Get insider access
Preferred store
Notice: Your browser is not supported or outdated so some features of the site might not be available.
Notice: Big Spring Sale Deal: The Samsung HW-Q990D has dropped by $500 on Amazon.com. See all Soundbar Big Spring Sale deals.
  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. Latency
    6. Video Passthrough To TV
    7. Wireless Playback
  7. Additional Features
    1. Interface
    2. Bar Controls
    3. Remote
    4. Voice Assistants Support
  8. Comments

JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam vs LG SP7Y

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam
LG SP7Y

Tested using Methodology v1.1

Updated Mar 15, 2024 07:13 PM

SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com

Tested using Methodology v1.2

Updated Jan 11, 2024 03:56 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Picture
LG SP7Y Picture

Variants

  • Bar 5.0 MultiBeam (Black)
  • SP7Y (Black)

Our Verdict

JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam

LG SP7Y

Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam or the LG SP7Y. The JBL is better built and supports Dolby Atmos content, so it's a better choice for movies. It offers a better surrounds performance and comes with a room correction feature and more wireless playback options. However, the LG is a better choice for dialogue-centric content since it comes with a dialogue enhancement feature. It also offers a better soundstage performance.

0 

Check Price

Black
Bar 5.0 MultiBeam
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
Black
Bar 5.0 MultiBeam
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
Bar 5.0 MultiBeam
B&H
Black
Bar 5.0 MultiBeam
Walmart.com
Black
SP7Y
B&H
 
Black
SP7Y
LG.com
Read more

Main Differences for
Mixed Usage

Threshold 

0.10

Mixed Usage 

7.2
7.1

Height (Atmos) 
 

5.1
0.0

Dialogue Enhancement 
 

No
Yes

Full Comparison

Design

Style - Bar  

Style photo - bar  

JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Style photo - bar
LG SP7Y Style photo - bar
Show text

Style - Subwoofer  

Style photo - sub  

JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Style photo - sub
LG SP7Y Style photo - sub

Sub Wireless 
 

No
Yes

Enclosure 
 

No Subwoofer
Ported
Show text

Style - Satellites  

Style photo - satellites  

JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Style photo - satellites
LG SP7Y Style photo - satellites

Satellite Wireless 
 

No
No
Show text

Dimensions - Bar  

Dimensions photo - bar  

JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Dimensions photo - bar
LG SP7Y Dimensions photo - bar

Width  

28.0" (71.0 cm)
39.4" (100.0 cm)

Height  

2.3" (5.8 cm)
2.5" (6.4 cm)

Depth  

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

Dimensions - Subwoofer  

Dimensions photo - sub  

JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Dimensions photo - sub
LG SP7Y Dimensions photo - sub

Width  

N/A
7.2" (18.2 cm)

Height  

N/A
15.4" (39.0 cm)

Depth  

N/A
11.5" (29.1 cm)
Show text

Dimensions - Satellites  

Dimensions photo - satellites  

JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Dimensions photo - satellites
LG SP7Y Dimensions photo - satellites

Width  

N/A
N/A

Height  

N/A
N/A

Depth  

N/A
N/A

Mounting 
 

Bar Mounting Holes  

JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Bar Mounting Holes
LG SP7Y Bar Mounting Holes

Satellite Mounting Holes  

JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Satellite Mounting Holes
LG SP7Y Satellite Mounting Holes

Mountable Bar 
 

Yes
Yes

Bar Brackets Included 
 

Yes
Yes

Mountable Satellites 
 

No
No

Satellite Brackets Included 
 

No
No

Build Quality 
 

8.0
7.5

Build quality photo  

JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Build quality photo
LG SP7Y Build quality photo
Show text

In The Box 
 

In The Box photo   

JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam In The Box photo
LG SP7Y In The Box photo
Show text
Sound

Stereo Frequency Response 
 

7.0
7.2

Stereo Setup  

JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Stereo Setup
LG SP7Y 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 
 

Standard
Standard

Slope 
 

-1.07
-1.43

Std. Err. 
 

3.38 dB
3.66 dB

Channels 
 

5.0
5.1

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

51.9 Hz
48.3 Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

15.6 kHz
19.9 kHz
Show text

Stereo Frequency Response With Preliminary Calibration 
 

7.0
7.4

Frequency Response Calibrated  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Suggested Preset 
 

Standard
Standard

Suggested Bass Setting 
 

1
-5

Suggested Treble Setting 
 

N/A
1

Slope 
 

0.18
-0.70

Std. Err. 
 

3.07 dB
2.86 dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

55.0 Hz
50.4 Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

15.6 kHz
19.9 kHz
Show text

Stereo Soundstage 
 

7.0
7.5

Crosstalk  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Crosstalk Error 
 

2.83 dB
2.55 dB
Show text

Stereo Dynamics 
 

7.6
8.0

Dynamic Range Compression  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

91.9 dB SPL
90.3 dB SPL

DRC @ Max Volume 
 

1.57 dB
0.53 dB
Show text

Stereo Total Harmonic Distortion 
 

8.0
7.8

THD  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.32
0.37

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

1.33
2.16
Show text

Center 
 

8.2
7.8

Center Setup  

JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Center Setup
LG SP7Y Center Setup

Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Discrete
Discrete

Slope 
 

-0.30
-0.20

Std. Err. 
 

