JBL Bar 2.1 vs Samsung HW-N850 review

Votes 1 1
Rating 5 5

JBL Bar 2.1 vs Samsung HW-N850 comparison chart

JBL Bar 2.1 vs Samsung HW-N850 review

JBL Bar 2.1
vs
Samsung HW-N850

It makes sense comparing JBL Bar 2.1 vs Samsung HW-N850 because they both are able to give some premium features. Based on our rating, Bar 2.1 has a total rating of 6 out of 10 versus 8.6 for HW-N850. The competitors' control buttons are different: power, volume down, volume up, source and power, input, volume down, volume up, respectively.

Audio features

Both soundbars have active amplification type. A significant difference between the units in the number of channels, the JBL Bar 2.1 has 2.1 versus 5.1.2 for the Samsung HW-N850. The output power is different and equal to 300 (overall) W for the Bar 2.1 versus 372 (overall) W for the HW-N850. Competitors do not have a built-in subwoofer. Rivals have wireless connection to separate subwoofer. Both models received our 7 rating of 10 for their audio features and specs. Spotify support is available on the HW-N850.

Connectivity

These models have the ability to connect to the Internet via WI-FI. Rivals from our review have Bluetooth support. The JBL Bar 2.1 has 1/1 HDMI inputs/outputs versus 2/0 of the Samsung HW-N850. The HDMI Audio Return Channel (ARC) feature supports both devices. Both soundbars have a USB connector. For connectivity, the Bar 2.1 received a rating of 8/10 versus 7/10, respectively.

Features

App control is available for the HW-N850. A built-in microphone is present in each model. Multi-room is only available for the Samsung HW-N850.

Multichannel surround

Only the HW-N850 has a Dolby Atmos multichannel audio format support. A surround technology DTS:X is supported only by the HW-N850. For multichannel surround JBL Bar 2.1 got a rating of 4, and Samsung HW-N850 9 out of 10.

Advantages Samsung HW-N850 over JBL Bar 2.1

  • Amazon Music compatible
  • Spotify support
  • App control
  • Multi-room support
  • Compatible with Dolby Atmos
  • Compatible with DTS:X
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Common

Product

JBL Bar 2.1
Samsung HW-N850

Model

Bar 2.1
HW-N850

Brand

JBL
Samsung

Reviews

548
34

General

Placement type

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

Connection to source

wired, wireless
wired, wireless

Soundbar buttons

power, volume down, volume up, source
power, input, volume down, volume up

Audio features

Built-in channels

2.1
5.1.2

Amplification type

active
active

Output power, W

300 (overall)
372 (overall)

Separate speaker (in package)

0
0

Separate speaker connections

has not
wireless

Subwoofer

Built-in subwoofer

Separate subwoofer (in package)

Separate subwoofer connections

wireless
wireless

Streaming services

Apple Music (AirPlay)

AirPlay

Amazon Music

Spotify

Other streaming services

has not
Pandora, Tuneln, Deezer, Chromecast

Connectivity

WI-FI

Bluetooth

Ethernet (RJ45)

0
0

NFC

HDMI input/output

1/1
2/0

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)

1/0
0/0

Headphone output

0
0

Subwoofer output

0
0

Features

Voice control

Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant
Amazon Alexa

App control

Microphone

Remote control

Multi-room

Multichannel surround

Dolby Atmos

Dolby (other)

Dolby Digital
Dolby Digital

DTS:X

DTS (other)

has not
has not

User manual

Manual

Dimensions

Size (Wx H x D), cm/in

96.5 x 5.8 x 6.8/38 x 2.3 x 2.7
121.9 x 7.6 x 12.7/48.2 x 3.2 x 5.4

Weight, kg/pounds

1.9/4.1
8.1/18.7

Other

Release year

2019
2018
JBL Bar 2.1
Samsung HW-N850
JBL Bar 2.1
Samsung HW-N850

Soundbars SoundStrokes Art comparison rating

  • better
  • worse
  • 6
  • 8.6
  • 6JBL Bar 2.1
  • 8.6Samsung HW-N850