Compare Ultimea Nova S50 Soundbar vs JBL Bar 500 MK2 Soundbar

Room calibration was one of the most praised features, described as easy and useful for improving room-specific sound.

AirPlay support was treated as part of a broad, convenient casting package that helped the bar work as a wireless music system.

One reviewer liked that the passive subwoofer did not need its own power supply, calling the setup neat.

The JBL One app drew mixed feedback: quick detection and feature access were praised, but EQ saving and in-app music limitations hurt confidence.

Audio format support is limited in practice: the S50 can decode Atmos, but a reviewer said it cannot really output it with only two front speakers and a subwoofer.

Audio format support was mixed: Dolby Atmos and DTS Virtual X support helped immersion, but one review cited no DTS support.

Bluetooth was described as quick through Bluetooth 5.3, with no reviewer reporting instability.

Chromecast/Google Cast support was praised within the broader casting feature set, making phone-based playback feel easy and flexible.

Presentation is mixed: one review found some TV scenes balanced, while another warned that excessive bass can overtake the sound and reduce clarity.

Cohesive presentation was mixed: one review noted subwoofer integration gaps, while another said the bass complemented the bar well.

The remote/control buttons drew praise for being tactile, even though broader control behavior was not uniformly perfect.

Design opinions are mixed: reviewers liked the tiny, slim, setup-friendly form, but one review said the bar itself looked cheap.

Design and aesthetics were widely praised for compactness, discretion, a low TV-friendly profile and an attractive white option.

Build quality receives a low mark from the most detailed written review, which describes the soundbar as visibly cheap.

Build quality evidence was generally decent-to-positive, with plastic construction acknowledged but the shape and finish still viewed favorably.

Detail retrieval is uneven, with one review saying treble nuance was lost while another heard very good definition in Atmos test material.

Detail retrieval was praised in movie and music playback, with reviewers hearing lifelike effects and small audio nuances.

Dialogue clarity varies by content: some reviewers heard clear centered speech, while the written review found some dialogue hazy or clipped.

Dialogue clarity was a major strength across most reviews, though one reviewer felt movie clarity was weaker than expected.

Distortion performance is split: Tom's Guide heard bass peak at medium volumes, while video reviewers found it stayed clean at high volume.

Atmos height performance is the biggest caveat: reviewers found the effect virtual or misleading rather than true height-channel Atmos.

Dolby Atmos effects were praised by one reviewer but more limited or illusion-like in others because the bar lacks dedicated up-firing drivers.

High-volume headroom impressed one reviewer, who said the bar still delivered its best at high volumes.

EQ customization is useful but inconsistent: reviewers liked having modes and bass adjustment, yet Music mode and bass-heavy presets drew criticism.

EQ customization was useful through bass/treble controls and app features, but one reviewer criticized the lack of saved presets.

Frequency balance is a recurring weakness, with pinched treble and excess bass or midbass depending on mode and bass setting.

Tonal balance was generally positive, especially in treble and bass warmth, but reviewers also noted subwoofer integration limits and music-dependent tradeoffs.

Gaming passthrough was limited by 4K/60 and non-HDMI 2.1 support, making direct console-to-TV connection preferable for 4K/120 gaming.

Google-related voice control was similarly limited in one review because it required an external device.

HDMI 2.1 gaming support was a weakness because reviewers noted the HDMI input is not HDMI 2.1 and is limited for 4K/120 use.

HDMI ARC/eARC works well in use, with reviewers praising auto power behavior and TV remote volume control.

HDMI ARC/eARC was viewed as simple and sufficient for TV hookup when the TV has enough device inputs.

As a TV-speaker upgrade, it performs well for casual viewing, but reviewers do not treat it as a serious movie-lover soundbar.

Home theater integration was praised for balancing cinema-like sound with convenience and for lifting TV sound without adding clutter.

Inter-speaker connectivity is a compromise: the wired subwoofer works, but reviewers disliked the non-wireless setup and tangly cable.

Inter-speaker connectivity was praised in one review for letting audio continue on another compatible speaker around the home.

Loudness is a consistent strength, with reviewers repeatedly surprised by how powerful and loud the small system can get.

Reviewers found the bar/sub system loud enough to fill rooms, with strong sound pressure and big impact even without using the full volume range.

Low-volume performance is weak in the written review, where high frequencies still pinched even at low levels.

Low-volume performance was positive, especially for apartment or nighttime use where dialogue help and restrained volume matter.

On-device controls were described positively as discreetly placed on the side of the soundbar.

On-device controls drew a usability complaint from one reviewer who disliked that any button could turn the unit on.

Optical input sounded similar to HDMI ARC to one reviewer, though ARC kept the advantage for TV remote volume control.

Remote usability is mixed-positive: one reviewer loved the remote, while another noted the play/pause button did not work for TV playback.

Remote usability received limited but positive evidence, with one reviewer calling the remote fairly simple.

Setup simplicity is one of the clearest strengths, with reviewers describing setup as easy, fast, and nearly plug-and-play.

Setup simplicity was a consistent strength, helped by easier connection, simple calibration and little need for audio knowledge.

Alexa-style smart assistant integration was limited in one review because voice control required an external device rather than being built in.

Smart features were a clear strength, especially broad casting support, direct streaming and multi-room convenience.

Soundstage height is limited because the soundbar lacks true height-channel capability, even if virtual effects can be spacious.

Soundstage height received positive evidence in one review, where ambient effects were described as hovering in midair.

Spotify Connect evidence was positive overall, with one review saying Spotify and Tidal Connect worked seamlessly.

Status indicators are useful because the front LEDs can be turned off to avoid distraction.

The status display was praised for using plain English instead of confusing light patterns.

Stereo imaging earned praise in one review for keeping vocal effects centered cleanly within the stereo image.

Subwoofer performance is mixed: it can deliver surprising bass and depth, but it can also become too much, peak, or hurt clarity.

The subwoofer was consistently viewed as powerful, deep and fun, but not always the fastest or most seamlessly integrated for music.

Surround simulation is stronger than expected for a tiny 2.1 system, with reviewers hearing immersive movement and voices around them.

Surround simulation was widely praised for creating an immersive field without rear speakers, with caveats that the effect is still virtual and room-dependent.

Value for money is the strongest point, with reviewers repeatedly calling the S50 cheap, hard to beat, or astounding value.

Value for money was strong overall, with several reviewers calling it a compelling buy at the $500 or discounted sub-$400 range.

Video passthrough was useful for disc players and consoles, but gaming use is limited by 4K/60 constraints.

Voice clarity is a weakness in tougher scenes, with reports of clipped speech and muffled voices when bass dominates.

Voice clarity was praised in one review, where narration came through clearly with the subwoofer adding depth.

Weight and footprint are advantages, with reviewers praising the tiny, lightweight form and easy placement.

Weight convenience was a tradeoff: the subwoofer is heavy, but one reviewer said it should not need moving after setup.

Wireless streaming was mostly described as easy and reliable, though one reviewer warned that weak Wi-Fi coverage could matter because there is no Ethernet.

Wired inputs were considered practical, with reviewers saying the rear inputs were accessible and the connection set was sufficient.