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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 9.1 vs Hisense HS218

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

JBL Bar 9.1
Hisense HS218

Tested using Methodology v1.2

Updated Sep 05, 2024 07:07 PM

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Tested using Methodology v1.1

Updated Apr 17, 2024 03:01 PM

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JBL Bar 9.1 Picture
Hisense HS218 Picture
Channels
5.1.4
Channels
2.1

Variants

  • Bar 9.1 (Black)
  • HS218 (Black)

Review

See JBL Bar 9.1 Review
See Hisense HS218 Review
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Our Verdict

JBL Bar 9.1

Hisense HS218

The JBL Bar 9.1 is better than the Hisense HS218. The JBL is a 5.1.4 setup with discrete satellites. It's better built, and it supports Dolby Atmos content. Also, it offers better soundstage, center, and surround performances. It can reproduce a more extended low-bass. Also, it has some more sound enhancement features, like room correction.

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Black
Bar 9.1
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Black
HS218
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Bar 9.1
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HS218
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Bar 9.1
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HS218
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Bar 9.1
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HS218
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Bar 9.1
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HS218
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Main Differences for
Mixed Usage

Threshold 

0.10

Mixed Usage 

7.9
6.7

Height (Atmos) 
 

6.1
0.0

Stereo Frequency Response 
 

8.1
7.6

Center 
 

8.6
6.6

Surround 5.1 
 

7.7
4.2

Stereo Soundstage 
 

8.0
6.5

Audio Format Support: HDMI In 
 

10
0.0

Audio Format Support: ARC/eARC 
 

10
6.1

Dialogue Enhancement 
 

No
Yes

Auto-Volume/Night Mode 
 

Yes
No

Full Comparison

Design

Style - Bar  

Style photo - bar  

JBL Bar 9.1 Style photo - bar
Hisense HS218 Style photo - bar
Show Text 

Style - Subwoofer  

Style photo - sub  

JBL Bar 9.1 Style photo - sub
Hisense HS218 Style photo - sub

Sub Wireless 
 

Yes
Yes

Enclosure 
 

Ported
Ported
Show Text 

Style - Satellites  

Style photo - satellites  

JBL Bar 9.1 Style photo - satellites
Hisense HS218 Style photo - satellites

Satellite Wireless 
 

Yes
No
Show Text 

Dimensions - Bar  

Dimensions photo - bar  

JBL Bar 9.1 Dimensions photo - bar
Hisense HS218 Dimensions photo - bar

Width  

34.8" (88.4 cm)
37.8" (96.0 cm)

Height  

2.3" (5.8 cm)
2.4" (6.0 cm)

Depth  

4.7" (11.9 cm)
3.6" (9.2 cm)
Show Text 

Dimensions - Subwoofer  

Dimensions photo - sub  

JBL Bar 9.1 Dimensions photo - sub
Hisense HS218 Dimensions photo - sub

Width  

12.0" (30.5 cm)
6.7" (17.0 cm)

Height  

17.3" (44.0 cm)
13.5" (34.3 cm)

Depth  

12.0" (30.5 cm)
13.1" (33.4 cm)
Show Text 

Dimensions - Satellites  

Dimensions photo - satellites  

JBL Bar 9.1 Dimensions photo - satellites
Hisense HS218 Dimensions photo - satellites

Width  

6.8" (17.3 cm)
N/A

Height  

2.2" (5.6 cm)
N/A

Depth  

4.7" (12.0 cm)
N/A
Show Text 

Mounting 
 

Bar Mounting Holes  

JBL Bar 9.1 Bar Mounting Holes
Hisense HS218 Bar Mounting Holes

Satellite Mounting Holes  

JBL Bar 9.1 Satellite Mounting Holes
Hisense HS218 Satellite Mounting Holes

Mountable Bar 
 

Yes
Yes

Bar Brackets Included 
 

Yes
Yes

Mountable Satellites 
 

Yes
No

Satellite Brackets Included 
 

Yes
No

Build Quality 
 

8.0
7.5

Build quality photo  

JBL Bar 9.1 Build quality photo
Hisense HS218 Build quality photo
Show Text 

In The Box 
 

In The Box photo   

JBL Bar 9.1 In The Box photo
Hisense HS218 In The Box photo
Show Text 
Sound

Stereo Frequency Response 
 

8.1
7.6

Stereo Setup  

JBL Bar 9.1 Stereo Setup
Hisense HS218 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
Music

Slope 
 

-0.31
-0.88

Std. Err. 
 

2.63 dB
3.10 dB

Channels 
 

5.1.4
2.1

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

33.6 Hz
40.6 Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

18.8 kHz
17.7 kHz
Show Text 

Stereo Frequency Response With Preliminary Calibration 
 

8.1
7.7

Frequency Response Calibrated  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Suggested Preset 
 

Standard
Music

Suggested Bass Setting 
 

3
-3

Suggested Treble Setting 
 

N/A
4

Slope 
 

-0.31
-0.04

Std. Err. 
 

