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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
  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. Audio Latency: ARC
    6. Audio Latency: HDMI In
    7. Audio Latency: Optical
    8. Video Passthrough To TV
    9. Wireless Playback
  7. Additional Features
    1. Interface
    2. Bar Controls
    3. Remote
    4. Voice Assistants Support
  8. Comments

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround vs Bose Smart Soundbar 900 with Speakers + Bass Module

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround
Bose Smart Soundbar 900 with Speakers + Bass Module

Tested using Methodology v1.2

Updated Mar 15, 2024 07:13 PM

SEE PRICE
Walmart.com

Tested using Methodology v1.3

Updated Jan 10, 2025 02:44 PM

SEARCH
Amazon.com
JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Picture
Bose Smart Soundbar 900 with Speakers + Bass Module Picture
Channels
5.1
Channels
5.1.2

Variants

  • Bar 5.1 Surround (Black)
  • Smart Soundbar 900 with Speakers + Bass Module (Arctic White)
  • Smart Soundbar 900 with Speakers + Bass Module (Black)

Review

See JBL Bar 5.1 Surround review

See Bose Smart Soundbar 900 with Speakers + Bass Module review

0
0

Our Verdict

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround

Bose Smart Soundbar 900 with Speakers + Bass Module

The Bose Smart Soundbar 900 with Speakers + Bass Module is better than the JBL Bar 5.1 Surround. The Bose is a better-built setup with discrete satellites. It has better soundstage and surround performances. Unlike the JBL, it also supports Atmos content. Also, it can get louder with less compression at max volume.

0

Check Price

Black
Bar 5.1 Surround
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
Black
Smart Soundbar 900 with Speakers + Bass Module
Searching
Finding store
Black
Bar 5.1 Surround
SEARCH
Amazon.com
Arctic White
Smart Soundbar 900 with Speakers + Bass Module
Searching
Finding store
Black
Bar 5.1 Surround
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
 
Black
Bar 5.1 Surround
SEARCH
B&H
 

Notice: Two or more of the products selected have been tested with different test methodologies, so some of the results below aren't directly comparable. Learn how our test benches and scoring system work, and read more about the latest changes to our soundbars test methodology.

Main Differences for

Threshold 

0.10

Mixed Usage 

6.9
8.2

Stereo Frequency Response 
 

7.8
8.6

Height (Atmos) 
 

0.0
5.8

Stereo Soundstage 
 

6.5
8.5

Audio Format Support: ARC/eARC 
 

3.1
8.1

Stereo Dynamics 
 

7.1
8.4

Dialogue Enhancement 
 

No
Yes

Auto-Volume/Night Mode 
 

Yes
No

Full Comparison

Design

Style - Bar  

Style photo - bar  

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Style photo - bar
Bose Smart Soundbar 900 with Speakers + Bass Module Style photo - bar

Show text

Style - Subwoofer  

Style photo - sub  

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Style photo - sub
Bose Smart Soundbar 900 with Speakers + Bass Module Style photo - sub

Sub Wireless 
 

Yes
Yes

Enclosure 
 

Ported
Ported

Show text

Style - Satellites  

Style photo - satellites  

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Style photo - satellites
Bose Smart Soundbar 900 with Speakers + Bass Module Style photo - satellites

Satellite Wireless 
 

No
Yes

Show text

Dimensions - Bar  

Dimensions photo - bar  

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Dimensions photo - bar
Bose Smart Soundbar 900 with Speakers + Bass Module Dimensions photo - bar

Width  

40.0" (101.6 cm)
41.1" (104.5 cm)

Height  

2.3" (5.8 cm)
2.2" (5.7 cm)

Depth  

3.9" (9.8 cm)
4.3" (11.0 cm)

Show text

Dimensions - Subwoofer  

Dimensions photo - sub  

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Dimensions photo - sub
Bose Smart Soundbar 900 with Speakers + Bass Module Dimensions photo - sub

Width  

12.0" (30.5 cm)
11.6" (29.5 cm)

Height  

17.3" (44.0 cm)
12.7" (32.3 cm)

Depth  

12.0" (30.5 cm)
11.6" (29.5 cm)

Show text

Dimensions - Satellites  

Dimensions photo - satellites  

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Dimensions photo - satellites
Bose Smart Soundbar 900 with Speakers + Bass Module Dimensions photo - satellites

Width  

N/A
1.9" (4.8 cm)

Height  

N/A
5.6" (14.3 cm)

