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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

Sony HT-X8500 vs JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

Sony HT-X8500
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam

Tested using Methodology v1.2

Updated Apr 09, 2024 01:57 PM

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Tested using Methodology v1.1

Updated Mar 15, 2024 07:13 PM

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Sony HT-X8500 Picture
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Picture
Channels
2.1
Channels
5.0

Variants

  • HT-X8500
  • Bar 5.0 MultiBeam (Black)

Review

See Sony HT-X8500 review

See JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam review

0
0

Our Verdict

Sony HT-X8500

JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam

The JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam is a better soundbar than the Sony HT-X8500. The JBL is better built, with a room correction feature. It also has a better center, surround, Atmos, and soundstage performances.

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Standard
HT-X8500
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Black
Bar 5.0 MultiBeam
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Standard
HT-X8500
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Black
Bar 5.0 MultiBeam
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Standard
HT-X8500
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Black
Bar 5.0 MultiBeam
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Standard
HT-X8500
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Black
Bar 5.0 MultiBeam
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Standard
HT-X8500
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Black
Bar 5.0 MultiBeam
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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 

6.8
7.2

Surround 5.1 
 

3.3
6.0

Center 
 

6.7
8.2

Dialogue Enhancement 
 

Yes
No

Stereo Soundstage 
 

6.0
7.0

Full Comparison

Design

Style - Bar  

Style photo - bar  

Sony HT-X8500 Style photo - bar
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Style photo - bar

Show text

Style - Subwoofer  

Style photo - sub  

Sony HT-X8500 Style photo - sub
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Style photo - sub

Sub Wireless 
 

No
No

Enclosure 
 

Integrated
No Subwoofer

Show text

Style - Satellites  

Style photo - satellites  

Sony HT-X8500 Style photo - satellites
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Style photo - satellites

Satellite Wireless 
 

No
No

Dimensions - Bar  

Dimensions photo - bar  

Sony HT-X8500 Dimensions photo - bar
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Dimensions photo - bar

Width  

34.9" (88.7 cm)
28.0" (71.0 cm)

Height  

2.5" (6.3 cm)
2.3" (5.8 cm)

Depth  

3.9" (9.8 cm)
4.0" (10.2 cm)

Show text

Dimensions - Subwoofer  

Dimensions photo - sub  

Sony HT-X8500 Dimensions photo - sub
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Dimensions photo - sub

Width  

N/A
N/A

Height  

N/A
N/A

Depth  

N/A
N/A

Dimensions - Satellites  

Dimensions photo - satellites  

Sony HT-X8500 Dimensions photo - satellites
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Dimensions photo - satellites

Width  

N/A
N/A

Height  

N/A
N/A

Depth  

N/A
N/A

Mounting 
 

Bar Mounting Holes  

Sony HT-X8500 Bar Mounting Holes
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Bar Mounting Holes

Satellite Mounting Holes  

Sony HT-X8500 Satellite Mounting Holes
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam 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 
 

7.0
8.0

Build quality photo  

Sony HT-X8500 Build quality photo
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Build quality photo

Show text

In The Box 
 

In The Box photo   

Sony HT-X8500 In The Box photo
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam In The Box photo

Show text

Sound

Stereo Frequency Response 
 

6.8
7.0

Stereo Setup  

Sony HT-X8500 Stereo Setup
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam 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 
 

-0.52
-1.07

Std. Err. 
 

3.31 dB
3.38 dB

Channels 
 

2.1
5.0

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

59.9 Hz
51.9 Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

17.2 kHz
15.6 kHz

Show text

Stereo Frequency Response With Preliminary Calibration 
 

6.8
7.0

Frequency Response Calibrated  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Suggested Preset 
 

Standard
Standard

Suggested Bass Setting 
 

-1
1

Suggested Treble Setting 
 

N/A
N/A

Slope 
 

-0.48
0.18

Std. Err. 
 

3.44 dB
3.07 dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

59.9 Hz
55.0 Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

18.0 kHz
15.6 kHz

Show text

Stereo Soundstage 
 

6.0
7.0

Crosstalk  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Crosstalk Error 
 

1.99 dB
2.83 dB

Show text

Stereo Dynamics 
 

7.4
7.6

Dynamic Range Compression  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

92.6 dB SPL
91.9 dB SPL

DRC @ Max Volume 
 

2.19 dB
1.57 dB

Show text

Stereo Total Harmonic Distortion 
 

7.5
8.0

THD  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.57
0.32

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

1.32
1.33

Show text

Center 
 

6.7
8.2

Center Setup  

Sony HT-X8500 Center Setup
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Center Setup

Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Phantom
Discrete

Slope 
 

-0.82
-0.30

Std. Err. 
 

3.14 dB
2.96 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

91.4 dB SPL
88.9 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.44
0.24

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

1.27
1.11

Show text

Surround 5.1 
 

3.3
6.0

Surround Setup  

Sony HT-X8500 Surround Setup
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Surround Setup

Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Stereo (Downmix)
Phantom (Front Firing and Side Firing, Bar)

Slope 
 

-0.76
-0.77

Std. Err. 
 

