Notice: Your browser is not supported or outdated so some features of the site might not be available.
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam vs JBL Bar 500
Side-by-Side Comparison
Products
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam
JBL Bar 500
Tested using Methodology v1.1
Updated Mar 15, 2024 07:13 PM
SEE PRICE
Amazon.comTested using Methodology v1.3
Updated Jun 04, 2024 01:46 PM
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
Channels5.0
Channels5.1
Variants
- Bar 5.0 MultiBeam (Black)
- Bar 500 (Black)
Our Verdict
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam
JBL Bar 500
The JBL Bar 500 is better than the JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam. The MultiBeam is a standalone soundbar that doesn't come with a dedicated subwoofer, and it can't reproduce as much bass as the 500. Plus, it doesn't have as many sound enhancement features, and it has some implementation issues with certain audio formats, like Dolby Digital, which takes away from the life-like experience intended by those who mix content in this format.
Check Price
Black
Bar 5.0 MultiBeam
Searching
Finding storeBlack
Bar 500
Searching
Finding storeBlack
Bar 5.0 MultiBeam
Searching
Finding storeBlack
Bar 500
Searching
Finding storeBlack
Bar 5.0 MultiBeam
Searching
Finding storeBlack
Bar 500
Searching
Finding storeBlack
Bar 5.0 MultiBeam
Searching
Finding storeBlack
Bar 500
Searching
Finding storeBlack
Bar 5.0 MultiBeam
Searching
Finding storeBlack
Bar 500
Searching
Finding storeMain Differences forMixed Usage
Mixed Usage
Threshold
Mixed Usage
7.2
7.7
Stereo Frequency Response
7.0
8.3
Dialogue Enhancement
No
Yes
Height (Atmos)
5.1
3.1
Full Comparison
Design
Style - Bar
Style photo - bar
Style - Subwoofer
Style photo - sub
Sub Wireless
No
Yes
Enclosure
No Subwoofer
Ported
Style - Satellites
Style photo - satellites
Satellite Wireless
No
No
Dimensions - Bar
Dimensions photo - bar
Width
28.0" (71.0 cm)
40.0" (101.6 cm)
Height
2.3" (5.8 cm)
2.3" (5.8 cm)
Depth
4.0" (10.2 cm)
4.1" (10.4 cm)
Dimensions - Subwoofer
Dimensions photo - sub
Width
N/A
12.0" (30.5 cm)
Height
N/A
17.2" (43.8 cm)
Depth
N/A
12.0" (30.5 cm)
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
Yes
Mountable Satellites
No
No
Satellite Brackets Included
No
No
Build Quality
8.0
8.0
Build quality photo
In The Box
In The Box photo
Sound
Stereo Frequency Response
7.0
8.3
Stereo Setup
Raw Frequency Response
Frequency Response Small
Channels
5.0
5.1
Tested Preset
Standard
Standard
Slope
-1.07
-0.44
Standard Error
3.38 dB
2.95 dB
Low-Frequency Extension
51.9 Hz
27.1 Hz
High-Frequency Extension
15.6 kHz
19.3 kHz
Stereo Frequency Response With Preliminary Calibration
7.0
8.3
Frequency Response Calibrated
Suggested Preset
Standard
Standard
Suggested Bass Setting
1
2
Suggested Treble Setting
N/A
N/A
Slope
0.18
0.21
Standard Error
3.07 dB
2.73 dB
Low-Frequency Extension
55.0 Hz
28.3 Hz
High-Frequency Extension
15.6 kHz
19.1 kHz
Stereo Soundstage
7.0
7.0
Crosstalk Error
2.83 dB
3.38 dB
Stereo Dynamics
7.6
7.5
Dynamic Range Compression
SPL @ Max Volume
91.9 dB SPL
94.5 dB SPL
DRC @ 90dB
1.03 dB
DRC @ Max Volume
1.57 dB
3.89 dB
Stereo Total Harmonic Distortion
8.0
Weighted THD @ 80dB
0.32
Weighted THD @ Max Volume
1.33
Center
8.2
8.5
Center Setup
Frequency Response
Localization
Discrete
Discrete
Slope
-0.30
0.49
Std. Err.
2.96 dB
2.94 dB
SPL @ Max Volume
88.9 dB SPL
95.5 dB SPL
Weighted THD @ 80dB
0.24
0.27
Weighted THD @ Max Volume
1.11
1.94
Surround 5.1
6.0
6.3
Surround Setup
Frequency Response
Localization
Phantom (Front Firing and Side Firing, Bar)
Phantom (Front Firing, Bar)
Slope
-0.77
-0.46
Std. Err.
