The JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam is a compact 5.0 setup from 2021. It comes with JBL MultiBeam Technology, advertised to help create a wider soundstage by bouncing sound off your walls. With its room correction feature, it has a boxy sound profile that adds punch and boom to your mixes but struggles to reproduce a deep low-bass. Also, it supports Virtual Dolby Atmos, meaning that it can only play Atmos content when downmixing it to surround content, which isn't as immersive.
Our Verdict
The JBL Bar 5.0 is decent for mixed usage. With its room correction feature turned on, this soundbar offers a boxy sound profile out-of-the-box, which adds a little extra punch and boom to your audio. However, it struggles to reproduce a thumpy low-bass, so you don't feel the rumble in bass-heavy music and action-packed movies. It supports surround and Dolby Atmos content, but unfortunately, it doesn't offer a very immersive performance.
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Bass adjustment feature.
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Gets pretty loud.
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Lacks low-bass.
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No dialogue enhancement feature.
The JBL Bar 5.0 is decent for dialogue-centric content like TV shows. Thanks to its dedicated center channel and balanced mid-range, voices are reproduced clearly and accurately. It also offers lots of wireless playback options so you can stream podcasts and audiobooks from your phone to the bar. It comes with an auto-volume mode to help balance the volume level between programs, but unfortunately, it lacks a dialogue enhancement feature.
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Auto-volume mode.
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No dialogue enhancement feature.
The JBL Bar 5.0 is decent for music. It comes with a room correction feature called Automatic MultiBeam Calibration that adjusts audio reproduction based on the room you're listening in. With this feature on, it offers a boxy sound profile that adds extra punch and boom to your mixes. However, it struggles to reproduce a deep, thumpy low-bass. There's a bass adjustment feature to help you customize its sound, but it lacks more robust sound customization options.
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Bass adjustment feature.
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Gets pretty loud.
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Lacks low-bass.
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No graphic EQ.
The JBL Bar 5.0 is decent for movies. Out-of-the-box, it has a boxy sound profile that adds a little extra punch and boom to your favorite movies. However, it struggles to reproduce low-bass, so you don't feel the deep rumble in action-packed scenes. It supports surround content, but it doesn't offer very impressive performance. Also, it has to downmix Dolby Atmos content into surround, which isn't as immersive.
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Bass adjustment feature.
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Lacks low-bass.
- 7.2 Mixed Usage
- 7.2 Dialogue/TV Shows
- 7.2 Music
- 7.1 Movies
Changelog
- Updated Dec 12, 2023: Added market comparison with the Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar Mini in the Sound Enhancement Features box.
- Updated Mar 27, 2023: Added cable lengths to In The Box.
- Updated Mar 22, 2023: Converted to Test Bench 1.1. With this update, we've added a Mounting test and added information aboutSubwoofer Output, Spotify Connect, and Microphone Mute.
- Updated May 28, 2021: Review published.
- Updated May 26, 2021: Early access published.
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam comes in 'Black', and you can see the label for the model we tested here.
If you come across another version of this soundbar, let us know in the discussions, and we'll update our review.
Compared To Other Soundbars
The JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam is a 5.0 soundbar that supports Virtual Dolby Atmos, so it has to downmix Atmos content into surrounds to play it. It has a boxy sound profile out-of-the-box, and it comes with an Automatic MultiBeam Calibration room correction feature. It also offers lots of wireless playback support.
See our recommendations for the best soundbars, the best small soundbars, and the best soundbars under $500.
You may prefer the Sonos Beam or the JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam depending on your listening habits. The Sonos is a 3.0 setup with a better soundstage performance and a more balanced sound profile out of the box. Also, it has a dialogue enhancement feature. However, the 5.0 JBL is better for movies, as it offers better Atmos and surround performances. It also comes with a Full HDMI In port and more wireless playback options.
