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JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam vs Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
Side-by-Side Comparison
Products
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam
Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
Tested using Methodology v1.1
Updated Mar 15, 2024 07:13 PM
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Amazon.comTested using Methodology v1.3
Updated May 12, 2025 07:14 PM
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Amazon.com
Channels5.0
Channels5.0
Variants
- Bar 5.0 MultiBeam (Black)
- Beam (Gen 2) (Black)
- Sonos Beam (Gen 2) (White)
Our Verdict
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam
Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
The Sonos Beam (Gen 2) is better than the JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam. The Sonos is better built and has better soundstage, surround, and Atmos performances. That said, the JBL does get a bit louder with less compression at max volume. Unlike the Sonos, it's also Bluetooth compatible and it a Full HDMI In port for high-quality passthrough.
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Black
Bar 5.0 MultiBeam
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Amazon.comBlack
Beam (Gen 2)
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Bar 5.0 MultiBeam
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Amazon.comWhite
Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
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Finding storeMain Differences forMixed Usage
Mixed Usage
Threshold
Mixed Usage
7.2
7.4
Stereo Frequency Response
7.0
7.4
Audio Format Support - Full HDMI In
8.7
0.0
Dialogue Enhancement
No
Yes
Stereo Soundstage
7.0
8.0
Full Comparison
Design
Style - Bar
Style photo - bar
Style - Subwoofer
Style photo - sub
Sub Wireless
No
No
Enclosure
No Subwoofer
No Subwoofer
Style - Satellites
Style photo - satellites
Satellite Wireless
No
No
Dimensions - Bar
Dimensions photo - bar
Width
28.0" (71.0 cm)
25.6" (65.0 cm)
Height
2.3" (5.8 cm)
2.6" (6.7 cm)
Depth
4.0" (10.2 cm)
4.0" (10.1 cm)
Dimensions - Subwoofer
Dimensions photo - sub
Width
N/A
N/A
Height
N/A
N/A
Depth
N/A
N/A
Dimensions - Satellites
Dimensions photo - satellites
Width
N/A
N/A
Height
N/A
N/A
Depth
N/A
N/A
Mounting
Bar Mounting Holes
Satellite Mounting Holes
Mountable Bar
Yes
Yes
Bar Brackets Included
Yes
No
Mountable Satellites
No
No
Satellite Brackets Included
No
No
Build Quality
8.0
8.5
Build quality photo
In The Box
In The Box photo
Sound
Stereo Frequency Response
7.0
7.4
Stereo Setup
Raw Frequency Response
Frequency Response Small
Channels
5.0
5.0
Tested Preset
Standard
No Preset
Slope
-1.07
-0.56
Standard Error
3.38 dB
2.82 dB
Low-Frequency Extension
51.9 Hz
50.4 Hz
High-Frequency Extension
15.6 kHz
16.7 kHz
Stereo Frequency Response With Preliminary Calibration
7.0
7.4
Frequency Response Calibrated
Suggested Preset
Standard
No Preset
Suggested Bass Setting
1
-3
Suggested Treble Setting
N/A
2
Slope
0.18
0.05
Standard Error
3.07 dB
2.66 dB
Low-Frequency Extension
55.0 Hz
51.9 Hz
High-Frequency Extension
15.6 kHz
17.2 kHz
Stereo Soundstage
7.0
8.0
Crosstalk Error
2.83 dB
2.32 dB
Stereo Dynamics
7.6
7.1
Dynamic Range Compression
SPL @ Max Volume
91.9 dB SPL
88.8 dB SPL
DRC @ 90dB
N/A
DRC @ Max Volume
1.57 dB
1.70 dB
Stereo Total Harmonic Distortion
8.0
Weighted THD @ 80dB
0.32
Weighted THD @ Max Volume
1.33
Center
8.2
7.4
Center Setup
Frequency Response
Localization
Discrete
Discrete
Slope
-0.30
0.24
Std. Err.
2.96 dB
3.73 dB
SPL @ Max Volume
88.9 dB SPL
72.3 dB SPL
Weighted THD @ 80dB
0.24
0.63
Weighted THD @ Max Volume
1.11
1.54
Surround 5.1
6.0
5.9
Surround Setup
Frequency Response
Localization
Phantom (Front Firing and Side Firing, Bar)
Phantom (Front Firing and Side Firing, Bar)
Slope
-0.77
-0.56
Std. Err.
