver from JBL.
by Simon Mendel
Since the 2010s, JBL has increasingly focused on lifestyle Hi-Fi products and has been hugely successful in doing so. JBL offers pretty much everything the market demands, from headphones to turntables and even gaming microphones. Their Bluetooth speakers have become a familiar sight in parks and city squares. But what many don’t know is that JBL is also a cinema expert.
The brand played a pivotal role in the global shift from mono to stereo in cinemas. JBL also developed the first commercial THX cinema speaker system for Lucasfilm. Representing the brand is their latest release, the MA710, a flexible 7.2 AV receiver.
Design
As part of JBL’s new MA series of AV receivers, the MA710 is the second largest in terms of channel count. While the MA310 and MA510 models offer five channels plus two subwoofers, the MA710 can power seven channels and two subwoofers. For those seeking more power, there is the high-performance MA710 HP option. A step up from that is the JBL MA9100HP, which offers 5.1, 7.1, or 9.1 channels with support for Dolby Audio, DTS, or Dolby Atmos and DTS:X.
The MA710 shares the same housing as its siblings, featuring a classic design with a metal body. Its front is adorned with a glass panel, giving it a sleek, modern look. In the center, a clear display shows the source, volume, and format. Below this are five buttons for controlling the device, while two large dials on the left and right handle input and volume settings. The volume knob is humorously labeled “Safe to turn beyond 11.” We’ll touch on how loud it can actually get later.
Also on the front is a power button that glows orange-red when off, a color accent that runs throughout the design. The feet and the area behind the glass front also feature a red-accented stripe. For those who prefer a different color, the MA710 is available with a silver front panel as well. The receiver’s top has ventilation holes for passive cooling. The overall build quality of the JBL MA710 is solid, though we found the two dials to be a bit too loose for our liking.
Connections
One of the key qualities of an AV receiver, besides sound, is the variety of connections it offers. In this regard, the JBL MA710 is well-equipped. This entry-level AV receiver supports seven passive speakers and is quite flexible with its configuration. The two speaker terminals labeled “Rear Surround/Height” can be used for various setups. They can serve as rear speakers in a 7-channel surround system or be used as height speakers for Dolby Atmos, either for upfiring speakers at the front or ceiling-mounted ones. Alternatively, these terminals can be used for bi-amping the front speakers or to power speakers in another room, a setup JBL calls “Party Mode.”
In this mode, the two speakers in the second zone receive a downmix of the main zone’s signal. For instance, if you’re watching a movie in 5.1 surround in the main zone, the second zone will receive a stereo signal that includes information from all five channels. This mode is mainly intended for music, where stereo is typically sufficient.
When it comes to outputs, the JBL MA710 shows its versatility, and it’s just as flexible with inputs. It has six HDMI inputs on the back, three of which support 8K resolution, while the others handle up to 4K. All six HDMI ports are version 2.1 and come with enhanced features for gaming, including variable refresh rate, Auto Low Latency Mode, and 120 Hz support, ensuring smooth, lag-free gameplay.
Besides HDMI, the JBL MA710 also has two pairs of analog RCA inputs, one optical and one coaxial digital input, a USB port, and even a built-in phono stage—something not often found in AV receivers. Naturally, the TV connects via HDMI eARC, and there are two outputs for subwoofers. Additionally, there are RCA outputs for powered speakers or a stereo system in the aforementioned Zone 2.
Internal Components
As a modern AV receiver, the JBL MA710 is equipped with wireless features. Three antennas are attached to the back for this purpose, but you can also connect the MA710 to your home network via an Ethernet cable. For wireless connectivity, the MA710 supports AirPlay 2, Chromecast, and Bluetooth.
Like most Class-D amplifiers, there is no “large” toroidal transformer here, meaning less heat generation. The red stripe behind the glass front is clearly visible.
The MA710 uses Class-D digital amplification and delivers an impressive 110 watts at 8 ohms and 160 watts at 4 ohms, while the power supply provides 500 watts. However, not all channels will receive 160 watts at the same time under heavy load. For even more power, you can opt for the MA710 HP, which features a 700-watt power supply and delivers 125 watts per channel at 8 ohms and 175 watts per channel at 4 ohms.
