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  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 5.0 MultiBeam

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

Bose Smart Soundbar 700
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam

Tested using Methodology v1.3

Updated Sep 24, 2024 01:19 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v1.1

Updated Mar 15, 2024 07:13 PM

SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
Bose Smart Soundbar 700 Picture
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Picture

Variants

  • Smart Soundbar 700 (Arctic White)
  • Smart Soundbar 700 (Black)
  • Bar 5.0 MultiBeam (Black)

Our Verdict

Bose Smart Soundbar 700

JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam

The Bose Smart Soundbar 700 is better for most uses than the JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam. The Bose is better built and has a more neutral sound profile out-of-the-box. It gets louder, has a better stereo soundstage, and offers built-in voice assistant support. That said, the JBL is better for movies. It supports Atmos content and has better surrounds performance. It has more wireless playback options and a Full HDMI In port.

0

Check Price

Black
Smart Soundbar 700
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
Bar 5.0 MultiBeam
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
Arctic White
Smart Soundbar 700
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
Bar 5.0 MultiBeam
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
 
Black
Bar 5.0 MultiBeam
B&H
 
Black
Bar 5.0 MultiBeam
Walmart.com

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
7.2

Height (Atmos) 
 

0.0
5.1

Stereo Frequency Response 
 

7.6
7.0

Surround 5.1 
 

3.7
6.0

Audio Format Support: HDMI In 
 

0.0
8.7

Dialogue Enhancement 
 

Yes
No

Auto-Volume/Night Mode 
 

No
Yes

Stereo Soundstage 
 

8.0
7.0

Full Comparison

Design

Style - Bar  

Style photo - bar  

Bose Smart Soundbar 700 Style photo - bar
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Style photo - bar

Show text

Style - Subwoofer  

Style photo - sub  

Bose Smart Soundbar 700 Style photo - sub
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Style photo - sub

Sub Wireless 
 

No
No

Enclosure 
 

No Subwoofer
No Subwoofer

Show text

Style - Satellites  

Style photo - satellites  

Bose Smart Soundbar 700 Style photo - satellites
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Style photo - satellites

Satellite Wireless 
 

No
No

Show text

Dimensions - Bar  

Dimensions photo - bar  

Bose Smart Soundbar 700 Dimensions photo - bar
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Dimensions photo - bar

Width  

38.4" (97.5 cm)
28.0" (71.0 cm)

Height  

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

Depth  

4.2" (10.7 cm)
4.0" (10.2 cm)

Show text

Dimensions - Subwoofer  

Dimensions photo - sub  

Bose Smart Soundbar 700 Dimensions photo - sub
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Dimensions photo - sub

Width  

N/A
N/A

Height  

N/A
N/A

Depth  

N/A
N/A

Dimensions - Satellites  

Dimensions photo - satellites  

Bose Smart Soundbar 700 Dimensions photo - satellites
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam 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 5.0 MultiBeam Bar Mounting Holes

Satellite Mounting Holes  

Bose Smart Soundbar 700 Satellite Mounting Holes
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam 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 5.0 MultiBeam Build quality photo

Show text

In The Box 
 

In The Box photo   

Bose Smart Soundbar 700 In The Box photo
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam In The Box photo

Show text

Sound

Stereo Frequency Response 
 

7.6
7.0

Stereo Setup  

Bose Smart Soundbar 700 Stereo Setup
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam 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
5.0

Tested Preset 
 

No Preset
Standard

Slope 
 

0.33
-1.07

Standard Error 
 

2.01 dB
3.38 dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

53.4 Hz
51.9 Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

19.6 kHz
15.6 kHz

Show text

Stereo Frequency Response With Preliminary Calibration 
 

7.7
7.0

Frequency Response Calibrated  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Suggested Preset 
 

No Preset
Standard

Suggested Bass Setting 
 

20
1

Suggested Treble Setting 
 

-30
N/A

Slope 
 

0.16
0.18

Standard Error 
 

1.80 dB
3.07 dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

51.9 Hz
55.0 Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

19.3 kHz
15.6 kHz

Show text

Stereo Soundstage 
 

8.0
7.0

Crosstalk  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Crosstalk Error 
 

1.59 dB
2.83 dB

Show text

Stereo Dynamics 
 

7.5
7.6

Dynamic Range Compression  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

93.2 dB SPL
91.9 dB SPL

DRC @ 90dB 
 

1.08 dB

DRC @ Max Volume 
 

3.03 dB
1.57 dB

Show text

Stereo Total Harmonic Distortion 
 

8.0

THD  

See details on graph tool

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.32

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

1.33

Show text

Center 
 

8.1
8.2

Center Setup  

Bose Smart Soundbar 700 Center Setup
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Center Setup

Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Discrete
Discrete

Slope 
 

0.41
-0.30

Std. Err. 
 