Depth  

N/A
1.9" (4.8 cm)

Show text

Mounting 
 

Bar Mounting Holes  

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Bar Mounting Holes
Bose Smart Soundbar 900 with Speakers + Bass Module Bar Mounting Holes

Satellite Mounting Holes  

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Satellite Mounting Holes
Bose Smart Soundbar 900 with Speakers + Bass Module Satellite Mounting Holes

Mountable Bar 
 

Yes
Yes

Bar Brackets Included 
 

Yes
No

Mountable Satellites 
 

No
Yes

Satellite Brackets Included 
 

No
No

Build Quality 
 

8.0
8.5

Build quality photo  

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Build quality photo
Bose Smart Soundbar 900 with Speakers + Bass Module Build quality photo

Show text

In The Box 
 

In The Box photo   

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround In The Box photo
Bose Smart Soundbar 900 with Speakers + Bass Module In The Box photo

Show text

Sound

Stereo Frequency Response 
 

7.8
8.6

Stereo Setup  

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Stereo Setup
Bose Smart Soundbar 900 with Speakers + Bass Module 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

Channels 
 

5.1
5.1.2

Tested Preset 
 

Standard
No Preset

Slope 
 

-0.89
-0.15

Standard Error 
 

3.56 dB
2.08 dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

33.6 Hz
25.9 Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

17.7 kHz
19.9 kHz

Show text

Stereo Frequency Response With Preliminary Calibration 
 

7.8
8.6

Frequency Response Calibrated  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Suggested Preset 
 

Standard
No Preset

Suggested Bass Setting 
 

3
0

Suggested Treble Setting 
 

N/A
0

Slope 
 

-0.89
-0.15

Standard Error 
 

3.56 dB
2.08 dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

33.6 Hz
25.9 Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

17.7 kHz
19.9 kHz

Show text

Stereo Soundstage 
 

6.5
8.5

Crosstalk  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Crosstalk Error 
 

2.92 dB
2.36 dB

Show text

Stereo Dynamics 
 

7.1
8.4

Dynamic Range Compression  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

94.9 dB SPL
95.3 dB SPL

DRC @ 90dB 
 

0.47 dB

DRC @ Max Volume 
 

3.44 dB
1.39 dB

Show text

Stereo Total Harmonic Distortion 
 

8.2

THD  

See details on graph tool

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.26

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

1.18

Show text

Center 
 

8.1
8.1

Center Setup  

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Center Setup
Bose Smart Soundbar 900 with Speakers + Bass Module Center Setup

Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Discrete
Discrete

Slope 
 

-0.44
0.03

Std. Err. 
 

3.76 dB
2.00 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

92.0 dB SPL
76.1 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.32
0.42

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

0.98
3.16

Show text

Surround 5.1 
 

6.0
7.3

Surround Setup  

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Surround Setup
Bose Smart Soundbar 900 with Speakers + Bass Module Surround Setup

Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Phantom (Front Firing, Bar)
Discrete

Slope 
 

-0.92
-0.60

Std. Err. 
 

3.54 dB
2.86 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

94.5 dB SPL
72.3 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.24
0.35

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

1.16
0.83

7.1 Rears 
 

No
No

Show text

Height (Atmos) 
 

0.0
5.8

Height Setup  

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Height Setup
Bose Smart Soundbar 900 with Speakers + Bass Module Height Setup

H Frequency Response  

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround H Frequency Response
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Not Supported
Phantom (Side Firing and Up Firing, Bar)

Slope 
 

N/A
-0.89

Std. Err. 
 

N/A
3.68 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

N/A
65.9 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

N/A
0.61

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

N/A
1.72

Show text

Sound Enhancement Features 
 

5.6
6.3

Room Correction 
 

Yes
Yes

Dialogue Enhancement 
 

No
Yes

Auto-Volume/Night Mode 
 

Yes
No

Subwoofer Level Adjustment 
 

Yes
Yes

Bass Adjustment 
 

No
Yes

Treble Adjustment 
 

No
Yes

EQ 
 

Presets
No

Surround Level Adjustment 
 

No
No

Rear Level Adjustment 
 

No
Yes

Height Level Adjustment 
 

No
Yes

Virtual Surround 
 

Yes
No

Show text

Connectivity

Inputs/Outputs - Bar 
 

Physical Connections Bar Photo 1  

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Physical Connections Bar Photo 1
Bose Smart Soundbar 900 with Speakers + Bass Module Physical Connections Bar Photo 1

