JBL Bar 5.1 vs JBL Bar 2.1 review

Votes 6 6
Rating 4.2 4.2

JBL Bar 5.1 vs JBL Bar 2.1 comparison chart

JBL Bar 5.1 vs JBL Bar 2.1 review

JBL Bar 5.1
vs
JBL Bar 2.1

The present review is aimed to compare two soundbars - JBL Bar 5.1 vs JBL Bar 2.1 that are meant to satisfy the needs of cinema and music lovers. Based on our rating, Bar 5.1 has a total rating of 7.2 out of 10 versus 6 for Bar 2.1. The competitors' control buttons are different: power, volume down, volume up, input 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 JBL Bar 5.1 has 5.1 versus 2.1 for the JBL Bar 2.1. The output power is different and equal to 510 (overall) W for the Bar 5.1 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 JBL Bar 5.1 got our rating of 8 out of 10, and the JBL Bar 2.1 7 for its audio features and specs. Spotify support is available on the Bar 5.1.

Connectivity

Only the JBL Bar 2.1 can connect to the Internet via WI-FI. Rivals from our review have Bluetooth support. The JBL Bar 5.1 has 3/0 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.

Features

App control is available for the Bar 5.1. A built-in microphone is present only on the Bar 2.1. Soundbars do not have Multi-room support.

Multichannel surround

None of soundbars equipped with Dolby Atmos multichannel audio decoder. The soundbars do not support the surround sound technology DTS:X. For multichannel surround, each of the opponents received 4 points out of 10.

Advantages JBL Bar 5.1 over JBL Bar 2.1

  • Amazon Music compatible
  • Spotify support
  • App control

Advantages JBL Bar 2.1 over JBL Bar 5.1

  • WI-FI enabled
  • Microphone
Add soundbar to comparison
We didn't find anything to show here

Common

Product

JBL Bar 5.1
JBL Bar 2.1

Model

Bar 5.1
Bar 2.1

Brand

JBL
JBL

Reviews

3060
548

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, input
power, volume down, volume up, source

Audio features

Built-in channels

5.1
2.1

Amplification type

active
active

Output power, W

510 (overall)
300 (overall)

Separate speaker (in package)

2
0

Separate speaker connections

wireless
has not

Subwoofer

Built-in subwoofer

Separate subwoofer (in package)

Separate subwoofer connections

wireless
wireless

Streaming services

Apple Music (AirPlay)

AirPlay

Amazon Music

Spotify

Other streaming services

Pandora, Tuneln, Deezer, Chromecast
has not

Connectivity

WI-FI

Bluetooth

Ethernet (RJ45)

0
0

NFC

HDMI input/output

3/0
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
1/0

Headphone output

0
0

Subwoofer output

1
0

Features

Voice control

Amazon Alexa
Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant

App control

Microphone

Remote control

Multi-room

Multichannel surround

Dolby Atmos

Dolby (other)

Dolby Digital, Dolby Pro Logic II
Dolby Digital

DTS:X

DTS (other)

has not
has not

User manual

Manual

Dimensions

Size (Wx H x D), cm/in

114.8 x 5.8 x 9.3/45 x 2.3 x 3.7
96.5 x 5.8 x 6.8/38 x 2.3 x 2.7

Weight, kg/pounds

3.9/8.6
1.9/4.1

Other

Release year

2017
2019
JBL Bar 5.1
JBL Bar 2.1
JBL Bar 5.1
JBL Bar 2.1

Soundbars SoundStrokes Art comparison rating

  • better
  • worse
  • 7.2
  • 6
  • 7.2JBL Bar 5.1
  • 6JBL Bar 2.1