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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 Polk Audio MagniFi MAX SR

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround
Polk Audio MagniFi MAX SR

Tested using Methodology v1.2

Updated Mar 15, 2024 07:13 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v1.3

Updated Jan 17, 2024 02:23 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Picture
Polk Audio MagniFi MAX SR Picture
Channels
5.1
Channels
5.1

Variants

  • Bar 5.1 Surround (Black)
  • MagniFi MAX SR (Black)

Review

See JBL Bar 5.1 Surround review

See Polk Audio MagniFi MAX SR review

0
0

Our Verdict

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround

Polk Audio MagniFi MAX SR

Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the JBL Bar 5.1 Surround or the Polk Audio MagniFi MAX SR. The JBL is better built, and it comes with a room correction feature and a better surrounds performance. It also supports more wireless playback options. That said, the Polk Audio has a better soundstage and a unique adjustable dialogue enhancement feature.

0

Check Price

Black
Bar 5.1 Surround
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
MagniFi MAX SR
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
Bar 5.1 Surround
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
Black
MagniFi MAX SR
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
Black
Bar 5.1 Surround
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
Black
MagniFi MAX SR
SEE PRICE
B&H
Black
Bar 5.1 Surround
SEE PRICE
B&H
Black
MagniFi MAX SR
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com

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
7.7

Stereo Frequency Response 
 

7.8
8.4

Dialogue Enhancement 
 

No
Yes

Audio Format Support: ARC/eARC 
 

3.1
6.3

Full Comparison

Design

Style - Bar  

Style photo - bar  

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Style photo - bar
Polk Audio MagniFi MAX SR Style photo - bar

Show text

Style - Subwoofer  

Style photo - sub  

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Style photo - sub
Polk Audio MagniFi MAX SR 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
Polk Audio MagniFi MAX SR Style photo - satellites

Satellite Wireless 
 

No
Yes

Show text

Dimensions - Bar  

Dimensions photo - bar  

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Dimensions photo - bar
Polk Audio MagniFi MAX SR Dimensions photo - bar

Width  

40.0" (101.6 cm)
42.9" (109.0 cm)

Height  

2.3" (5.8 cm)
2.0" (5.0 cm)

Depth  

3.9" (9.8 cm)
3.7" (9.5 cm)

Show text

Dimensions - Subwoofer  

Dimensions photo - sub  

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Dimensions photo - sub
Polk Audio MagniFi MAX SR Dimensions photo - sub

Width  

12.0" (30.5 cm)
11.4" (29.0 cm)

Height  

17.3" (44.0 cm)
14.6" (37.0 cm)

Depth  

12.0" (30.5 cm)
13.8" (35.0 cm)

Show text

Dimensions - Satellites  

Dimensions photo - satellites  

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Dimensions photo - satellites
Polk Audio MagniFi MAX SR Dimensions photo - satellites

Width  

N/A
7.9" (20.0 cm)

Height  

N/A
4.7" (12.0 cm)

Depth  

N/A
3.7" (9.5 cm)

Show text

Mounting 
 

Bar Mounting Holes  

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Bar Mounting Holes
Polk Audio MagniFi MAX SR Bar Mounting Holes

Satellite Mounting Holes  

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Satellite Mounting Holes
Polk Audio MagniFi MAX SR Satellite Mounting Holes

Mountable Bar 
 

Yes
Yes

Bar Brackets Included 
 

Yes
Yes

Mountable Satellites 
 

No
Yes

Satellite Brackets Included 
 

No
No

Build Quality 
 

8.0
7.0

Build quality photo  

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Build quality photo
Polk Audio MagniFi MAX SR Build quality photo

Show text

In The Box 
 

In The Box photo   

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround In The Box photo
Polk Audio MagniFi MAX SR In The Box photo

Show text

Sound

Stereo Frequency Response 
 

7.8
8.4

Stereo Setup  

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Stereo Setup
Polk Audio MagniFi MAX SR 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

Tested Preset 
 

Standard
Music

Slope 
 

-0.89
-0.28

Standard Error 
 

3.56 dB
2.69 dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

33.6 Hz
27.5 Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

17.7 kHz
17.5 kHz

Show text

Stereo Frequency Response With Preliminary Calibration 
 

7.8
8.4

Frequency Response Calibrated  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Suggested Preset 
 

Standard
Music

Suggested Bass Setting 
 

3
-1

Suggested Treble Setting 
 

N/A
N/A

Slope 
 

-0.89
-0.01

Standard Error 
 

3.56 dB
2.44 dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

33.6 Hz
28.3 Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

17.7 kHz
18.0 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
3.23 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
95.2 dB SPL

DRC @ 90dB 
 

1.82 dB

DRC @ Max Volume 
 

3.44 dB
3.08 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
8.5

Center Setup  

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Center Setup
Polk Audio MagniFi MAX SR Center Setup

Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Discrete
Discrete

Slope 
 

-0.44
0.00

Std. Err. 
 

3.76 dB
2.90 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

92.0 dB SPL
94.5 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.32
0.35

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

0.98
1.22

Show text

Surround 5.1 
 

6.0
5.3

Surround Setup  

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Surround Setup
Polk Audio MagniFi MAX SR Surround Setup

Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Phantom (Front Firing, Bar)
Discrete

Slope 
 

-0.92
-4.25

Std. Err. 
 

