Compare JBL Bar 500 MK2 Soundbar vs Sonos Beam (Gen 1)

TruePlay and room correction are repeatedly described as useful room-tuning features, but several reviewers note that the best calibration is limited to Apple/iOS devices.

AirPlay (often referenced as AirPlay 2) is repeatedly listed as supported, helping iOS users cast music and podcasts easily to the bar.

AirPlay 2 support is consistently treated as a major platform advantage, especially for Apple users and multi-room playback.

App experiences are mostly positive (fast detection, firmware updates, easy control). A dissenting video review (covering the older Bar 500) reports EQ settings not persisting after power-off and limited preset saving.

The app is praised as intuitive and simple in several reviews, but setup retries, harder-to-find settings, and slow speaker reassignment make reliability more mixed.

Dolby Atmos support is consistently referenced; some reviews also mention DTS Virtual:X, while at least one video review (older Bar 500) notes a lack of DTS support. Expect strong format coverage for mainstream movie streaming and discs, with some variability by generation.

Format support is a clear limitation: reviewers mention Dolby Digital, Stereo PCM, and later DTS compatibility, but repeatedly flag missing DTS/Atmos support for the original Beam.

Backwards compatibility is mostly handled through the optical adapter path for older TVs that lack HDMI ARC.

Bluetooth support is a major omission: multiple reviews explicitly state that the Beam lacks Bluetooth and relies on Wi-Fi, AirPlay, or the Sonos app.

Bluetooth is consistently included for simple phone-to-bar playback, with Bluetooth 5.3 mentioned in one review. No widespread instability complaints appear in these transcripts.

Chromecast/Google Cast streaming is repeatedly mentioned, enabling easy casting from Android and compatible apps/services.

Overall cohesion is strong for movies, but there are repeated notes that the subwoofer can lag slightly on fast music and that bar-to-sub blending is not always perfectly seamless in every room.

The Beam is repeatedly described as balanced and cohesive, with a sound presentation that feels larger and more polished than its compact size suggests.

Top touch controls are viewed positively, with reviewers describing them as useful, familiar, and easy to use for quick playback or volume changes.

Reviews consistently describe a discreet, low-profile bar that fits under most TVs with minimal branding; at least one video review highlights multiple color options (including white) to better match room decor.

Reviewers strongly agree that the Beam is compact, understated, and attractive enough to fit into small rooms and modern TV setups.

Build quality is generally strong, with reviewers calling the Beam well made, robust, and carefully designed despite some fabric-grille caveats.

Detail and effects definition are repeatedly noted, especially for Atmos movie scenes and gaming, where reviewers describe convincing placement and lifelike impact cues.

Detail retrieval is a strength in TV effects and music, though one comparison says the Gen 1 can skim over some complex sounds versus Gen 2.

Dialogue clarity is a highlight in most reviews, credited to the center-channel tuning and PureVoice 2.0 which adapts to scenes and volume. One review of the older Bar 500 was less satisfied with movie dialogue clarity.

Dialogue clarity is one of the Beam’s strongest areas, supported by a dedicated center channel and speech enhancement features.

Most reviewers report little distortion at high volume, though PCMag heard bass distortion at maximum volume and another reviewer advised avoiding maximum output.

The original Beam lacks Dolby Atmos, and multiple reviewers call that the key feature gap versus newer or competing soundbars.

The Beam earns praise for scale, dynamics, detail, and punch, especially considering its size and price.

EQ controls (bass/treble and profiles) plus calibration tools are mentioned across reviews. Some users want deeper customization or more persistent presets depending on the generation being discussed.

EQ customization is useful but basic, generally limited to bass, treble, balance, Loudness, Night Sound, and Speech Enhancement rather than full frequency control.

Reviews generally describe a clean midrange and detailed treble that avoids harshness, with voices and effects staying natural. Bass is often characterized as warm and weighty rather than ultra-tight and punchy.

Frequency balance is broadly positive, with reviewers praising clear, balanced mids and highs while noting limited deep bass.

Google Assistant support is a genuine advantage, although reviewers note users must choose between Google Assistant and Alexa rather than run both at once.

Multiple reviewers emphasize passthrough is not HDMI 2.1 and does not support 4K/120. Recommended workaround is to connect consoles directly to the TV and use eARC for audio back to the bar.

HDMI eARC is repeatedly highlighted as the preferred TV hookup for full-feature audio and simple control via HDMI-CEC, supporting a cleaner one-cable setup.

HDMI ARC is a major usability win, enabling TV audio, remote control, and some voice-based TV commands when the TV supports it.

Home theater integration is described as a strength: easy TV control integration (CEC/auto on-off), useful HDMI passthrough for sources when TV inputs are limited, and quick calibration options to adapt to the room.

Home theater integration is strong through Sonos Sub and rear-speaker expansion, but the full surround setup becomes expensive.

Multi-room/grouping is referenced via JBL speaker grouping features and casting ecosystems, enabling playback across multiple compatible speakers in a home setup.

The Beam connects well with other Sonos speakers for surround or multi-room use, often without speaker wire.

At least one reviewer notes audio sync controls are available (via app) to correct lip-sync delays when needed.

Reviewers mention ARC and dialog-sync tools for keeping audio, picture, remote, and voice timing aligned.

