JBL Bar 2.1 Deep Bass (MK2) vs Polk Audio React
Better figure, where one is clearly better
| JBLBar 2.1 Deep Bass (MK2) | Polk AudioReact | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Released | 2022 | January 2021 |
| Sound | ||
| Type | Soundbar | Soundbar |
| Channels | 2.1 | 2.0 |
| Dolby Atmos | No | No |
| Drivers | Four racetrack drivers and two 1-inch tweeters in the soundbar; 6.5-inch wireless subwoofer. No dedicated centre or rear speakers | Two 96 × 69 mm midrange drivers, two 25 mm tweeters and two 110 × 100 mm passive radiators; optional React Sub and SR2 rear speakers sold separately |
| Amplifiers | 300 W maximum total output at 1% THD: 2 × 50 W soundbar and 200 W subwoofer; maximum, not continuous RMS output | – |
| Frequency response | 40 Hz–20 kHz, maker specification without a stated tolerance | – |
| Audio formats | Dolby Digital with JBL Surround Sound processing; no Dolby Atmos or DTS:X | Linear PCM, Dolby Digital and DTS Digital Surround; 32, 44.1 and 48 kHz sampling. Physical stereo 2.0 bar; optional subwoofer and rear speakers expand to 4.1 discrete channels (AVForums), with a virtual centre presentation. |
| Room tuning | Smart mode applies preset EQ and JBL Surround Sound, with Standard mode available through the remote. Low, middle and high subwoofer levels and audio/video sync adjustment; Smart mode resets on power-up | Movie, Music, Sport and Night listening modes; bass and VoiceAdjust dialogue-level adjustment |
| Connections | ||
| Wi-Fi | No | Yes |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| AirPlay | No | No |
| HDMI eARC | No | No |
| Voice assistants | None | Alexa |
| Wi-Fi | – | IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac networking on 2.4 and 5 GHz |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 4.2; A2DP 1.3 and AVRCP 1.5 profiles | Bluetooth 4.2, SBC and AAC; A2DP 1.3 and AVRCP 1.6; approximate 10 m line-of-sight range under maker conditions |
| Ports | One HDMI 1.4 source input, one HDMI ARC output to the TV, optical input and USB-A for service/updates in the UK. USB music playback is US-only. No eARC; manual warns Apple TV 4K HDMI 2.0 formats are unsupported | One HDMI ARC connection and optical digital input; USB-A service port does not play music from USB drives. No analogue AUX input or separate HDMI video passthrough input. |
| Streaming | Bluetooth stereo streaming; no Wi-Fi, AirPlay or network streaming services | Spotify Connect, Bluetooth and music services through Alexa; no AirPlay 2 (TechRadar) |
| Multi-room | – | Alexa multiroom music with compatible Alexa-enabled speakers |
| App | – | Amazon Alexa app for network setup and voice-service configuration |
| Design | ||
| Weight | 2.14 kg (better) | 2.9 kg |
| Controls | Top power, volume and source buttons, front status display and remote with two AAA batteries. HDMI CEC and IR TV remote learning; no built-in voice assistant | Top microphone mute, volume and Alexa action buttons; IR remote, HDMI CEC and IR learning. Light bar and status LED with ambient-light brightness adjustment. |
| Microphones | – | Four far-field microphones for Alexa with a physical microphone-mute button; current EU manual states the microphone cannot be used for calls. |
| Mounting | Included wall-mount bracket kit and screws | Rear wall-hook holes and supplied wall-mount template |
| Size | Soundbar: 965 × 56 × 85 mm (width × height × depth), 2.14 kg. Subwoofer: 5.61 kg; maker UK page and manual print 240 × 240 × 379 mm under width × height × depth, despite the pictured taller cabinet. Packaged weight: 10.32 kg | Soundbar 864 × 57 × 121 mm, W × H × D (maker manual dimension diagram); main weight is bar only. Maker information sheet's 1066.8 mm width conflicts with its 34.02 in width. |
| Colours | Black | Black with fabric grille |
| In the box | Soundbar, wireless subwoofer, remote with batteries, region-specific power cords, HDMI cable, wall-mount kit and documentation | Soundbar, IR remote, two AAA batteries, power cord, HDMI and optical cables, wall-mount template and quick-start guide; maker sheet additionally lists a separate soundbar power supply. |