3.54 dB
12.78 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

94.5 dB SPL
93.0 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.24
0.73

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

1.16
4.07

7.1 Rears 
 

No
No

Show text

Height (Atmos) 
 

0.0
0.0

Height Setup  

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Height Setup
Polk Audio MagniFi MAX SR Height Setup

H Frequency Response  

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround H Frequency Response
Polk Audio MagniFi MAX SR H Frequency Response

Localization 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

Slope 
 

N/A
N/A

Std. Err. 
 

N/A
N/A

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

N/A
N/A

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

N/A
N/A

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

N/A
N/A

Show text

Sound Enhancement Features 
 

5.6
4.8

Room Correction 
 

Yes
No

Dialogue Enhancement 
 

No
Yes

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
Yes

Rear Level Adjustment 
 

No
No

Height Level Adjustment 
 

No
No

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
Polk Audio MagniFi MAX SR Physical Connections Bar Photo 1

Physical Connections Bar Photo 2  

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Physical Connections Bar Photo 2
Polk Audio MagniFi MAX SR Physical Connections Bar Photo 2

Optical Audio In 
 

1
1

HDMI Out 
 

ARC
ARC

HDMI 2.1 Class Bandwidth 
 

No
No

Full HDMI In 
 

1
3

Analog Audio In 3.5mm (Aux) 
 

No
1

RCA In 
 

No
No

USB for Files 
 

No
No

Ethernet 
 

1
1

Subwoofer Output 
 

No
No

Show text

Audio Format Support: ARC/eARC 
 

3.1
6.3

Dolby Atmos 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

Dolby Digital 
 

Incorrect Implementation
Supported

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

Incorrect Implementation
Not Supported

Dolby TrueHD 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

DTS 
 

Not Supported
Supported

DTS:X 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

DTS-HD MA 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

PCM Channels 
 

2.0
2.0

Show text

Audio Format Support: HDMI In 
 

2.6
6.3

Dolby Atmos 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

Dolby Digital 
 

Incorrect Implementation
Supported

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

Dolby TrueHD 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

DTS 
 

Not Supported
Supported

DTS:X 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

DTS-HD MA 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

PCM Channels 
 

2.0
2.0

Show text

Audio Format Support: Optical 
 

4.3
10

Dolby Digital 
 

Incorrect Implementation
Supported

DTS 
 

Not Supported
Supported

PCM Channels 
 

2.0
2.0

Show text

Audio Latency: ARC 
 

9.4

ARC Latency Video  

PCM-2.0 ch 
 

69 ms

PCM-5.1 ch 
 

69 ms

Dolby MAT (PCM) Atmos 
 

N/A

Dolby Digital 
 

75 ms

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

N/A

Dolby Digital Plus Atmos 
 

N/A

Show text

Audio Latency: HDMI In 
 

7.2
9.5

HDMI Latency Video  

Latency Video  

PCM-2.0 ch 
 

68 ms

PCM-5.1 ch 
 

68 ms

Dolby MAT (PCM) Atmos 
 

N/A

Dolby Digital 
 

87 ms

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 
 

3.8

Optical Latency Video  

PCM-2.0 ch 
 

332 ms

Dolby Digital 
 

348 ms

Show text

Video Passthrough To TV 
 

7.8
7.8

1080p Max Refresh Rate 
 

120Hz
120Hz

1080p @ 4:4:4 Max Refresh Rate 
 

120Hz
120Hz

4k Max Refresh Rate 
 

60Hz
60Hz

4k @ 120Hz @ 10-Bit 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

4k @ 4:4:4 Max Refresh Rate 
 

60Hz
60Hz

8k Max Refresh Rate 
 

30Hz
30Hz

HDR10 Passthrough 
 

Yes
Yes

HDR10+ Passthrough 
 

No
No

Dolby Vision Passthrough 
 

Yes
Yes

HDMI Forum VRR Passthrough 
 

No
No

FreeSync Passthrough 
 

No
No

G-SYNC Passthrough 
 

No
No

ALLM Passthrough 
 

No
No

Show text

Wireless Playback 
 

10
9.0

Bluetooth 
 

Yes
Yes

Wi-Fi Playback 
 

Yes
Yes

Chromecast built-in 
 

Yes
Yes

Apple AirPlay 
 

Yes
No

Spotify Connect 
 

Yes
No

Show text

Additional Features

Interface 
 

Interface photo  

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Interface photo
Polk Audio MagniFi MAX SR Interface photo

Display 
 

Yes
No

Show text

Bar Controls 
 

Controls photo  

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Controls photo
Polk Audio MagniFi MAX SR Controls photo

Show text

Remote  

Remote photo  

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Remote photo
Polk Audio MagniFi MAX SR Remote photo

Show text

Voice Assistants Support 
 

Amazon Alexa 
 

No
No

Google Assistant 
 

No
No

Apple Siri 
 

No
No

Microphone Mute 
 

No
No

Check Price

Black
Bar 5.1 Surround
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
MagniFi MAX SR
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
Bar 5.1 Surround
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
Black
MagniFi MAX SR
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
Black
Bar 5.1 Surround
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
Black
MagniFi MAX SR
SEE PRICE
B&H
Black
Bar 5.1 Surround
SEE PRICE
B&H
Black
MagniFi MAX SR
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
Back to Top

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround

Polk Audio MagniFi MAX SR

Comments

  1. Comparison
 • Posted 1 year ago

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround vs Polk Audio MagniFi MAX SR: Main Discussion

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