The JBL Bar 500 is better than the JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam. The MultiBeam is a standalone soundbar that doesn't come with a dedicated subwoofer, and it can't reproduce as much bass as the 500. Plus, it doesn't have as many sound enhancement features, and it has some implementation issues with certain audio formats, like Dolby Digital, which takes away from the life-like experience intended by those who mix content in this format.
The Sonos Beam (Gen 2) is better than the JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam. The Sonos is better built and has better soundstage, surround, and Atmos performances. That said, the JBL does get a bit louder with less compression at max volume. Unlike the Sonos, it's also Bluetooth compatible and it a Full HDMI In port for high-quality passthrough.
Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the JBL Bar 5.1 Surround or the JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam. The 5.1 Surround comes with a dedicated subwoofer, so it can reproduce a much more extended low-bass. The 5.0 MultiBeam has a more compact design, as well as better soundstage and Atmos performances.
The Bose Smart Soundbar 700 is better for most uses than the JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam. The Bose is better built and has a more neutral sound profile out-of-the-box. It gets louder, has a better stereo soundstage, and offers built-in voice assistant support. That said, the JBL is better for movies. It supports Atmos content and has better surrounds performance. It has more wireless playback options and a Full HDMI In port.
The Sonos Arc is a better soundbar than the JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam. The Sonos has a better soundstage performance, and thanks to its two up-firing speakers, it also has a better Atmos performance. You can even upgrade it to the Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers. However, the JBL is more compact and has some EQ presets and a Full HDMI In port.
The JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam is a better soundbar than the Bose Smart Soundbar 300. The JBL is a 5.0 setup with a better surrounds performance and Atmos support. It comes with a room correction feature, EQ presets, and a Full HDMI In port, too. That said, the 3.0 Bose has a better soundstage performance.
The JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam is better than the Bose Soundbar 500. The JBL is a 5.0 setup that supports Dolby Atmos content. It gets louder, and it has a better surround performance. Unlike the Bose, it has a Full HDMI In port that supports high-quality passthrough.
The JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam is a better soundbar than the Denon Home Sound Bar 550. The JBL is a 5.0 setup that offers a discrete center channel to help reproduce dialogue more clearly. It also gets louder and comes with a room correction feature. However, the Denon comes with a dialogue enhancement feature, and it has a better Atmos performance.
The JBL Bar 9.1 is a better soundbar than the JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam. The 9.1 comes with a dedicated sub and reproduces a more extended low-bass. Also, it has a better soundstage as well as a better surrounds performance thanks to its discrete satellite speakers. It's better for Atmos content, too. That said, the 5.0 MultiBeam can be connected to third-party voice assistant devices, unlike the 9.1.
The JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam and the Yamaha YAS-109 are both standalone soundbars, but the JBL is better overall. The JBL is a 5.0 setup that supports Dolby Atmos content, unlike the Yamaha. It has better soundstage, center, and surround performances, too. Also, it has a better build quality. That said, the 2.0 Yamaha is still okay, especially if you mostly listen to vocal-centric content like TV shows.
The JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam is a better soundbar than the Sony HT-X8500. The JBL is better built, with a room correction feature. It also has a better center, surround, Atmos, and soundstage performances.
The standalone Bose Smart Soundbar 900 is better than the JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam. The Bose is a 5.1.2 setup that's better built. It also has better soundstage and Atmos performances. You can even upgrade it with a sub and satellites if you want. However, only the JBL comes with a Full HDMI In port for high-quality passthrough.
The Samsung HW-Q700A is better than the JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam. The Samsung is a 3.1.2 setup with better soundstage and Atmos performances. It reproduces a more extended low-bass, and some listeners may prefer its more neutral sound out-of-the-box. It even comes with a graphic EQ. That said, the 5.0 JBL has a better surround performance, and a room correction feature.
Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the Samsung HW-S60A or the JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam. The Samsung offers a more neutral sound profile out-of-the-box, which some users may prefer. It has a better soundstage performance and a graphic EQ for sound customization, too. However, the JBL supports Atmos content. Also, it comes with a room correction feature, a Full HDMI In port, and supports more wireless playback options.
