The MA310 is a nice receiver with lots of options for your home theater.
I will start the review off by saying this unit is not for amateurs, I found the setup quite tricky, with no help from the documentation. If you are considering this line I would upgrade to the MA510 or the 710 so you can set the unit up from the app instead of digging through endless menus and options. But more on that later.
The Ma310 itself is very nice, I hooked up the speakers and sub with banana connectors without issue, I also connected the Blue ray DVD and our TV (via optical). There are more than enough HDMI inputs and plenty of room to expand from my 2 bookshelf speakers and sub to more speakers, like a center channel and some rear surround speakers as well. Once I was able to get the MA310 setup. I tweaked out the Bass, treble and steroe2.0 and 2.1 settings for my TV. I also dialed in the Bass from the dial on the subwoofer. I found the sound very good, the low, high and mid tones were very good. I paired my phone with the unit and was able to play songs from it. The sound was spot on as was satisfied with it.
Now back to the unit. I consider myself advanced when it comes to setting up sound for any occasion. But I found it rather difficult to wade through numerous menu and sub menu items to make sure items were turned on or activated and those I didn’t care for, deactivated. The provided guides were basically useless. I found myself frustrated a few times and had to walk away during initial setup. When I finally had the unit the way I wanted I was more familiar with the user menu, which is not very user friendly, I was happy. For those that purchase this unit I advise you to skip the included material and go straight to the JBL website for in-depth instructions. This will save you time and from being frustrated. That being said, even those instructions left me scratching my head. I found through the website that there is an app that will help set up your basic settings that you can then tweak. This app called EZSet EQ. the app Bluetooth’s to your unit then plays a tone as you walk around with your phone in your room to basically sound check all areas of the space and configure a starting point for you.
Did the app work for me? Not at all. Initially I set up the unit by ear and was ok but I gave the app a chance it basically set it back to start and I had to wade through the menu again (uh!) to set it back up.
Dislikes
Menu’s not very user friendly. You can get lost in how many levels it has.
Included material/quick start guide could be better, not very informative.
Online instructions not very helpful.
EQ app useless to me.
Likes:
Very nice looking unit
Plenty of inputs for multiple devices
Multiple sound choice from Dolby, stereo, DTS etc.
Able to handle anything you throw at it.
I find the unit, now that I have it setup and am more familiar with the huge menu, very nice.
It works great with all of my devices. I would recommend it to friends and family if they are technically inclined or have help to set it up. Otherwise I would look towards the Ma510 or 710 with in app setup.

Aesthetic and Design
When I unboxed the JBL MA310 5.2ch 4K AV Receiver I was impressed with its sleek and modern design. I liked that the front panel was designed like a plate with a red band that looked sporty. I also appreciated the low profile, standing about an inch and a half shorter than my previous receiver. However, the large JBL logo on the front is quite obnoxious and detracts from the otherwise clean aesthetic. The other thing I noticed upon unboxing was the weight, or lack there of. Of course, a heavy receiver isn’t everything, but it was an indication of what this unit is intended for.
Performance and Sound Quality
As expected, I felt the receiver was a bit underpowered when paired with my existing floor speakers. The sound lacked the fullness and depth I expected. Everything sounded thin. That’s the only way I know how to explain it. However, once I switched to JBL bookshelf speakers, the performance improved significantly. The sound quality was satisfying, making it a suitable option for apartment living or in your home office. Despite this, I feel like there are comparable options available at a lower price point, which might offer better value for money.
Setup and Usability
Setting up the MA310 was straightforward, although the caps in the banana plug holes were a hassle to remove. One disappointing aspect was the lack of an Ethernet port on the back of the unit. This omission means that firmware updates must be done via USB stick, which is less convenient than having network capabilities for direct updates.
During my research, I found limited information from US retailers. Be aware, as there is a similarly named model available in the UK that includes network streaming features like AirPlay 2 and Chromecast, which this model does not have.
Features and Functionality
The HDMI-CEC functionality worked beautifully, allowing me to control the receiver volume through my ATV 4K box by enabling CEC in the settings. The onscreen display is basic but functional, though I expected more in terms of interface sophistication for this price.
Remote Control
I was pleasantly surprised by the remote control. As someone who appreciates simplicity, the small, basic remote was a joy to use, covering 95% of my needs. It’s a far cry from the bulky remotes with countless buttons and macros from 25 years ago, which I would have loved back then but now find unnecessary.
Conclusion
The JBL MA310 5.2ch 4K AV Receiver is a decent option for those living in apartments or when using efficient bookshelf speakers in a smaller space. You get a good balance of design, sound quality (with the right speakers), and ease of use. However, the lack of network capabilities and the high price point compared to similar options are notable drawbacks. If you’re looking for a simple, low-profile receiver and don’t mind the trade offs , this could be a good fit for you.

