- Table of Contents
- Intro
- Our Verdict
- Test Results
- Differences
- Compared To Others
- Deals
- Discussions
The JBL Bar 5.1 Surround is a 5.1 setup that uses 'Multibeam' technology to improve its surround performance without having to use rear satellites. Its sound profile delivers a punchy and boomy bass suitable for action flicks and EDM music. It also has room correction and you can even stream music to the bar using a variety of wireless options. Unfortunately, it doesn't support Dolby Atmos and it has limited EQ options.
Our Verdict
The JBL Bar 5.1 is alright for mixed use. This soundbar delivers a punchy and boomy sound suitable for bass-heavy music and action-packed movies. However, it only has two EQ presets and it doesn't support Atmos. While it can also get loud enough for a large or crowded room, there's also thumping and compression artifacts at max volume. On the upside, you can use this bar as a hub between your TV and other devices. It also has room correction to help improve its sound.
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Outstanding wireless connectivity options.
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Room correction available.
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Only two EQ presets.
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No Atmos support.
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Thumping and compression artifacts present at max volume.
The JBL Bar 5.1 Soundbar is okay for dialogue and TV shows. It can produce fairly clear and accurate dialogue. However, it lacks a dialogue enhancement feature to further improve vocal clarity. On the upside, it has an auto-volume mode available. You can also stream your favorite podcasts or audiobooks to the bar with Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Chromecast built-in, and Apple AirPlay.
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Outstanding wireless connectivity options.
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Room correction available.
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Only two EQ presets.
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No dialogue enhancement feature.
The JBL Bar 5.1 Soundbar is fair for music. It has a boomy sound suitable for your favorite EDM songs. However, its treble is a bit dark and veiled, and there's only two EQ presets, so there's not a lot of customization available. It has room correction though, which can help improve its sound depending on your room. You can also stream albums using a variety of different wireless connectivity options. While it can get loud enough for a large or crowded room, there are thumping and compression artifacts at max volume.
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Outstanding wireless connectivity options.
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Room correction available.
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Only two EQ presets.
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Thumping and compression artifacts present at max volume.
The JBL Bar 5.1 is okay for movies. Although this soundbar doesn't support Atmos, it has a punchy and boomy sound profile suitable for action flicks. It also comes with one EQ preset designed to further bring out sound effects.
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Outstanding wireless connectivity options.
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Room correction available.
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Only two EQ presets.
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No Atmos support.
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Thumping and compression artifacts present at max volume.
- 7.1 Mixed Usage
- 7.6 Dialogue/TV Shows
- 7.2 Music
- 6.6 Movies
- Updated Feb 18, 2021: Updated Surround score to reflect that the bar has phantom surround.
- Updated Feb 09, 2021: Converted to Test Bench 1.0.
- Updated Jan 13, 2021: Due to a change in our methodology, we updated DTS support via ARC to 'No'.
- Updated Oct 29, 2020: Review published.
- Updated Oct 23, 2020: Early access published.
Test Results
The JBL Bar 5.1 Soundbar is a sleek soundbar with a matte black finish. Its front and sides are covered by a fine metal grille.
The subwoofer of this soundbar sits on four plastic pegs as the speaker is located underneath. This subwoofer is made from black melamine which makes it look sleek.
This soundbar most likely won't fit between the legs of a 55" TV. However, it's not very tall so it shouldn't block the bottom of your TV screen unless it sits flush to the table.
The subwoofer is a bit tall since it has small legs to elevate it from the ground. However, it's about as large as a standard desktop PC.
There are no satellites in this setup.
The back of this bar has one opening for its power cable as well as its inputs. There are also universal holes on its underside so that you can wall-mount it.
The back of the subwoofer is pretty plain. It has a port on the top of its back and the power cable is located below it.
The JBL Bar 5.1 has a great build quality. It has a sturdy plastic body with a fine metal grille to protect its front and sides. In comparison, the subwoofer's body is made of melamine and has four legs to raise the sub since the speaker is located underneath it.
