Soundbar
Products
In The Lab
Forums
Newsletters
 Insider
Notice: Your browser is not supported or outdated so some features of the site might not be available.
Best
Soundbars Subwoofer Samsung Dolby Atmos Bose LG All-In-One Sonos Music Under $200 Small Under $500 Vizio Dialogue Sony Under $300 Under $100 Movies Budget 5.1
Tools
Compare Table Review List Review Index Graph Custom Ratings
Popular
Samsung HW-Q990D Samsung HW-Q990F Hisense AX5125H Samsung HW-Q800D Samsung HW-Q930D Samsung HW-Q600C/Q60CC Sonos Arc Ultra Samsung HW-B750D Samsung HW-S60D Sonos Beam (Gen 2) LG S95TR Samsung HW-B650 LG S90TR LG S80TR Samsung HW-Q990C JBL Bar 500 TCL Q85H Sonos Arc Sonos Ultimate Immersive Set with Arc Ultra Sony BRAVIA Theater Quad with Bass Module
222
Soundbars bought and tested
Supported by you via insider access, and when you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Driven by data, run by a passionate team of engineers, testers, technical writers, developers, and more.
We are hiring!
  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
    10. Back - Bar
    11. Back - Subwoofer
    12. Back - Satellites
  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
    3. Audio Format Support - Full HDMI In
    4. Audio Format Support - Optical
    5. Latency
    6. Wireless Playback
    7. Other Input Specifications
    8. Connectivity - Subwoofer
    9. Connectivity - Satellites
  7. Additional Features
    1. Interface
    2. Bar Controls
    3. Remote
    4. Voice Assistants Support
    5. App
    6. Other Features
  8. Comments

Bose Soundbar 500 vs JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

Bose Soundbar 500
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam

Tested using Methodology v1.0

Updated Mar 15, 2024 07:12 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v1.1

Updated Mar 15, 2024 07:13 PM

SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
Bose Soundbar 500 Picture
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Picture
Channels
3.0
Channels
5.0

Variants

  • Soundbar 500
  • Bar 5.0 MultiBeam (Black)

Review

See Bose Soundbar 500 Review
See JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Review
0 
2 

Our Verdict

Bose Soundbar 500

JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam

The JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam is better than the Bose Soundbar 500. The JBL is a 5.0 setup that supports Dolby Atmos content. It gets louder, and it has a better surround performance. Unlike the Bose, it has a Full HDMI In port that supports high-quality passthrough. 

0 

Check Price

Standard
Soundbar 500
Searching
Finding store
Black
Bar 5.0 MultiBeam
Searching
Finding store
Standard
Soundbar 500
Searching
Finding store
Black
Bar 5.0 MultiBeam
Searching
Finding store
Standard
Soundbar 500
Searching
Finding store
Black
Bar 5.0 MultiBeam
Searching
Finding store
Standard
Soundbar 500
Searching
Finding store
Black
Bar 5.0 MultiBeam
Searching
Finding store
Standard
Soundbar 500
Searching
Finding store
Black
Bar 5.0 MultiBeam
Searching
Finding store
Read more

Main Differences for
Mixed Usage

Threshold 

0.10

Mixed Usage 

6.7
7.2

Height (Atmos) 
 

0.0
5.1

Surround 5.1 
 

3.6
6.0

Audio Format Support - Full HDMI In 
 

0.0
8.7

Dialogue Enhancement 
 

Yes
No

Auto-Volume/Night Mode 
 

No
Yes

Full Comparison

Design

Style - Bar  

Style photo - bar  

Bose Soundbar 500 Style photo - bar
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Style photo - bar
Show Text 

Style - Subwoofer  

Style photo - sub  

Bose Soundbar 500 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 Soundbar 500 Style photo - satellites
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Style photo - satellites

Satellite Wireless 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Dimensions - Bar  

Dimensions photo - bar  

Bose Soundbar 500 Dimensions photo - bar
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Dimensions photo - bar

Width  

31.5" (80.0 cm)
28.0" (71.0 cm)

Height  

1.7" (4.3 cm)
2.3" (5.8 cm)