2.63 dB
2.58 dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

33.6 Hz
43.6 Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

18.8 kHz
19.9 kHz
Show Text 

Stereo Soundstage 
 

8.0
6.5

Crosstalk  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Crosstalk Error 
 

3.22 dB
2.52 dB
Show Text 

Stereo Dynamics 
 

7.8
7.1

Dynamic Range Compression  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

95.0 dB SPL
95.7 dB SPL

DRC @ Max Volume 
 

2.10 dB
3.43 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 
 

0.22
0.35

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

1.73
1.23
Show Text 

Center 
 

8.6
6.6

Center Setup  

JBL Bar 9.1 Center Setup
Hisense HS218 Center Setup

Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Discrete
Phantom

Slope 
 

-0.03
-0.57

Std. Err. 
 

2.62 dB
3.47 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

94.3 dB SPL
93.1 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.29
0.39

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

1.60
1.24
Show Text 

Surround 5.1 
 

7.7
4.2

Surround Setup  

JBL Bar 9.1 Surround Setup
Hisense HS218 Surround Setup

Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Discrete
Stereo (Downmix)

Slope 
 

-0.38
-0.63

Std. Err. 
 

4.10 dB
3.44 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

97.8 dB SPL
93.1 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.23
0.40

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

1.79
1.18

7.1 Rears 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Height (Atmos) 
 

6.1
0.0

Height Setup  

JBL Bar 9.1 Height Setup
Hisense HS218 Height Setup

H Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
Hisense HS218 H Frequency Response

Localization 
 

Phantom (Up Firing, Bar & Satellites)
Not Supported

Slope 
 

-1.44
N/A

Std. Err. 
 

5.40 dB
N/A

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

89.7 dB SPL
N/A

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

1.04
N/A

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

0.63
N/A
Show Text 

Sound Enhancement Features 
 

6.2
4.1

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
Presets

Surround Level Adjustment 
 

Yes
No

Rear Level Adjustment 
 

No
No

Height Level Adjustment 
 

Yes
No

Virtual Surround 
 

Yes
Yes
Show Text 
Connectivity

Inputs/Outputs - Bar 
 

Physical Connections Bar Photo 1  

JBL Bar 9.1 Physical Connections Bar Photo 1
Hisense HS218 Physical Connections Bar Photo 1

Physical Connections Bar Photo 2  

JBL Bar 9.1 Physical Connections Bar Photo 2
Hisense HS218 Physical Connections Bar Photo 2

Optical Audio In 
 

1
1

HDMI ARC 
 

1

HDMI Out 
 

eARC
No

HDMI 2.1 Class Bandwidth 
 

No

Full HDMI In 
 

1
No

Analog Audio In 3.5mm (Aux) 
 

No
1

RCA In 
 

No
No

USB for Files 
 

No
1

Ethernet 
 

1
No

Subwoofer Output 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Audio Format Support: ARC/eARC 
 

10
6.1

Dolby Atmos 
 

Supported
No

Dolby Digital 
 

Supported
Yes

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

Supported
No

Dolby TrueHD 
 

Supported
No

DTS 
 

Supported
No

DTS:X 
 

Supported
No

eARC 
 

No

DTS-HD MA 
 

Supported
No

PCM Channels 
 

Up To 7.1

5.1 PCM (eARC only) 
 

No
Show Text 

Audio Format Support: HDMI In 
 

10
0.0

Dolby Atmos 
 

Supported
No

Dolby Digital 
 

Supported
No

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

Supported
No

Dolby TrueHD 
 

Supported
No

DTS 
 

Supported
No

DTS:X 
 

Supported
No

DTS-HD MA 
 

Supported
No

PCM Channels 
 

Up To 7.1

5.1 PCM 
 

No
Show Text 

Audio Format Support: Optical 
 

10
6.0

Dolby Digital 
 

Supported
Yes

DTS 
 

Supported
No

PCM Channels 
 

2.0
Show Text 

Latency 
 

8.1
9.0

Latency Video  

ARC 
 

53 ms
32 ms

Optical 
 

47 ms
24 ms

Full HDMI In 
 

-53 ms
N/A
Show Text 

Video Passthrough To TV 
 

6.3
0.0

1080p Max Refresh Rate 
 

60Hz

1080p @ 4:4:4 Max Refresh Rate 
 

60Hz

4k Max Refresh Rate 
 

60Hz

4k @ 120Hz @ 10-Bit 
 

Not Supported

4k @ 4:4:4 Max Refresh Rate 
 

60Hz

8k Max Refresh Rate 
 

Not Supported

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 
 

No
No
Show Text 
Additional Features

Interface 
 

Interface photo  

JBL Bar 9.1 Interface photo
Hisense HS218 Interface photo

Display 
 

Yes
Yes
Show Text 

Bar Controls 
 

Controls photo  

JBL Bar 9.1 Controls photo
Hisense HS218 Controls photo
Show Text 

Remote  

Remote photo  

JBL Bar 9.1 Remote photo
Hisense HS218 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 

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Bar 9.1
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HS218
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Bar 9.1
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Bar 9.1
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JBL Bar 9.1

Hisense HS218

Comments

  1. Comparison
 • Posted 1 year ago

JBL Bar 9.1 vs Hisense HS218: Main Discussion

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