Operation
In addition to the controls on the unit, the JBL MA710 comes with a compact remote control, offering all the buttons and dials found on the receiver itself. Operating the MA710 is straightforward, and the display is large enough to be easily read from the couch. The most convenient control, however, is through the on-screen menu when a TV is connected. This allows you to adjust settings even while watching a movie. You can, for instance, tweak treble and bass or change the sound mode. There are modes for movies, music, and night, which adjust the sound accordingly. The MA710 also features Dolby “Virtualization,” which widens the soundstage, and “DRC,” a compressor that reduces large dynamic jumps.
There are two apps compatible with the JBL MA710. The JBL app lets you stream internet radio, podcasts, UPnP, or files from a USB stick, but it doesn’t handle device settings. The second app is for room calibration. The EZ Set EQ app turns your iPhone into a calibration microphone. Android users will need to purchase an external mic, as Android devices have varied microphone setups. JBL recommends the Dayton Audio iMM-6C, a small USB-C microphone costing around 60 euros. The calibration process is simple: select the speaker to calibrate, and the speaker emits white noise while you move through the room with your smartphone. Repeat the process for each speaker, and after about five minutes, everything is calibrated.
Movie Sound
The EZ Set EQ focuses on frequencies between 20 and 800 Hz, primarily addressing room modes and the lower midrange. This has a significant impact, improving not only bass clarity but also speech intelligibility. Men’s voices, in particular, benefit from this, as we discovered during our test. We watched the drama classic “The Shawshank Redemption” and the dark superhero epic “Batman: The Dark Knight.”
Thanks to the calibration, both films sounded clearer, more understandable, and overall much more powerful. Especially with Batman, action-packed scenes with exploding hospitals and car chases showcased the JBL MA710’s home cinema prowess. The receiver sounded balanced, detailed, and powerful. JBL isn’t kidding when they say you can turn the volume up past level 11—the MA710 gets very loud while staying focused.
Specifications
Device class: AV Receiver
Price category: Entry-level
Manufacturer: JBL
Model: MA710
Dimensions (W/H/D): 43 x 11 x 35 cm
Weight: 6.3 kg
Information: de.jbl.com/electronics
Power: 160W (4 Ohms) per channel, 500W power supply
Max channels: 7.2
Custom sound settings: Yes
Multichannel audio formats: Atmos, DTS
Wireless audio connection: Airplay, Chromecast, Bluetooth
Inputs: 6x HDMI, coaxial, optical, USB, 2x Cinch
Outputs: HDMI, speaker, Pre Out
Music Performance The JBL MA710 also performs very well with music.
SPECIAL FEATURES Automatic room calibration
Verdict
The JBL MA710 is a modern AV receiver with a broad feature set. It offers flexible connectivity, automatic room calibration, and streaming capabilities. It excels in all these areas, with home cinema being its true specialty. While it may lack some power for music, it still delivers a charming performance.
Playback quality: 52/60
Features/Build quality: 14/15
Ease of use: 13/15
Adjustments: None
Interim result: 79 out of 90 points
Price/Performance: Good (8/10)
Final result: Very good (87%)
The built-in phono stage is designed for MM cartridges and sounds decent. If you want a simple way to listen to your favorite records in the same spot as your favorite movies, the MA710 has you covered. To wrap things up, we streamed music from Tidal via AirPlay on the JBL AVR. It automatically switched to 2.1 and gave us a bold, modern presentation of Carly Rae Jepsen’s pop song “Kollage.”
The synthesizers stood out well, and the vocals were impressively clear and natural. However, the MA710 can sometimes feel a bit cool and narrow when playing music. For its price, it lacks some finesse and musical sensitivity. Still, as a flexible, modern multimedia hub, it performs excellently. And with that, we say: “JBL – welcome back to home cinema!”
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Founded in July 2014, 7Review is a free audio resource for beginners, and we're dedicated to helping you create the ultimate movie-watching experience right at home. We pull insights from top audio magazines and trusted industry sources to bring you well-researched, reliable reviews and tips. Whether you're a home cinema pro or just starting out, we aim to give you the info you need to make the best choices for your setup.
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