JBL Bar 2.1 vs Samsung HW-R550 review

Votes 6 6
Rating 3.5 3.5

JBL Bar 2.1 vs Samsung HW-R550 comparison chart

JBL Bar 2.1 vs Samsung HW-R550 review

JBL Bar 2.1
vs
Samsung HW-R550

In this article, we will talk about JBL Bar 2.1 vs Samsung HW-R550 comparison. The JBL Bar 2.1 was rated 6, while the Samsung HW-R550 has a rating 5. The soundbars are equipped with a different number of buttons, power, volume down, volume up, source for the Bar 2.1 and volume down, volume up, power, source for the HW-R550.

Audio features

Each of the models under consideration has active amplification type. By the number of channels, the devices do not differ. These rivals can be compared in terms of power, 300 (overall) versus 320 (overall) according to devices. The built-in subwoofer is not implemented in any of these models. An external subwoofer can be connected to any of the units in this comparison. Audio features and specs of considered models we rated 7 out of 10 in our ranking.

Streaming services

Soundbars do not have AirPlay support. The units in this comparison do not support Spotify.

Connectivity

Wireless Internet connection is realized only in the Bar 2.1. Soundbars from this comparison have Bluetooth support. 1/1 HDMI inputs/outputs are in each of soundbars. As in the Bar 2.1, so in the HW-R550 there is the HDMI Audio Return Channel (ARC). Connecting devices via USB is possible in both models. We rated the connectivity of the Bar 2.1 at 8 out of 10, while the HW-R550 was rated 7/10. None of these soundbars can be controlled using the app. The JBL Bar 2.1 equipped with a microphone. The models under consideration cannot become part of a multiroom system.

Multichannel surround

Dolby Atmos audio decoder support is not implemented in either the Bar 2.1 or HW-R550. Devices from this comparison cannot process surround sound due to lack of DTS:X. The same score of 4/10 was put to the soundbars for multichannel surround support.

Advantages JBL Bar 2.1 over Samsung HW-R550

  • WI-FI enabled
  • Microphone
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Common

Product

JBL Bar 2.1
Samsung HW-R550

Model

Bar 2.1
HW-R550

Brand

JBL
Samsung

Reviews

548
1236

General

Placement type

table-top, wall-mountable
table-top, wall-mountable

Connection to source

wired, wireless
wired, wireless

Soundbar buttons

power, volume down, volume up, source
volume down, volume up, power, source

Audio features

Built-in channels

2.1
2.1

Amplification type

active
active

Output power, W

300 (overall)
320 (overall)

Separate speaker (in package)

0
0

Separate speaker connections

has not
wireless

Subwoofer

Built-in subwoofer

Separate subwoofer (in package)

Separate subwoofer connections

wireless
wireless

Streaming services

Apple Music (AirPlay)

Amazon Music

Spotify

Other streaming services

has not
has not

Connectivity

WI-FI

Bluetooth

Ethernet (RJ45)

0
0

NFC

HDMI input/output

1/1
1/1

HDMI ARC

HDMI eARC

HDMI CEC

Optical digital input/output

1/0
1/0

USB

1 (USB 2.0)
1 (USB 2.0)

Coaxial digital input/output

0/0
0/0

Analog audio input/output (RCA)

1/0
0/0

Headphone output

0
0

Subwoofer output

0
0

Features

Voice control

Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant

App control

Microphone

Remote control

Multi-room

Multichannel surround

Dolby Atmos

Dolby (other)

Dolby Digital
Dolby Digital

DTS:X

DTS (other)

has not
has not

User manual

Manual

Dimensions

Size (Wx H x D), cm/in

96.5 x 5.8 x 6.8/38 x 2.3 x 2.7
89 x 5 x 7.6/35.6 x 2.2 x 3.2

Weight, kg/pounds

1.9/4.1
2.2/4.9

Other

Release year

2019
2019
JBL Bar 2.1
Samsung HW-R550
JBL Bar 2.1
Samsung HW-R550

Soundbars SoundStrokes Art comparison rating

  • better
  • worse
  • 6
  • 5
  • 6JBL Bar 2.1
  • 5Samsung HW-R550