JBL Bar 500MK2 vs Sonos Arc Ultra: Which Soundbar Is Better?

Tested using Methodology v1.3

Updated Jan 23, 2026 08:18 PM

This review is in Early access

See Sonos Arc Ultra Review

Channels Locked

Recommended in 2 articles:
All-In-One
Dialogue

Our Verdict

Sonos Arc Ultra

JBL Bar 500MK2

Full comparison details regarding individual product score sets can be found in the section below

Variants

Arc Ultra (Black)
Arc Ultra (White)

Bar 500MK2 (Black)

Review

See JBL Bar 500MK2 Review

Check Price

Black

Arc Ultra

Black

Bar 500MK2

White

Arc Ultra

Black

Bar 500MK2

BestBuy.com

Black

Bar 500MK2

B&H

Black

Bar 500MK2

JBL

Black

Bar 500MK2

Walmart.com

Main Differences for

Mixed Usage

Threshold

0.10

Mixed Usage

0.0

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Full Comparison

Mixed Usage

0.0

Dialogue/TV Shows

0.0

Music

0.0

Movies

0.0

Design

Style - Bar

Style photo - bar

SAMPLE

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SAMPLE

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Show Text

Style - Subwoofer

Style photo - sub

SAMPLE

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SAMPLE

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Sub Wireless

Locked

Enclosure

Locked

Show Text

Style - Satellites

Style photo - satellites

SAMPLE

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SAMPLE

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Satellite Wireless

Locked

Show Text

Dimensions - Bar

Dimensions photo - bar

SAMPLE

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SAMPLE

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Width

Lock" (Lock cm)

Height

Lock" (Lock cm)

Depth

Lock" (Lock cm)

Show Text

Dimensions - Subwoofer

Dimensions photo - sub

SAMPLE

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SAMPLE

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Width

N/A

Lock" (Lock cm)

Height

N/A

Lock" (Lock cm)

Depth

N/A

Lock" (Lock cm)

Show Text

Dimensions - Satellites

Dimensions photo - satellites

SAMPLE

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SAMPLE

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Width

N/A

Height

N/A

Depth

N/A

Mounting

Bar Mounting Holes

SAMPLE

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SAMPLE

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Satellite Mounting Holes

SAMPLE

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SAMPLE

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Mountable Bar

Locked

Bar Brackets Included

Locked

Mountable Satellites

Locked

Satellite Brackets Included

Locked

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Build Quality

N/A

Build quality photo

SAMPLE

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SAMPLE

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In The Box

In The Box photo

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SAMPLE

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Show Text

Sound

Stereo Frequency Response

N/A

Stereo Setup

SAMPLE

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SAMPLE

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Raw Frequency Response

SAMPLE

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SAMPLE

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Frequency Response Small

SAMPLE

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SAMPLE

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Channels

Locked

Tested Preset

Locked

Slope

Lock

Standard Error

Lock dB

Low-Frequency Extension

Lock Hz

High-Frequency Extension

Lock kHz

Show Text

Stereo Frequency Response With Preliminary Calibration

N/A

Frequency Response Calibrated

SAMPLE

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SAMPLE

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Suggested Preset

Locked

Suggested Bass Setting

Lock

Suggested Treble Setting

Lock

N/A

Slope

Lock

Standard Error

Lock dB

Low-Frequency Extension

Lock Hz

High-Frequency Extension

Lock kHz

Show Text

Stereo Soundstage

N/A

Crosstalk

SAMPLE

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SAMPLE

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Crosstalk Error

Lock dB

Show Text

Stereo Dynamics

N/A

Dynamic Range Compression

SAMPLE

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SAMPLE

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SPL @ Max Volume

Lock dB SPL

DRC @ 90dB

Lock dB

DRC @ Max Volume

Lock dB

Show Text

Center

N/A

Center Setup

SAMPLE

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SAMPLE

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Frequency Response

SAMPLE

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SAMPLE

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Localization

Locked

Slope

Lock

Std. Err.

Lock dB

SPL @ Max Volume

Lock dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB

Lock

Weighted THD @ Max Volume

Lock

Show Text

Surround 5.1

N/A

Surround Setup

SAMPLE

To see pictures and test results

SAMPLE

To see pictures and test results

Frequency Response

SAMPLE

To see pictures and test results

SAMPLE

To see pictures and test results

Localization

Locked

Slope

Lock

Std. Err.