Depth  

4.0" (10.2 cm)
4.0" (10.2 cm)
Show Text 

Dimensions - Subwoofer  

Dimensions photo - sub  

Bose Soundbar 500 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
Show Text 

Dimensions - Satellites  

Dimensions photo - satellites  

Bose Soundbar 500 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
Show Text 

Mounting 
 

Bar Mounting Holes  

JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Bar Mounting Holes

Satellite Mounting Holes  

JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Satellite Mounting Holes

Mountable Bar 
 

Yes

Bar Brackets Included 
 

Yes

Mountable Satellites 
 

No

Satellite Brackets Included 
 

No

Build Quality 
 

8.0
8.0

Build quality photo  

Bose Soundbar 500 Build quality photo
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Build quality photo
Show Text 

In The Box 
 

In The Box photo   

Bose Soundbar 500 In The Box photo
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam In The Box photo

HDMI Cable Length 
 

1.5 m (4.9 ft)

Digital Optical Cable Length 
 

N/A
Show Text 

Back - Bar  

Back photo - bar  

Bose Soundbar 500 Back photo - bar

Bar Mounting 
 

Universal (holes on underside)
Show Text 

Back - Subwoofer  

Back photo - sub  

Bose Soundbar 500 Back photo - sub

Enclosure 
 

No Subwoofer
No Subwoofer
Show Text 

Back - Satellites  

Back photo - satellites  

Bose Soundbar 500 Back photo - satellites

Mounting 
 

No
Show Text 
Sound

Stereo Frequency Response 
 

7.1
7.0

Stereo Setup  

Bose Soundbar 500 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

Tested Preset 
 

No Preset
Standard

Slope 
 

0.53
-1.07

Std. Err. 
 

2.53 dB
3.38 dB

Channels 
 

3.0
5.0

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

55.8 Hz
51.9 Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

14.7 kHz
15.6 kHz
Show Text 

Stereo Frequency Response With Preliminary Calibration 
 

7.2
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 
 

0.15
0.18

Std. Err. 
 

2.14 dB
3.07 dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

55.8 Hz
55.0 Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

14.7 kHz
15.6 kHz
Show Text 

Stereo Soundstage 
 

7.0
7.0

Crosstalk  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Crosstalk Error 
 

1.89 dB
2.83 dB
Show Text 

Stereo Dynamics 
 

6.6
7.6

Dynamic Range Compression  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

90.3 dB SPL
91.9 dB SPL

DRC @ Max Volume 
 

3.29 dB
1.57 dB
Show Text 

Stereo Total Harmonic Distortion 
 

8.0
8.0

THD  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.40
0.32

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

0.98
1.33
Show Text 

Center 
 

8.3
8.2

Center Setup  

Bose Soundbar 500 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 
 

0.59
-0.30

Std. Err. 
 

2.88 dB
2.96 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

89.6 dB SPL
88.9 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.37
0.24

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

0.97
1.11
Show Text 

Surround 5.1 
 

3.6
6.0

Surround Setup  

Bose Soundbar 500 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 
 

-0.10
-0.77

Std. Err. 
 

4.17 dB
3.80 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

87.7 dB SPL
89.7 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

1.09
1.11

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

2.31
2.36

7.1 Rears 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Height (Atmos) 
 

0.0
5.1

Height Setup  

Bose Soundbar 500 Height Setup
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Height Setup

H Frequency Response  

Bose Soundbar 500 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 
 

4.6
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 Soundbar 500 Physical Connections Bar Photo 1
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Physical Connections Bar Photo 1

Physical Connections Bar Photo 2  

Bose Soundbar 500 Physical Connections Bar Photo 2
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Physical Connections Bar Photo 2

Optical Audio In 
 

1
1

HDMI ARC 
 

1
1 (shared)

HDMI Out 
 

No
1 (shared)

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 
 

No
Show Text 

Audio Format Support - ARC 
 

6.6
8.8

eARC 
 

Yes
Yes

Dolby Atmos 
 

No
Yes

Dolby Digital 
 

Yes
Yes

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

No
Yes

DTS 
 

No
No

DTS:X (eARC only) 
 

No
No

Dolby TrueHD (eARC only) 
 

No
Yes

DTS-HD MA (eARC only) 
 