3.80 dB
2.95 dB
SPL @ Max Volume
89.7 dB SPL
97.6 dB SPL
Weighted THD @ 80dB
1.11
0.28
Weighted THD @ Max Volume
2.36
2.53
7.1 Rears
No
No
Height (Atmos)
5.1
3.1
Height Setup
H Frequency Response
Localization
Surround (Downmix)
Stereo (Downmix)
Slope
-1.81
-1.18
Std. Err.
5.25 dB
5.45 dB
SPL @ Max Volume
84.5 dB SPL
85.6 dB SPL
Weighted THD @ 80dB
1.66
2.16
Weighted THD @ Max Volume
1.01
2.23
Sound Enhancement Features
4.7
7.4
Room Correction
Yes
Yes
Dialogue Enhancement
No
Yes
Auto-Volume/Night Mode
Yes
Yes
Subwoofer Level Adjustment
No
Yes
Bass Adjustment
Yes
No
Treble Adjustment
No
No
EQ
Presets
Graphic + Presets
Surround Level Adjustment
No
No
Rear Level Adjustment
No
No
Height Level Adjustment
No
No
Virtual Surround
Yes
Yes
Connectivity
Inputs/Outputs - Bar
Physical Connections Bar Photo 1
Physical Connections Bar Photo 2
Optical Audio In
1
1
HDMI ARC
1 (shared)
HDMI Out
1 (shared)
eARC
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
1
Subwoofer Output
No
No
Audio Format Support: ARC/eARC
8.8
8.1
Dolby Atmos
Yes
Supported
Dolby Digital
Yes
Supported
Dolby Digital Plus
Yes
Supported
Dolby TrueHD
Yes
Supported
DTS
No
Not 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
8.1
Dolby Atmos
Yes
Supported
Dolby Digital
Yes
Supported
Dolby Digital Plus
Yes
Supported
Dolby TrueHD
Yes
Supported
DTS
No
Not Supported
DTS:X
No
Not Supported
DTS-HD MA
No
Not Supported
PCM Channels
Up To 7.1
5.1 PCM
Yes
Audio Format Support: Optical
6.0
6.5
Dolby Digital
Yes
Supported
DTS
No
Not Supported
PCM Channels
2.0
Audio Latency: ARC
5.7
ARC Latency Video
PCM-2.0 ch
152 ms
PCM-5.1 ch
97 ms
Dolby MAT (PCM) Atmos
111 ms
Dolby Digital
147 ms
Dolby Digital Plus
154 ms
Dolby Digital Plus Atmos
123 ms
Audio Latency: HDMI In
9.5
5.5
HDMI Latency Video
Latency Video
PCM-2.0 ch
107 ms
PCM-5.1 ch
98 ms
Dolby MAT (PCM) Atmos
113 ms
Dolby Digital
167 ms
Dolby Digital Plus
159 ms
Dolby Digital Plus Atmos
127 ms
ARC
-19 ms
Optical
-7 ms
Full HDMI In
27 ms
Audio Latency: Optical
6.3
Optical Latency Video
PCM-2.0 ch
175 ms
Dolby Digital
237 ms
Video Passthrough To TV
0.0
9.0
1080p Max Refresh Rate
120Hz
1080p @ 4:4:4 Max Refresh Rate
120Hz
4k Max Refresh Rate
120Hz
4k @ 120Hz @ 10-Bit
Not Supported
4k @ 4:4:4 Max Refresh Rate
60Hz
8k Max Refresh Rate
30Hz
HDR10 Passthrough
Yes
Yes
HDR10+ Passthrough
Yes
Dolby Vision Passthrough
Yes
HDMI Forum VRR Passthrough
Yes
4k @ 60 Hz Passthrough
Yes
FreeSync Passthrough
No
G-SYNC Passthrough
No
ALLM Passthrough
Yes
4k @ 60 Hz @ 10 bit Passthrough
Yes
4k @ 60 Hz @ 4:4:4 Passthrough
Yes
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
Additional Features
Interface
Interface photo
Display
Yes
Yes
Bar Controls
Controls photo
Remote
Remote photo
Voice Assistants Support
Amazon Alexa
No
No
Google Assistant
No
No
Apple Siri
No
No
Microphone Mute
No
No
Check Price
Black
Bar 5.0 MultiBeam
Searching
Finding storeBlack
Bar 500
Searching
Finding storeBlack
Bar 5.0 MultiBeam
Searching
Finding storeBlack
Bar 500
Searching
Finding storeBlack
Bar 5.0 MultiBeam
Searching
Finding storeBlack
Bar 500
Searching
Finding storeBlack
Bar 5.0 MultiBeam
Searching
Finding storeBlack
Bar 500
Searching
Finding storeBlack
Bar 5.0 MultiBeam
Searching
Finding storeBlack
Bar 500
Searching
Finding store
You have 10/10 free reviews left
To access
and
Become an Insider
unlimited full product reviews,
product prices
other exclusive site features
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam
JBL Bar 500
Comments
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam vs JBL Bar 500: 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.