JBL Bar 500MK2 vs JBL Bar 800MK2

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Bar 500MK2 compared with Bar 800MK2

	JBLBar 500MK2	JBLBar 800MK2
Overview
Released
Released	June 2025	June 2025
Sound
Type
Type	Soundbar	Soundbar
Channels
Channels	5.1	7.1
Dolby Atmos
Dolby Atmos	Yes	Yes
Drivers
Drivers	Soundbar with five 42 × 80 mm racetrack drivers and four 20 mm tweeters; subwoofer with a 10-inch (260 mm) driver	Six 44 × 80 mm racetrack drivers and two 25 mm tweeters in the main bar; one 44 × 90 mm racetrack driver per detachable rear speaker; 260 mm (10-inch) subwoofer. Dolby Atmos height is virtual, without upward-firing drivers
Amplifiers
Amplifiers	750 W maximum in total (450 W soundbar, 300 W subwoofer, at 1% THD); 375 W RMS	780 W maximum total output at 1% THD; 400 W soundbar, 2 × 40 W rear speakers and 300 W subwoofer. Manual separately specifies 390 W total RMS at 1% THD, comprising 200 W, 2 × 20 W and 150 W respectively
Frequency response
Frequency response	40 Hz – 20 kHz (−6 dB)	35 Hz–20 kHz (−6 dB), maker specification
Audio formats
Audio formats	Dolby Atmos (virtual) and DTS Virtual:X (DTS Virtual:X added by software update in late 2025)	Dolby Atmos and DTS Virtual:X; DTS Virtual:X was scheduled as a late-2025 software update and is listed in the current maker specifications. No claim of discrete DTS:X decoding is made from review tables that conflate the formats
Room tuning
Room tuning	Room calibration; MultiBeam 3.0, PureVoice 2.0 dialogue enhancement and SmartDetails; 7-band EQ in the JBL One app	Automatic sound calibration, MultiBeam 3.0, PureVoice 2.0 dialogue enhancement and SmartDetails; seven-band EQ through JBL One
Connections
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi	Yes	Yes
Bluetooth
Bluetooth	Yes	Yes
AirPlay
AirPlay	Yes	Yes
HDMI eARC
HDMI eARC	Yes	Yes
Voice assistants
Voice assistants	None	None
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi	Wi-Fi 6 (802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax), 2.4 and 5 GHz	Dual-band 2.4/5 GHz Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax and Ethernet
Bluetooth
Bluetooth	Bluetooth 5.3; A2DP 1.3, AVRCP 1.5	Bluetooth 5.3; A2DP 1.3 and AVRCP 1.5
Ports
Ports	HDMI in (4K Dolby Vision and HDR10+ passthrough, HDCP 2.3); HDMI out with eARC; optical in; USB-A (music playback on US models only, otherwise for service)	One HDMI input, one HDMI eARC output, optical input, Ethernet and USB-A service port. HDR10+ and Dolby Vision passthrough; HIFI.DE reports a 4K 60 Hz limit. USB music playback is US-only; detachable speakers have USB-C charging ports
Streaming
Streaming	AirPlay, Google Cast, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Roon Ready	AirPlay, Google Cast, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect and Roon Ready; subscriptions may be required
Multi-room
Multi-room	–	AirPlay or Google Cast multiroom; Broadcasting sends TV audio to one or both detachable rear speakers in another room. Night listening plays through the rear speakers while muting the main bar and subwoofer
App
App	JBL One app	JBL One for network setup, calibration, equaliser, streaming services, Moment presets and software updates
Design
Weight
Weight	2.9 kg (better)	5 kg
Battery life detail
Battery life detail	–	Each detachable rear speaker has a 3.635 V, 3283 mAh lithium battery; up to ten hours depending on volume and content. Dock to recharge or use USB-C; manual states full docked charging takes about four hours. Main bar and subwoofer require mains power
Controls
Controls	Remote control; works with separate Google Assistant or Siri speakers	Included remote, top-panel source and volume controls, front display, HDMI CEC and JBL One; works with external Google Assistant or Siri devices, without a built-in voice assistant
Microphones
Microphones	–	Built-in microphone for sound calibration
Mounting
Mounting	Two L-shaped wall brackets for the soundbar in the box	Included wall-mount brackets for the soundbar and rear speakers; supplied side caps cover docking surfaces
Size
Size	Soundbar 940 × 50.5 × 104 mm (W × H × D); subwoofer 325 × 400 × 325 mm, 8.1 kg	Main bar 854 × 52 × 128 mm, or 1163 × 52 × 128 mm with rear speakers docked; each rear speaker 169 × 52 × 128 mm; subwoofer 325 × 400 × 325 mm (width × height × depth). Main weight is the maker's soundbar figure; each rear speaker is 0.7 kg and subwoofer 8.1 kg
Colours
Colours	Black, White	Black
In the box
In the box	Soundbar, wireless subwoofer, remote with two batteries, power cords, HDMI cable, two wall brackets, wall-mount template, quick start guide, safety instructions and warranty card	Main soundbar, two detachable rear speakers, wireless subwoofer, remote with two batteries, mains leads, HDMI cable, wall-mount kits, four side caps and mounting template; mains plugs vary by region