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  1. Home
  2. Soundbar
  3. Compare
  1. Table of Contents
  2. Top
  3. Main Differences
  4. Design
    1. Style - Bar
    2. Style - Subwoofer
    3. Style - Satellites
    4. Dimensions - Bar
    5. Dimensions - Subwoofer
    6. Dimensions - Satellites
    7. Mounting
    8. Build Quality
    9. In The Box
  5. Sound
    1. Stereo Frequency Response
    2. Stereo Frequency Response With Preliminary Calibration
    3. Stereo Soundstage
    4. Stereo Dynamics
    5. Stereo Total Harmonic Distortion
    6. Center
    7. Surround 5.1
    8. Height (Atmos)
    9. Sound Enhancement Features
  6. Connectivity
    1. Inputs/Outputs - Bar
    2. Audio Format Support: ARC/eARC
    3. Audio Format Support: HDMI In
    4. Audio Format Support: Optical
    5. Audio Latency: ARC
    6. Audio Latency: HDMI In
    7. Audio Latency: Optical
    8. Video Passthrough To TV
    9. Wireless Playback
  7. Additional Features
    1. Interface
    2. Bar Controls
    3. Remote
    4. Voice Assistants Support
  8. Comments

Bose Smart Soundbar 700 vs JBL Bar 5.1 Surround

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

Bose Smart Soundbar 700
JBL Bar 5.1 Surround

Tested using Methodology v1.3

Updated Sep 24, 2024 01:19 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v1.2

Updated Mar 15, 2024 07:13 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Bose Smart Soundbar 700 Picture
JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Picture
Channels
3.0
Channels
5.1

Variants

  • Smart Soundbar 700 (Arctic White)
  • Smart Soundbar 700 (Black)
  • Bar 5.1 Surround (Black)

Review

See Bose Smart Soundbar 700 review

See JBL Bar 5.1 Surround review

0
0

Our Verdict

Bose Smart Soundbar 700

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround

The Bose Smart Soundbar 700 is better for mixed usage than the JBL Bar 5.1 Surround. The Bose is better built, with a better soundstage and surround performances. It also has built-in voice assistant support. That said, the JBL reproduces a more extended low bass and supports more wireless playback options. Unlike the Bose, it also comes with EQ presets and a Full HDMI In port.

0

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Black
Smart Soundbar 700
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Black
Bar 5.1 Surround
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Arctic White
Smart Soundbar 700
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Black
Bar 5.1 Surround
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Black
Bar 5.1 Surround
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Black
Bar 5.1 Surround
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Black
Bar 5.1 Surround
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Notice: Two or more of the products selected have been tested with different test methodologies, so some of the results below aren't directly comparable. Learn how our test benches and scoring system work, and read more about the latest changes to our soundbars test methodology.

Main Differences for

Threshold 

0.10

Mixed Usage 

7.2
6.9

Stereo Soundstage 
 

8.0
6.5

Surround 5.1 
 

3.7
6.0

Audio Format Support: ARC/eARC 
 

6.6
3.1

Dialogue Enhancement 
 

Yes
No

Auto-Volume/Night Mode 
 

No
Yes

Full Comparison

Design

Style - Bar  

Style photo - bar  

Bose Smart Soundbar 700 Style photo - bar
JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Style photo - bar

Show text

Style - Subwoofer  

Style photo - sub  

Bose Smart Soundbar 700 Style photo - sub
JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Style photo - sub

Sub Wireless 
 

No
Yes

Enclosure 
 

No Subwoofer
Ported

Show text

Style - Satellites  

Style photo - satellites  

Bose Smart Soundbar 700 Style photo - satellites
JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Style photo - satellites

Satellite Wireless 
 

No
No

Show text

Dimensions - Bar  

Dimensions photo - bar  

Bose Smart Soundbar 700 Dimensions photo - bar
JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Dimensions photo - bar

Width  

38.4" (97.5 cm)
40.0" (101.6 cm)

Height  

2.2" (5.7 cm)
2.3" (5.8 cm)

Depth  

4.2" (10.7 cm)
3.9" (9.8 cm)

Show text

Dimensions - Subwoofer  

Dimensions photo - sub  

Bose Smart Soundbar 700 Dimensions photo - sub
JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Dimensions photo - sub

Width  

N/A
12.0" (30.5 cm)

Height  

N/A
17.3" (44.0 cm)

Depth  

N/A
12.0" (30.5 cm)

Show text

Dimensions - Satellites  

Dimensions photo - satellites  

Bose Smart Soundbar 700 Dimensions photo - satellites
JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Dimensions photo - satellites

