Samsung HW-Q60R vs JBL Bar 2.1 review

Votes 19 19
Rating 4.1 4.1

Samsung HW-Q60R vs JBL Bar 2.1 comparison chart

Samsung HW-Q60R vs JBL Bar 2.1 review

Samsung HW-Q60R
vs
JBL Bar 2.1

The present review is aimed to compare two soundbars - Samsung HW-Q60R vs JBL Bar 2.1 that are meant to satisfy the needs of cinema and music lovers. Based on our rating, HW-Q60R has a total rating of 5 out of 10 versus 6 for Bar 2.1. The set of control buttons for competitors is the same and is: power, volume down, volume up, source.

Audio features

Both soundbars have active amplification type. A significant difference between the units in the number of channels, the Samsung HW-Q60R has 5.1 versus 2.1 for the JBL Bar 2.1. The output power is different and equal to 360 (overall) W for the HW-Q60R versus 300 (overall) W for the Bar 2.1. Competitors do not have a built-in subwoofer. Rivals have wireless connection to separate subwoofer. The Samsung HW-Q60R got our rating of 8 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. Rivals from our review have Bluetooth support. Each soundbar has 1/1 HDMI inputs/outputs. The HDMI Audio Return Channel (ARC) feature supports both devices. Both soundbars have a USB connector. For connectivity, the HW-Q60R received a rating of 6/10 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. For multichannel surround Samsung HW-Q60R got a rating of 6, and JBL Bar 2.1 4 out of 10.

Advantages JBL Bar 2.1 over Samsung HW-Q60R

  • WI-FI enabled
  • Microphone
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Common

Product

Samsung HW-Q60R
JBL Bar 2.1

Model

HW-Q60R
Bar 2.1

Brand

Samsung
JBL

Reviews

1662
548

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, volume down, volume up, source

Audio features

Built-in channels

5.1
2.1

Amplification type

active
active

Output power, W

360 (overall)
300 (overall)

Separate speaker (in package)

0
0

Separate speaker connections

wireless
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

has not
has not

Connectivity

WI-FI

Bluetooth

Ethernet (RJ45)

0
0

NFC

HDMI input/output

1/1
1/1

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
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)

Dolby Digital
Dolby Digital

DTS:X

DTS (other)

DTS Digital Surround
has not

User manual

Manual

Dimensions

Size (Wx H x D), cm/in

110 x 5.8 x 9.9/43.3 x 2.3 x 3.9
96.5 x 5.8 x 6.8/38 x 2.3 x 2.7

Weight, kg/pounds

3.5/7.9
1.9/4.1

Other

Release year

2019
2019
Samsung HW-Q60R
JBL Bar 2.1
Samsung HW-Q60R
JBL Bar 2.1

Soundbars SoundStrokes Art comparison rating

  • better
  • worse
  • 5
  • 6
  • 5Samsung HW-Q60R
  • 6JBL Bar 2.1