The Samsung HW-Q600A is better than the JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam. The Samsung is a 3.1.2 setup that reproduces a more extended low-bass. Some listeners may prefer its more neutral out-of-the-box sound. It also comes with more sound enhancement features like a graphic EQ and dialogue enhancement. That said, the 5.0 JBL has a better surround performance, and it comes with room correction.
Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the Harman/Kardon Enchant 1300 or the JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam. The Harman/Kardon has a better soundstage performance, and it gets louder. However, the JBL supports Atmos content, and it also has more wireless playback options.
The JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam is a better soundbar than the Bose Solo 5. The JBL is better built, and it's a 5.0 soundbar with a discrete center channel that supports Dolby Atmos. It also has better soundstage and surround performances, and it gets louder. Also, it comes with a room correction feature, more physical inputs, and more wireless playback support.
Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar Mini or the JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam. They're both compact soundbars designed for smaller spaces. Only the JBL has a discrete center channel to improve vocal reproduction. However, the JBL has to downmix Atmos content into surround sound, which isn't true of the Sennheiser. As a result, the Sennheiser brings a more clear and real sound with Atmos. The Sennheiser offers more sound enhancement tools, too.
The JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam is better than the Yamaha YAS-209. The JBL is better-built, and it supports Dolby Atmos content. It has better center and surround performances and more wireless playback options. Also, it comes with a room correction feature. That said, the Yamaha comes with a dedicated sub, which helps reproduce a more extended low-bass. Unlike the JBL, it also has built-in voice assistant support.
Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam or the LG SP7Y. The JBL is better built and supports Dolby Atmos content, so it's a better choice for movies. It offers a better surrounds performance and comes with a room correction feature and more wireless playback options. However, the LG is a better choice for dialogue-centric content since it comes with a dialogue enhancement feature. It also offers a better soundstage performance.
The JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam is more versatile than the LG Eclair QP5. The JBL is a 5.0 setup with better center and surround performances. It's a standalone bar, unlike the LG, which comes with a dedicated subwoofer. The LG is pretty unique, as it's one of the smallest bars with Dolby Atmos support we've tested. However, its dedicated sub doesn't mean that it can reproduce much more low-bass than the JBL.
The LG SP9YA is better than the JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam. The LG is a 5.1.2 setup with a dedicated subwoofer that can reproduce a more extended low-bass. It has a better soundstage, and it comes with more sound enhancement features. Unlike the JBL Bar, it supports DTS content. That said, the JBL's standalone design may be preferable for some users. It has a better surrounds performance, and it's still a decent choice overall.
The LG SP8YA is better than the JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam. The LG is a 3.1.2 setup with a dedicated sub that can reproduce a more extended low-bass. It also has more sound enhancement features, such as dialogue enhancement. That said, the 5.0 JBL is better built with a better surrounds performance.
The Samsung HW-Q900A is better than the JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam. The Samsung is a 7.1.2 setup that comes with a dedicated subwoofer, and it can reproduce a more extended low-bass. It has a better soundstage, and more sound enhancement features, such as a graphic EQ. Unlike the JBL, it also supports DTS content. That said, the JBL is still a solid choice for you if you want a standalone bar.
The Samsung HW-Q950A and the JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam are two very different soundbars. The JBL is a small standalone setup that's ideal for listeners without a lot of space. It's a decent choice overall, but the Samsung is much more versatile. The Samsung is an 11.1.4 setup with a dedicated subwoofer and satellites. It can reproduce a more extended low-bass, and it has better surround and Atmos performances.
The Samsung HW-A650 is marginally better for mixed usage than the JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam. The Samsung is a 3.1 setup with a dedicated subwoofer that can reproduce a more extended low-bass. However, the 5.0 JBL is better suited for movies. It has a better surrounds performance, and it supports Dolby Atmos content. There are also some more wireless playback options to choose from.
