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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

Sonos Beam vs JBL Bar 5.1 Surround

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

Sonos Beam
JBL Bar 5.1 Surround

Tested using Methodology v1.2

Updated Apr 09, 2024 02:27 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v1.2

Updated Mar 15, 2024 07:13 PM

SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
Sonos Beam Picture
JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Picture
Channels
3.0
Channels
5.1

Variants

  • Beam (Black)
  • Beam (White)
  • Bar 5.1 Surround (Black)

Review

See Sonos Beam Review
See JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Review
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Our Verdict

Sonos Beam

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround

Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer the Sonos Beam or the JBL Bar 5.1 Surround. The Sonos is a 3.0 setup that offers a better soundstage performance. It also has a dialogue enhancement feature and built-in voice assistant support, unlike the JBL. However, the 5.1 JBL comes with a dedicated subwoofer, reproducing a more extended low-bass. It also offers a better surround performance and comes with EQ presets, a Full HDMI In port that supports high-quality passthrough, and more wireless playback options.

0 

Check Price

Black
Beam
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
Bar 5.1 Surround
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
White
Beam
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Amazon.com
Black
Bar 5.1 Surround
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Amazon.com
 
Black
Bar 5.1 Surround
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Black
Bar 5.1 Surround
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Main Differences for
Mixed Usage

Threshold 

0.10

Mixed Usage 

6.9
6.9

Stereo Frequency Response 
 

7.2
7.8

Stereo Soundstage 
 

8.0
6.5

Surround 5.1 
 

3.1
6.0

Dialogue Enhancement 
 

Yes
No

Audio Format Support: ARC/eARC 
 

6.3
3.1

Full Comparison

Design

Style - Bar  

Style photo - bar  

Sonos Beam Style photo - bar
JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Style photo - bar
Show Text 

Style - Subwoofer  

Style photo - sub  

Sonos Beam Style photo - sub
JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Style photo - sub

Sub Wireless 
 

No
Yes

Enclosure 
 

No Subwoofer
Ported
Show Text 

Style - Satellites  

Style photo - satellites  

Sonos Beam Style photo - satellites
JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Style photo - satellites

Satellite Wireless 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Dimensions - Bar  

Dimensions photo - bar  

Sonos Beam Dimensions photo - bar
JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Dimensions photo - bar

Width  

25.6" (65.0 cm)
40.0" (101.6 cm)

Height  

2.6" (6.7 cm)
2.3" (5.8 cm)

Depth  

4.0" (10.1 cm)
3.9" (9.8 cm)
Show Text 

Dimensions - Subwoofer  

Dimensions photo - sub  

Sonos Beam Dimensions photo - sub
JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Dimensions photo - sub

Width  

N/A
12.0" (30.5 cm)

Height  

N/A
17.3" (44.0 cm)

Depth  

N/A
12.0" (30.5 cm)
Show Text 

Dimensions - Satellites  

Dimensions photo - satellites  

Sonos Beam Dimensions photo - satellites
JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Dimensions photo - satellites

Width  

N/A
N/A

Height  

N/A
N/A

Depth  

N/A
N/A

Mounting 
 

Bar Mounting Holes  

Sonos Beam Bar Mounting Holes
JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Bar Mounting Holes

Satellite Mounting Holes  

Sonos Beam Satellite Mounting Holes
JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Satellite Mounting Holes

Mountable Bar 
 

Yes
Yes

Bar Brackets Included 
 

No
Yes

Mountable Satellites 
 

No
No

Satellite Brackets Included 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Build Quality 
 

8.0
8.0

Build quality photo  

Sonos Beam Build quality photo
JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Build quality photo
Show Text 

In The Box 
 

In The Box photo   

Sonos Beam In The Box photo
JBL Bar 5.1 Surround In The Box photo
Show Text 
Sound

Stereo Frequency Response 
 

7.2
7.8

Stereo Setup  

Sonos Beam Stereo Setup
JBL Bar 5.1 Surround 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 
 

No Preset
Standard

Slope 
 

0.63
-0.89

Std. Err. 
 

3.39 dB
3.56 dB

Channels 
 

3.0
5.1

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

49.7 Hz
33.6 Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

19.9 kHz
17.7 kHz
Show Text 

Stereo Frequency Response With Preliminary Calibration 
 

7.5
7.8

Frequency Response Calibrated  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Suggested Preset 
 

No Preset
Standard

Suggested Bass Setting 
 

0
3

Suggested Treble Setting 
 

-6
N/A

Slope 
 

0.18
-0.89

Std. Err. 
 

2.34 dB
3.56 dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

49.7 Hz
33.6 Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

19.9 kHz
17.7 kHz
Show Text 

Stereo Soundstage 
 

8.0
6.5

Crosstalk  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Crosstalk Error 
 

2.26 dB
2.92 dB
Show Text 

Stereo Dynamics 
 

6.4
7.1

Dynamic Range Compression  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

91.2 dB SPL
94.9 dB SPL

DRC @ Max Volume 
 

3.85 dB
3.44 dB
Show Text 

Stereo Total Harmonic Distortion 
 

7.2
8.2

THD  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.73
0.26

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

1.51
1.18
Show Text 

Center 
 

8.3
8.1

Center Setup  

Sonos Beam Center Setup
JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Center Setup

Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Discrete
Discrete

Slope 
 

0.39
-0.44

Std. Err. 
 

