JBL Bar 500 vs Sonos Beam Gen 2

Name JBL Bar 500 Sonos Beam gen 2
Image JBL Bar 500 Sonos Beam Gen 2
More views
JBL Bar 500 – front
-
MSRP $599.95 $499
Released 2022 2021
Availability  Available Available
Check price: Amazon, JBL Sonos, Amazon
Speaker configuration
Audio channels 5.1 3.0
Expandable up to: - 7.1.4, (Atmos rears, 2 subs) Virtualization used for extra surround channels. Added subwoofers play same subwoofer channel.
Woofers (mid or full-range) - total 4: 4× 46×90 mm 4: 4× unknown size
Tweeters - total 3: 3×20 mm 1: 1× unknown size
Subwoofers 1× 10″ 0
Audio specifications
Watts RMS 590 W Not specified
Frequency range 35 Hz - 20 kHz Not specified
DTS:X support No No
Dolby Atmos support? Virtual Virtual
Surround sound? Virtual No
Other 3D audio formats? MultiBeam None
Other (notable) sound features? PureVoice Dialogue Speech Enhancement (use app)
Sound calibration? Yes Yes (Trueplay)
Connectivity & ports
Bluetooth Bluetooth 5.3 ❌
Wi-Fi Wi-Fi 6 Wi-Fi 4
Ethernet port (RJ45) ✔ ✔
HDMI (e)ARC out port? 1× eARC 1× eARC
HDMI in ports? (passthrough) ✔ ❌
Optical port? (TOSLINK) ✔ ✔
3.5 mm AUX port? ❌ ❌
USB port? USB-A (playback) ❌
Other audio ports None None
Wireless setup & control
Official app? JBL One app Sonos S2
Voice assistant? Indirectly (no built-in mic) Yes
Chromecast built-in? ✔ ❌
AirPlay? ✔ ✔
Alexa cast? ✔ ❌
Multiroom? ✔ ✔
Wireless subwoofer(s)? Yes (included) Optional: max 2 subwoofers; 2× Sonos Sub or Sub Mini
Wireless surrounds? ❌ Optional: max 2 surrounds, Era 300 for Dolby Atmos
Physical specifications
Speakers in set: Soundbar, wireless subwoofer Soundbar
Size (cm W×H×D): 101.7×5.6×10.35 (soundbar), 30.5×44.04×30.5 (subwoofer) 65.1×6.90×10
Size (inch W×H×D): 40×2.2×4, 12×17.3×12 (subwoofer) 25.625×2.7×3.94
Weight (kg): 2.8, 10 (subwoofer) 2.8
Weight (lbs): 6.2, 22 (subwoofer) 6.2
Wall mountable? Yes, with included wall mount kit Yes, with optional wall mount
Color options: Black Black, white
Accessories in the box Remote, HDMI cable, wall mounting kit HDMI cable, optical to HDMI adapter
More info
Model number BAR 500 BEAM2##1
User guide / manual Owner's manual User Guide
Official site link JBL.com Sonos.com
Check price & reviews
See price and reviews: Amazon, JBL Sonos, Amazon
Legend:
Great/yes
Good
Not good
Bad/no

Key differences

The JBL Bar 500 costs $101 more ($599.95 vs $499), is newer (2022 vs 2021) and has more audio channels (5.1 vs 3.0).

Only on the JBL Bar 500: surround sound (Virtual), Bluetooth 5.3, HDMI in ports, USB port (USB-A, playback), Chromecast built-in and Alexa cast. Only on the Sonos Beam gen 2: wireless surrounds. Other differences: Wi-Fi 6 vs Wi-Fi 4.

More soundbar comparisons