2.96 dB
3.77 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

88.9 dB SPL
88.6 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.24
1.84

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

1.11
5.29
Show text

Surround 5.1 
 

6.0
4.9

Surround Setup  

JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Surround Setup
LG SP7Y Surround Setup

Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

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

Slope 
 

-0.77
-1.19

Std. Err. 
 

3.80 dB
6.79 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

89.7 dB SPL
92.7 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

1.11
1.42

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

2.36
7.15

7.1 Rears 
 

No
No
Show text

Height (Atmos) 
 

5.1
0.0

Height Setup  

JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Height Setup
LG SP7Y Height Setup

H Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
LG SP7Y H Frequency Response

Localization 
 

Surround (Downmix)
Not Supported

Slope 
 

-1.81
N/A

Std. Err. 
 

5.25 dB
N/A

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

84.5 dB SPL
N/A

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

1.66
N/A

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

1.01
N/A
Show text

Sound Enhancement Features 
 

4.7
7.4

Room Correction 
 

Yes
No

Dialogue Enhancement 
 

No
Yes

Auto-Volume/Night Mode 
 

Yes
Yes

Subwoofer Level Adjustment 
 

No
Yes

Bass Adjustment 
 

Yes
Yes

Treble Adjustment 
 

No
Yes

EQ 
 

Presets
Presets

Surround Level Adjustment 
 

No
Yes

Rear Level Adjustment 
 

No
Yes

Height Level Adjustment 
 

No
No

Virtual Surround 
 

Yes
Yes
Show text
Connectivity

Inputs/Outputs - Bar 
 

Physical Connections Bar Photo 1  

JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Physical Connections Bar Photo 1
LG SP7Y Physical Connections Bar Photo 1

Physical Connections Bar Photo 2  

JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Physical Connections Bar Photo 2
LG SP7Y Physical Connections Bar Photo 2

Optical Audio In 
 

1
1

HDMI ARC 
 

1 (shared)

HDMI Out 
 

1 (shared)
ARC

HDMI 2.1 Class Bandwidth 
 

No

Full HDMI In 
 

1
1

Analog Audio In 3.5mm (Aux) 
 

No
No

RCA In 
 

No
No

USB for Files 
 

1
1

Ethernet 
 

1
No

Subwoofer Output 
 

No
No
Show text

Audio Format Support: ARC/eARC 
 

8.8
6.3

Dolby Atmos 
 

Yes
Not Supported

Dolby Digital 
 

Yes
Supported

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

Yes
Not Supported

Dolby TrueHD 
 

Yes
Not Supported

DTS 
 

No
Supported

DTS:X 
 

No
Not Supported

eARC 
 

Yes

DTS-HD MA 
 

No
Not Supported

PCM Channels 
 

2.0

5.1 PCM (eARC only) 
 

Yes
Show text

Audio Format Support: HDMI In 
 

8.7
6.3

Dolby Atmos 
 

Yes
Not Supported

Dolby Digital 
 

Yes
Supported

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

Yes
Not Supported

Dolby TrueHD 
 

Yes
Not Supported

DTS 
 

No
Supported

DTS:X 
 

No
Not Supported

DTS-HD MA 
 

No
Not Supported

PCM Channels 
 

2.0

5.1 PCM 
 

Yes
Show text

Audio Format Support: Optical 
 

6.0
10

Dolby Digital 
 

Yes
Supported

DTS 
 

No
Supported

PCM Channels 
 

2.0
Show text

Latency 
 

9.5
9.0

Latency Video  

ARC 
 

-19 ms
38 ms

Optical 
 

-7 ms
40 ms

Full HDMI In 
 

27 ms
-10 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 
 

Yes
No

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
6.0

Bluetooth 
 

Yes
Yes

Wi-Fi Playback 
 

Yes
No

Chromecast built-in 
 

Yes
No

Apple AirPlay 
 

Yes
No

Spotify Connect 
 

Yes
No
Show text
Additional Features

Interface 
 

Interface photo  

JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Interface photo
LG SP7Y Interface photo

Display 
 

Yes
Yes
Show text

Bar Controls 
 

Controls photo  

JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Controls photo
LG SP7Y Controls photo
Show text

Remote  

Remote photo  

JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Remote photo
LG SP7Y Remote photo
Show text

Voice Assistants Support 
 

Amazon Alexa 
 

No
No

Google Assistant 
 

No
No

Apple Siri 
 

No
No

Microphone Mute 
 

No
No
Show text

Check Price

Black
Bar 5.0 MultiBeam
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
Black
Bar 5.0 MultiBeam
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
Bar 5.0 MultiBeam
B&H
Black
Bar 5.0 MultiBeam
Walmart.com
Black
SP7Y
B&H
 
Black
SP7Y
LG.com

JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam

LG SP7Y

Comments

  1. Comparison

JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam vs LG SP7Y: 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.

PreviewBack to editorFormat guide
No comments yet, refresh to see new ones