I have currently been using the JBL Bar 500 Pro 5.1 for a number of weeks in combination with my Samsung 4K QE75Q80B TV, and I am satisfied with the performance.
I am particularly impressed by the strong bass and clear sound. In comparison, my Samsung Q600B can't compete with the bass and midrange. On the other hand, the Samsung has a more refined DTS / Dolby Atmos, which means that the surround effects are presented slightly clearer.
The JBL Bar 500 Pro was delivered in a large box, mainly because the wireless subwoofer has a sturdy size. As a result, it produces great bass tones. The soundbar itself is also wide but fits well under my 75-inch TV and on the TV cabinet. The soundbar also comes with hooks for hanging. I will probably do that again to save space.
The soundbar itself in terms of design is straightforward, with a metal grille, a rubber coating with unlit keys at the top. The design of the 3.1 and Q600B are completely made of metal and feel a bit more luxurious. The display is clear and easy to read.
The Bar 500 has many options on board, including WiFi and ARC HDMI 4k as standard features, although the Dolby Atmos is not the most modern version (translated to Stereo on Soundbar). The direct App integration with Spotify, for example, is also useful for streaming music at a higher quality / bit rate.
Updating and installing is also easy with the JBL One app. It is hoped that in the future there will be an update that expands/refines the possibilities.
The sound itself is warm with a strong bass, which suits the content I play on my TV, namely Gaming / Music / Movies, etc. Action scenes are a pleasure to experience. The surround options are less than those of the Q600B, but on the other hand it offers much volume and fuller sound than the Samsung.
the JBL Bar 500 is comparable and slightly louder and clearer than the Bar 3.1 due to the Surround simulation. Compared to the Q600B, Surround is somewhat less detailed and clear.
You can notice that when streaming films and series online, the Bar 500 has a good and full sound projection due to the bass and more speakers than the Samsungg, mainly due to the bass and midrange.
The bass can sound very strong and overwhelming, so for people in a small house or apartment it may be useful to adjust it lower to avoid nuisance to neighbors.
In terms of adjustment and sound options, I find the older Bar 3.1 that I also own to be much more precise than the Bar 500. The Bar 500 relies on calibration and the JBL One app to adjust the sound to the room.
I find the JBL One App quite disappointing (Bass Mid Treble), although it is easy to set up the soundbar and connect it to WiFi, etc.
Highly recommended for the price, mainly due to the powerful sound that can compete with more expensive soundbars. JBL will hopefully allow better tuning and more sound modes with the next iteration, and a more modern version of Dolby Atmos and other options.
