JBL Bar 5.1
Score: 78/100
Polk Monitor XT70 Midnight Black
Score: 79/100Rankings
The Polk Monitor XT70 is a floor-standing tower speaker delivering detailed highs and deep bass with dual passive radiators, making it ideal for hi-res and Dolby Atmos setups. Its large size and lack of a built-in subwoofer may be drawbacks in smaller rooms. Best suited for medium-large home-theater spaces.
The JBL Bar 5.1 is a 5.1-channel soundbar system delivering 510 W of power and a wireless 10-inch subwoofer for strong bass. Its bulky packaging and heavy weight limit portability and ease of setup. Best suited for medium-large rooms where power outweighs size concerns.
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
5.1best | — | |
510 Wbest | 200 W | |
— | 89 dBbest | |
10 inbest | 6.5 in | |
1.25 inbest | 1 in | |
| ↓ lower better | 29.7 lbbest | 35 lb |
1 years | 5 yearsbest | |
5best | — |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
Power & Performance(1) | ||
Total Power Output (W) | 510 W | 200 W |
Audio(2) | ||
Woofer Size (in) | 10 in | 6.5 in |
Tweeter Size (in) | 1.25 in | 1 in |
Features(1) | ||
Dolby Atmos | false | true |
General(1) | ||
Warranty (years) | 1 years | 5 years |
Build & Design(2) | ||
System Weight (lb) | 29.7 lb | 35 lb |
System Dimensions (H×W×D) (cm) | 5.84×101.85×9.91 cm cm | 101.6×25.4×22.86 cm cm |
Products in the top-left offer the best value (high score, low price).
Professional reviewers acknowledge the JBL Bar 5.1's strong bass, high power output and convenient wireless surrounds, but they criticize its bulky packaging and note that the audio refinement falls short of premium competitors.
Everyday users love the deep bass and the flexibility of the battery-powered surrounds, yet many complain about the heavy, cumbersome box and the effort required to set it up alone.
“good but not great”
Professional reviewers consistently commend the XT70 for its linear on-axis response, low harmonic distortion, and the combination of a Hi-Res dome tweeter with dual passive radiators that deliver detailed highs and deep, clean bass. They also note its versatility across 4 Ω and 8 Ω amplifiers and its suitability for high-resolution audio and Dolby Atmos/DTS:X setups, while cautioning about sensitivity variance and the need for a capable amplifier.
Everyday users praise the XT70 for creating immersive, lifelike sound in movies, games and music, especially noting the strong bass and crystal-clear highs that work well with streaming services. The main themes of satisfaction revolve around easy integration with existing AVRs and the ability to fill medium-large rooms without a separate subwoofer, while the only recurring concern is the speaker's large footprint in smaller spaces.