Width  

N/A
N/A

Height  

N/A
N/A

Depth  

N/A
N/A

Mounting 
 

Bar Mounting Holes  

Bose Smart Soundbar 700 Bar Mounting Holes
JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Bar Mounting Holes

Satellite Mounting Holes  

Bose Smart Soundbar 700 Satellite Mounting Holes
JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Satellite Mounting Holes

Mountable Bar 
 

Yes
Yes

Bar Brackets Included 
 

No
Yes

Mountable Satellites 
 

No
No

Satellite Brackets Included 
 

No
No

Build Quality 
 

8.5
8.0

Build quality photo  

Bose Smart Soundbar 700 Build quality photo
JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Build quality photo

Show text

In The Box 
 

In The Box photo   

Bose Smart Soundbar 700 In The Box photo
JBL Bar 5.1 Surround In The Box photo

Show text

Sound

Stereo Frequency Response 
 

7.6
7.8

Stereo Setup  

Bose Smart Soundbar 700 Stereo Setup
JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Stereo Setup

Raw Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Frequency Response Small  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Channels 
 

3.0
5.1

Tested Preset 
 

No Preset
Standard

Slope 
 

0.33
-0.89

Standard Error 
 

2.01 dB
3.56 dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

53.4 Hz
33.6 Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

19.6 kHz
17.7 kHz

Show text

Stereo Frequency Response With Preliminary Calibration 
 

7.7
7.8

Frequency Response Calibrated  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Suggested Preset 
 

No Preset
Standard

Suggested Bass Setting 
 

20
3

Suggested Treble Setting 
 

-30
N/A

Slope 
 

0.16
-0.89

Standard Error 
 

1.80 dB
3.56 dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

51.9 Hz
33.6 Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

19.3 kHz
17.7 kHz

Show text

Stereo Soundstage 
 

8.0
6.5

Crosstalk  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Crosstalk Error 
 

1.59 dB
2.92 dB

Show text

Stereo Dynamics 
 

7.5
7.1

Dynamic Range Compression  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

93.2 dB SPL
94.9 dB SPL

DRC @ 90dB 
 

1.08 dB

DRC @ Max Volume 
 

3.03 dB
3.44 dB

Show text

Stereo Total Harmonic Distortion 
 

8.2

THD  

See details on graph tool

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.26

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

1.18

Show text

Center 
 

8.1
8.1

Center Setup  

Bose Smart Soundbar 700 Center Setup
JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Center Setup

Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Discrete
Discrete

Slope 
 

0.41
-0.44

Std. Err. 
 

1.98 dB
3.76 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

44.7 dB SPL
92.0 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.36
0.32

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

1.67
0.98

Show text

Surround 5.1 
 

3.7
6.0

Surround Setup  

Bose Smart Soundbar 700 Surround Setup
JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Surround Setup

Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Stereo (Downmix)
Phantom (Front Firing, Bar)

Slope 
 

-0.54
-0.92

Std. Err. 
 

2.91 dB
3.54 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

45.5 dB SPL
94.5 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.47
0.24

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

3.52
1.16

7.1 Rears 
 

No
No

Show text

Height (Atmos) 
 

0.0
0.0

Height Setup  

Bose Smart Soundbar 700 Height Setup
JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Height Setup

H Frequency Response  

Bose Smart Soundbar 700 H Frequency Response
JBL Bar 5.1 Surround H Frequency Response

Localization 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

Slope 
 

N/A
N/A

Std. Err. 
 

N/A
N/A

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

N/A
N/A

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

N/A
N/A

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

N/A
N/A

Show text

Sound Enhancement Features 
 

4.2
5.6

Room Correction 
 

Yes
Yes

Dialogue Enhancement 
 

Yes
No

Auto-Volume/Night Mode 
 

No
Yes

Subwoofer Level Adjustment 
 

No
Yes

Bass Adjustment 
 

Yes
No

Treble Adjustment 
 

Yes
No

EQ 
 

No
Presets

Surround Level Adjustment 
 

No
No

Rear Level Adjustment 
 

No
No

Height Level Adjustment 
 

No
No

Virtual Surround 
 

No
Yes

Show text

Connectivity

Inputs/Outputs - Bar 
 

Physical Connections Bar Photo 1  

Bose Smart Soundbar 700 Physical Connections Bar Photo 1
JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Physical Connections Bar Photo 1

Physical Connections Bar Photo 2  

Bose Smart Soundbar 700 Physical Connections Bar Photo 2
JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Physical Connections Bar Photo 2

Optical Audio In 
 

1
1

HDMI Out 
 

eARC
ARC

HDMI 2.1 Class Bandwidth 
 

No
No

Full HDMI In 
 

No
1

Analog Audio In 3.5mm (Aux) 
 