Physical Connections Bar Photo 2  

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Physical Connections Bar Photo 2
Bose Smart Soundbar 900 with Speakers + Bass Module Physical Connections Bar Photo 2

Optical Audio In 
 

1
1

HDMI Out 
 

ARC
eARC

HDMI 2.1 Class Bandwidth 
 

No
No

Full HDMI In 
 

1
No

Analog Audio In 3.5mm (Aux) 
 

No
No

RCA In 
 

No
No

USB for Files 
 

No
No

Ethernet 
 

1
1

Subwoofer Output 
 

No
Yes

Show text

Audio Format Support: ARC/eARC 
 

3.1
8.1

Dolby Atmos 
 

Not Supported
Supported

Dolby Digital 
 

Incorrect Implementation
Supported

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

Incorrect Implementation
Supported

Dolby TrueHD 
 

Not Supported
Supported

DTS 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

DTS:X 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

DTS-HD MA 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

PCM Channels 
 

2.0
Up To 7.1

Show text

Audio Format Support: HDMI In 
 

2.6
0.0

Dolby Atmos 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

Dolby Digital 
 

Incorrect Implementation
Not Supported

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

Dolby TrueHD 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

DTS 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

DTS:X 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

DTS-HD MA 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

PCM Channels 
 

2.0
Not Supported

Show text

Audio Format Support: Optical 
 

4.3
6.5

Dolby Digital 
 

Incorrect Implementation
Supported

DTS 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

PCM Channels 
 

2.0
2.0

Show text

Audio Latency: ARC 
 

7.0

ARC Latency Video  

PCM-2.0 ch 
 

86 ms

PCM-5.1 ch 
 

85 ms

Dolby MAT (PCM) Atmos 
 

91 ms

Dolby Digital 
 

111 ms

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

115 ms

Dolby Digital Plus Atmos 
 

125 ms

Show text

Audio Latency: HDMI In 
 

7.2
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 
 

121 ms

Optical 
 

98 ms

Full HDMI In 
 

-14 ms

Show text

Audio Latency: Optical 
 

6.6

Optical Latency Video  

PCM-2.0 ch 
 

159 ms

Dolby Digital 
 

220 ms

Show text

Video Passthrough To TV 
 

7.8
0.0

1080p Max Refresh Rate 
 

120Hz
Not Supported

1080p @ 4:4:4 Max Refresh Rate 
 

120Hz
Not Supported

4k Max Refresh Rate 
 

60Hz
Not Supported

4k @ 120Hz @ 10-Bit 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

4k @ 4:4:4 Max Refresh Rate 
 

60Hz
Not Supported

8k Max Refresh Rate 
 

30Hz
Not Supported

HDR10 Passthrough 
 

Yes
No

HDR10+ Passthrough 
 

No
No

Dolby Vision Passthrough 
 

Yes
No

HDMI Forum VRR Passthrough 
 

No
No

FreeSync Passthrough 
 

No
No

G-SYNC Passthrough 
 

No
No

ALLM Passthrough 
 

No
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 
 

Yes
Yes

Show text

Additional Features

Interface 
 

Interface photo  

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Interface photo
Bose Smart Soundbar 900 with Speakers + Bass Module Interface photo

Display 
 

Yes
No

Show text

Bar Controls 
 

Controls photo  

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Controls photo
Bose Smart Soundbar 900 with Speakers + Bass Module Controls photo

Show text

Remote  

Remote photo  

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Remote photo
Bose Smart Soundbar 900 with Speakers + Bass Module Remote photo

Show text

Voice Assistants Support 
 

Amazon Alexa 
 

No
Yes (Built-in)

Google Assistant 
 

No
Yes (Built-in)

Apple Siri 
 

No
No

Microphone Mute 
 

No
Yes

Show text

Check Price

Black
Bar 5.1 Surround
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
Black
Smart Soundbar 900 with Speakers + Bass Module
Searching
Finding store
Black
Bar 5.1 Surround
SEARCH
Amazon.com
Arctic White
Smart Soundbar 900 with Speakers + Bass Module
Searching
Finding store
Black
Bar 5.1 Surround
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
 
Black
Bar 5.1 Surround
SEARCH
B&H
 
Back to Top

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround

Bose Smart Soundbar 900 with Speakers + Bass Module

Comments

  1. Comparison
 • Posted 1 year ago

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround vs Bose Smart Soundbar 900 with Speakers + Bass Module: Main Discussion

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