Nakamichi Shockwafe Ultra 9.2 vs JBL Bar 2.1 review

Votes 1 1
Rating 5 5

Nakamichi Shockwafe Ultra 9.2 vs JBL Bar 2.1 comparison chart

Overall
Nakamichi Shockwafe Ultra 9.2
8.2
JBL Bar 2.1
6
4
8

Nakamichi Shockwafe Ultra 9.2 vs JBL Bar 2.1 review

Nakamichi Shockwafe Ultra 9.2
vs
JBL Bar 2.1

The present review is aimed to compare two soundbars - Nakamichi Shockwafe Ultra 9.2 vs JBL Bar 2.1 that are meant to satisfy the needs of cinema and music lovers. Based on our rating, Shockwafe Ultra 9.2 has a total rating of 8.2 out of 10 versus 6 for Bar 2.1. The competitors' control buttons are different: power, source, demo, volume down, volume up and power, volume down, volume up, source, respectively.

Audio features

Both soundbars have active amplification type. A significant difference between the units in the number of channels, the Nakamichi Shockwafe Ultra 9.2 has 9.2.4 versus 2.1 for the JBL Bar 2.1. The output power is different and equal to 1000 (overall) W for the Shockwafe Ultra 9.2 versus 300 (overall) W for the Bar 2.1. Competitors do not have a built-in subwoofer. Rivals have wireless connection to separate subwoofer. The Nakamichi Shockwafe Ultra 9.2 got our rating of 10 out of 10, and the JBL Bar 2.1 7 for its audio features and specs.

Streaming services

Soundbars do not have AirPlay support. Spotify support is available on the Shockwafe Ultra 9.2.

Connectivity

Only the JBL Bar 2.1 can connect to the Internet via WI-FI. Rivals from our review have Bluetooth support. The Nakamichi Shockwafe Ultra 9.2 has 3/1 HDMI inputs/outputs versus 1/1 of the JBL Bar 2.1. The HDMI Audio Return Channel (ARC) feature supports both devices. Both soundbars have a USB connector. For connectivity, each of the soundbars received a rating of 8/10. Compared soundbars have no app control. A built-in microphone is present only on the Bar 2.1. Soundbars do not have Multi-room support.

Multichannel surround

Only the Shockwafe Ultra 9.2 has a Dolby Atmos multichannel audio format support. A surround technology DTS:X is supported only by the Shockwafe Ultra 9.2. For multichannel surround Nakamichi Shockwafe Ultra 9.2 got a rating of 10, and JBL Bar 2.1 4 out of 10.

Advantages Nakamichi Shockwafe Ultra 9.2 over JBL Bar 2.1

  • Amazon Music compatible
  • Spotify support
  • Compatible with Dolby Atmos
  • Compatible with DTS:X

Advantages JBL Bar 2.1 over Nakamichi Shockwafe Ultra 9.2

  • WI-FI enabled
  • Microphone
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Common

Product

Nakamichi Shockwafe Ultra 9.2
JBL Bar 2.1

Model

Shockwafe Ultra 9.2
Bar 2.1

Brand

Nakamichi
JBL

Reviews

2241
548

General

Placement type

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

Connection to source

wired, wireless
wired, wireless

Soundbar buttons

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

Audio features

Built-in channels

9.2.4
2.1

Amplification type

active
active

Output power, W

1000 (overall)
300 (overall)

Separate speaker (in package)

4
0

Separate speaker connections

wired
has not

Subwoofer

Built-in subwoofer

Separate subwoofer (in package)

Separate subwoofer connections

wireless
wireless

Streaming services

Apple Music (AirPlay)

Amazon Music

Spotify

Other streaming services

Pandora, SoundCloud
has not

Connectivity

WI-FI

Bluetooth

Ethernet (RJ45)

0
0

NFC

HDMI input/output

3/1
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

1/0
0/0

Analog audio input/output (RCA)

1/0
1/0

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, Dolby TruHD
Dolby Digital

DTS:X

DTS (other)

DTS Digital Surround, DTS HD
has not

User manual

Manual

N/A

Dimensions

Size (Wx H x D), cm/in

114.3 x 7.6 x 7.6/45.5 x 3 x 3.5
96.5 x 5.8 x 6.8/38 x 2.3 x 2.7

Weight, kg/pounds

3.1/7.2
1.9/4.1

Other

Release year

2018
2019
Nakamichi Shockwafe Ultra 9.2
JBL Bar 2.1
Nakamichi Shockwafe Ultra 9.2
JBL Bar 2.1

Soundbars SoundStrokes Art comparison rating

  • better
  • worse
  • 8.2
  • 6
  • 8.2Nakamichi Shockwafe Ultra 9.2
  • 6JBL Bar 2.1