5.33 dB
3.80 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

89.5 dB SPL
89.7 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.52
1.11

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

1.32
2.36

7.1 Rears 
 

No
No

Show text

Height (Atmos) 
 

4.8
5.1

Height Setup  

Sony HT-X8500 Height Setup
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Height Setup

H Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Surround (Downmix)
Surround (Downmix)

Slope 
 

-0.19
-1.81

Std. Err. 
 

5.82 dB
5.25 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

80.0 dB SPL
84.5 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

2.65
1.66

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

0.60
1.01

Show text

Sound Enhancement Features 
 

4.7
4.7

Room Correction 
 

No
Yes

Dialogue Enhancement 
 

Yes
No

Auto-Volume/Night Mode 
 

Yes
Yes

Subwoofer Level Adjustment 
 

No
No

Bass Adjustment 
 

Yes
Yes

Treble Adjustment 
 

No
No

EQ 
 

Presets
Presets

Surround Level Adjustment 
 

No
No

Rear Level Adjustment 
 

No
No

Height Level Adjustment 
 

No
No

Virtual Surround 
 

Yes
Yes

Show text

Connectivity

Inputs/Outputs - Bar 
 

Physical Connections Bar Photo 1  

Sony HT-X8500 Physical Connections Bar Photo 1
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Physical Connections Bar Photo 1

Physical Connections Bar Photo 2  

Sony HT-X8500 Physical Connections Bar Photo 2
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Physical Connections Bar Photo 2

Optical Audio In 
 

1
1

HDMI ARC 
 

1 (shared)

HDMI Out 
 

eARC
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 
 

No
1

Subwoofer Output 
 

No
No

Show text

Audio Format Support: ARC/eARC 
 

10
8.8

Dolby Atmos 
 

Supported
Yes

Dolby Digital 
 

Supported
Yes

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

Supported
Yes

Dolby TrueHD 
 

Supported
Yes

DTS 
 

Supported
No

DTS:X 
 

Supported
No

eARC 
 

Yes

DTS-HD MA 
 

Supported
No

PCM Channels 
 

Up To 7.1

5.1 PCM (eARC only) 
 

Yes

Show text

Audio Format Support: HDMI In 
 

10
8.7

Dolby Atmos 
 

Supported
Yes

Dolby Digital 
 

Supported
Yes

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

Supported
Yes

Dolby TrueHD 
 

Supported
Yes

DTS 
 

Supported
No

DTS:X 
 

Supported
No

DTS-HD MA 
 

Supported
No

PCM Channels 
 

Up To 7.1

5.1 PCM 
 

Yes

Show text

Audio Format Support: Optical 
 

10
6.0

Dolby Digital 
 

Supported
Yes

DTS 
 

Supported
No

PCM Channels 
 

2.0

Show text

Latency 
 

7.5
9.5

Latency Video  

ARC 
 

-23 ms
-19 ms

Optical 
 

5 ms
-7 ms

Full HDMI In 
 

-126 ms
27 ms

Show text

Video Passthrough To TV 
 

6.6
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 
 

30Hz

HDR10 Passthrough 
 

Yes
Yes

HDR10+ Passthrough 
 

No

Dolby Vision Passthrough 
 

Yes

HDMI Forum VRR Passthrough 
 

No

4k @ 60 Hz Passthrough 
 

Yes

FreeSync Passthrough 
 

No

G-SYNC Passthrough 
 

No

ALLM Passthrough 
 

No

4k @ 60 Hz @ 10 bit Passthrough 
 

Yes

4k @ 60 Hz @ 4:4:4 Passthrough 
 

Yes

Show text

Wireless Playback 
 

6.0
10

Bluetooth 
 

Yes
Yes

Wi-Fi Playback 
 

No
Yes

Chromecast built-in 
 

No
Yes

Apple AirPlay 
 

No
Yes

Spotify Connect 
 

No
Yes

Show text

Additional Features

Interface 
 

Interface photo  

Sony HT-X8500 Interface photo
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Interface photo

Display 
 

No
Yes

Show text

Bar Controls 
 

Controls photo  

Sony HT-X8500 Controls photo
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Controls photo

Show text

Remote  

Remote photo  

Sony HT-X8500 Remote photo
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam 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

Check Price

Standard
HT-X8500
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Black
Bar 5.0 MultiBeam
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Standard
HT-X8500
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Black
Bar 5.0 MultiBeam
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Standard
HT-X8500
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Black
Bar 5.0 MultiBeam
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HT-X8500
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Bar 5.0 MultiBeam
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HT-X8500
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Bar 5.0 MultiBeam
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Sony HT-X8500

JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam

Comments

  1. Comparison
 • Posted 1 year ago

Sony HT-X8500 vs JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam: Main Discussion

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