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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 9.1

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

Sonos Beam
JBL Bar 9.1

Tested using Methodology v1.2

Updated Apr 09, 2024 02:27 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v1.2

Updated Sep 05, 2024 07:07 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Sonos Beam Picture
JBL Bar 9.1 Picture
Channels
3.0
Channels
5.1.4

Variants

  • Beam (Black)
  • Beam (White)
  • Bar 9.1 (Black)

Review

See Sonos Beam Review
See JBL Bar 9.1 Review
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Our Verdict

Sonos Beam

JBL Bar 9.1

The JBL Bar 9.1 is better than the Sonos Beam. The JBL has a dedicated sub that reproduces a more extended low-bass, and it supports Atmos content. It has a better surround performance and more wireless playback options. Unlike the Sonos, it has EQ presets and a Full HDMI In port. That said, only the Sonos has built-in voice assistant support. Some users may also prefer its more compact design.

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Check Price

Black
Beam
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
Bar 9.1
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
White
Beam
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Amazon.com
Black
Bar 9.1
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Black
Bar 9.1
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Black
Bar 9.1
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Main Differences for
Mixed Usage

Threshold 

0.10

Mixed Usage 

6.9
7.9

Stereo Frequency Response 
 

7.2
8.1

Height (Atmos) 
 

0.0
6.1

Surround 5.1 
 

3.1
7.7

Audio Format Support: HDMI In 
 

0.0
10

Stereo Dynamics 
 

6.4
7.8

Audio Format Support: ARC/eARC 
 

6.3
10

Dialogue Enhancement 
 

Yes
No

Full Comparison

Design

Style - Bar  

Style photo - bar  

Sonos Beam Style photo - bar
JBL Bar 9.1 Style photo - bar
Show Text 

Style - Subwoofer  

Style photo - sub  

Sonos Beam Style photo - sub
JBL Bar 9.1 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 9.1 Style photo - satellites

Satellite Wireless 
 

No
Yes
Show Text 

Dimensions - Bar  

Dimensions photo - bar  

Sonos Beam Dimensions photo - bar
JBL Bar 9.1 Dimensions photo - bar

Width  

25.6" (65.0 cm)
34.8" (88.4 cm)

Height  

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

Depth  

4.0" (10.1 cm)
4.7" (11.9 cm)
Show Text 

Dimensions - Subwoofer  

Dimensions photo - sub  

Sonos Beam Dimensions photo - sub
JBL Bar 9.1 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 9.1 Dimensions photo - satellites

Width  

N/A
6.8" (17.3 cm)

Height  

N/A
2.2" (5.6 cm)

Depth  

N/A
4.7" (12.0 cm)
Show Text 

Mounting 
 

Bar Mounting Holes  

Sonos Beam Bar Mounting Holes
JBL Bar 9.1 Bar Mounting Holes

Satellite Mounting Holes  

Sonos Beam Satellite Mounting Holes
JBL Bar 9.1 Satellite Mounting Holes

Mountable Bar 
 

Yes
Yes

Bar Brackets Included 
 

No
Yes

Mountable Satellites 
 

No
Yes

Satellite Brackets Included 
 

No
Yes
Show Text 

Build Quality 
 

8.0
8.0

Build quality photo  

Sonos Beam Build quality photo
JBL Bar 9.1 Build quality photo
Show Text 

In The Box 
 

In The Box photo   

Sonos Beam In The Box photo
JBL Bar 9.1 In The Box photo
Show Text 
Sound

Stereo Frequency Response 
 

7.2
8.1

Stereo Setup  

Sonos Beam Stereo Setup
JBL Bar 9.1 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
-0.31

Std. Err. 
 

3.39 dB
2.63 dB

Channels 
 

3.0
5.1.4

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

49.7 Hz
33.6 Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

19.9 kHz
18.8 kHz
Show Text 

Stereo Frequency Response With Preliminary Calibration 
 

7.5
8.1

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
-0.31

Std. Err. 
 

2.34 dB
2.63 dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

49.7 Hz
33.6 Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

19.9 kHz
18.8 kHz
Show Text 

Stereo Soundstage 
 

8.0
8.0

Crosstalk  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Crosstalk Error 
 

2.26 dB
3.22 dB
Show Text 

Stereo Dynamics 
 

6.4
7.8

Dynamic Range Compression  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

91.2 dB SPL
95.0 dB SPL

DRC @ Max Volume 
 

3.85 dB
2.10 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
0.22

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

1.51
1.73
Show Text 

Center 
 

8.3
8.6

Center Setup  

Sonos Beam Center Setup
JBL Bar 9.1 Center Setup

Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Discrete
Discrete

Slope 
 

0.39
-0.03

Std. Err. 
 

