Yamaha MusicCast BAR 400 vs JBL Bar Studio review

Votes 1 1
Rating 5 5

Yamaha MusicCast BAR 400 vs JBL Bar Studio comparison chart

Overall
Yamaha MusicCast BAR 400
8.2
JBL Bar Studio
5
10
4

Yamaha MusicCast BAR 400 vs JBL Bar Studio review

Yamaha MusicCast BAR 400
vs
JBL Bar Studio

l would like to share my experience after comparing and testing two soundbars – Yamaha MusicCast BAR 400 vs JBL Bar Studio. The Yamaha MusicCast BAR 400 was rated 8.2, while the JBL Bar Studio has a rating 5. The soundbars are equipped with a different number of buttons, power, volume down, volume up, input, mute for the MusicCast BAR 400 and volume down, volume up, power, source for the Bar Studio.

Audio features

Each of the models under consideration has active amplification type. A noticeable difference is the number of channels that MusicCast BAR 400 has 5.1 and Bar Studio has 2.0. These rivals can be compared in terms of power, 200 (overall) versus 30 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 Yamaha MusicCast BAR 400 for audio features and specs, but the JBL Bar Studio received 5 out of 10. The MusicCast BAR 400 can play audio from Spotify.

Connectivity

Wireless Internet connection is realized only in the MusicCast BAR 400. Soundbars from this comparison have Bluetooth support. There are 1/1 HDMI inputs/outputs in the Yamaha MusicCast BAR 400 versus 1/0 HDMIs in the JBL Bar Studio. As in the MusicCast BAR 400, so in the Bar Studio there is the HDMI Audio Return Channel (ARC). Connecting devices via USB is possible in both models. We rated the connectivity of the MusicCast BAR 400 at 8 out of 10, while the Bar Studio was rated 6/10. None of these soundbars can be controlled using the app. The Yamaha MusicCast BAR 400 equipped with a microphone. The Yamaha MusicCast BAR 400 may become part of a multiroom system.

Multichannel surround

Dolby Atmos audio decoder support is not implemented in either the MusicCast BAR 400 or Bar Studio. Devices from this comparison cannot process surround sound due to lack of DTS:X. The MusicCast BAR 400 was rated 6/10, while the Bar Studio received a mark of 5/10 for multichannel surround.

Advantages Yamaha MusicCast BAR 400 over JBL Bar Studio

  • Separate subwoofer in package
  • Amazon Music compatible
  • Spotify support
  • WI-FI enabled
  • Microphone
  • Multi-room support
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Common

Product

Yamaha MusicCast BAR 400
JBL Bar Studio

Model

MusicCast BAR 400
Bar Studio

Brand

Yamaha
JBL

Reviews

121
828

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

Audio features

Built-in channels

5.1
2.0

Amplification type

active
active

Output power, W

200 (overall)
30

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)

AirPlay 2

Amazon Music

Spotify

Other streaming services

Pandora, Deezer, TIDAL, Napster, SiriusXM, Qobuz
has not

Connectivity

WI-FI

Bluetooth

Ethernet (RJ45)

1
0

NFC

HDMI input/output

1/1
1/0

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
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, Dolby Pro Logic II

DTS:X

DTS (other)

DTS Virtual:X, DTS Digital Surround
has not

User manual

Manual

Dimensions

Size (Wx H x D), cm/in

94.2 x 8.3 x 11/38.6 x 3.3 x 4.3
61.4 x 5.8 x 8.6/24.2 x 2.3 x 3.4

Weight, kg/pounds

2.7/6
1.4/3.1

Other

Release year

2018
2019
Yamaha MusicCast BAR 400
JBL Bar Studio
Yamaha MusicCast BAR 400
JBL Bar Studio

Soundbars SoundStrokes Art comparison rating

  • better
  • worse
  • 8.2
  • 5
  • 8.2Yamaha MusicCast BAR 400
  • 5JBL Bar Studio

Yamaha MusicCast BAR 400 competitors

JBL Bar Studio competitors