- Remote with 2x AAA batteries
- HDMI cable
- 2x Power cables
- Mounting brackets and screws
- Mounting template
- Manuals
This soundbar's stereo frequency response is decent. It can produce a punchy, boomy bass suitable for action flicks or EDM music. Although its treble is a bit dark and veiled in comparison, it should still be suitable for most audio content. That said, if you want to tweak its sound, there's a 'Smart Mode' EQ available.
The JBL Bar 5.1's stereo soundstage is alright. It's a little bit wider than the bar but the bar doesn't do any tricks to make it sound any wider. The soundstage doesn't seem very focused either and objects seem to be coming from a general area rather than coming from precise pinpoint locations.
The JBL Bar 5.1 has decent stereo dynamics. While it can get loud enough to fill a large or crowded room, if you push this bar to its max volume, there's pumping and compression artifacts, especially in the bass range.
The JBL Bar 5.1 has a great THD performance. It has a low amount of THD at a normal listening volume. While there's a small jump in THD if you push this bar to its max volume, it's quite little. Most people may not even hear any harmonic distortion with their real-life content.
The JBL Bar 5.1 has an excellently-performing center channel. Since it has a dedicated center channel, it can reproduce clear and accurate dialogue.
Update 02/18/2021: We updated the results to reflect that this soundbar has phantom front-firing speakers.
The JBL Bar 5.1 has a mediocre surround performance. It uses phantom front-firing speakers to simulate a surround object in the soundstage, but this doesn't sound as real as discrete surround speakers.
This soundbar doesn't have height channels and doesn't support Atmos.
The JBL Bar 5.1 has okay sound enhancement features. It has only two EQ presets: 'Smart Mode', which helps improve sound effects, and 'Standard', which turns Smart Mode off. There's also room correction as well as night mode. While there's no dialogue enhancement feature available, the manufacturer recommends using 'Standard' mode for vocal-centric content to reduce sound effects. Consider the Monoprice SB-600 or the Samsung HW-Q65T if you want a bar with more sound enhancement features, or the Polk Audio MagniFi MAX SR if you want a bar with an adjustable dialogue enhancement feature.
Night mode isn't mentioned anywhere in the manual. However, it can be triggered by pressing 'Mute' on the remote for two seconds followed by pressing the volume down button to toggle this feature on and off.
This soundbar has a wide array of physical inputs. You can even use the bar as a hub for multiple devices like your TV and gaming console. USB playback is only available via the US version of this soundbar. Other regional variants can only use this USB port for updating the soundbar's firmware.
Update 01/13/2021: We re-evaluated our methodology for ARC support and concluded that DTS and Dolby Digital+ support should be reported the same over an ARC connection as over an HDMI IN and Optical connection, so we updated our results for DTS support from "Yes" to "No". Some TVs, like the one we initially used for testing, may convert this content, but other TV brands may not. Ultimately, your experience may vary depending on your TV.
This soundbar has good audio format support via its HDMI ARC port. While it doesn't support eARC or Dolby Atmos, it can play content like Dolby Digital content, which is commonly found on Blu-ray discs.
The JBL Bar 5.1 has fair audio format support via its Full HDMI In port. It can play Dolby Digital content, which is commonly found on Blu-ray discs. However, for this bar to play Dolby Digital Plus content, it has to encode and downmix it into DD 2.0.
This soundbar only supports Dolby Digital content via its Optical In port. This format is found on many streaming platforms as well as Blu-ray discs.
This bar has fantastic wireless playback options. This soundbar supports all common wireless playback options without a problem, so you can stream your favorite tracks or albums to the bar wirelessly.
The JBL Bar 5.1 can passthrough the highest bandwidth signals when connected between your PC and TV. The result is text that looks crisp and clear on your TV.
The subwoofer wirelessly connects to the bar but you still need to connect it to a power source.
The interface is located on the right side of the bar, behind the metal grille. It displays your volume level, inputs, and subwoofer level. It also lets you know when you're on standby mode.