Lock dB

SPL @ Max Volume

Lock dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB

Lock

Weighted THD @ Max Volume

Lock

7.1 Rears

Locked

Show Text

Height (Atmos)

N/A

Height Setup

SAMPLE

To see pictures and test results

SAMPLE

To see pictures and test results

H Frequency Response

SAMPLE

To see pictures and test results

SAMPLE

To see pictures and test results

Localization

Locked

Slope

Lock

Std. Err.

Lock dB

SPL @ Max Volume

Lock dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB

Lock

Weighted THD @ Max Volume

Lock

Show Text

Sound Enhancement Features

N/A

Room Correction

Locked

Dialogue Enhancement

Locked

Auto-Volume/Night Mode

Locked

Subwoofer Level Adjustment

Locked

Bass Adjustment

Locked

Treble Adjustment

Locked

EQ

Locked

Surround Level Adjustment

Locked

Rear Level Adjustment

Locked

Height Level Adjustment

Locked

Virtual Surround

Locked

Show Text

Connectivity

Inputs/Outputs - Bar

Physical Connections Bar Photo 1

SAMPLE

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SAMPLE

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Physical Connections Bar Photo 2

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SAMPLE

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Optical Audio In

Locked

HDMI Out

Locked

HDMI 2.1 Class Bandwidth

Locked

Full HDMI In

Locked

Analog Audio In 3.5mm (Aux)

Locked

RCA In

Locked

USB for Files

Locked

Ethernet

Locked

Subwoofer Output

Locked

Show Text

Audio Format Support: ARC/eARC

N/A

Dolby Atmos

Locked

Dolby Digital

Locked

Dolby Digital Plus

Locked

Dolby TrueHD

Locked

DTS

Locked

DTS:X

Locked

DTS-HD MA

Locked

PCM Channels

Locked

Show Text

Audio Format Support: HDMI In

N/A

Dolby Atmos

Locked

Dolby Digital

Locked

Dolby Digital Plus

Locked

Dolby TrueHD

Locked

DTS

Locked

DTS:X

Locked

DTS-HD MA

Locked

PCM Channels

Locked

Audio Format Support: Optical

N/A

Dolby Digital

Locked

DTS

Locked

PCM Channels

Locked

Show Text

Audio Latency: ARC

N/A

ARC Latency Video

SAMPLE

To see product videos

SAMPLE

To see product videos

PCM-2.0 ch

Lock ms

PCM-5.1 ch

Lock ms

Dolby MAT (PCM) Atmos

Lock ms

Dolby Digital

Lock ms

Dolby Digital Plus

Lock ms

Dolby Digital Plus Atmos

Lock ms

Show Text

Audio Latency: HDMI In

N/A

HDMI Latency Video

SAMPLE

To see product videos

SAMPLE

To see product videos

PCM-2.0 ch

N/A

Lock ms

PCM-5.1 ch

N/A

Lock ms

Dolby MAT (PCM) Atmos

N/A

Lock ms

Dolby Digital

N/A

Lock ms

Dolby Digital Plus

N/A

Lock ms

Dolby Digital Plus Atmos

N/A

Lock ms

Audio Latency: Optical

N/A

Optical Latency Video

SAMPLE

To see product videos

SAMPLE

To see product videos

PCM-2.0 ch

N/A

Lock ms

Dolby Digital

N/A

Lock ms

Video Passthrough To TV

N/A

1080p Max Refresh Rate

Locked

1080p @ 4:4:4 Max Refresh Rate

Locked

4k Max Refresh Rate

Locked

4k @ 120Hz @ 10-Bit

Locked

4k @ 4:4:4 Max Refresh Rate

Locked

8k Max Refresh Rate

Locked

HDR10 Passthrough

Locked

HDR10+ Passthrough

Locked

Dolby Vision Passthrough

Locked

HDMI Forum VRR Passthrough

Locked

FreeSync Passthrough

Locked

G-SYNC Passthrough

Locked

ALLM Passthrough

Locked

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Wireless Playback

N/A

Bluetooth

Locked

Wi-Fi Playback

Locked

Chromecast built-in

Locked

Apple AirPlay

Locked

Spotify Connect

Locked

Show Text

Additional Features

Interface

Interface photo

SAMPLE

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SAMPLE

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Display

Locked

Show Text

Bar Controls

Controls photo

SAMPLE

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SAMPLE

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Show Text

Remote

Remote photo

SAMPLE

To see pictures and test results

SAMPLE

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Show Text

Voice Assistants Support

Amazon Alexa

Locked

Google Assistant

Locked

Apple Siri

Locked

Microphone Mute

Locked

Show Text

Check Price

Black

Arc Ultra

Black

Bar 500MK2

White

Arc Ultra

Black

Bar 500MK2

BestBuy.com

Black

Bar 500MK2