Overall output is described as high for the price and size, easily filling small-to-medium rooms. Reviewers cite strong slam for action movies and plenty of headroom without needing extreme volume settings.

Maximum volume is strong for a compact bar and enough for most living rooms, though some reviewers say it cannot match larger soundbars or party speakers.

Low-volume listening gets specific praise where PureVoice 2.0 is said to keep speech intelligible at night or in apartments without needing to crank the master volume.

Low-volume features such as Night Sound and Speech Enhancement are useful, but one reviewer questioned whether very low-volume listening is a meaningful upgrade.

The microphone array is consistently described as capable for voice commands and assistant use, with multiple reviews noting good pickup across rooms or over playback.

Multi-speaker pairing is a Sonos strength, especially for adding rears or filling a home with music, though some source-dependent surround effects are subtle.

On-bar controls are intentionally minimal (typically volume and source). Some users appreciate the simplicity, while one reviewer disliked certain button behavior and preferred using the remote/app instead.

On-device controls are minimal but useful, with touch controls for volume, playback, track skipping, and microphone mute.

Optical input is mentioned as an available fallback connection. Reviewers also note optical can be limiting for carrying Atmos compared with HDMI eARC.

Optical support is available through an adapter, which helps older TVs even though HDMI ARC is the preferred connection.

Privacy controls are basic but present: reviewers repeatedly note that the Beam’s microphones can be muted.

Remote control operation is generally described as straightforward, with dedicated calibration access in at least one review. Some sources also note CEC/TV-remote control integration for daily use.

Remote usability is mostly good because existing TV remotes can control volume, but the Beam does not include its own dedicated remote.

Setup is widely portrayed as straightforward: HDMI eARC to the TV, power for the bar and wireless sub, then quick calibration. Several reviews stress fewer steps than earlier generations and simple day-one usability.

Setup is usually easy through HDMI ARC and the Sonos app, but non-ARC TVs and some individual app setup flows caused friction.

Voice assistant compatibility (Alexa/Google ecosystems) is mentioned, but at least one reviewer states it may require an external assistant device rather than being fully built-in on the bar itself.

Smart assistant integration is a headline feature, with Alexa and Google Assistant built in and Siri/AirPlay paths for Apple users, but not all assistants can run simultaneously.

Smart features are broad, spanning voice assistants, streaming services, app control, smart-home control, and Sonos multi-room behavior.

Multiple reviewers caution that height effects are limited compared with soundbars that have dedicated upfiring speakers. You may hear some vertical cues, but the presentation is typically described as subtle rather than dramatic.

Soundstage height is present in a limited non-Atmos sense, with reviewers hearing a taller presentation but not true overhead effects.

Spotify Connect is explicitly described as seamless and reliable in multiple written reviews, with quick device selection from within the Spotify app.

Spotify control is supported through Alexa, Sonos, or the Spotify app, though one reviewer noted playlist discovery limits.

A readable front display/LED feedback is highlighted as a usability win, including clear indications of input/volume and plain-English status messaging compared with ambiguous light codes on some competitors.

Status indicators are simple but useful, with LED feedback for power, connection, microphone, and voice status.

Stereo focus is commonly described as strong, with vocals and on-screen action anchored confidently at center while maintaining clear separation across the front stage.

Stereo imaging and width are standout strengths for the size, with reviewers noting smooth pans, wide left-right projection, and a broad soundstage.

No summary yet.

The Beam supports adding a Sonos Sub, but it ships without one and several reviewers wanted more low-end rumble from the bar alone.

Virtual surround (MultiBeam/processing) is repeatedly described as convincingly wide and enveloping for rooms that cannot accommodate rear speakers. It improves immersion, but does not fully replace discrete rears for precision.

Standalone surround is spacious but not true surround; adding Sonos rears can improve immersion substantially.

Value is widely positive for a compact smart Sonos soundbar, although the cost rises sharply when adding Sub and rear speakers.

Video passthrough support is repeatedly called out for Dolby Vision and HDR10+ via the HDMI input, generally reported as limited to 4K at 60 Hz.

Video passthrough support is weak because the Beam uses a single ARC-style connection and expects source devices to connect through the TV.

Voice assistant responsiveness is usually good, with reviewers reporting effective Alexa or assistant control for music, volume, and smart-home tasks.

Voice and vocal clarity are praised for both TV speech and music vocals, aided by the center tweeter and speech features.

Voice recognition is generally strong thanks to far-field microphones, but one review notes Alexa did not hear every command.

Weight and size convenience are strong advantages; reviewers repeatedly stress that the Beam is small, light, and easy to place.

Wi-Fi streaming is generally presented as robust with broad casting support, though at least one review notes the absence of Ethernet on their unit and recommends considering room Wi-Fi coverage. Other videos describe Ethernet on a different generation, suggesting feature variance across models/sources.

Wi-Fi streaming reliability is mostly strong, with reviewers praising networked streaming and one review explicitly reporting no dropouts or interruptions.

Connectivity is described as flexible, including HDMI eARC plus at least one HDMI input and optical, with some sources also noting USB playback. Ethernet presence varies by the specific unit/model discussed in different reviews.

Wired input is functional for TV use through HDMI ARC, optical adapter, and Ethernet, but limited by the absence of aux, Bluetooth, and multiple HDMI inputs.