This bar has controls on its top side. You can turn the bar on/off, adjust volume, and switch inputs.
The JBL Bar 5.1 has a simple remote that controls all of the bar's functions. However, it doesn't have play/pause or track skipping.
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The JBL Bar 5.1 Surround comes in one color variant: Black. You can see its label here. Note that JBL also manufactures another soundbar called the JBL Bar 5.1 which comes with two detachable wireless satellites. However, we have not tested this variant and we expect it to perform differently than our test unit.
If you come across a variant of this soundbar that's different from our test unit, please let us know and we'll update our review.
Compared To Other Soundbars
The JBL Bar 5.1 Surround is a 5.1 setup from this manufacturer's 2020 lineup. Compared to the JBL Bar 5.1, this soundbar doesn't use any satellite speakers and instead, uses 'Multibeam' technology alongside discrete speakers in the bar itself to improve the bar's surround performance without satellites. However, unlike many other 5.1 setups, it doesn't support Atmos. It also has limited sound enhancement features. Check out our recommendations for the best soundbars for music, the best soundbars 5.1, and the best soundbars with subwoofer.
Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the Sony HT-G700 or the JBL Bar 5.1 Surround. The JBL is a 5.1 setup that's better built and supports more wireless playback options. It reproduces a more extended low-bass and offers a better surround performance. Also, it comes with a room correction feature, unlike the Sony. However, the 3.1 Sony supports Dolby Atmos content, making it a better choice for some movie fans.
The Samsung HW-Q800A is a better soundbar than the JBL Bar 5.1 Surround. The Samsung is a 3.1.2 setup with a better soundstage performance that gets louder with less compression at max volume. Unlike the JBL, it supports Dolby Atmos content, and it comes with a graphic EQ and built-in Amazon Alexa voice assistant support. However, the 5.1 JBL has a better surrounds performance, and it comes with a room correction feature and more wireless playback options.
The Samsung HW-Q600A is a better overall soundbar than the JBL Bar 5.1 Surround. The Samsung supports Dolby Atmos content, and it offers a better soundstage performance. It also comes with more sound enhancement features, including a graphic EQ, a dialogue enhancement feature, and bass and treble adjustments. However, the JBL offers a better surround performance and supports more wireless playback options. It also comes with a room correction feature, unlike the Samsung.
The JBL Bar 9.1 is a better performing soundbar than the JBL Bar 5.1 Surround. The Bar 9.1 is a 5.1.4 setup with detachable wireless satellites and a more neutral and balanced sound profile. Its center and surround performances are much better too, and it supports Atmos as well as eARC. It also supports a wider array of audio formats over its physical inputs.
The Sonos Arc is a better soundbar than the JBL Bar 5.1 Surround. The Sonos offers better soundstage and Atmos performances. It can also be upgraded to the Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers for better performance. However, the JBL's dedicated sub reproduces a more extended low-bass, and it comes with EQ presets and a Full HDMI In port.
The Sonos Beam (Gen 2) is better than the JBL Bar 5.1 Surround. The Sonos is a better built 5.0 setup that supports Atmos content, unlike the JBL. It also has a better soundstage and built-in voice assistant capabilities. That said, the 5.1 JBL has a dedicated sub and can reproduce a more extended low-bass. It's also better-suited to users who want to use a Full HDMI In port for high-quality passthrough.
The Samsung HW-Q700A is a better soundbar than the JBL Bar 5.1 Surround. The Samsung supports Dolby Atmos content and comes with more sound customization features, including a graphic EQ and bass and treble adjustments. It also gets louder and offers a better soundstage. It has a more neutral sound profile than the JBL, which some users may prefer. That said, the JBL reproduces a more extended low-bass, and it has a room correction feature. The JBL also has a better surrounds performance.
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 Samsung HW-Q950A is better than the JBL Bar 5.1 Surround. The Samsung gets louder with less compression at max volume. Unlike the JBL, it has discrete satellite speakers, supports Dolby Atmos, and has built-in voice assistant capabilities. It also has better soundstage and surround performances. There are even more sound enhancement features, such as a graphic EQ. That said, the JBL is better-built.
