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Sony HT-Z9F vs JBL Bar 5.1 Surround

Side-by-Side Comparison

    Top
    Main Differences
    Design
      Style - BarStyle - SubwooferStyle - SatellitesDimensions - BarDimensions - SubwooferDimensions - SatellitesMountingBuild QualityIn The Box
    Sound
      Stereo Frequency ResponseStereo Frequency Response With Preliminary CalibrationStereo SoundstageStereo DynamicsStereo Total Harmonic DistortionCenterSurround 5.1Height (Atmos)Sound Enhancement Features
    Connectivity
      Inputs/Outputs - BarAudio Format Support: ARC/eARCAudio Format Support: HDMI InAudio Format Support: OpticalLatencyVideo Passthrough To TVWireless Playback
    Additional Features
      InterfaceBar ControlsRemoteVoice Assistants Support
    Comments

Products

Sony HT-Z9F
JBL Bar 5.1 Surround

Tested using Methodology v1.1

Updated Jan 12, 2024 08:20 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v1.2

Updated Mar 15, 2024 07:13 PM

SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
Sony HT-Z9F Picture
JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Picture
Channels
3.1
Channels
5.1

Our Verdict

Sony HT-Z9F

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround

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.

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Variants

  • HT-Z9F (Black)
  • Bar 5.1 Surround (Black)

Review

See Sony HT-Z9F Review
See JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Review
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Black
HT-Z9F
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
Bar 5.1 Surround
SEE PRICE
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HT-Z9F
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Black
Bar 5.1 Surround
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Black
HT-Z9F
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Bar 5.1 Surround
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HT-Z9F
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Bar 5.1 Surround
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Read more

Main Differences for
Mixed Usage

Threshold 

0.10

Mixed Usage 

7.2
6.9

Audio Format Support - ARC 
 

10
3.1

Stereo Frequency Response 
 

7.3
7.8

Surround 5.1 
 

2.4
6.0

Dialogue Enhancement 
 

Yes
No

Height (Atmos) 
 

2.0
0.0

Audio Format Support - Full HDMI In 
 

10
2.6

Full Comparison

Design

Style - Bar  

Style photo - bar  

Sony HT-Z9F Style photo - bar
JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Style photo - bar
Show Text 

Style - Subwoofer  

Style photo - sub  

Sony HT-Z9F Style photo - sub
JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Style photo - sub

Sub Wireless 
 

Yes
Yes

Enclosure 
 

Ported
Ported
Show Text 

Style - Satellites  

Style photo - satellites  

Sony HT-Z9F Style photo - satellites
JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Style photo - satellites

Satellite Wireless 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Dimensions - Bar  

Dimensions photo - bar  

Sony HT-Z9F Dimensions photo - bar
JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Dimensions photo - bar

Width  

39.4" (100.0 cm)
40.0" (101.6 cm)

Height  

2.6" (6.5 cm)
2.3" (5.8 cm)

Depth  

3.9" (10.0 cm)
3.9" (9.8 cm)
Show Text 

Dimensions - Subwoofer  

Dimensions photo - sub  

Sony HT-Z9F Dimensions photo - sub
JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Dimensions photo - sub

Width  

7.4" (18.9 cm)
12.0" (30.5 cm)

Height  

15.0" (38.0 cm)
17.3" (44.0 cm)

Depth  

15.2" (38.6 cm)
12.0" (30.5 cm)
Show Text 

Dimensions - Satellites  

Dimensions photo - satellites  

Sony HT-Z9F Dimensions photo - satellites
JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Dimensions photo - satellites

Width  

N/A
N/A

Height  

N/A
N/A

Depth  

N/A
N/A
Show Text 

Mounting 
 

Bar Mounting Holes  

Sony HT-Z9F Bar Mounting Holes
JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Bar Mounting Holes

Satellite Mounting Holes  

Sony HT-Z9F Satellite Mounting Holes
JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Satellite Mounting Holes

Mountable Bar 
 

Yes
Yes

Bar Brackets Included 
 

Yes
Yes

Mountable Satellites 
 

No
No

Satellite Brackets Included 
 

No
No

Build Quality 
 

8.0
8.0

Build quality photo  

Sony HT-Z9F Build quality photo
JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Build quality photo
Show Text 

In The Box 
 

In The Box photo   

Sony HT-Z9F In The Box photo
JBL Bar 5.1 Surround In The Box photo
Show Text 
Sound

Stereo Frequency Response 
 

7.3
7.8

Stereo Setup  

Sony HT-Z9F Stereo Setup
JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Stereo Setup

Raw Frequency Response  

See details
See details
 Compare in Graph Tool

Frequency Response Small  

See details
See details
 Compare in Graph Tool

Tested Preset 
 

Standard
Standard

Slope 
 

-0.41
-0.89

Std. Err. 
 

