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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
    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/eARC
    3. Audio Format Support: HDMI In
    4. Audio Format Support: Optical
    5. Latency
    6. Video Passthrough To TV
    7. Wireless Playback
    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 9.1

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

Bose Soundbar 500
JBL Bar 9.1

Tested using Methodology v1.0

Updated Mar 15, 2024 07:12 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v1.2

Updated Sep 05, 2024 07:07 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Bose Soundbar 500 Picture
JBL Bar 9.1 Picture
Channels
3.0
Channels
5.1.4

Variants

  • Soundbar 500
  • Bar 9.1 (Black)

Review

See Bose Soundbar 500 Review
See JBL Bar 9.1 Review
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0 

Our Verdict

Bose Soundbar 500

JBL Bar 9.1

The JBL Bar 9.1 is better than the Bose Soundbar 500. Unlike the Bose, the JBL supports Dolby Atmos content and comes with a dedicated sub and two satellites. It gets louder, and it has a better soundstage. Also, it comes with a Full HDMI In port that supports high-quality passthrough. However, only the Bose has built-in voice assistant support.

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Standard
Soundbar 500
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Black
Bar 9.1
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Soundbar 500
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Black
Bar 9.1
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Soundbar 500
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Bar 9.1
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Soundbar 500
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Bar 9.1
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Soundbar 500
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Bar 9.1
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Main Differences for
Mixed Usage

Threshold 

0.10

Mixed Usage 

6.7
7.9

Stereo Frequency Response 
 

7.1
8.1

Height (Atmos) 
 

0.0
6.1

Surround 5.1 
 

3.6
7.7

Audio Format Support - Full HDMI In 
 

0.0
10

Dialogue Enhancement 
 

Yes
No

Auto-Volume/Night Mode 
 

No
Yes

Audio Format Support - ARC 
 

6.6
10

Stereo Dynamics 
 

6.6
7.8

Stereo Soundstage 
 

7.0
8.0

Full Comparison

Design

Style - Bar  

Style photo - bar  

Bose Soundbar 500 Style photo - bar
JBL Bar 9.1 Style photo - bar
Show Text 

Style - Subwoofer  

Style photo - sub  

Bose Soundbar 500 Style photo - sub
JBL Bar 9.1 Style photo - sub

Sub Wireless 
 

No
Yes

Enclosure 
 

No Subwoofer
Ported
Show Text 

Style - Satellites  

Style photo - satellites  

Bose Soundbar 500 Style photo - satellites
JBL Bar 9.1 Style photo - satellites

Satellite Wireless 
 

No
Yes
Show Text 

Dimensions - Bar  

Dimensions photo - bar  

Bose Soundbar 500 Dimensions photo - bar
JBL Bar 9.1 Dimensions photo - bar

Width  

31.5" (80.0 cm)
34.8" (88.4 cm)

Height  

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

Depth  

4.0" (10.2 cm)
4.7" (11.9 cm)
Show Text 

Dimensions - Subwoofer  

Dimensions photo - sub  

Bose Soundbar 500 Dimensions photo - sub
JBL Bar 9.1 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 Soundbar 500 Dimensions photo - satellites
JBL Bar 9.1 Dimensions photo - satellites

Width  

N/A
6.8" (17.3 cm)

Height  

N/A
2.2" (5.6 cm)

Depth  

N/A
4.7" (12.0 cm)
Show Text 

Mounting 
 

Bar Mounting Holes  

JBL Bar 9.1 Bar Mounting Holes

Satellite Mounting Holes  

JBL Bar 9.1 Satellite Mounting Holes

Mountable Bar 
 

Yes

Bar Brackets Included 
 

Yes

Mountable Satellites 
 

Yes

Satellite Brackets Included 
 

Yes

Build Quality 
 

8.0
8.0

Build quality photo  

Bose Soundbar 500 Build quality photo
JBL Bar 9.1 Build quality photo
Show Text 

In The Box 
 

In The Box photo   

Bose Soundbar 500 In The Box photo
JBL Bar 9.1 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
Ported
Show Text 

Back - Satellites  

Back photo - satellites  

Bose Soundbar 500 Back photo - satellites

Mounting 
 

No
Show Text 
Sound

Stereo Frequency Response 
 

7.1
8.1

Stereo Setup  

Bose Soundbar 500 Stereo Setup
JBL Bar 9.1 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
-0.31

Std. Err. 
 

2.53 dB
2.63 dB

Channels 
 

3.0
5.1.4

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

55.8 Hz
33.6 Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

14.7 kHz
18.8 kHz
Show Text 

Stereo Frequency Response With Preliminary Calibration 
 

7.2
8.1

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 
 

0.15
-0.31

Std. Err. 
 

2.14 dB
2.63 dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

55.8 Hz
33.6 Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

14.7 kHz
18.8 kHz

Stereo Soundstage 
 

7.0
8.0

Crosstalk  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Crosstalk Error 
 

1.89 dB
3.22 dB
Show Text 

Stereo Dynamics 
 

6.6
7.8

Dynamic Range Compression  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

90.3 dB SPL
95.0 dB SPL

DRC @ Max Volume 
 

3.29 dB
2.10 dB
Show Text 

Stereo Total Harmonic Distortion 
 

8.0
8.2

THD  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.40
0.22

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

0.98
1.73
Show Text 

Center 
 

8.3
8.6

Center Setup  

Bose Soundbar 500 Center Setup
JBL Bar 9.1 Center Setup

Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Discrete
Discrete

Slope 
 

0.59
-0.03

Std. Err. 
 

