Written by Linde
Edited on
15 June 2026
·
14:05
JBL Bar 800 vs Bar 500 vs Bar 300
In this article, we'll explain what the most important differences are between the JBL Bar 800, JBL Bar 500, and JBL Bar 300. For example, a subwoofer and rear speakers are included with the JBL Bar 800 while you don't receive them with the JBL Bar 300. Read which model suits you best here.
JBL Bar 800
- You can listen to true surround sound thanks to the rear speakers.
- Thanks to the built-in WiFi, you can connect your phone or other speakers.
- You can stream music in your entire house with the JBL multi-room system.
- You can connect the soundbar to your TV with your own optical cable.
539,-
JBL Bar 500 M2
- Thanks to the powerful bass from the subwoofer, movies and series get more depth and they sound more realistic.
- With Virtual Dolby Atmos, you can enjoy more spacious sound so movies and series sound more realistic.
- Thanks to voice enhancement, voices sound clear and you can understand every word.
- Without rear speakers, you can't surround yourself with sound and you can't fully immerse in movies and series.
- The spatial sound is less realistic with Virtual Dolby Atmos than with True Dolby Atmos.
533,-
JBL Bar 300 M2
- With Virtual Dolby Atmos, you can enjoy more spacious sound so movies and series sound more realistic.
- Thanks to voice enhancement, voices sound clear and you can understand every word.
- Thanks to the built-in subwoofer, you can enjoy powerful bass so you hear more depth in the sound.
- Without separate subwoofer, you can't enjoy deep bass.
- The spatial sound is less realistic with Virtual Dolby Atmos than with True Dolby Atmos.
336,-
Comparison JBL Bar 800 and Bar 500 and Bar 300
| JBL Bar 800 | JBL Bar 500 | JBL Bar 300 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of speakers | 10, of which 2 can be used separately as rear speakers | 7, of which 1 center speaker | 6, of which 2 aimed outward to the left and right |
| With subwoofer | Yes | Yes | No |
| With rear speakers | Yes | No | No |
| Dolby Atmos | Yes | Yes, virtually | Yes, virtually |
Number of speakers
JBL Bar 800: 10, of which 2 separate rear speakers
With the JBL Bar 800. you get a true Dolby Atmos experience. This is because of the 2 upward-facing speakers that send the sound to your ceiling. Via the ceiling, the sound reflects to your seat. Thanks to this, you hear spatial audio. You can disconnect the speakers on the side if you want true surround sound. That's because you can place it behind your listening position. The speakers in the soundbar are aimed to all sides for a realistic sound reproduction.
JBL Bar 500: 7, of which 1 center speaker
The speakers of the JBL Bar 500 are aimed to the left right, and forward. In the middle is a speaker that provides extra clear sound. Thanks to this, you can hear voices clearly.
JBL Bar 300: 6, of which 2 aimed outward to the left and right
The JBL Bar 300 has 6 speakers, of which 2 were aimed outward to the left and right. Sound sounds more spacious than the flat sound from your television.
With separate subwoofer
JBL Bar 800 and Bar 500: yes
A subwoofer is included with the JBL Bar 800 and Bar 500. The subwoofer amplifies bass, so you can hear it extra deeply. In a thrilling movie, you can hear the dark music more clearly. Thanks to this, the movie is more intense.
JBL Bar 300: no
A subwoofer isn't included with the JBL Bar 300. You can experience movies and series well, but miss the deepest layer that makes a movie or series immersive.
With rear speakers
JBL bar 800: yes
The JBL Bar 800 has 2 speakers at the side that you can disconnect if you want true surround sound. This is great if you don't always want 2 speakers behind your listening position. By placing the speakers behind you, you can create a sound that completely surrounds you. Thanks to this, you can completely immerse yourself in the movie.
JBL Bar 500 and Bar 300: no
The JBL Bar 500 and Bar 500 don't completely surround yourself with sound. You can hear spatial audio thanks to the speakers that are aimed at different sides, but the sound from behind your listening position is missing. This means that you're not in the middle of the sound.
Dolby Atmos
JBL Bar 800: yes
With the JBL Bar 800, you have the real Dolby Atmos experience. The 2 upward-facing speakers in the soundbar send the sound to the ceiling. Via the ceiling, it reflects to your seat and you hear spatial audio and realistic movie sound.
JBL Bar 500 and Bar 300: yes, virtually
With the JBL Bar 500 and Bar 300, you can listen to virtual Dolby Atmos. The speakers in these soundbars aren't faced upwards. The Dolby Atmos technology sends sounds upwards, so it reflects to your seat via the ceiling.
Conclusion
The biggest difference between these models is the composition per soundbar. For example, choose the JBL Bar 800 if you want to be surrounded by a realistic sound that lets you completely immerse yourself in the movie. You can choose the Bar 500 if you want a full sound with deep bass. For improving your television sound, choose the Bar 300.
Article by Linde
Audio Expert.
