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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 Samsung HW-A650

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround
Samsung HW-A650

Tested using Methodology v1.2

Updated Mar 15, 2024 07:13 PM

SEE PRICE
Walmart.com

Tested using Methodology v1.1

Updated Jan 30, 2024 04:32 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Picture
Samsung HW-A650 Picture
Channels
5.1
Channels
3.1

Variants

  • Bar 5.1 Surround (Black)
  • HW-A650 (Black)

Review

See JBL Bar 5.1 Surround review

See Samsung HW-A650 review

0
0

Our Verdict

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround

Samsung HW-A650

The Samsung HW-A650 is a bit better for mixed usage than the JBL Bar 5.1 Surround. The Samsung has a better soundstage, and it comes with a few more sound enhancement features like a graphic EQ and dialogue enhancement. That said, the JBL has a better surround performance, and it supports high quality passthrough via Full HDMI In.

0

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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
7.4

Audio Format Support: ARC/eARC 
 

3.1
7.1

Surround 5.1 
 

6.0
3.7

Dialogue Enhancement 
 

No
Yes

Full Comparison

Design

Style - Bar  

Style photo - bar  

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Style photo - bar
Samsung HW-A650 Style photo - bar

Show text

Style - Subwoofer  

Style photo - sub  

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Style photo - sub
Samsung HW-A650 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
Samsung HW-A650 Style photo - satellites

Satellite Wireless 
 

No
No

Show text

Dimensions - Bar  

Dimensions photo - bar  

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Dimensions photo - bar
Samsung HW-A650 Dimensions photo - bar

Width  

40.0" (101.6 cm)
38.6" (98.0 cm)

Height  

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

Depth  

3.9" (9.8 cm)
4.1" (10.5 cm)

Show text

Dimensions - Subwoofer  

Dimensions photo - sub  

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Dimensions photo - sub
Samsung HW-A650 Dimensions photo - sub

Width  

12.0" (30.5 cm)
8.0" (20.4 cm)

Height  

17.3" (44.0 cm)
13.9" (35.3 cm)

Depth  

12.0" (30.5 cm)
11.9" (30.3 cm)

Show text

Dimensions - Satellites  

Dimensions photo - satellites  

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Dimensions photo - satellites
Samsung HW-A650 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
Samsung HW-A650 Bar Mounting Holes

Satellite Mounting Holes  

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Satellite Mounting Holes
Samsung HW-A650 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
Samsung HW-A650 Build quality photo

Show text

In The Box 
 

In The Box photo   

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround In The Box photo
Samsung HW-A650 In The Box photo

Show text

Sound

Stereo Frequency Response 
 

7.8
7.9

Stereo Setup  

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Stereo Setup
Samsung HW-A650 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
-0.34

Std. Err. 
 

3.56 dB
2.10 dB

Channels 
 

5.1
3.1

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

33.6 Hz
41.8 Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

17.7 kHz
19.9 kHz

Show text

Stereo Frequency Response With Preliminary Calibration 
 

7.8
7.9

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
2

Slope 
 

-0.89
-0.07

Std. Err. 
 

3.56 dB
2.05 dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

33.6 Hz
41.8 Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

17.7 kHz
19.9 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
2.45 dB

Show text

Stereo Dynamics 
 

7.1
7.8

Dynamic Range Compression  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

94.9 dB SPL
93.0 dB SPL

DRC @ Max Volume 
 

3.44 dB
1.49 dB

Show text

Stereo Total Harmonic Distortion 
 

8.2
7.3

THD  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.26
0.46

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

1.18
3.87

Show text

Center 
 

8.1
8.1

Center Setup  

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Center Setup
Samsung HW-A650 Center Setup

Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Discrete
Discrete

Slope 
 

-0.44
-0.98

Std. Err. 
 

3.76 dB
3.26 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

92.0 dB SPL
87.9 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.32
0.41

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

0.98
2.70

Show text

Surround 5.1 
 

6.0
3.7

Surround Setup  

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Surround Setup
Samsung HW-A650 Surround Setup

Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Phantom (Front Firing, Bar)
Stereo (Downmix)

Slope 
 

-0.92
-1.43

Std. Err. 
 

