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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. 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 5.1 Surround vs JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam

Tested using Methodology v1.2

Updated Mar 15, 2024 07:13 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v1.1

Updated Mar 15, 2024 07:13 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Picture
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Picture
Channels
5.1
Channels
5.0

Variants

  • Bar 5.1 Surround (Black)
  • Bar 5.0 MultiBeam (Black)

Review

See JBL Bar 5.1 Surround review

See JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam review

0
0

Our Verdict

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround

JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam

Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the JBL Bar 5.1 Surround or the JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam. The 5.1 Surround comes with a dedicated subwoofer, so it can reproduce a much more extended low-bass. The 5.0 MultiBeam has a more compact design, as well as better soundstage and Atmos performances.

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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
7.2

Stereo Frequency Response 
 

7.8
7.0

Height (Atmos) 
 

0.0
5.1

Audio Format Support: ARC/eARC 
 

3.1
8.8

Full Comparison

Design

Style - Bar  

Style photo - bar  

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Style photo - bar
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Style photo - bar

Show text

Style - Subwoofer  

Style photo - sub  

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Style photo - sub
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Style photo - sub

Sub Wireless 
 

Yes
No

Enclosure 
 

Ported
No Subwoofer

Show text

Style - Satellites  

Style photo - satellites  

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Style photo - satellites
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Style photo - satellites

Satellite Wireless 
 

No
No

Dimensions - Bar  

Dimensions photo - bar  

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Dimensions photo - bar
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Dimensions photo - bar

Width  

40.0" (101.6 cm)
28.0" (71.0 cm)

Height  

2.3" (5.8 cm)
2.3" (5.8 cm)

Depth  

3.9" (9.8 cm)
4.0" (10.2 cm)

Show text

Dimensions - Subwoofer  

Dimensions photo - sub  

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Dimensions photo - sub
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Dimensions photo - sub

Width  

12.0" (30.5 cm)
N/A

Height  

17.3" (44.0 cm)
N/A

Depth  

12.0" (30.5 cm)
N/A

Show text

Dimensions - Satellites  

Dimensions photo - satellites  

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Dimensions photo - satellites
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Dimensions photo - satellites

Width  

N/A
N/A

Height  

N/A
N/A

Depth  

N/A
N/A

Mounting 
 

Bar Mounting Holes  

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Bar Mounting Holes
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Bar Mounting Holes

Satellite Mounting Holes  

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Satellite Mounting Holes
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam 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  

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Build quality photo
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Build quality photo

Show text

In The Box 
 

In The Box photo   

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround In The Box photo
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam In The Box photo

Show text

Sound

Stereo Frequency Response 
 

7.8
7.0

Stereo Setup  

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Stereo Setup
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam 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 
 

-0.89
-1.07

Std. Err. 
 

3.56 dB
3.38 dB

Channels 
 

5.1
5.0

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

33.6 Hz
51.9 Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

17.7 kHz
15.6 kHz

Show text

Stereo Frequency Response With Preliminary Calibration 
 

7.8
7.0

Frequency Response Calibrated  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Suggested Preset 
 

Standard
Standard

Suggested Bass Setting 
 

3
1

Suggested Treble Setting 
 

N/A
N/A

Slope 
 

-0.89
0.18

Std. Err. 
 

3.56 dB
3.07 dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

33.6 Hz
55.0 Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

17.7 kHz
15.6 kHz

Show text

Stereo Soundstage 
 

6.5
7.0

Crosstalk  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Crosstalk Error 
 

2.92 dB
2.83 dB

Show text

Stereo Dynamics 
 

7.1
7.6

Dynamic Range Compression  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

94.9 dB SPL
91.9 dB SPL

DRC @ Max Volume 
 

3.44 dB
1.57 dB

Show text

Stereo Total Harmonic Distortion 
 

8.2
8.0

THD  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.26
0.32

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

1.18
1.33

Show text

Center 
 

8.1
8.2

Center Setup  

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Center Setup
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Center Setup

Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Discrete
Discrete

Slope 
 

-0.44
-0.30

Std. Err. 
 

3.76 dB
2.96 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

92.0 dB SPL
88.9 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.32
0.24

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

0.98
1.11

Show text

Surround 5.1 
 

6.0
6.0

Surround Setup  

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Surround Setup
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Surround Setup

Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

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

Slope 
 

-0.92
-0.77

Std. Err. 
 

