Dayton Audio BS36 vs JBL Bar 2.1 review

Votes 1 1
Rating 5 5

Dayton Audio BS36 vs JBL Bar 2.1 comparison chart

Overall
Dayton Audio BS36
4.5
JBL Bar 2.1
6
inapplicable
0
inapplicable
8
inapplicable
4

Dayton Audio BS36 vs JBL Bar 2.1 review

Dayton Audio BS36
vs
JBL Bar 2.1

The present review is aimed to compare two soundbars - Dayton Audio BS36 vs JBL Bar 2.1 that are meant to satisfy the needs of cinema and music lovers. Based on our rating, BS36 has a total rating of 4.5 out of 10 versus 6 for Bar 2.1.

Audio features

The Dayton Audio BS36 has the passive amplification type, the JBL Bar 2.1 - active. A significant difference between the units in the number of channels, the Dayton Audio BS36 has 3.0 versus 2.1 for the JBL Bar 2.1. Competitors do not have a built-in subwoofer. The Dayton Audio BS36 got our rating of 5 out of 10, and the JBL Bar 2.1 7 for its audio features and specs.

Streaming services

Soundbars do not have AirPlay support. Spotify support not implemented in both soundbars.

Connectivity

Only the JBL Bar 2.1 can connect to the Internet via WI-FI. Only the Bar 2.1 has Bluetooth support. Only the Bar 2.1 supports HDMI Audio Return Channel (ARC). For connectivity, the BS36 received a rating of 4/10 versus 8/10, respectively. Compared soundbars have no app control. A built-in microphone is present only on the Bar 2.1. Soundbars do not have Multi-room support.

Multichannel surround

None of soundbars equipped with Dolby Atmos multichannel audio decoder. The soundbars do not support the surround sound technology DTS:X.

Advantages JBL Bar 2.1 over Dayton Audio BS36

  • Separate subwoofer in package
  • WI-FI enabled
  • Bluetooth enabled
  • Audio return channel (HDMI ARC) support
  • Microphone
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Common

Product

Dayton Audio BS36
JBL Bar 2.1

Model

BS36
Bar 2.1

Brand

Dayton Audio
JBL

Reviews

55
548

General

Placement type

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

Connection to source

wired
wired, wireless

Soundbar buttons

has not
power, volume down, volume up, source

Audio features

Built-in channels

3.0
2.1

Amplification type

passive
active

Output power, W

300 (overall)

Separate speaker (in package)

0
0

Separate speaker connections

has not
has not

Subwoofer

Built-in subwoofer

Separate subwoofer (in package)

Separate subwoofer connections

wireless

Streaming services

Apple Music (AirPlay)

Amazon Music

Spotify

Other streaming services

has not
has not

Connectivity

WI-FI

Bluetooth

Ethernet (RJ45)

0
0

NFC

HDMI input/output

0/0
1/1

HDMI ARC

HDMI eARC

HDMI CEC

Optical digital input/output

0/0
1/0

USB

1 (USB 2.0)

Coaxial digital input/output

0/0
0/0

Analog audio input/output (RCA)

3/0
1/0

Headphone output

0
0

Subwoofer output

0
0

Features

Voice control

Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant

App control

Microphone

Remote control

Multi-room

Multichannel surround

Dolby Atmos

Dolby (other)

has not
Dolby Digital

DTS:X

DTS (other)

has not
has not

User manual

Manual

Dimensions

Size (Wx H x D), cm/in

93.1 x 10.1 x 10.1/37 x 4.2 x 4.8
96.5 x 5.8 x 6.8/38 x 2.3 x 2.7

Weight, kg/pounds

5.9/13.4
1.9/4.1

Other

Release year

2013
2019
Dayton Audio BS36
JBL Bar 2.1
Dayton Audio BS36
JBL Bar 2.1

Soundbars SoundStrokes Art comparison rating

  • better
  • worse
  • 4.5
  • 6
  • 4.5Dayton Audio BS36
  • 6JBL Bar 2.1