2.87 dB
2.62 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

92.0 dB SPL
94.3 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.97
0.29

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

1.56
1.60
Show Text 

Surround 5.1 
 

3.1
7.7

Surround Setup  

Sonos Beam Surround Setup
JBL Bar 9.1 Surround Setup

Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Stereo (Downmix)
Discrete

Slope 
 

-0.27
-0.38

Std. Err. 
 

5.44 dB
4.10 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

85.2 dB SPL
97.8 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

1.74
0.23

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

1.95
1.79

7.1 Rears 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Height (Atmos) 
 

0.0
6.1

Height Setup  

Sonos Beam Height Setup
JBL Bar 9.1 Height Setup

H Frequency Response  

Sonos Beam H Frequency Response
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Not Supported
Phantom (Up Firing, Bar & Satellites)

Slope 
 

N/A
-1.44

Std. Err. 
 

N/A
5.40 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

N/A
89.7 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

N/A
1.04

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

N/A
0.63
Show Text 

Sound Enhancement Features 
 

5.4
6.2

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
Yes

Rear Level Adjustment 
 

No
No

Height Level Adjustment 
 

No
Yes

Virtual Surround 
 

No
Yes
Show Text 
Connectivity

Inputs/Outputs - Bar 
 

Physical Connections Bar Photo 1  

Sonos Beam Physical Connections Bar Photo 1
JBL Bar 9.1 Physical Connections Bar Photo 1

Physical Connections Bar Photo 2  

Sonos Beam Physical Connections Bar Photo 2
JBL Bar 9.1 Physical Connections Bar Photo 2

Optical Audio In 
 

Adapter into HDMI ARC
1

HDMI Out 
 

ARC
eARC

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
10

Dolby Atmos 
 

Not Supported
Supported

Dolby Digital 
 

Supported
Supported

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

Not Supported
Supported

Dolby TrueHD 
 

Not Supported
Supported

DTS 
 

Supported
Supported

DTS:X 
 

Not Supported
Supported

DTS-HD MA 
 

Not Supported
Supported

PCM Channels 
 

2.0
Up To 7.1
Show Text 

Audio Format Support: HDMI In 
 

0.0
10

Dolby Atmos 
 

Not Supported
Supported

Dolby Digital 
 

Not Supported
Supported

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

Not Supported
Supported

Dolby TrueHD 
 

Not Supported
Supported

DTS 
 

Not Supported
Supported

DTS:X 
 

Not Supported
Supported

DTS-HD MA 
 

Not Supported
Supported

PCM Channels 
 

Not Supported
Up To 7.1
Show Text 

Audio Format Support: Optical 
 

10
10

Dolby Digital 
 

Supported
Supported

DTS 
 

Supported
Supported

PCM Channels 
 

2.0
2.0
Show Text 

Latency 
 

9.8
8.1

Latency Video  

ARC 
 

-14 ms
53 ms

Optical 
 

0 ms
47 ms

Full HDMI In 
 

N/A
-53 ms
Show Text 

Video Passthrough To TV 
 

0.0
6.3

1080p Max Refresh Rate 
 

Not Supported
60Hz

1080p @ 4:4:4 Max Refresh Rate 
 

Not Supported
60Hz

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
Not Supported

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
No
Show Text 
Additional Features

Interface 
 

Interface photo  

Sonos Beam Interface photo
JBL Bar 9.1 Interface photo

Display 
 

No
Yes
Show Text 

Bar Controls 
 

Controls photo  

Sonos Beam Controls photo
JBL Bar 9.1 Controls photo
Show Text 

Remote  

Remote photo  

Sonos Beam Remote photo
JBL Bar 9.1 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 9.1
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
White
Beam
SEARCH
Amazon.com
Black
Bar 9.1
SEARCH
B&H
 
Black
Bar 9.1
SEARCH
BestBuy.com
 
Black
Bar 9.1
SEARCH
Walmart.com
Back to Top

Sonos Beam

JBL Bar 9.1

Comments

  1. Comparison
 • Posted 1 year ago

Sonos Beam vs JBL Bar 9.1: Main Discussion

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