Design and build:

Comparing JBL 9.1 vs Bose 900, Bose 900 is slightly wider than the JBL 9.1. Without attaching the satellites, Bose 900 is slightly wider than the JBL 9.1. However, if you connect the satellites, the bar becomes larger.  These bars can easily be placed under 65-75” TVs. These bars can easily be placed under 65-75” TVs. You can mount both these bars on walls. JBL 9.1 soundbar comes with mounting brackets and accessories but for the Bose 900, you need to purchase them separately.

JBL 9.1 soundbar is made of plastic but the front and top panel are made of metal. It has a metal grille which is also seen in the satellites. The subwoofer is made of melamine and overall, the build quality is quite good. Bose 900 is made of plastic and covered with metal grille. The top panel is made of glass which looks good but collects dust. They both have sturdier build and feel premium.

Performance:

Comparing JBL 9.1 vs Bose 900 soundbars, the JBL 9.1 is a 5.1.4 channel soundbar. It comes with two wireless satellites and a dedicated subwoofer. These satellites can be attached to the bar or placed independently on the rear side of the room. They are battery powered that needs 3 hours to charge and can run for 10 hours. This soundbar has 2 woofers and 2 dome tweeters for left and right channels, two woofer and 1 tweeter for center channel and 4 upward-firing drivers.

Compared to the Bose 900, low ends packs a punch with a dedicated 10” subwoofer. The subwoofer can produce adequate oomph needed for movies and music. This JBL sound system delivers excellent clarity and depth in its performance. You can crank up the volume and the bar will remain consistent without showing major distortions.

Bose 900 is a standalone bar that has 5.1.2 channel configuration. It has ADAPTiQ room calibration feature to optimize the sound. JBL 9.1 bar also has built-in microphone to run sound calibration. If you are playing any non-Atmos music, the Bose 900 will add height effects. With PhaseGuide feature, it tries to deliver spacious sound that will engulf you from all around.

Surround sound is present and decent but it could be better. Height effects are prominent that bounces off the ceiling to the user. While it is a great sounding bar, the low ends are average. For deeper bass, add a subwoofer. Comparing JBL 9.1 vs Bose 900, the JBL 9.1 soundbar can get louder. You can easily place these soundbars in medium to large spaces.

These soundbars have excellent soundstage that is wider and more powerful. The sound can follow actions on screen which make them more realistic and accurate. With a center channel, the soundbars can produce clear and intelligible vocals.

Features:

While both soundbars support Dolby Atmos, JBL 9.1 has DTS:X as well. If you have a 4k TV or ultra-HD Blu-ray player, then the JBL 9.1 is a great option for you. You can connect the soundbar between two devices like a TV and PC. It allows you to watch 4k content with optimum clarity. This is done by HDR and HLG support. If you have subtitles, the texts will appear clear.

Both Bose 900 and JBL 9.1 soundbar support Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. This means they are extremely versatile in terms of streaming contents. Internet radio and online music streaming services are available in both these models. Popular services like Deezer, TuneIn, Amazon Music, Spotify, etc are supported. They have Apple Airplay 2 and Chromecast built-in. Streaming from Apple devices or casting from Chromecast-supported apps is now much easier.

Comparing JBL 9.1 vs Bose 900, the JBL 9.1 soundbar has settings like EQ options and Night mode. While these are not available in the Bose 900 instead, it has dialogue enhancement mode. JBL 9.1 soundbar can create multiroom audio system with Chromecast. Connect JBL Link Series and other Chromecast built-in speakers for multiroom system. Use Google Home app to control them. Bose 900 can be a part of Bose ecosystem.

It can create multiroom systems with a maximum of 4 zones where streaming through Wi-Fi and Bluetooth is supported.

Connectivity:

Comparing JBL 9.1 vs Bose 900, Bose 900 bar has HDMI and optical port along with a bass port for subwoofer. JBL 9.1 bar has one HDMI in, one HDMI out, USB and an optical port. It has HDMI 2.0 that supports 4k video passthrough. Both these models have Ethernet port.

Expandability:

JBL 9.1 soundbar already comes with subwoofer and satellites. With Bose 900 soundbar, you have the option to add surround speakers and subwoofers. It will work with Bose Bass Module 500 or 700, Bose Surround speaker or Bose 700 Surround speaker. With SimpleSync, Bose 900 bar will connect with another speaker from Bose Home Speaker family list.

  Control options:

Comparing JBL 9.1 vs Bose 900 soundbars, the JBL 9.1 has physical controls including volume up/down, switch on/off and switch inputs. Bose 900 does not have basic controls on the bar. It has two touch sensitive options: mic mute and Action (enables voice). They both come with remote control but the JBL 9.1 bar has more options like adjust bass, rear speaker and Atmos levels.

While basic options are available on the Bose 900 soundbar remote control, you need to access the Bose Music app for using other settings. You can also use Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa as voice support. Voice4Video feature is also available where it uses Alexa to talk to the bar, TV or other devices.

Cost:

Comparing Bose 900 vs JBL 9.1 bar, the JBL 9.1 model is a bit costlier. Although the difference is not huge, you can go for the Bose 900 if you have a price limitation. JBL 9.1 is a powerhouse and is worth the extra cost.

FAQ:

How can I use the JBL 9.1 satellites as rear speaker?

Simply detach the satellite speakers from the bar, then place them on both sides of the user. You can also place them behind the sitting position.

How can I improve Bose 900 soundbar bass performance without adding a subwoofer?

If you do not have the option to add external subwoofer, adjust the bass level to improve it.