2.88 dB
2.62 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

89.6 dB SPL
94.3 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.37
0.29

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

0.97
1.60
Show Text 

Surround 5.1 
 

3.6
7.7

Surround Setup  

Bose Soundbar 500 Surround Setup
JBL Bar 9.1 Surround Setup

Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Stereo (Downmix)
Discrete

Slope 
 

-0.10
-0.38

Std. Err. 
 

4.17 dB
4.10 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

87.7 dB SPL
97.8 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

1.09
0.23

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

2.31
1.79

7.1 Rears 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Height (Atmos) 
 

0.0
6.1

Height Setup  

Bose Soundbar 500 Height Setup
JBL Bar 9.1 Height Setup

H Frequency Response  

Bose Soundbar 500 H Frequency Response
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Not Supported
Phantom (Up Firing, Bar & Satellites)

Slope 
 

N/A
-1.44

Std. Err. 
 

N/A
5.40 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

N/A
89.7 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

N/A
1.04

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

N/A
0.63
Show Text 

Sound Enhancement Features 
 

4.6
6.2

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
Yes

Rear Level Adjustment 
 

No
No

Height Level Adjustment 
 

No
Yes

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 9.1 Physical Connections Bar Photo 1

Physical Connections Bar Photo 2  

Bose Soundbar 500 Physical Connections Bar Photo 2
JBL Bar 9.1 Physical Connections Bar Photo 2

Optical Audio In 
 

1
1

HDMI Out 
 

No
eARC

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
No

Ethernet 
 

1
1

Subwoofer Output 
 

No

HDMI ARC 
 

1
Show Text 

Audio Format Support: ARC/eARC 
 

6.6
10

Dolby Atmos 
 

No
Supported

Dolby Digital 
 

Yes
Supported

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

No
Supported

Dolby TrueHD 
 

No
Supported

DTS 
 

No
Supported

DTS:X 
 

No
Supported

eARC 
 

Yes

DTS-HD MA 
 

No
Supported

PCM Channels 
 

Up To 7.1

5.1 PCM (eARC only) 
 

Undetermined
Show Text 

Audio Format Support: HDMI In 
 

0.0
10

Dolby Atmos 
 

No
Supported

Dolby Digital 
 

No
Supported

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

No
Supported

Dolby TrueHD 
 

No
Supported

DTS 
 

No
Supported

DTS:X 
 

No
Supported

DTS-HD MA 
 

No
Supported

PCM Channels 
 

Up To 7.1

5.1 PCM 
 

No
Show Text 

Audio Format Support: Optical 
 

6.0
10

Dolby Digital 
 

Yes
Supported

DTS 
 

No
Supported

PCM Channels 
 

2.0
Show Text 

Latency 
 

8.4
8.1

Latency Video  

ARC 
 

50 ms
53 ms

Optical 
 

46 ms
47 ms

Full HDMI In 
 

N/A
-53 ms

Video Passthrough To TV 
 

0.0
6.3

1080p Max Refresh Rate 
 

60Hz

1080p @ 4:4:4 Max Refresh Rate 
 

60Hz

4k Max Refresh Rate 
 

60Hz

4k @ 120Hz @ 10-Bit 
 

Not Supported

4k @ 4:4:4 Max Refresh Rate 
 

60Hz

8k Max Refresh Rate 
 

Not Supported

HDR10 Passthrough 
 

No
Yes

HDR10+ Passthrough 
 

No

Dolby Vision Passthrough 
 

Yes

HDMI Forum VRR Passthrough 
 

No

4k @ 60 Hz Passthrough 
 

No

FreeSync Passthrough 
 

No

G-SYNC Passthrough 
 

No

ALLM Passthrough 
 

No

4k @ 60 Hz @ 10 bit Passthrough 
 

No

4k @ 60 Hz @ 4:4:4 Passthrough 
 

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 
 

No
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
Yes
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
Yes
Show Text 
Additional Features

Interface 
 

Interface photo  

Bose Soundbar 500 Interface photo
JBL Bar 9.1 Interface photo

Display 
 

No
Yes
Show Text 

Bar Controls 
 

Controls photo  

Bose Soundbar 500 Controls photo
JBL Bar 9.1 Controls photo
Show Text 

Remote  

Remote photo  

Bose Soundbar 500 Remote photo
JBL Bar 9.1 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
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Black
Bar 9.1
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Standard
Soundbar 500
Searching
Finding store
Black
Bar 9.1
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Finding store
Standard
Soundbar 500
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Finding store
Black
Bar 9.1
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Finding store
Standard
Soundbar 500
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Finding store
Black
Bar 9.1
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Standard
Soundbar 500
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Bar 9.1
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Bose Soundbar 500

JBL Bar 9.1

Comments

  1. Comparison
 • Posted 1 year ago

Bose Soundbar 500 vs JBL Bar 9.1: Main Discussion

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