No
No

RCA In 
 

No
No

USB for Files 
 

No
No

Ethernet 
 

1
1

Subwoofer Output 
 

Yes
No

Show text

Audio Format Support: ARC/eARC 
 

6.6
3.1

Dolby Atmos 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

Dolby Digital 
 

Supported
Incorrect Implementation

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

Not Supported
Incorrect Implementation

Dolby TrueHD 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

DTS 
 

Supported
Not Supported

DTS:X 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

DTS-HD MA 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

PCM Channels 
 

Up To 7.1
2.0

Show text

Audio Format Support: HDMI In 
 

0.0
2.6

Dolby Atmos 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

Dolby Digital 
 

Not Supported
Incorrect Implementation

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

Dolby TrueHD 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

DTS 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

DTS:X 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

DTS-HD MA 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

PCM Channels 
 

Not Supported
2.0

Show text

Audio Format Support: Optical 
 

10
4.3

Dolby Digital 
 

Supported
Incorrect Implementation

DTS 
 

Supported
Not Supported

PCM Channels 
 

2.0
2.0

Show text

Audio Latency: ARC 
 

10

ARC Latency Video  

PCM-2.0 ch 
 

29 ms

PCM-5.1 ch 
 

29 ms

Dolby MAT (PCM) Atmos 
 

N/A

Dolby Digital 
 

57 ms

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

N/A

Dolby Digital Plus Atmos 
 

N/A

Show text

Audio Latency: HDMI In 
 

0.0
7.2

HDMI Latency Video  

Latency Video  

PCM-2.0 ch 
 

N/A

PCM-5.1 ch 
 

N/A

Dolby MAT (PCM) Atmos 
 

N/A

Dolby Digital 
 

N/A

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

N/A

Dolby Digital Plus Atmos 
 

N/A

ARC 
 

121 ms

Optical 
 

98 ms

Full HDMI In 
 

-14 ms

Show text

Audio Latency: Optical 
 

6.9

Optical Latency Video  

PCM-2.0 ch 
 

156 ms

Dolby Digital 
 

165 ms

Show text

Video Passthrough To TV 
 

0.0
7.8

1080p Max Refresh Rate 
 

Not Supported
120Hz

1080p @ 4:4:4 Max Refresh Rate 
 

Not Supported
120Hz

4k Max Refresh Rate 
 

Not Supported
60Hz

4k @ 120Hz @ 10-Bit 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

4k @ 4:4:4 Max Refresh Rate 
 

Not Supported
60Hz

8k Max Refresh Rate 
 

Not Supported
30Hz

HDR10 Passthrough 
 

No
Yes

HDR10+ Passthrough 
 

No
No

Dolby Vision Passthrough 
 

No
Yes

HDMI Forum VRR Passthrough 
 

No
No

FreeSync Passthrough 
 

No
No

G-SYNC Passthrough 
 

No
No

ALLM Passthrough 
 

No
No

Show text

Wireless Playback 
 

10
10

Bluetooth 
 

Yes
Yes

Wi-Fi Playback 
 

Yes
Yes

Chromecast built-in 
 

Yes
Yes

Apple AirPlay 
 

Yes
Yes

Spotify Connect 
 

Yes
Yes

Show text

Additional Features

Interface 
 

Interface photo  

Bose Smart Soundbar 700 Interface photo
JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Interface photo

Display 
 

No
Yes

Show text

Bar Controls 
 

Controls photo  

Bose Smart Soundbar 700 Controls photo
JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Controls photo

Show text

Remote  

Remote photo  

Bose Smart Soundbar 700 Remote photo
JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Remote photo

Show text

Voice Assistants Support 
 

Amazon Alexa 
 

Yes (Built-in)
No

Google Assistant 
 

Yes (Built-in)
No

Apple Siri 
 

No
No

Microphone Mute 
 

Yes
No

Show text

Check Price

Black
Smart Soundbar 700
Searching
Finding store
Black
Bar 5.1 Surround
Searching
Finding store
Arctic White
Smart Soundbar 700
Searching
Finding store
Black
Bar 5.1 Surround
Searching
Finding store
 
Black
Bar 5.1 Surround
Searching
Finding store
 
Black
Bar 5.1 Surround
Searching
Finding store
 
Black
Bar 5.1 Surround
Searching
Finding store
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Bose Smart Soundbar 700

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround

Comments

  1. Comparison
 • Posted 1 year ago

Bose Smart Soundbar 700 vs JBL Bar 5.1 Surround: Main Discussion

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