3.80 dB
2.79 dB
SPL @ Max Volume
89.7 dB SPL
70.4 dB SPL
Weighted THD @ 80dB
1.11
0.38
Weighted THD @ Max Volume
2.36
0.87
7.1 Rears
No
No
Height (Atmos)
5.1
5.7
Height Setup
H Frequency Response
Localization
Surround (Downmix)
Phantom (Front Firing, Bar)
Slope
-1.81
1.01
Std. Err.
5.25 dB
3.35 dB
SPL @ Max Volume
84.5 dB SPL
59.2 dB SPL
Weighted THD @ 80dB
1.66
1.45
Weighted THD @ Max Volume
1.01
0.30
Sound Enhancement Features
4.7
5.4
Room Correction
Yes
Yes
Dialogue Enhancement
No
Yes
Auto-Volume/Night Mode
Yes
Yes
Subwoofer Level Adjustment
No
No
Bass Adjustment
Yes
Yes
Treble Adjustment
No
Yes
EQ
Presets
No
Surround Level Adjustment
No
No
Rear Level Adjustment
No
No
Height Level Adjustment
No
No
Virtual Surround
Yes
No
Connectivity
Inputs/Outputs - Bar
Physical Connections Bar Photo 1
Physical Connections Bar Photo 2
Optical Audio In
1
Adapter into HDMI ARC
HDMI ARC
1 (shared)
HDMI Out
1 (shared)
eARC
HDMI 2.1 Class Bandwidth
No
Full HDMI In
1
No
Analog Audio In 3.5mm (Aux)
No
No
RCA In
No
No
USB for Files
1
No
Ethernet
1
1
Subwoofer Output
No
No
Audio Format Support: ARC/eARC
8.8
9.6
Dolby Atmos
Yes
Supported
Dolby Digital
Yes
Supported
Dolby Digital Plus
Yes
Supported
Dolby TrueHD
Yes
Supported
DTS
No
Supported
DTS:X
No
Not Supported
eARC
Yes
DTS-HD MA
No
Not Supported
PCM Channels
Up To 7.1
5.1 PCM (eARC only)
Yes
Audio Format Support: HDMI In
8.7
0.0
Dolby Atmos
Yes
Not Supported
Dolby Digital
Yes
Not Supported
Dolby Digital Plus
Yes
Not Supported
Dolby TrueHD
Yes
Not Supported
DTS
No
Not Supported
DTS:X
No
Not Supported
DTS-HD MA
No
Not Supported
PCM Channels
Not Supported
5.1 PCM
Yes
Audio Format Support: Optical
6.0
10
Dolby Digital
Yes
Supported
DTS
No
Supported
PCM Channels
2.0
Audio Latency: ARC
7.3
ARC Latency Video
PCM-2.0 ch
61 ms
PCM-5.1 ch
61 ms
Dolby MAT (PCM) Atmos
79 ms
Dolby Digital
111 ms
Dolby Digital Plus
121 ms
Dolby Digital Plus Atmos
121 ms
Audio Latency: HDMI In
9.5
0.0
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
Audio Latency: Optical
7.8
Optical Latency Video
PCM-2.0 ch
119 ms
Dolby Digital
180 ms
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
Wireless Playback
10
3.0
Bluetooth
Yes
No
Wi-Fi Playback
Yes
Yes
Chromecast built-in
Yes
No
Apple AirPlay
Yes
Yes
Spotify Connect
Yes
Yes
Additional Features
Interface
Interface photo
Display
Yes
No
Bar Controls
Controls photo
Remote
Remote photo
Voice Assistants Support
Amazon Alexa
No
Yes (Built-in)
Google Assistant
No
Yes (Built-in)
Apple Siri
No
No
Microphone Mute
No
Yes
Check Price
Black
Bar 5.0 MultiBeam
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Amazon.comBlack
Beam (Gen 2)
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Bar 5.0 MultiBeam
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Amazon.comWhite
Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
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JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam
Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
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JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam vs Sonos Beam (Gen 2): Main Discussion
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