1.98 dB
2.96 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

44.7 dB SPL
88.9 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.36
0.24

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

1.67
1.11

Show text

Surround 5.1 
 

3.7
6.0

Surround Setup  

Bose Smart Soundbar 700 Surround Setup
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Surround Setup

Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Stereo (Downmix)
Phantom (Front Firing and Side Firing, Bar)

Slope 
 

-0.54
-0.77

Std. Err. 
 

2.91 dB
3.80 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

45.5 dB SPL
89.7 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.47
1.11

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

3.52
2.36

7.1 Rears 
 

No
No

Show text

Height (Atmos) 
 

0.0
5.1

Height Setup  

Bose Smart Soundbar 700 Height Setup
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Height Setup

H Frequency Response  

Bose Smart Soundbar 700 H Frequency Response
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Not Supported
Surround (Downmix)

Slope 
 

N/A
-1.81

Std. Err. 
 

N/A
5.25 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

N/A
84.5 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

N/A
1.66

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

N/A
1.01

Show text

Sound Enhancement Features 
 

4.2
4.7

Room Correction 
 

Yes
Yes

Dialogue Enhancement 
 

Yes
No

Auto-Volume/Night Mode 
 

No
Yes

Subwoofer Level Adjustment 
 

No
No

Bass Adjustment 
 

Yes
Yes

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 5.0 MultiBeam Physical Connections Bar Photo 1

Physical Connections Bar Photo 2  

Bose Smart Soundbar 700 Physical Connections Bar Photo 2
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Physical Connections Bar Photo 2

Optical Audio In 
 

1
1

HDMI ARC 
 

1 (shared)

HDMI Out 
 

eARC
1 (shared)

HDMI 2.1 Class Bandwidth 
 

No

Full HDMI In 
 

No
1

Analog Audio In 3.5mm (Aux) 
 

No
No

RCA In 
 

No
No

USB for Files 
 

No
1

Ethernet 
 

1
1

Subwoofer Output 
 

Yes
No

Show text

Audio Format Support: ARC/eARC 
 

6.6
8.8

Dolby Atmos 
 

Not Supported
Yes

Dolby Digital 
 

Supported
Yes

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

Not Supported
Yes

Dolby TrueHD 
 

Not Supported
Yes

DTS 
 

Supported
No

DTS:X 
 

Not Supported
No

eARC 
 

Yes

DTS-HD MA 
 

Not Supported
No

PCM Channels 
 

Up To 7.1

5.1 PCM (eARC only) 
 

Yes

Show text

Audio Format Support: HDMI In 
 

0.0
8.7

Dolby Atmos 
 

Not Supported
Yes

Dolby Digital 
 

Not Supported
Yes

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

Not Supported
Yes

Dolby TrueHD 
 

Not Supported
Yes

DTS 
 

Not Supported
No

DTS:X 
 

Not Supported
No

DTS-HD MA 
 

Not Supported
No

PCM Channels 
 

Not Supported

5.1 PCM 
 

Yes

Show text

Audio Format Support: Optical 
 

10
6.0

Dolby Digital 
 

Supported
Yes

DTS 
 

Supported
No

PCM Channels 
 

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
9.5

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 
 

-19 ms

Optical 
 

-7 ms

Full HDMI In 
 

27 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
0.0

1080p Max Refresh Rate 
 

Not Supported

1080p @ 4:4:4 Max Refresh Rate 
 

Not Supported

4k Max Refresh Rate 
 

Not Supported

4k @ 120Hz @ 10-Bit 
 

Not Supported

4k @ 4:4:4 Max Refresh Rate 
 

Not Supported

8k Max Refresh Rate 
 

Not Supported

HDR10 Passthrough 
 

No
Yes

HDR10+ Passthrough 
 

No

Dolby Vision Passthrough 
 

No

HDMI Forum VRR Passthrough 
 

No

4k @ 60 Hz Passthrough 
 

Yes

FreeSync Passthrough 
 

No

G-SYNC Passthrough 
 

No

ALLM Passthrough 
 

No

4k @ 60 Hz @ 10 bit Passthrough 
 

Yes

4k @ 60 Hz @ 4:4:4 Passthrough 
 

Yes

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 5.0 MultiBeam Interface photo

Display 
 

No
Yes

Show text

Bar Controls 
 

Controls photo  

Bose Smart Soundbar 700 Controls photo
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Controls photo

Show text

Remote  

Remote photo  

Bose Smart Soundbar 700 Remote photo
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam 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
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
Bar 5.0 MultiBeam
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
Arctic White
Smart Soundbar 700
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
Bar 5.0 MultiBeam
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
 
Black
Bar 5.0 MultiBeam
B&H
 
Black
Bar 5.0 MultiBeam
Walmart.com

Bose Smart Soundbar 700

JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam

Comments

  1. Comparison

Bose Smart Soundbar 700 vs JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam: Main Discussion

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