The Samsung HW-Q800A is better than the JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam. The Samsung has a dedicated sub that helps reproduce a more extended low-bass. It also has better soundstage and Atmos performances, and it has built-in voice assistant support. It even comes with some extra sound enhancement features like a graphic EQ and dialogue enhancement. However, only the JBL comes with room correction. The JBL also offers a better surround performance.
Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam or the Samsung HW-Q60T. The JBL is a 5.0 setup that's better suited for movies, as it has a better surrounds performance. Also, unlike the Samsung, it supports Atmos content. That said, the Samsung may be better for music. It has a dedicated sub and can reproduce a more extended low-bass. Also, it comes with a graphic EQ to customize its sound.
The Samsung HW-Q70T is better than the JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam. The Samsung is a 3.1.2 setup that reproduces a more extended low-bass. Some users may prefer its more neutral sound profile out-of-the-box, and that it has a graphic EQ for sound customization. That said, the 5.0 JBL has better surround and Atmos performances, and it supports more wireless playback options. It also has room correction, unlike the Samsung.
The JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam is better than the JBL Link Bar. Both are standalone setups, but the MultiBeam is the only one that supports height content. It has better center and surround performances, too, as well as a better build quality. Also, it has a room correction feature, which is handy. But if you mostly listen to dialogue-heavy audio like TV shows and music, the Link Bar is still a decent pick.
Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the Sony HT-G700 or the JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam. The Sony is a 3.1 setup with a dedicated subwoofer that reproduces a more extended low-bass. It also comes with a dialogue enhancement feature. However, the JBL is a 5.0 setup that's better-built, with better soundstage, Atmos, and surround performances. It also comes with a room correction feature.
The LG SN8YG is better than the JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam. The LG comes with a dedicated sub, so it's able to reproduce a more extended low-bass. It has more sound enhancement features, like dialogue enhancement, and a better Atmos performance. There's even built-in voice assistant support. That said, the JBL is better-built with a better surrounds performance.
Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the Sony HT-Z9F or the JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam. The Sony is a 3.1 setup with a more neutral sound profile out-of-the-box, which some users may prefer. It gets louder, and it has a dialogue enhancement feature. The 5.0 JBL has better surround and Atmos performances, as well as a room correction feature.
Test Results
This soundbar has a simple, sleek design. The top of the bar is of metal, and there are two metal grilles on each side. Also, metal grilles wrap around the front and sides of the bar. The bottom is of plastic.
The JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam has a very compact design, so it should easily fit between the legs of a 55" TV stand. Also, it isn't very tall, so it shouldn't block your TV screen unless your TV sits flush on the table.
The JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam has a great build quality. The metal grilles help to protect the drivers inside. The metal on top of the bar feels very sturdy, and the plastic bottom feels solid, too.
- Quick Start guide
- Mounting brackets with screws, collars and template
- Remote with batteries (2x AAA)
- Power cable (4.9 ft / 1.5m)
- HDMI cable (3.9 ft / 1.2m)
The JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam has a decent stereo frequency response. With its Automatic MultiBeam Calibration room correction feature turned on, it has a slightly boxy sound profile that adds extra punch and boom to your audio. However, it struggles to reproduce a deep low-bass, disappointing if you like thumpy music like EDM or hip-hop and action-packed movies. It comes with a bass adjustment feature and some EQ presets to help you customize its sound.
Note: This soundbar's default bass setting is '3'. During our testing for stereo files, we turned SMART Mode Off. Stereo content played from the two front channels as well as both side surrounds.
With calibration, the JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam has a decent stereo frequency response. With its bass set to '1', it offers a more neutral, balanced sound profile suitable for listening to lots of different types of audio content. However, it still struggles to reproduce a thumpy low-bass, so you don't feel the deep rumble in action-packed scenes.
The JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam has a decent stereo soundstage performance. The soundstage is perceived to be a bit wider than the bar itself, but the bar isn't wide to begin with. Its focus is okay, so objects in the soundstage like voices and footsteps seem to come from a more general area rather than a pinpoint location.
The JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam has good dynamics. It can get pretty loud, though not quite as loud as some of the other bars we've tested, like the Sonos Arc. There isn't too much compression present when you play it at max volume, which is handy if you like to turn up the volume for parties.
The JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam has an impressive THD performance. At normal listening volumes, distortion falls within good limits, resulting in clean and pure audio reproduction. There's a slight jump in distortion when you push the bar to max volume, but this may not be too noticeable with real-life content.
The JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam has a great center channel performance. This 5.0 setup comes with a discrete center channel, which helps reproduce dialogue more clearly and accurately. It struggles to reproduce low-bass, but this shouldn't be too noticeable since there generally isn't much bass in audio content played on the center channel.
The JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam has a mediocre surrounds performance. It uses its front and side-firing speakers to create a phantom localization. However, this doesn't sound as clear and real as discrete surround setups, so objects in the soundstage like voices and footsteps aren't as clearly or accurately represented. Audio seems like it's coming from in front of you rather than from speakers placed all around you.
Note: During our testing for surround files, we turned SMART Mode on and Dolby Atmos off. Surround content played from the side-firing drivers as well as the two front-firing drivers.
The JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam has a disappointing Atmos performance. This soundbar doesn't come with dedicated Atmos drivers. Instead, it plays Atmos content from its side and front-firing channels using Dolby Atmos Virtual technology. Since it has to downmix Atmos content into surround to play it, it doesn't sound as clear or real as a discrete setup.
The JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam has a poor selection of sound enhancement features, especially compared to other small bars like the Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar Mini. It comes with an Automatic MultiBeam Calibration room correction feature, which automatically optimizes audio reproduction based on the unique acoustic characteristics of your room. You can also choose between the two EQ presets, SMART Mode On and Off. The manufacturer recommends turning SMART Mode Off when listening to TV programs to reduce sound effects. Turning SMART Mode On enables the JBL Surround Sound feature, which is advertised to help create a more three-dimensional sound. Though it isn't in the manual, you can press the MUTE button for two seconds, followed by the - button to activate auto-volume mode. There's also a Sync feature to help reduce latency with videos, though we don't test for this.
The JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam comes with some physical inputs. There's a Full HDMI In port, so you can use the bar as a hub between different devices. Also, the US version of this soundbar comes with a USB port for audio playback. International versions of the bar come with a USB port, but it's only for servicing the bar.
The JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam has excellent audio format support via ARC. It supports Dolby Digital, which is the most common surround sound format. It also supports some object-based formats, like Dolby Atmos.
The JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam has amazing audio format support via Full HDMI In. It supports Dolby Digital, which is commonly found on Blu-ray discs and streaming platforms.
The JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam can play Dolby Digital via Optical. You can find this format on most streaming services and some Blu-ray discs. Unfortunately, it doesn't support DTS content, which is even more common on Blu-ray.
The JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Soundbar has an incredible latency performance. It has low latency over its ARC, Optical, and Full HDMI In ports, so video and audio are in sync. As a result, it's suitable for watching videos and movies over these connections. However, some apps and TVs compensate for latency differently, so your real-world experience may vary.
The JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam has fantastic wireless playback connectivity. You can stream audio from your mobile devices to the bar wirelessly over all the formats we test for.
The JBL Bar 5.0 can passthrough the highest bandwidth signals. When you connect the bar to your TV and your PC, text on the screen appears crisp and clear.
There's a four-character display on the right side of the bar. It displays the volume level, firmware, and the input you're on. However, you may have to wait for it to scroll through longer words.
On top of the bar, there are some physical buttons. You can power the bar on/off, adjust the volume, and change the input source.
The remote is simple and lets you control all of the bar's functions. However, it isn't a universal remote, so you can't use it to control your TV.
The JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam doesn't have built-in voice assistant support. According to the manufacturer, it supports voice assistants when you connect a third-party device like a Google Home to the bar. Since this requires a separate purchase, we don't test for it.