2.53 dB
3.56 dB

Channels 
 

3.1
5.1

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

44.3 Hz
33.6 Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

7.9 kHz
17.7 kHz
Show Text 

Stereo Frequency Response With Preliminary Calibration 
 

7.3
7.8

Frequency Response Calibrated  

See details
See details
 Compare in Graph Tool

Suggested Preset 
 

Standard
Standard

Suggested Bass Setting 
 

6
3

Suggested Treble Setting 
 

N/A
N/A

Slope 
 

-0.41
-0.89

Std. Err. 
 

2.53 dB
3.56 dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

44.3 Hz
33.6 Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

7.9 kHz
17.7 kHz
Show Text 

Stereo Soundstage 
 

7.0
6.5

Crosstalk  

See details
See details
 Compare in Graph Tool

Crosstalk Error 
 

2.20 dB
2.92 dB
Show Text 

Stereo Dynamics 
 

8.1
7.1

Dynamic Range Compression  

See details
See details
 Compare in Graph Tool

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

93.6 dB SPL
94.9 dB SPL

DRC @ Max Volume 
 

1.08 dB
3.44 dB
Show Text 

Stereo Total Harmonic Distortion 
 

7.4
8.2

THD  

See details
See details
 Compare in Graph Tool

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.47
0.26

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

3.19
1.18
Show Text 

Center 
 

8.0
8.1

Center Setup  

Sony HT-Z9F Center Setup
JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Center Setup

Frequency Response  

See details
See details
 Compare in Graph Tool

Localization 
 

Discrete
Discrete

Slope 
 

0.40
-0.44

Std. Err. 
 

3.63 dB
3.76 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

90.6 dB SPL
92.0 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.57
0.32

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

2.34
0.98
Show Text 

Surround 5.1 
 

2.4
6.0

Surround Setup  

Sony HT-Z9F Surround Setup
JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Surround Setup

Frequency Response  

See details
See details
 Compare in Graph Tool

Localization 
 

Stereo (Downmix)
Phantom (Front Firing, Bar)

Slope 
 

-1.75
-0.92

Std. Err. 
 

8.29 dB
3.54 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

93.1 dB SPL
94.5 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.51
0.24

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

3.31
1.16

7.1 Rears 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Height (Atmos) 
 

2.0
0.0

Height Setup  

Sony HT-Z9F Height Setup
JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Height Setup

H Frequency Response  

See details
JBL Bar 5.1 Surround H Frequency Response
 Compare in Graph Tool

Localization 
 

Stereo (Downmix)
Not Supported

Slope 
 

0.75
N/A

Std. Err. 
 

8.11 dB
N/A

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

82.9 dB SPL
N/A

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

2.73
N/A

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

0.90
N/A
Show Text 

Sound Enhancement Features 
 

5.6
5.6

Room Correction 
 

No
Yes

Dialogue Enhancement 
 

Yes
No

Auto-Volume/Night Mode 
 

Yes
Yes

Subwoofer Level Adjustment 
 

Yes
Yes

Bass Adjustment 
 

No
No

Treble Adjustment 
 

No
No

EQ 
 

Presets
Presets

Surround Level Adjustment 
 

No
No

Rear Level Adjustment 
 

No
No

Height Level Adjustment 
 

No
No

Virtual Surround 
 

Yes
Yes
Show Text 
Connectivity

Inputs/Outputs - Bar 
 

Physical Connections Bar Photo 1  

Sony HT-Z9F Physical Connections Bar Photo 1
JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Physical Connections Bar Photo 1

Physical Connections Bar Photo 2  

Sony HT-Z9F Physical Connections Bar Photo 2
JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Physical Connections Bar Photo 2

Optical Audio In 
 

1
1

HDMI ARC 
 

1 (shared)

