Sony HT-Z9F vs JBL Bar 5.1 review

Votes 80 80
Rating 4.3 4.3

Sony HT-Z9F vs JBL Bar 5.1 comparison chart

Sony HT-Z9F vs JBL Bar 5.1 review

Sony HT-Z9F
vs
JBL Bar 5.1

It makes sense comparing Sony HT-Z9F vs JBL Bar 5.1 because they both are able to give some premium features. Based on our rating, both soundbars have the same overall rating of 7.2. The competitors' control buttons are different: power, input, Bluetooth, music service, volume down, volume up and power, volume down, volume up, input, respectively.

Audio features

Both soundbars have active amplification type. A significant difference between the units in the number of channels, the Sony HT-Z9F has 3.1 versus 5.1 for the JBL Bar 5.1. The output power is different and equal to 400 (overall) W for the HT-Z9F versus 510 (overall) W for the Bar 5.1. Competitors do not have a built-in subwoofer. Rivals have wireless connection to separate subwoofer. The Sony HT-Z9F got our rating of 7 out of 10, and the JBL Bar 5.1 8 for its audio features and specs. Spotify is available on each of the soundbars.

Connectivity

Only the Sony HT-Z9F can connect to the Internet via WI-FI. Rivals from our review have Bluetooth support. The Sony HT-Z9F has 2/0 HDMI inputs/outputs versus 3/0 of the JBL Bar 5.1. 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. None of the models under consideration have a built-in microphone. Multi-room is only available for the Sony HT-Z9F.

Multichannel surround

Only the HT-Z9F has a Dolby Atmos multichannel audio format support. A surround technology DTS:X is supported only by the HT-Z9F. For multichannel surround Sony HT-Z9F got a rating of 8, and JBL Bar 5.1 4 out of 10.

Advantages Sony HT-Z9F over JBL Bar 5.1

  • WI-FI enabled
  • Multi-room support
  • Compatible with Dolby Atmos
  • Compatible with DTS:X

Advantages JBL Bar 5.1 over Sony HT-Z9F

  • Amazon Music compatible
  • App control
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Common

Product

Sony HT-Z9F
JBL Bar 5.1

Model

HT-Z9F
Bar 5.1

Brand

Sony
JBL

Reviews

349
3060

General

Placement type

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

Connection to source

wired, wireless
wired, wireless

Soundbar buttons

power, input, Bluetooth, music service, volume down, volume up
power, volume down, volume up, input

Audio features

Built-in channels

3.1
5.1

Amplification type

active
active

Output power, W

400 (overall)
510 (overall)

Separate speaker (in package)

0
2

Separate speaker connections

has not
wireless

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

Chromecast
Pandora, Tuneln, Deezer, Chromecast

Connectivity

WI-FI

Bluetooth

Ethernet (RJ45)

1
0

NFC

HDMI input/output

2/0
3/0

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

0
1

Features

Voice control

Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant
Amazon Alexa

App control

Microphone

Remote control

Multi-room

Multichannel surround

Dolby Atmos

Dolby (other)

Dolby Digital
Dolby Digital, Dolby Pro Logic II

DTS:X

DTS (other)

has not
has not

User manual

Manual

Dimensions

Size (Wx H x D), cm/in

100 x 6.4 x 10/39.4 x 2.5 x 3.4
114.8 x 5.8 x 9.3/45 x 2.3 x 3.7

Weight, kg/pounds

3.1/6.6
3.9/8.6

Other

Release year

2018
2017
Sony HT-Z9F
JBL Bar 5.1
Sony HT-Z9F
JBL Bar 5.1

Soundbars SoundStrokes Art comparison rating

  • better
  • worse
  • 7.2
  • 7.2
  • 7.2Sony HT-Z9F
  • 7.2JBL Bar 5.1