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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
    3. Audio Format Support - Full HDMI In
    4. Audio Format Support - Optical
    5. Latency
    6. Wireless Playback
    7. Other Input Specifications
  7. Additional Features
    1. Interface
    2. Bar Controls
    3. Remote
    4. Voice Assistants Support
  8. Comments

Sony HT-Z9F vs JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

Sony HT-Z9F
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam

Tested using Methodology v1.1

Updated Jan 12, 2024 08:20 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v1.1

Updated Mar 15, 2024 07:13 PM

SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
Sony HT-Z9F Picture
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Picture
Channels
3.1
Channels
5.0

Variants

  • HT-Z9F (Black)
  • Bar 5.0 MultiBeam (Black)

Review

See Sony HT-Z9F Review
See JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Review
1 
2 

Our Verdict

Sony HT-Z9F

JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam

Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the Sony HT-Z9F or the JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam. The Sony is a 3.1 setup with a more neutral sound profile out-of-the-box, which some users may prefer. It gets louder, and it has a dialogue enhancement feature. The 5.0 JBL has better surround and Atmos performances, as well as a room correction feature.

0 

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Black
HT-Z9F
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Black
Bar 5.0 MultiBeam
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HT-Z9F
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Bar 5.0 MultiBeam
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HT-Z9F
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Bar 5.0 MultiBeam
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Black
HT-Z9F
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Bar 5.0 MultiBeam
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HT-Z9F
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Bar 5.0 MultiBeam
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Main Differences for
Mixed Usage

Threshold 

0.10

Mixed Usage 

7.2
7.2

Surround 5.1 
 

2.4
6.0

Height (Atmos) 
 

2.0
5.1

Stereo Frequency Response 
 

7.3
7.0

Dialogue Enhancement 
 

Yes
No

Full Comparison

Design

Style - Bar  

Style photo - bar  

Sony HT-Z9F Style photo - bar
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Style photo - bar
Show Text 

Style - Subwoofer  

Style photo - sub  

Sony HT-Z9F Style photo - sub
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Style photo - sub

Sub Wireless 
 

Yes
No

Enclosure 
 

Ported
No Subwoofer
Show Text 

Style - Satellites  

Style photo - satellites  

Sony HT-Z9F Style photo - satellites
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Style photo - satellites

Satellite Wireless 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Dimensions - Bar  

Dimensions photo - bar  

Sony HT-Z9F Dimensions photo - bar
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Dimensions photo - bar

Width  

39.4" (100.0 cm)
28.0" (71.0 cm)

Height  

2.6" (6.5 cm)
2.3" (5.8 cm)

Depth  

3.9" (10.0 cm)
4.0" (10.2 cm)
Show Text 

Dimensions - Subwoofer  

Dimensions photo - sub  

Sony HT-Z9F Dimensions photo - sub
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Dimensions photo - sub

Width  

7.4" (18.9 cm)
N/A

Height  

15.0" (38.0 cm)
N/A

Depth  

15.2" (38.6 cm)
N/A
Show Text 

Dimensions - Satellites  

Dimensions photo - satellites  

Sony HT-Z9F 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
Show Text 

Mounting 
 

Bar Mounting Holes  

Sony HT-Z9F Bar Mounting Holes
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Bar Mounting Holes

Satellite Mounting Holes  

Sony HT-Z9F Satellite Mounting Holes
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Satellite Mounting Holes

Mountable Bar 
 

Yes
Yes

Bar Brackets Included 
 

Yes
Yes

Mountable Satellites 
 

No
No

Satellite Brackets Included 
 

No
No

Build Quality 
 

8.0
8.0

Build quality photo  

Sony HT-Z9F Build quality photo
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Build quality photo
Show Text 

In The Box 
 

In The Box photo   

Sony HT-Z9F In The Box photo
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam In The Box photo
Show Text 
Sound

Stereo Frequency Response 
 

7.3
7.0

Stereo Setup  

Sony HT-Z9F 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 
 

-0.41
-1.07

Std. Err. 
 

2.53 dB
3.38 dB

Channels 
 

3.1
5.0

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

44.3 Hz
51.9 Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

7.9 kHz
15.6 kHz
Show Text 

Stereo Frequency Response With Preliminary Calibration 
 

7.3
7.0

Frequency Response Calibrated  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Suggested Preset 
 

Standard
Standard

Suggested Bass Setting 
 

6
1

Suggested Treble Setting 
 

N/A
N/A

Slope 
 

-0.41
0.18

Std. Err. 
 