The Vizio M Series M512a-H6 is better than the JBL Bar 5.1 Surround. The Vizio comes with discrete satellite speakers, and it has better soundstage and surround performances. Unlike the JBL, it also supports Dolby Atmos content. That said, the JBL is better built with more wireless playback options.
The LG SP8YA is better than the JBL Bar 5.1 Surround. The LG has a better soundstage and more sound enhancement features. It also supports Dolby Atmos content, unlike the JBL. That said, the JBL is better-built, and it has a better surrounds performance.
The Samsung HW-A650 is a bit better for mixed usage than the JBL Bar 5.1 Surround. The Samsung has a better soundstage, and it comes with a few more sound enhancement features like a graphic EQ and dialogue enhancement. That said, the JBL has a better surround performance, and it supports high quality passthrough via Full HDMI In.
The JBL Bar 5.1 Surround is a bit better for mixed usage than the Yamaha YAS-209. The JBL is a 5.1 setup that's better-built, and offers better center and surround performances. It supports more wireless playback options, and it comes with a room correction feature. However, the 2.1 Yamaha has a better stereo soundstage, and it has built-in voice assistant support.
The LG SP9YA is better than the JBL Bar 5.1 Surround. The LG supports Dolby Atmos content, unlike the JBL. It also has a better soundstage and more sound enhancement features, like bass and treble adjustments as well as dialogue enhancement. That said, the JBL has a better surround performance.
The Sony HT-Z9F is a better overall soundbar than the JBL Bar 5.1 Surround. The Sony is a 3.1 setup that supports Atmos and offers a full array of physical inputs that support common audio formats. However, the JBL is a 5.1 setup with room correction. You can also stream audio to it using Apple AirPlay.
Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the JBL Bar 5.1 Surround or the Polk Audio MagniFi MAX SR. The JBL is better built, and it comes with a room correction feature and a better surrounds performance. It also supports more wireless playback options. That said, the Polk Audio has a better soundstage and a unique adjustable dialogue enhancement feature.
Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the JBL Bar 5.1 Surround or the Samsung HW-A550. The JBL is a 5.1 setup that's better-built. It has better center and surround performances, and it can reproduce a slightly more extended low-bass. That said, the 2.1 Samsung has a better soundstage.
The Samsung HW-Q900A is better than the JBL Bar 5.1 Surround. The Samsung is a 7.1.2 setup that supports Dolby Atmos content and has built-in voice assistant capabilities. It gets louder than the JBL, and it has a better stereo soundstage. It even comes with more sound enhancement features, such as a graphic EQ. That said, the 5.1 JBL is better-built.
The JBL Bar 5.1 Surround is better than the Bose Smart Soundbar 300. The JBL is a 5.1 setup with a dedicated sub that helps reproduce a more extended low-bass. It has a better surrounds performance, and it comes with a room correction feature and EQ presets. Also, it supports Chromecast built-in. That said, the 3.0 Bose has a better soundstage and built-in voice assistant support.
The Samsung HW-Q60T and the JBL Bar 5.1 Surround are both 5.1 setups, but you may prefer one over the other. The Samsung offers a graphic EQ plus presets and supports more audio formats via its Optical In port. However, the JBL has a more balanced default sound profile. It also has room correction, and it supports more wireless playback options.
The Bose Smart Soundbar 700 is a bit better for mixed usage than the JBL Bar 5.1 Surround. The Bose is better-built, with better soundstage and surround performances. Also, it has built-in voice assistant support. That said, the JBL reproduces a more extended low-bass and supports more wireless playback options. It also comes with EQ presets and a Full HDMI In port, unlike the Bose.
Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the LG SP7Y or the JBL Bar 5.1 Surround. Both 5.1 setups are decent choices for mixed usage. The LG offers a better soundstage, and unlike the JBL, it supports DTS content. However, the JBL is better-built and can reproduce a more extended low-bass. Its surround performance is better, too, and it supports more wireless playback options.