HDMI Out 
 

1 (shared)
ARC

HDMI 2.1 Class Bandwidth 
 

No

Full HDMI In 
 

2
1

Analog Audio In 3.5mm (Aux) 
 

1
No

RCA In 
 

No
No

USB for Files 
 

1
No

Ethernet 
 

1
1

Subwoofer Output 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Audio Format Support: ARC/eARC 
 

10
3.1

Dolby Atmos 
 

Yes
Not Supported

Dolby Digital 
 

Yes
Incorrect Implementation

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

Yes
Incorrect Implementation

Dolby TrueHD 
 

Yes
Not Supported

DTS 
 

Yes
Not Supported

DTS:X 
 

Yes
Not Supported

eARC 
 

Yes

DTS-HD MA 
 

Yes
Not Supported

PCM Channels 
 

2.0

5.1 PCM (eARC only) 
 

Yes
Show Text 

Audio Format Support: HDMI In 
 

10
2.6

Dolby Atmos 
 

Yes
Not Supported

Dolby Digital 
 

Yes
Incorrect Implementation

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

Yes
Not Supported

Dolby TrueHD 
 

Yes
Not Supported

DTS 
 

Yes
Not Supported

DTS:X 
 

Yes
Not Supported

DTS-HD MA 
 

Yes
Not Supported

PCM Channels 
 

2.0

5.1 PCM 
 

Yes
Show Text 

Audio Format Support: Optical 
 

10
4.3

Dolby Digital 
 

Yes
Incorrect Implementation

DTS 
 

Yes
Not Supported

PCM Channels 
 

2.0
Show Text 

Latency 
 

8.1
7.2

Latency Video  

ARC 
 

56 ms
121 ms

Optical 
 

51 ms
98 ms

Full HDMI In 
 

-47 ms
-14 ms
Show Text 

Video Passthrough To TV 
 

0.0
7.8

1080p Max Refresh Rate 
 

120Hz

1080p @ 4:4:4 Max Refresh Rate 
 

120Hz

4k Max Refresh Rate 
 

60Hz

4k @ 120Hz @ 10-Bit 
 

Not Supported

4k @ 4:4:4 Max Refresh Rate 
 

60Hz

8k Max Refresh Rate 
 

30Hz

HDR10 Passthrough 
 

Yes
Yes

HDR10+ Passthrough 
 

No

Dolby Vision Passthrough 
 

Yes

HDMI Forum VRR Passthrough 
 

No

4k @ 60 Hz Passthrough 
 

Yes

FreeSync Passthrough 
 

No

G-SYNC Passthrough 
 

No

ALLM Passthrough 
 

No

4k @ 60 Hz @ 10 bit Passthrough 
 

Yes

4k @ 60 Hz @ 4:4:4 Passthrough 
 

Yes
Show Text 

Wireless Playback 
 

9.0
10

Bluetooth 
 

Yes
Yes

Wi-Fi Playback 
 

Yes
Yes

Chromecast built-in 
 

Yes
Yes

Apple AirPlay 
 

No
Yes

Spotify Connect 
 

Yes
Yes
Show Text 
Additional Features

Interface 
 

Interface photo  

Sony HT-Z9F Interface photo
JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Interface photo

Display 
 

Yes
Yes
Show Text 

Bar Controls 
 

Controls photo  

Sony HT-Z9F Controls photo
JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Controls photo
Show Text 

Remote  

Remote photo  

Sony HT-Z9F Remote photo
JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Remote photo
Show Text 

Voice Assistants Support 
 

Amazon Alexa 
 

No
No

Google Assistant 
 

No
No

Apple Siri 
 

No
No

Microphone Mute 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Check Price

Black
HT-Z9F
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
Bar 5.1 Surround
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
Black
HT-Z9F
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
Black
Bar 5.1 Surround
SEARCH
Amazon.com
Black
HT-Z9F
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
Black
Bar 5.1 Surround
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
Black
HT-Z9F
SEARCH
B&H
Black
Bar 5.1 Surround
SEARCH
B&H
Back to Top

Sony HT-Z9F

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround

Comments

  1. Comparison
 • Posted 1 year ago

Sony HT-Z9F vs JBL Bar 5.1 Surround: Main Discussion

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