l would like to share my experience after comparing and testing two soundbars – Sony HT-X8500 vs JBL BAR 700. The Sony HT-X8500 was rated 6, while the JBL BAR 700 has a rating 8.8. The soundbars are equipped with a different number of buttons, power, volume down, volume up, input, Bluetooth for the HT-X8500 and power, volume down, volume up for the BAR 700.
Each of the models under consideration has active amplification type. A noticeable difference is the number of channels that HT-X8500 has 2.1 and BAR 700 has 5.1. A built-in subwoofer is available only in the Sony HT-X8500. Rate 6 out of 10 received the Sony HT-X8500 for audio features and specs, but the JBL BAR 700 received 8 out of 10.
The BAR 700 can play audio from Spotify.
Wireless Internet connection is realized only in the BAR 700. Soundbars from this comparison have Bluetooth support. 1/1 HDMI inputs/outputs are in each of soundbars. As in the HT-X8500, so in the BAR 700 there is the HDMI Audio Return Channel (ARC). Connecting devices via USB is possible in both models. We rated the connectivity of the HT-X8500 at 8 out of 10, while the BAR 700 was rated 10/10.
The manufacturer of the BAR 700 provides a device control application. The JBL BAR 700 equipped with a microphone. The models under consideration cannot become part of a multiroom system.
Manufacturers equipped both units with Dolby Atmos audio decoder. The HT-X8500 can work with surround sound due to DTS:X support. The HT-X8500 was rated 10/10, while the BAR 700 received a mark of 7/10 for multichannel surround.