The Klipsch Cinema 600 is a better soundbar than the JBL Bar 5.1 Surround. The Klipsch reproduces a more extended-low bass. It has a better soundstage, and it gets louder. That said, the JBL is better built with a Full HDMI In port and more wireless playback options. It has a better surrounds performance, and unlike the Klipsch, it offers EQ presets and room correction.
The Bose Smart Soundbar 900 with Speakers + Bass Module is better than the JBL Bar 5.1 Surround. The Bose is a better built setup with discrete satellites. It has better soundstage and surround performances. Unlike the JBL, it also supports Atmos content. Also, it can get louder with less compression at max volume.
Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the Sonos Beam or the JBL Bar 5.1 Surround. The Sonos is a 3.0 setup that offers a better soundstage performance. It also comes with a dialogue enhancement feature and built-in voice assistant support, unlike the JBL. However, the 5.1 JBL comes with a dedicated subwoofer, so it reproduces a more extended low-bass. It also offers a better surround performance and comes with EQ presets, a Full HDMI In port that supports high-quality passthrough, and more wireless playback options.
The LG SN9YG is a better soundbar than the JBL Bar 5.1 Surround. The LG is a 5.1.2 setup that supports Atmos and has a better-balanced sound profile. It offers more sound enhancement features and supports more audio formats across its physical inputs. The JBL, on the other hand, has a better center channel performance. You can also wirelessly stream audio to it using Apple AirPlay.
The Samsung HW-Q70T is a better overall performing soundbar than the JBL Bar 5.1 Surround. The Samsung is a 3.1.2 setup with a better-balanced sound profile. It can get louder with fewer compression artifacts, and it supports Atmos as well as eARC. It also has a graphic EQ and a companion app. However, the JBL is a 5.1 with a room correction feature and an Ethernet port.
The Bose Smart Soundbar 700 with Speakers + Bass Module is better than the JBL Bar 5.1 Surround. The Bose is better-built, and its discrete satellites help create a better surround performance. It has a better soundstage and built-in voice assistant support. Some listeners may also prefer its more neutral sound profile out-of-the-box. That said, only the JBL has Chromecast built-in support.
The LG SN8YG is better than the JBL Bar 5.1 Surround. The LG has built-in voice assistant support and it supports Dolby Atmos content, unlike the JBL. It also has a better soundstage and more sound enhancement features, like dialogue enhancement. However, the JBL is better built with more wireless playback options. It also has a better surrounds performance.
The Bose Smart Soundbar 900 is better than the JBL Bar 5.1 Surround. The Bose is a better-built 5.0.2 setup with Dolby Atmos support. It has better soundstage, center, and surround performances. Unlike the JBL, it also has built-in voice assistant support. While the JBL's dedicated sub helps it to reproduce a more extended low-bass than the Bose, you can always upgrade the Bose with a separate sub down the line.
The Samsung HW-T650 is better than the JBL Bar 5.1 Surround. The Samsung is a 3.1 setup with a better soundstage. It has less compression when you play it at max volume, and unlike the JBL, it supports DTS content. That said, the 5.1 JBL has a better surrounds performance. It also supports more wireless playback options.
The Vizio V Series V51-H6 is better than the JBL Bar 5.1 Surround. The Vizio has better soundstage and surround performances, and it gets louder. That said, the JBL is better-built, and it comes with a Full HDMI In port that supports high-quality passthrough.
Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the Denon Home Sound Bar 550 or the JBL Bar 5.1 Surround. The Denon is a 4.0 setup with a standalone design that's ideal if you don't have a lot of space. Unlike the JBL, it supports Dolby Atmos content, too. That said, the JBL can reproduce a more extended low-bass. It has a better center channel performance, too.
The LG SPD7Y scores a bit better than the JBL Bar 5.1 Surround for mixed usage, but depending on your listening habits, you may prefer one over the other. The LG has a better soundstage, and unlike the JBL, it supports Dolby Atmos content. However, if you mostly watch surround content, you may prefer the JBL since it has a better surround performance. The JBL is also better-built with a more extended low-bass.
