Bose Smart Soundbar 600 vs JBL Bar 9.1

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Votes 1 1
Rating 5 5

Smart Soundbar 600 vs Bar 9.1 comparison chart

Overall
Bose Smart Soundbar 600
8.4
JBL Bar 9.1
9
9
9
Multichannel surround
6
7

Bose Smart Soundbar 600 vs JBL Bar 9.1 review

Bose Smart Soundbar 600
vs
JBL Bar 9.1

Being able to compare Bose Smart Soundbar 600 and JBL Bar 9.1 gave us an insight into what features and technologies these devices offer. Bar 9.1 turned out to be a more technological and better-sounding device than the Smart Soundbar 600. According to the results of our comparison, Smart Soundbar 600 received 8.4 points out of 10 possible, and Bar 9.1 was rated 9 points.

Advantages Bose Smart Soundbar 600 over JBL Bar 9.1

  • We do not know advantages

Advantages JBL Bar 9.1 over Bose Smart Soundbar 600

  • Comes with 2 separate speakers
  • Separate subwoofer provided
  • Possible to create a multi-room system

Audio features

The Smart Soundbar 600 is rated 8 of 10 against 9 for the Bar 9.1 according to the audio features rating.

Smart Soundbar 600
8
Bar 9.1
9

It worth understanding the difference between the two types of amplification: a passive soundbar does not have its own amplifier and receives amplification from the signal source, while an active soundbar has a built-in amplifier. The same active type of amplification is used in the Smart Soundbar 600 and the Bar 9.1.

There are stereo soundbars and multichannel ones. It is with the help of multichannel devices that you can get volumetric sound. It is worth noting one of the main differences, the Smart Soundbar 600 has 5.1.2 channels, while the Bar 9.1 has 9.1 channels.

Smart Soundbar 600 Bar 9.1
Built-in channels5.1.29.1
Amplification typeactiveactive
Output power, WN/A820 (overall)
Separate speaker (in package)02
Separate speaker connectionshas nothas not

Subwoofers

Soundbars can have a built-in or external subwoofer. The first type is inseparable from the soundbar body, but for the second, you can choose a good location for deep bass. The Bar 9.1 comes with an external subwoofer. Bose Smart Soundbar 600 has the ability to handle wired connections from an external subwoofer, while JBL Bar 9.1 only has wireless connections.

Smart Soundbar 600 Bar 9.1
Built-in subwoofer
Separate subwoofer (in package)
Separate subwoofer connectionswiredwireless

Multichannel surround

Unlike stereo, when reproducing multichannel sound, each specific direction of sound corresponds to its dedicated channel with a separate independent loudspeaker, which creates a three-dimensional sound stage. The Smart Soundbar 600 received rating 6 out of 10 for multichannel audio processing, but the Bar 9.1, in the same category, earned 7 out of 10 points.

Smart Soundbar 600
6
Bar 9.1
7

The peculiarity of Dolby Atmos is that this format is object-oriented, that is, each object of the audio signal is sounded separately and linked to its spatial location. If we consider the models in terms of support for Dolby Atmos, then both soundbars can work with this technology.

DTS:X is an algorithm for processing sound scenes by the processor, linking directly to objects, rather than channels, and calculating the optimal distribution of sound output in a room. This ability to reproduce surround sound with DTS:X technology is not implemented in any of the soundbars in this comparison.

Smart Soundbar 600 Bar 9.1
Dolby Atmos
Dolby (other)
DTS:X
DTS (other)

Streaming services

The possibility to listen online to millions of songs from one device has become a reality thanks to streaming services. The streaming services category rating is the same - 10 out of 10 points.

Smart Soundbar 600
10
Bar 9.1
10

The popular Spotify service is available on both soundbars. The streaming audio from Pandora, SoundCloud, it is possible to listen to each of soundbars.

Smart Soundbar 600 Bar 9.1
Apple Music (AirPlay)
Amazon Music
Spotify
Other streaming servicesPandora, SoundCloudPandora, SoundCloud

Connectivity

The existence of a sufficient number of current connectors significantly expands the functionality of the device. For example, only through HDMI is it possible to implement the transfer of object-oriented formats, and the presence of a Bluetooth connection will allow remote control, etc. The devices received different ratings for connectivity: Bose Smart Soundbar 600 was rated 9 out of 10, and JBL Bar 9.1 was rated 10 out of 10.

Smart Soundbar 600
9
Bar 9.1
10

The presence of Wi-Fi in the soundbar allows you to get rid of wires when connected to a sound source and get minimal audio latency when playing content from streaming services. Wireless connection via Wi-Fi is possible on both devices.

Bluetooth connection is now one of the main communication protocols for speaker systems, which provides excellent quality and minimal audio latency. The availability of Bluetooth protocol, we can see in both models. The competitors in this comparison has 1/1 HDMI inputs/outputs.

HDMI ARC is a very usefull technology that creates a two-way communication channel between a TV and another device. This is convenient since there is no need to use optical and other cables in the system. HDMI ARC is basic for both soundbars. Connecting external devices via USB can be done on both models.

Smart Soundbar 600 Bar 9.1
WI-FI
Bluetooth
Ethernet (RJ45)00
NFC
HDMI input/output1/11/1
HDMI ARC
HDMI eARC
HDMI CEC
Optical digital input/output1/01/0
USB1 (USB 2.0)1 (USB 2.0)
Coaxial digital input/output0/00/0
Analog audio input/output (RCA)0/00/0
Headphone output00
Subwoofer output00

Features

Voice control is designed to make operating the device more convenient. This allows you to control basic soundbar functions from anywhere in the room.

Proprietary applications allow you to control your soundbars remotely. This is possible both via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. The ability to control the soundbar using the application is implemented in each of the competitors. Both soundbars have a built-in microphone.

Some soundbars can be part of a multi-room system and it is an affordable solution for sounding the whole house. The Bar 9.1 has the ability to use a multiroom system.

Smart Soundbar 600 Bar 9.1
Voice control
App control
Microphone
Remote control
Multi-room

Dimensions

Smart Soundbar 600 Bar 9.1
Size (Wx H x D), cm/in69.3x5.6x10.3/27.3x2.2x488.4x6.2x1.2/34.8x2.4x4.7
Weight, kg/pounds3.1/6.93.7/8.1
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