2.87 dB
3.76 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

92.0 dB SPL
92.0 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.97
0.32

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

1.56
0.98
Show Text 

Surround 5.1 
 

3.1
6.0

Surround Setup  

Sonos Beam Surround Setup
JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Surround Setup

Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Stereo (Downmix)
Phantom (Front Firing, Bar)

Slope 
 

-0.27
-0.92

Std. Err. 
 

5.44 dB
3.54 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

85.2 dB SPL
94.5 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

1.74
0.24

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

1.95
1.16

7.1 Rears 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Height (Atmos) 
 

0.0
0.0

Height Setup  

Sonos Beam Height Setup
JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Height Setup

H Frequency Response  

Sonos Beam H Frequency Response
JBL Bar 5.1 Surround 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 
 

5.4
5.6

Room Correction 
 

Yes
Yes

Dialogue Enhancement 
 

Yes
No

Auto-Volume/Night Mode 
 

Yes
Yes

Subwoofer Level Adjustment 
 

No
Yes

Bass Adjustment 
 

Yes
No

Treble Adjustment 
 

Yes
No

EQ 
 

No
Presets

Surround Level Adjustment 
 

No
No

Rear Level Adjustment 
 

No
No

Height Level Adjustment 
 

No
No

Virtual Surround 
 

No
Yes
Show Text 
Connectivity

Inputs/Outputs - Bar 
 

Physical Connections Bar Photo 1  

Sonos Beam Physical Connections Bar Photo 1
JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Physical Connections Bar Photo 1

Physical Connections Bar Photo 2  

Sonos Beam Physical Connections Bar Photo 2
JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Physical Connections Bar Photo 2

Optical Audio In 
 

Adapter into HDMI ARC
1

HDMI Out 
 

ARC
ARC

HDMI 2.1 Class Bandwidth 
 

No
No

Full HDMI In 
 

No
1

Analog Audio In 3.5mm (Aux) 
 

No
No

RCA In 
 

No
No

USB for Files 
 

No
No

Ethernet 
 

1
1

Subwoofer Output 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Audio Format Support: ARC/eARC 
 

6.3
3.1

Dolby Atmos 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

Dolby Digital 
 

Supported
Incorrect Implementation

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

Not Supported
Incorrect Implementation

Dolby TrueHD 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

DTS 
 

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 
 

0.0
2.6

Dolby Atmos 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

Dolby Digital 
 

Not Supported
Incorrect Implementation

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 
 

Not Supported
2.0
Show Text 

Audio Format Support: Optical 
 

10
4.3

Dolby Digital 
 

Supported
Incorrect Implementation

DTS 
 

Supported
Not Supported

PCM Channels 
 

2.0
2.0
Show Text 

Latency 
 

9.8
7.2

Latency Video  

ARC 
 

-14 ms
121 ms

Optical 
 

0 ms
98 ms

Full HDMI In 
 

N/A
-14 ms
Show Text 

Video Passthrough To TV 
 

0.0
7.8

1080p Max Refresh Rate 
 

Not Supported
120Hz

1080p @ 4:4:4 Max Refresh Rate 
 

Not Supported
120Hz

4k Max Refresh Rate 
 

Not Supported
60Hz

4k @ 120Hz @ 10-Bit 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

4k @ 4:4:4 Max Refresh Rate 
 

Not Supported
60Hz

8k Max Refresh Rate 
 

Not Supported
30Hz

HDR10 Passthrough 
 

No
Yes

HDR10+ Passthrough 
 

No
No

Dolby Vision Passthrough 
 

No
Yes

HDMI Forum VRR Passthrough 
 

No
No

FreeSync Passthrough 
 

No
No

G-SYNC Passthrough 
 

No
No

ALLM Passthrough 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Wireless Playback 
 

3.0
10

Bluetooth 
 

No
Yes

Wi-Fi Playback 
 

Yes
Yes

Chromecast built-in 
 

No
Yes

Apple AirPlay 
 

Yes
Yes

Spotify Connect 
 

Yes
Yes
Show Text 
Additional Features

Interface 
 

Interface photo  

Sonos Beam Interface photo
JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Interface photo

Display 
 

No
Yes
Show Text 

Bar Controls 
 

Controls photo  

Sonos Beam Controls photo
JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Controls photo
Show Text 

Remote  

Remote photo  

Sonos Beam Remote photo
JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Remote photo
Show Text 

Voice Assistants Support 
 

Amazon Alexa 
 

Yes (Built-in)
No

Google Assistant 
 

Yes (Built-in)
No

Apple Siri 
 

No
No

Microphone Mute 
 

Yes
No
Show Text 

Check Price

Black
Beam
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
Bar 5.1 Surround
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
White
Beam
SEARCH
Amazon.com
Black
Bar 5.1 Surround
SEARCH
Amazon.com
 
Black
Bar 5.1 Surround
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
 
Black
Bar 5.1 Surround
SEARCH
B&H
Back to Top

Sonos Beam

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround

Comments

  1. Comparison
 • Posted 1 year ago

Sonos Beam vs JBL Bar 5.1 Surround: Main Discussion

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