The JBL Bar 5.1 Surround is better than the Sony HT-X8500. The JBL is a 5.1 setup with a dedicated subwoofer that can reproduce a more extended low-bass. It's better built, and it has better soundstage, center, and surround performances. That said, it doesn't support Dolby Atmos content like the Sony.
The JBL Bar 5.1 Surround is better than the Sony HT-S350. The JBL is a 5.1 setup that can reproduce a more extended low-bass than the Sony. It has better center and surround performances, too. That said, the 2.1 Sony is still a solid choice for vocal-centric content like TV shows. It even has a better soundstage than the JBL.
The Samsung HW-Q65T is a better soundbar than the JBL Bar 5.1 Surround. The Samsung comes with discrete surround speakers that offer a better surrounds performance. It also has a better soundstage performance and more sound enhancement features, including a graphic EQ, bass and treble adjustments, and a dialogue enhancement mode. However, the JBL comes with a room correction feature and more wireless playback options.
The LG SN10YG is better than the JBL Bar 5.1 Surround. The LG supports Dolby Atmos content and has built-in voice assistant capabilities, unlike the JBL. It also has a better stereo soundstage and more sound enhancement features, such as dialogue enhancement. However, the JBL has a better surrounds performance.
The Samsung HW-Q70R is a better overall soundbar than the JBL Bar 5.1 Surround. The Samsung is a 3.1.2 setup that has a better-balanced sound profile, supports Atmos as well as eARC, and has a graphic EQ. It can support all common audio formats over its HDMI In and Optical In ports. However, you can wirelessly stream to the JBL using Chromecast built-in or Apple AirPlay.
The Samsung HW-Q950T is better than the JBL Bar 5.1 Surround. The Samsung is a 9.1.4 setup with discrete satellites that supports Dolby Atmos content. It has better soundstage and surround performances, and it comes with a graphic EQ. Also, it has built-in voice assistant support. That said, the JBL is better-built, with more wireless playback options and a room correction feature.
The JBL Bar 5.1 Surround is a bit better for mixed usage than the Klipsch Cinema 400. The JBL is a 5.1 setup that's better built and offers better center and surround performances. Unlike the Klipsch, it even has a Full HDMI In port for high quality passthrough. That said, the 2.1 Klipsch can reproduce a more extended low-bass.
The JBL Bar 5.1 Surround is better than the Polk Audio SIGNA S2. The JBL is a 5.1 setup that can reproduce a more extended low-bass. It has better soundstage, center, and surround performances, too. Also, you can find more sound enhancement features, such as room correction.
The Vizio M Series M51a-H6 is better than the JBL Bar 5.1 Surround. The Vizio comes with dedicated satellites, and it supports Dolby Atmos content. It gets louder with less compression at max volume, and it has better soundstage and surround performances. That said, the JBL is better built with more wireless playback options.
Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the Yamaha YAS-408 or the JBL Bar 5.1 Surround. The Yamaha is a 2.1 setup with a better soundstage. It also gets louder with less compression at max volume. However, the 5.1 JBL is better built, with better surround and center performances. It comes with room correction and Chromecast built-in support, unlike the Yamaha.
The JBL Bar 5.1 Surround is a bit better for mixed usage than the Polk Audio Signa S4. The JBL is a 5.1 setup with a better surrounds performance. It can reproduce a more extended low-bass, and it also comes with more sound enhancement features, including room correction. That said, the Polk is still a pretty versatile 3.1.2 setup. It has a better soundstage than the JBL, and it even supports Dolby Atmos content.
The Samsung HW-Q800T is a better soundbar than the JBL Bar 5.1 Surround. The Samsung is a 3.1.2 setup that supports Atmos content and comes with a graphic EQ. It has a more neutral sound profile out-of-the-box and a better soundstage performance. It also gets louder with less compression at max volume. That said, the 5.1 JBL has a better surrounds performance and comes with a room correction feature and more wireless playback support.