3.54 dB
3.80 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

94.5 dB SPL
89.7 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.24
1.11

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

1.16
2.36

7.1 Rears 
 

No
No

Show text

Height (Atmos) 
 

0.0
5.1

Height Setup  

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Height Setup
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Height Setup

H Frequency Response  

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

Localization 
 

Not Supported
Surround (Downmix)

Slope 
 

N/A
-1.81

Std. Err. 
 

N/A
5.25 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

N/A
84.5 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

N/A
1.66

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

N/A
1.01

Show text

Sound Enhancement Features 
 

5.6
4.7

Room Correction 
 

Yes
Yes

Dialogue Enhancement 
 

No
No

Auto-Volume/Night Mode 
 

Yes
Yes

Subwoofer Level Adjustment 
 

Yes
No

Bass Adjustment 
 

No
Yes

Treble Adjustment 
 

No
No

EQ 
 

Presets
Presets

Surround Level Adjustment 
 

No
No

Rear Level Adjustment 
 

No
No

Height Level Adjustment 
 

No
No

Virtual Surround 
 

Yes
Yes

Show text

Connectivity

Inputs/Outputs - Bar 
 

Physical Connections Bar Photo 1  

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Physical Connections Bar Photo 1
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Physical Connections Bar Photo 1

Physical Connections Bar Photo 2  

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Physical Connections Bar Photo 2
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Physical Connections Bar Photo 2

Optical Audio In 
 

1
1

HDMI ARC 
 

1 (shared)

HDMI Out 
 

ARC
1 (shared)

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 
 

No
1

Ethernet 
 

1
1

Subwoofer Output 
 

No
No

Show text

Audio Format Support: ARC/eARC 
 

3.1
8.8

Dolby Atmos 
 

Not Supported
Yes

Dolby Digital 
 

Incorrect Implementation
Yes

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

Incorrect Implementation
Yes

Dolby TrueHD 
 

Not Supported
Yes

DTS 
 

Not Supported
No

DTS:X 
 

Not Supported
No

eARC 
 

Yes

DTS-HD MA 
 

Not Supported
No

PCM Channels 
 

2.0

5.1 PCM (eARC only) 
 

Yes

Show text

Audio Format Support: HDMI In 
 

2.6
8.7

Dolby Atmos 
 

Not Supported
Yes

Dolby Digital 
 

Incorrect Implementation
Yes

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

Not Supported
Yes

Dolby TrueHD 
 

Not Supported
Yes

DTS 
 

Not Supported
No

DTS:X 
 

Not Supported
No

DTS-HD MA 
 

Not Supported
No

PCM Channels 
 

2.0

5.1 PCM 
 

Yes

Show text

Audio Format Support: Optical 
 

4.3
6.0

Dolby Digital 
 

Incorrect Implementation
Yes

DTS 
 

Not Supported
No

PCM Channels 
 

2.0

Show text

Latency 
 

7.2
9.5

Latency Video  

ARC 
 

121 ms
-19 ms

Optical 
 

98 ms
-7 ms

Full HDMI In 
 

-14 ms
27 ms

Show text

Video Passthrough To TV 
 

7.8
0.0

1080p Max Refresh Rate 
 

120Hz

1080p @ 4:4:4 Max Refresh Rate 
 

120Hz

4k Max Refresh Rate 
 

60Hz

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 
 

No

Dolby Vision Passthrough 
 

Yes

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
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
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Interface photo

Display 
 

Yes
Yes

Show text

Bar Controls 
 

Controls photo  

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Controls photo
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Controls photo

Show text

Remote  

Remote photo  

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Remote photo
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam 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 5.1 Surround
Searching
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Black
Bar 5.0 MultiBeam
Searching
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Black
Bar 5.1 Surround
Searching
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Black
Bar 5.0 MultiBeam
Searching
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Black
Bar 5.1 Surround
Searching
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Black
Bar 5.0 MultiBeam
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Black
Bar 5.1 Surround
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Black
Bar 5.0 MultiBeam
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Bar 5.1 Surround
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Bar 5.0 MultiBeam
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JBL Bar 5.1 Surround

JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam

Comments

  1. Comparison
 • Posted 1 year ago

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround vs JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam: Main Discussion

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