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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 Bose Smart Soundbar 300

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround
Bose Smart Soundbar 300

Tested using Methodology v1.2

Updated Mar 15, 2024 07:13 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v1.2

Updated Mar 15, 2024 07:11 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Picture
Bose Smart Soundbar 300 Picture
Channels
5.1
Channels
3.0

Variants

  • Bar 5.1 Surround (Black)
  • Smart Soundbar 300 (Black)

Review

See JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Review
See Bose Smart Soundbar 300 Review
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0 

Our Verdict

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround

Bose Smart Soundbar 300

The JBL Bar 5.1 Surround is better than the Bose Smart Soundbar 300. The JBL is a 5.1 setup with a dedicated sub that helps reproduce a more extended low-bass. It has a better surrounds performance, and it comes with a room correction feature and EQ presets. Also, it supports Chromecast built-in. That said, the 3.0 Bose has a better soundstage and built-in voice assistant support.

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Black
Bar 5.1 Surround
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Smart Soundbar 300
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Bar 5.1 Surround
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Smart Soundbar 300
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Bar 5.1 Surround
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Smart Soundbar 300
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Bar 5.1 Surround
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Smart Soundbar 300
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Bar 5.1 Surround
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Main Differences for
Mixed Usage

Threshold 

0.10

Mixed Usage 

6.9
6.8

Stereo Frequency Response 
 

7.8
7.1

Dialogue Enhancement 
 

No
Yes

Auto-Volume/Night Mode 
 

Yes
No

Surround 5.1 
 

6.0
3.9

Stereo Soundstage 
 

6.5
7.5

Full Comparison

Design

Style - Bar  

Style photo - bar  

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Style photo - bar
Bose Smart Soundbar 300 Style photo - bar
Show Text 

Style - Subwoofer  

Style photo - sub  

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Style photo - sub
Bose Smart Soundbar 300 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
Bose Smart Soundbar 300 Style photo - satellites

Satellite Wireless 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Dimensions - Bar  

Dimensions photo - bar  

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Dimensions photo - bar
Bose Smart Soundbar 300 Dimensions photo - bar

Width  

40.0" (101.6 cm)
27.4" (69.5 cm)

Height  

2.3" (5.8 cm)
2.2" (5.6 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
Bose Smart Soundbar 300 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
Bose Smart Soundbar 300 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
Bose Smart Soundbar 300 Bar Mounting Holes

Satellite Mounting Holes  

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Satellite Mounting Holes
Bose Smart Soundbar 300 Satellite Mounting Holes

Mountable Bar 
 

Yes
Yes

Bar Brackets Included 
 

Yes
No

Mountable Satellites 
 

No
No

Satellite Brackets Included 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Build Quality 
 

8.0
8.0

Build quality photo  

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Build quality photo
Bose Smart Soundbar 300 Build quality photo
Show Text 

In The Box 
 

In The Box photo   

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround In The Box photo
Bose Smart Soundbar 300 In The Box photo
Show Text 
Sound

Stereo Frequency Response 
 

7.8
7.1

Stereo Setup  

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Stereo Setup
Bose Smart Soundbar 300 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
No Preset

Slope 
 

-0.89
-0.25

Std. Err. 
 

3.56 dB
3.34 dB

Channels 
 

5.1
3.0

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

33.6 Hz
54.2 Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

17.7 kHz
19.9 kHz
Show Text 

Stereo Frequency Response With Preliminary Calibration 
 

7.8
7.4

Frequency Response Calibrated  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Suggested Preset 
 

Standard
No Preset

Suggested Bass Setting 
 

3
-30

Suggested Treble Setting 
 

N/A
-20

Slope 
 

-0.89
-0.21

Std. Err. 
 

3.56 dB
2.31 dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

33.6 Hz
55.0 Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

17.7 kHz
19.6 kHz
Show Text 

Stereo Soundstage 
 

6.5
7.5

Crosstalk  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Crosstalk Error 
 

2.92 dB
1.95 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
93.1 dB SPL

DRC @ Max Volume 
 

3.44 dB
2.03 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
0.36

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

1.18
1.19
Show Text 

Center 
 

8.1
8.3

Center Setup  

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Center Setup
Bose Smart Soundbar 300 Center Setup

Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Discrete
Discrete

Slope 
 

-0.44
-0.19

Std. Err. 
 

3.76 dB
3.27 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

92.0 dB SPL
93.3 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.32
0.40

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

0.98
1.15
Show Text 

Surround 5.1 
 

6.0
3.9

Surround Setup  

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Surround Setup
Bose Smart Soundbar 300 Surround Setup

Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Phantom (Front Firing, Bar)
Stereo (Downmix)

Slope 
 

-0.92
-0.97

Std. Err. 
 

3.54 dB
3.62 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

94.5 dB SPL
88.9 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.24
0.70

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

1.16
1.72

7.1 Rears 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Height (Atmos) 
 

0.0
0.0

Height Setup  

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Height Setup
Bose Smart Soundbar 300 Height Setup

H Frequency Response  

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround H Frequency Response
Bose Smart Soundbar 300 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
2.7

Room Correction 
 

Yes
No

Dialogue Enhancement 
 

No
Yes

Auto-Volume/Night Mode 
 

Yes
No

Subwoofer Level Adjustment 
 

Yes
No

Bass Adjustment 
 

No
Yes

Treble Adjustment 
 

No
Yes

EQ 
 

Presets
No

Surround Level Adjustment 
 

No
No

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
Bose Smart Soundbar 300 Physical Connections Bar Photo 1

Physical Connections Bar Photo 2  

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Physical Connections Bar Photo 2
Bose Smart Soundbar 300 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
No

Analog Audio In 3.5mm (Aux) 
 

No
No

RCA In 
 

No
No

USB for Files 
 

No
No

Ethernet 
 

1
No

Subwoofer Output 
 

No
Yes
Show Text 

Audio Format Support: ARC/eARC 
 

3.1
4.8

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
Not 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
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 

Latency 
 

7.2
8.4

Latency Video  

ARC 
 

121 ms
47 ms

Optical 
 

98 ms
45 ms

Full HDMI In 
 

-14 ms
N/A
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 300 Interface photo

Display 
 

Yes
No
Show Text 

Bar Controls 
 

Controls photo  

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Controls photo
Bose Smart Soundbar 300 Controls photo
Show Text 

Remote  

Remote photo  

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Remote photo
Bose Smart Soundbar 300 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 

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Bar 5.1 Surround
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Smart Soundbar 300
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Bar 5.1 Surround
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Smart Soundbar 300
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Bar 5.1 Surround
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JBL Bar 5.1 Surround

Bose Smart Soundbar 300

Comments

  1. Comparison
 • Posted 1 year ago

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround vs Bose Smart Soundbar 300: Main Discussion

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