JBL Bar 5.1 vs Samsung HW-K850 review

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l would like to share my experience after comparing and testing two soundbars – JBL Bar 5.1 vs Samsung HW-K850. The JBL Bar 5.1 was rated 7.2, while the Samsung HW-K850 has a rating 6. The soundbars are equipped with a different number of buttons, power, volume down, volume up, input for the Bar 5.1 and power, volume down, volume up, source for the HW-K850.

Audio features

Each of the models under consideration has active amplification type. A noticeable difference is the number of channels that Bar 5.1 has 5.1 and HW-K850 has 3.1.2. These rivals can be compared in terms of power, 510 (overall) versus 350 (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. Rate 8 out of 10 received the JBL Bar 5.1 for audio features and specs, but the Samsung HW-K850 received 6 out of 10. Each of the competitors can play content from Spotify.

Connectivity

Wireless Internet connection is realized only in the HW-K850. Soundbars from this comparison have Bluetooth support. There are 3/0 HDMI inputs/outputs in the JBL Bar 5.1 versus 2/1 HDMIs in the Samsung HW-K850. As in the Bar 5.1, so in the HW-K850 there is the HDMI Audio Return Channel (ARC). Connecting devices via USB is possible in both models. We rated the connectivity of the Bar 5.1 at 8 out of 10, while the HW-K850 was rated 7/10. The manufacturer of the Bar 5.1 provides a device control application. Soundbars in this review are not equipped with a microphone. The models under consideration cannot become part of a multiroom system.

Multichannel surround

Dolby Atmos audio decoder is onboard the HW-K850. 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 5.1 over Samsung HW-K850

Advantages Samsung HW-K850 over JBL Bar 5.1