I had a chance to test and compare two models: JBL Bar 5.1 vs Yamaha YAS-107 and this review should help people who are looking for a good soundbar. The JBL Bar 5.1 was rated 7.2, while the Yamaha YAS-107 has a rating 6.8. The soundbars are equipped with a different number of buttons, power, volume down, volume up, input for the Bar 5.1 and input, mute, volume down, volume up, power for the YAS-107.
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 YAS-107 has 2.0. These rivals can be compared in terms of power, 510 (overall) versus 120 according to devices. A built-in subwoofer is available only in the Yamaha YAS-107. An external subwoofer connects to the Bar 5.1 via wireless, but YAS-107 has wired connection type. Rate 8 out of 10 received the JBL Bar 5.1 for audio features and specs, but the Yamaha YAS-107 received 7 out of 10.
AirPlay supported by both soundbars. Each of the competitors can play content from Spotify. Audio streaming from Pandora, Tuneln, Deezer, Chromecast is in each of the presented soundbars.
Both models do not have a wireless Wi-Fi interface. Soundbars from this comparison have Bluetooth support. There are 3/0 HDMI inputs/outputs in the JBL Bar 5.1 versus 1/0 HDMIs in the Yamaha YAS-107. As in the Bar 5.1, so in the YAS-107 there is the HDMI Audio Return Channel (ARC). We rated the connectivity of the Bar 5.1 at 8 out of 10, while the YAS-107 was rated 6/10. Each of the soundbars can be controlled using the application. Soundbars in this review are not equipped with a microphone. The models under consideration cannot become part of a multiroom system.
Dolby Atmos audio decoder support is not implemented in either the Bar 5.1 or YAS-107. Devices from this comparison cannot process surround sound due to lack of DTS:X. The Bar 5.1 was rated 4/10, while the YAS-107 received a mark of 6/10 for multichannel surround.