JBL Bar 5.0 Multibeam Review
True Score
Experts
Consumers
Expert Rankings
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The JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam produces boomy bass, delivering immersive audio. It is a loud and feature-rich 5.0 soundbar that will appeal to movie buffs and music enthusiasts.
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What Is Not on the Box
What the brand doesn’t always tell you…
our Verdict
Experts adore the range of connectivity options and virtual surround setup of the JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam speaker, and they recommend it for TV dialogue, movies, and music playback.
Editors at CNET love its bass-heavy sound profile, featuring a -1.07 frequency response slope. Tests revealed that the system supports Virtual Dolby Atmos, and experts at What Hi-Fi say that it has a decent side-firing setup, which provides a fairly immersive 3D listening experience.
And thanks to a range of connectivity options, the soundbar is quite versatile. Users who regularly entertain big groups will love this speaker’s loud design, which reaches 91.9 dB. With EQ presets, you can customize the audio profile as well.
However, it doesn’t have satellite speakers, so it won’t support true Dolby Atmos.
If you prefer an outdoor speaker, see our JBL Xtreme 3 review. Explore our Denon Home Sound Bar 550 review if you need an app-controlled soundbar, and see our Hisense HS218 review if you need a dialogue enhancement feature.
Reasons to Buy
- Speaker gets remarkably loud
- Incredible selection of ports simplifies connectivity
- Supports Virtual Dolby Atmos, providing compatibility with Blu-ray DVDs
- Built-in Chromecast, Apple airplay, and Bluetooth
- Near zero latency provides synchronized audio and video playback
Reasons to Avoid
- Doesn’t support voice assistants
- Lacks mobile apps for managing settings
- A narrow surround soundstage is not ideal for action movies
Specifications
- Bluetooth Enabled–
- Depth–
- Dialogue Enhancement Feature–
- Energy Star Certifiedna
- HDMI ARC–
- Height–
- Subwoofer–
- Surround Sound Supported–
- Wall Mountable–
- Weight–
- Width–
- Wireless ConnectivityBluetooth, Wi-Fi, Wireless
- Wireless Subwoofer Connectivity–
- Works With–
Overview
The JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam is a mid-range 5.0 channel surround soundbar released in 2021, with a wide soundstage and outstanding bass for living rooms and home theaters.
Like many of the best-rated speakers in the industry today, this JBL speaker has built-in Chromecast, Airplay, and Alexa. A handy bass adjustment feature and auto volume mode enable effortless customization.
The speaker supports Virtual Dolby Atmos and eARC, which along with JBL proprietary MultiBeam tech create an immersive experience This speaker has a collection of useful connectors, including a shared HDMI ARC+Out port, a full HDMI in, and single USB port.
Explore the specs of the JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam below, and be sure to check out the highest-ranked soundbars on the market today.
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Product Comparison
 |  | |||
| True Score | 80 | 84 | ||
| Market Context | – | Although both are 5.0-channel soundbars, the Sonos Beam Gen 2 boasts more immersive surround and stereo soundstage than the JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam. It also has a mobile app for managing settings remotely, unlike the MultiBeam. However, the 5.0 MultiBeam features HDMI in and out ports and a USB port, unlike the Sonos, which only has HDMI ARC. | Equipped with a dedicated sub, the JBL Bar 9.1 produces deeper extended low-bass than the JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam, which doesn’t have a dedicated sub. Additionally, the 9.1 also produces more immersive surround sound, thanks to its discrete satellite speakers. However, the MultiBeam has a USB port, unlike the Bar 9.1. See our JBL Bar 9.1 review for details. | Featuring a 5.0-channel setup, the JBL 5.0 MultiBeam offers a more immersive audio experience the LG Eclair QP5, which had a 3.1.2 configuration. However, the LG speaker has a dialogue enhancement feature, unlike the MultiBeam soundbar. To learn more about the Eclair, see our LG Eclair QP5 review today. |
| Voice Assistant | ||||
| Surround Sound Supported | ||||
| Wireless Connectivity | ||||
| Bluetooth Enabled | ||||
| Wireless Subwoofer Connectivity | ||||
| Dig Deeper | – | Read Review → |
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- $399.95
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Score Card
E
Expert Score
*.75
We place a 75% weighted value on Expert Test Scores
C
Customer Score
*.25
We place a 25% weighted value on Customer Scores
True Score
Any product with a True Score above 80 is a Absolutely Fresh
Expert Score Breakdown
Publications with higher Trust Scores are given more weight
ATrust Score
71The JBL Bar 5.0 is decent for mixed usage. With its room correction feature turned… read more- B
Trust Score
64The JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam creates an immersive home theater experience through Dolby Atmos supportive… read more - D
Trust Score
80The JBL Bar 5.0 fits a tremendous amount of value into its compact design. Sound… read more - D
Trust Score
NRThe JBL Bar 5.0 Multibeam soundbar has a built-in subwoofer and is compatible with Dolby… read more - D
Trust Score
90“No bottom line found for this product” read more - D
Trust Score
80The JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam has a lot going for it. It’s reasonably priced. Its… read more
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