2.53 dB
3.07 dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

44.3 Hz
55.0 Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

7.9 kHz
15.6 kHz
Show Text 

Stereo Soundstage 
 

7.0
7.0

Crosstalk  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Crosstalk Error 
 

2.20 dB
2.83 dB
Show Text 

Stereo Dynamics 
 

8.1
7.6

Dynamic Range Compression  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

93.6 dB SPL
91.9 dB SPL

DRC @ Max Volume 
 

1.08 dB
1.57 dB
Show Text 

Stereo Total Harmonic Distortion 
 

7.4
8.0

THD  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.47
0.32

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

3.19
1.33
Show Text 

Center 
 

8.0
8.2

Center Setup  

Sony HT-Z9F Center Setup
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Center Setup

Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Discrete
Discrete

Slope 
 

0.40
-0.30

Std. Err. 
 

3.63 dB
2.96 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

90.6 dB SPL
88.9 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.57
0.24

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

2.34
1.11
Show Text 

Surround 5.1 
 

2.4
6.0

Surround Setup  

Sony HT-Z9F 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 
 

-1.75
-0.77

Std. Err. 
 

8.29 dB
3.80 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

93.1 dB SPL
89.7 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.51
1.11

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

3.31
2.36

7.1 Rears 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Height (Atmos) 
 

2.0
5.1

Height Setup  

Sony HT-Z9F Height Setup
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Height Setup

H Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Stereo (Downmix)
Surround (Downmix)

Slope 
 

0.75
-1.81

Std. Err. 
 

8.11 dB
5.25 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

82.9 dB SPL
84.5 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

2.73
1.66

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

0.90
1.01
Show Text 

Sound Enhancement Features 
 

5.6
4.7

Room Correction 
 

No
Yes

Dialogue Enhancement 
 

Yes
No

Auto-Volume/Night Mode 
 

Yes
Yes

Subwoofer Level Adjustment 
 

Yes
No

Bass Adjustment 
 

No
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-Z9F Physical Connections Bar Photo 1
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Physical Connections Bar Photo 1

Physical Connections Bar Photo 2  

Sony HT-Z9F Physical Connections Bar Photo 2
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Physical Connections Bar Photo 2

Optical Audio In 
 

1
1

HDMI ARC 
 

1 (shared)
1 (shared)

HDMI Out 
 

1 (shared)
1 (shared)

Full HDMI In 
 

2
1

Analog Audio In 3.5mm (Aux) 
 

1
No

RCA In 
 

No
No

USB for Files 
 

1
1

Ethernet 
 

1
1

Subwoofer Output 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Audio Format Support - ARC 
 

10
8.8

eARC 
 

Yes
Yes

Dolby Atmos 
 

Yes
Yes

Dolby Digital 
 

Yes
Yes

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

Yes
Yes

DTS 
 

Yes
No

DTS:X (eARC only) 
 

Yes
No

Dolby TrueHD (eARC only) 
 

Yes
Yes

DTS-HD MA (eARC only) 
 

Yes
No

5.1 PCM (eARC only) 
 

Yes
Yes
Show Text 

Audio Format Support - Full HDMI In 
 

10
8.7

Dolby Atmos 
 

Yes
Yes

DTS:X 
 

Yes
No

Dolby Digital 
 

Yes
Yes

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

Yes
Yes

DTS 
 

Yes
No

Dolby TrueHD 
 

Yes
Yes

DTS-HD MA 
 

Yes
No

5.1 PCM 
 

Yes
Yes
Show Text 

Audio Format Support - Optical 
 

10
6.0

Dolby Digital 
 

Yes
Yes

DTS 
 

Yes
No
Show Text 

Latency 
 

8.1
9.5

Latency Video  

ARC 
 

56 ms
-19 ms

Optical 
 

51 ms
-7 ms

Full HDMI In 
 

-47 ms
27 ms
Show Text 

Wireless Playback 
 

9.0
10

Bluetooth 
 

Yes
Yes

Wi-Fi Playback 
 

Yes
Yes

Chromecast built-in 
 

Yes
Yes

Apple AirPlay 
 

No
Yes

Spotify Connect 
 

Yes
Yes
Show Text 

Other Input Specifications 
 

4k @ 60 Hz Passthrough 
 

Yes
Yes

4k @ 60 Hz @ 10 bit Passthrough 
 

Yes
Yes

4k @ 60 Hz @ 4:4:4 Passthrough 
 

Yes
Yes

HDR10 Passthrough 
 

Yes
Yes
Show Text 
Additional Features

Interface 
 

Interface photo  

Sony HT-Z9F Interface photo
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Interface photo

Display 
 

Yes
Yes
Show Text 

Bar Controls 
 

Controls photo  

Sony HT-Z9F Controls photo
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Controls photo
Show Text 

Remote  

Remote photo  

Sony HT-Z9F 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 

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HT-Z9F
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Bar 5.0 MultiBeam
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HT-Z9F
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Bar 5.0 MultiBeam
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Sony HT-Z9F

JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam

Comments

  1. Comparison
 • Posted 1 year ago

Sony HT-Z9F vs JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam: Main Discussion

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