JBL MA310 5.2ch AV Receiver in Espresso
The JBL MA310 is the entry-level AV receiver in the MA lineup. This unit had an espresso (black) finish and had a good look with a simplistic flare to its design. It is also available in Latte (white). It features Class D amplification but has no network connectivity and is less advanced in HDMI than the other units in the MA lineup. The HDMI 2.0 of the MA310 handles 4K/60Hz and HDR10. It has 4 HDMI 2.0 inputs and 1 HDMI 2.0 eARC output. The product has simple connections, a well-labeled back panel, and a front panel that is also very simple and only has what is needed. Even the remote is simplified. The straightforward layout is focused on ease of use and simplicity, unlike a panel full of buttons. The speaker connections work with bare wire or banna plugs. The MA310 was engineered to work with the JBL Stage 2 speakers and make a simple match-up. With native 5-channel decoding of Dolby and DTS formats, the MA310 can deliver incredible cinema experiences. It is designed with a passion for music, movies, and gaming, bringing both to life with true high fidelity. Additional music content can be accessed via Bluetooth.
SPECS:
• HDMI Audio Return Channel: Yes
• 4K HDMI input connectors (HDMI 2.0,HDCP 2.2 up to 4K/60Hz Ultra HD): 4
• HDR 10: Yes
• Pure Direct: Yes
• Digital signal processing: up to 24-bit/192kHz
• Mains voltage: 110 – 240V, 50–60Hz
• Max. power consumption: 200W
• Standby power consumption: <0.5W
• Channels: 5.2
• Rated Power @ 8Ω (20Hz – 20kHz, 2 channels driven, 0.5% THD max): 60 W RMS
• Rated Power @ 4Ω (20Hz – 20kHz, 2 channels driven, 0.5% THD max): 100 W RMS
• Dimensions incl. feet and speaker terminals (H x W x D): 4.3” x 17.0” x 13.7” (109.2mm x 432.0mm x 347.6mm)
• Weight: 11.3lb (5.1kg)
• HDMI Input/Output: 4 / 1
• Bluetooth receiver: Yes (v5.1, Low Energy)
• Digital Audio Input: 1 Coax, 1 Optical
• Stereo analog input: 2 single-ended RCA
• Pre-Out (single ended RCA): Subwoofer 1, Subwoofer 2
The basic plug things in and it-works concept comes through on the MA310. Using the HDMI eARC output to your tv and the input to your devices to ther HDMI inputs and, everything talks together quite well. The speakers connections are straightforward and the subwoofer has two outputs allowing for the use of two subwoofers. Unfortunately, this entry level unit does not work with the EZ Set EQ app so if you want more than the basic settings to tweak your unit you have to go through the front panel display and set things manually. Now this isn’t a real problem other than JBL doesn’t give you a flow chart of all the settings in the menu so you will have to poke around to find the things you want to adjust. Since you can’t use the app, there is no way to automatically optimize room correction or crossover settings. The MA310 basic setup does the job, but I feel you want to fine-tune things to take advantage of the whole JBl component setup. I didn’t mind doing a lot of manual configuration and going back to re-optimize everything to totally enjoy the system but you have to consider if the base setup is good enough for you or if your willing to do setup the old-fashioned way or to spend another hundred dollars to have some automation and some other upgraded features.

Simplistic and easy setup. Great audio and easily pairs with LG tv,Roku, and bose speakers.