3.54 dB
4.43 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

94.5 dB SPL
89.9 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.24
0.48

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

1.16
2.48

7.1 Rears 
 

No
No

Show text

Height (Atmos) 
 

0.0
0.0

Height Setup  

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Height Setup
Samsung HW-A650 Height Setup

H Frequency Response  

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround H Frequency Response
Samsung HW-A650 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
7.4

Room Correction 
 

Yes
No

Dialogue Enhancement 
 

No
Yes

Auto-Volume/Night Mode 
 

Yes
Yes

Subwoofer Level Adjustment 
 

Yes
Yes

Bass Adjustment 
 

No
Yes

Treble Adjustment 
 

No
Yes

EQ 
 

Presets
Graphic + Presets

Surround Level Adjustment 
 

No
No

Rear Level Adjustment 
 

No
Yes

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
Samsung HW-A650 Physical Connections Bar Photo 1

Physical Connections Bar Photo 2  

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Physical Connections Bar Photo 2
Samsung HW-A650 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
No

Subwoofer Output 
 

No
No

Show text

Audio Format Support: ARC/eARC 
 

3.1
7.1

Dolby Atmos 
 

Not Supported
No

Dolby Digital 
 

Incorrect Implementation
Yes

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

Incorrect Implementation
No

Dolby TrueHD 
 

Not Supported
No

DTS 
 

Not Supported
Yes

DTS:X 
 

Not Supported
No

eARC 
 

No

DTS-HD MA 
 

Not Supported
No

PCM Channels 
 

2.0

5.1 PCM (eARC only) 
 

No

Show text

Audio Format Support: HDMI In 
 

2.6
7.4

Dolby Atmos 
 

Not Supported
No

Dolby Digital 
 

Incorrect Implementation
Yes

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

Not Supported
No

Dolby TrueHD 
 

Not Supported
No

DTS 
 

Not Supported
Yes

DTS:X 
 

Not Supported
No

DTS-HD MA 
 

Not Supported
No

PCM Channels 
 

2.0

5.1 PCM 
 

No

Show text

Audio Format Support: Optical 
 

4.3
10

Dolby Digital 
 

Incorrect Implementation
Yes

DTS 
 

Not Supported
Yes

PCM Channels 
 

2.0

Show text

Latency 
 

7.2
7.1

Latency Video  

ARC 
 

121 ms
80 ms

Optical 
 

98 ms
84 ms

Full HDMI In 
 

-14 ms
102 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
No

HDR10+ Passthrough 
 

No

Dolby Vision Passthrough 
 

Yes

HDMI Forum VRR Passthrough 
 

No

4k @ 60 Hz Passthrough 
 

No

FreeSync Passthrough 
 

No

G-SYNC Passthrough 
 

No

ALLM Passthrough 
 

No

4k @ 60 Hz @ 10 bit Passthrough 
 

No

4k @ 60 Hz @ 4:4:4 Passthrough 
 

No

Show text

Wireless Playback 
 

10
6.0

Bluetooth 
 

Yes
Yes

Wi-Fi Playback 
 

Yes
No

Chromecast built-in 
 

Yes
No

Apple AirPlay 
 

Yes
No

Spotify Connect 
 

Yes
No

Show text

Additional Features

Interface 
 

Interface photo  

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Interface photo
Samsung HW-A650 Interface photo

Display 
 

Yes
Yes

Show text

Bar Controls 
 

Controls photo  

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Controls photo
Samsung HW-A650 Controls photo

Show text

Remote  

Remote photo  

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Remote photo
Samsung HW-A650 Remote photo

Show text

Voice Assistants Support 
 

Amazon Alexa 
 

No
No

Google Assistant 
 

No
No

Apple Siri 
 

No
No

Microphone Mute 
 

No
No

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Bar 5.1 Surround
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Black
HW-A650
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Bar 5.1 Surround
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HW-A650
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Bar 5.1 Surround
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HW-A650
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Bar 5.1 Surround
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HW-A650
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Bar 5.1 Surround
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HW-A650
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HW-A650
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JBL Bar 5.1 Surround

Samsung HW-A650

Comments

  1. Comparison
 • Posted 1 year ago

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround vs Samsung HW-A650: Main Discussion

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