JBL Bar 9.1 vs Polk Audio Signa S4 review

Votes 1 1
Rating 5 5

JBL Bar 9.1 vs Polk Audio Signa S4 comparison chart

Overall
JBL Bar 9.1
9
Polk Audio Signa S4
7.8
9
9

JBL Bar 9.1 vs Polk Audio Signa S4 review

JBL Bar 9.1
vs
Polk Audio Signa S4

If you have already decided that you want to buy a new soundbar, but still don’t know what exactly you want, the JBL Bar 9.1 vs Polk Audio Signa S4 comparison is here to offer you two decent solutions. The JBL Bar 9.1 was rated 9, while the Polk Audio Signa S4 has a rating 7.8.

Audio features

Each of the models under consideration has active amplification type. A noticeable difference is the number of channels that Bar 9.1 has 9.1 and Signa S4 has 3.1.2. These rivals can be compared in terms of power, 820 (overall) versus 80 (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 9 out of 10 received the JBL Bar 9.1 for audio features and specs, but the Polk Audio Signa S4 received 5 out of 10.

Streaming services

Each of the competitors can play content from Spotify. Audio streaming from Pandora, SoundCloud is in each of the presented soundbars.

Connectivity

Both models have a wireless Wi-Fi interface. Soundbars from this comparison have Bluetooth support. There are 1/1 HDMI inputs/outputs in the JBL Bar 9.1 versus 0/1 HDMIs in the Polk Audio Signa S4. As in the Bar 9.1, so in the Signa S4 there is the HDMI Audio Return Channel (ARC). Connecting devices via USB is possible in both models. We rated the connectivity of the Bar 9.1 at 10 out of 10, while the Signa S4 was rated 6/10.

Features

Each of the soundbars can be controlled using the application. The soundbars in this review are equipped with a microphone. The JBL Bar 9.1 may become part of a multiroom system.

Multichannel surround

Manufacturers equipped both units with Dolby Atmos audio decoder. Devices from this comparison cannot process surround sound due to lack of DTS:X. The Bar 9.1 was rated 7/10, while the Signa S4 received a mark of 9/10 for multichannel surround.

Advantages JBL Bar 9.1 over Polk Audio Signa S4

  • Multi-room support
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Common

Product

JBL Bar 9.1
Polk Audio Signa S4

Model

Bar 9.1
Signa S4

Brand

JBL
Polk Audio

Reviews

0
0

General

Placement type

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

Connection to source

wired, wireless
wired, wireless

Soundbar buttons

has not
power, source, demo, volume down, volume up

Audio features

Built-in channels

9.1
3.1.2

Amplification type

active
active

Output power, W

820 (overall)
80 (overall)

Separate speaker (in package)

2
0

Separate speaker connections

has not
has not

Subwoofer

Built-in subwoofer

Separate subwoofer (in package)

Separate subwoofer connections

wireless
wireless

Streaming services

Apple Music (AirPlay)

Amazon Music

Spotify

Other streaming services

Pandora, SoundCloud
Pandora, SoundCloud

Connectivity

WI-FI

Bluetooth

Ethernet (RJ45)

0
0

NFC

HDMI input/output

1/1
0/1

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)

0/0
0/0

Headphone output

0
0

Subwoofer output

0
0

Features

Voice control

App control

Microphone

Remote control

Multi-room

Multichannel surround

Dolby Atmos

Dolby (other)

Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD

DTS:X

DTS (other)

DTS HD

User manual

Manual

Dimensions

Size (Wx H x D), cm/in

88.4x6.2x1.2/34.8x2.4x4.7
104.6x9.5x6/41.2x3.7x2.4

Weight, kg/pounds

3.7/8.1
2.9/6

Other

Release year

2020
2021
JBL Bar 9.1
Polk Audio Signa S4
JBL Bar 9.1
Polk Audio Signa S4

Soundbars SoundStrokes Art comparison rating

  • better
  • worse
  • 9
  • 7.8
  • 9JBL Bar 9.1
  • 7.8Polk Audio Signa S4

JBL Bar 9.1 competitors

Polk Audio Signa S4 competitors