JBL Bar 5.1 vs Nakamichi Shockwafe Pro 7.1 review

Votes 4 4
Rating 4.3 4.3

JBL Bar 5.1 vs Nakamichi Shockwafe Pro 7.1 comparison chart

Overall
JBL Bar 5.1
7.2
Nakamichi Shockwafe Pro 7.1
7.8
5
4

JBL Bar 5.1 vs Nakamichi Shockwafe Pro 7.1 review

JBL Bar 5.1
vs
Nakamichi Shockwafe Pro 7.1

It makes sense comparing JBL Bar 5.1 vs Nakamichi Shockwafe Pro 7.1 because they both are able to give some premium features. Based on our rating, Bar 5.1 has a total rating of 7.2 out of 10 versus 7.8 for Shockwafe Pro 7.1. The competitors' control buttons are different: power, volume down, volume up, input and power, source, demo, volume down, volume up, 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 7.1.4 for the Nakamichi Shockwafe Pro 7.1. The output power is different and equal to 510 (overall) W for the Bar 5.1 versus 600 (overall) W for the Shockwafe Pro 7.1. Competitors do not have a built-in subwoofer. Rivals have wireless connection to separate subwoofer. Both models received our 8 rating of 10 for their audio features and specs. Spotify is available on each of the soundbars.

Connectivity

Both models do not have WI-FI support. Rivals from our review have Bluetooth support. The JBL Bar 5.1 has 3/0 HDMI inputs/outputs versus 3/1 of the Nakamichi Shockwafe Pro 7.1. 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. App control is available for the Bar 5.1. None of the models under consideration have a built-in microphone. Soundbars do not have Multi-room support.

Multichannel surround

Only the Shockwafe Pro 7.1 has a Dolby Atmos multichannel audio format support. A surround technology DTS:X is supported only by the Shockwafe Pro 7.1. For multichannel surround JBL Bar 5.1 got a rating of 4, and Nakamichi Shockwafe Pro 7.1 10 out of 10.

Advantages JBL Bar 5.1 over Nakamichi Shockwafe Pro 7.1

  • App control

Advantages Nakamichi Shockwafe Pro 7.1 over JBL Bar 5.1

  • Compatible with Dolby Atmos
  • Compatible with DTS:X
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Common

Product

JBL Bar 5.1
Nakamichi Shockwafe Pro 7.1

Model

Bar 5.1
Shockwafe Pro 7.1

Brand

JBL
Nakamichi

Reviews

3060
3363

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, source, demo, volume down, volume up

Audio features

Built-in channels

5.1
7.1.4

Amplification type

active
active

Output power, W

510 (overall)
600 (overall)

Separate speaker (in package)

2
2

Separate speaker connections

wireless
wired

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
Pandora, SoundCloud

Connectivity

WI-FI

Bluetooth

Ethernet (RJ45)

0
0

NFC

HDMI input/output

3/0
3/1

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
1/0

Analog audio input/output (RCA)

1/0
1/0

Headphone output

0
0

Subwoofer output

1
0

Features

Voice control

Amazon Alexa

App control

Microphone

Remote control

Multi-room

Multichannel surround

Dolby Atmos

Dolby (other)

Dolby Digital, Dolby Pro Logic II
Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital, Dolby TruHD

DTS:X

DTS (other)

has not
DTS Digital Surround, DTS HD

User manual

Manual

N/A

Dimensions

Size (Wx H x D), cm/in

114.8 x 5.8 x 9.3/45 x 2.3 x 3.7
114.3 x 7.6 x 7.6/45.5 x 3 x 3.5

Weight, kg/pounds

3.9/8.6
3.1/7.2

Other

Release year

2017
2017
JBL Bar 5.1
Nakamichi Shockwafe Pro 7.1
JBL Bar 5.1
Nakamichi Shockwafe Pro 7.1

Soundbars SoundStrokes Art comparison rating

  • better
  • worse
  • 7.2
  • 7.8
  • 7.2JBL Bar 5.1
  • 7.8Nakamichi Shockwafe Pro 7.1