l would like to share my experience after comparing and testing two soundbars – JBL Bar 2.1 vs Samsung HW-K850. Both soundbars received a score of 6 in our ranking. Soundbars have the same set of buttons - power, volume down, volume up, source.
Each of the models under consideration has active amplification type. A noticeable difference is the number of channels that Bar 2.1 has 2.1 and HW-K850 has 3.1.2. These rivals can be compared in terms of power, 300 (overall) versus 350 (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 7 out of 10 received the JBL Bar 2.1 for audio features and specs, but the Samsung HW-K850 received 6 out of 10.
Soundbars do not have AirPlay support. The HW-K850 can play audio from Spotify.
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 2.1 versus 2/1 HDMIs in the Samsung HW-K850. As in the Bar 2.1, so in the HW-K850 there is the HDMI Audio Return Channel (ARC). Connecting devices via USB is possible in both models. We rated the connectivity of the Bar 2.1 at 8 out of 10, while the HW-K850 was rated 7/10. None of these soundbars can be controlled using the app. The JBL Bar 2.1 equipped with a microphone. The models under consideration cannot become part of a multiroom system.
Dolby Atmos audio decoder is onboard the HW-K850. Devices from this comparison cannot process surround sound due to lack of DTS:X. The same score of 4/10 was put to the soundbars for multichannel surround support.