No
No

5.1 PCM (eARC only) 
 

Undetermined
Yes
Show Text 

Audio Format Support - Full HDMI In 
 

0.0
8.7

Dolby Atmos 
 

No
Yes

DTS:X 
 

No
No

Dolby Digital 
 

No
Yes

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

No
Yes

DTS 
 

No
No

Dolby TrueHD 
 

No
Yes

DTS-HD MA 
 

No
No

5.1 PCM 
 

No
Yes
Show Text 

Audio Format Support - Optical 
 

6.0
6.0

Dolby Digital 
 

Yes
Yes

DTS 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Latency 
 

8.4
9.5

Latency Video  

ARC 
 

50 ms
-19 ms

Optical 
 

46 ms
-7 ms

Full HDMI In 
 

N/A
27 ms
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
Show Text 

Other Input Specifications 
 

4k @ 60 Hz Passthrough 
 

No
Yes

4k @ 60 Hz @ 10 bit Passthrough 
 

No
Yes

4k @ 60 Hz @ 4:4:4 Passthrough 
 

No
Yes

HDR10 Passthrough 
 

No
Yes
Show Text 

Connectivity - Subwoofer 
 

Physical inputs subwoofer photo 1  

Bose Soundbar 500 Physical inputs subwoofer photo 1

Physical controls subwoofer photo 1  

Bose Soundbar 500 Physical controls subwoofer photo 1

Sub Wireless 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Connectivity - Satellites 
 

Physical inputs satellites photo 1  

Bose Soundbar 500 Physical inputs satellites photo 1

Physical controls satellites photo 1  

Bose Soundbar 500 Physical controls satellites photo 1

Sat Wireless 
 

No
No
Show Text 
Additional Features

Interface 
 

Interface photo  

Bose Soundbar 500 Interface photo
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Interface photo

Display 
 

No
Yes
Show Text 

Bar Controls 
 

Controls photo  

Bose Soundbar 500 Controls photo
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Controls photo
Show Text 

Remote  

Remote photo  

Bose Soundbar 500 Remote photo
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Remote photo

Universal Remote 
 

No
Show Text 

Voice Assistants Support 
 

Amazon Alexa 
 

Yes (Built-in)
No

Google Assistant 
 

Yes (Built-in)
No

Apple Siri 
 

No
No

Microphone Mute 
 

No
Show Text 

App 
 

App image  

Bose Soundbar 500 App image

App Name  

Bose Music

iOS  

Yes

Android  

Yes

Acts As A Remote 
 

Yes

Controls Soundbar's Settings 
 

All

Casts Device Files 
 

Yes
Show Text 

Other Features 
 

Power Saving 
 

Standby

HDMI CEC (TV Remote Control) 
 

Yes
Show Text 

Check Price

Standard
Soundbar 500
Searching
Finding store
Black
Bar 5.0 MultiBeam
Searching
Finding store
Standard
Soundbar 500
Searching
Finding store
Black
Bar 5.0 MultiBeam
Searching
Finding store
Standard
Soundbar 500
Searching
Finding store
Black
Bar 5.0 MultiBeam
Searching
Finding store
Standard
Soundbar 500
Searching
Finding store
Black
Bar 5.0 MultiBeam
Searching
Finding store
Standard
Soundbar 500
Searching
Finding store
Black
Bar 5.0 MultiBeam
Searching
Finding store
Back to Top

Bose Soundbar 500

JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam

Comments

  1. Comparison
 • Posted 1 year ago

Bose Soundbar 500 vs JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam: Main Discussion

What do you think of these products? Let us know below.


Looking for a personalized buying advice from the RTINGS.com experts? Insiders have direct access to buying advice on our insider forum.

Follow Discussion0 followingSee All Soundbars & Speakers Discussions
 Share
0 
PreviewBack to editorFormat guide
No comments yet, refresh to see new ones
We make money directly from you via insider access (which gives you access to extra features) and when you buy a product after clicking a link to a retailer. Learn more about how we work.
We buy our own products, just like you, mostly from the United States. When a product is discontinued or no longer popular, we sell the review units locally. You can see what products we currently have for sale here.
© 2025 9298-5266 Quebec Inc. All Rights Reserved.