Design and build:

Comparing JBL 9.1 vs Samsung Q950A, the Q950A is longer in width and can fit between large TV screens of sizes 75 to 80”. JBL Bar 9.1 without the satellites is suitable to place under 55 to 65” TVs. While both these systems come with satellites and subwoofers, the satellites of JBL are tiny that you need to attach with the bar. 

They are wall mountable and come with included accessories. JBL Bar 9.1 is made of metal and plastic where the drivers are covered with metal grille. Samsung Q950A is made of plastic and has a fabric grille that might attract dust. Compared to Samsung, the JBL 9.1 bar has a better build. 

Performance:

Comparing JBL 9.1 vs Samsung Q950A, the Q950A is a 11.1.4 channel bar whereas the JBL 9.1 is a 5.1.4 channel soundbar. JBL 9.1 has dedicated drivers for front, center and height channels. It has built-in microphones that perform sound calibration. It has a total of 6 drivers that work for Atmos effects. Overheads have got good depth and accuracy.

With JBL, the explosions and car crashes are realistic and more accurate. It can deliver thunderous bass that makes music and movies enjoyable. Surrounds are good and present but might need some tweaking. Rear speakers help in this case to deliver immersive sound distribution in the room. Charge the rear speakers by connecting them to the soundbar. They have a long battery life of 10 hours. 

They are wireless and users can place them behind or beside them for pure and realistic surround sound. Make sure to run calibration if you move them. With a balanced profile, different music contents are played quite well through the bar. Try adjusting the EQ and subwoofer level to improve the sound. 

Samsung HW-Q950A has SpaceFit that runs room calibration when connected to specific Samsung TVs. When paired with Samsung TVs, the soundbar will perform in sync with the TV with Q-Symphony feature. This results in a more immersive sound. The soundbar shows its power and delivers sound with quite a punch. It has a great soundstage that feels broader and focused. Try Standard or Adaptive to find which one suits you. It adds a sense of width to the soundfield making it even more appealing. 

The 3-dimensional soundspace is enjoyable and makes it superior to the JBL Bar 9.1. It can get louder without revealing any noticeable distortion. At loud volumes, the soundbar shines while maintaining consistency. Along with movies, the bar is an excellent choice for music. It has clear dialogue projection and is an overall better soundbar when compared to JBL 9.1.

Features: 

Both these Dolby Atmos soundbars have Airplay 2 but only the JBL Bar 9.1 has Chromecast. Airplay makes streaming much easier for Apple users. With Chromecast, JBL opens doors for many possibilities. It allows multiroom systems with other Chromecast enabled devices. Users can cast contents easily from devices to the bar. 

Samsung Q950A can connect to Bluetooth TVs wirelessly. It has an HDMI 2.1 port that allows 4k @ 60Hz passthrough. Comparing the Samsung Q950A vs JBL 9.1, the Samsung is more suitable for gaming. It supports both ALLM and VRR.

Connectivity:

Connection ports of Samsung HW-Q950A vs JBL Bar 9.1 are almost similar. They both have HDMI eARC, optical port, and a HDMI In. Samsung adds another HDMI In and Ethernet port. Both the bars have Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. 

Control options:

Physical controls are available in both soundbars. JBL Bar 9.1 has volume up/down, switch the inputs and on/off buttons. Samsung HW-Q950A has volume up/down, mic mute/unmute, and change input options. They come with a long but sleek remote control with basic buttons. This Samsung bar can be controlled through a TV remote with Samsung 2017 or later models. Samsung Q950A is more versatile than the JBL Bar 9.1. 

It supports Amazon Alexa voice assistant for voice control. It also works with the Samsung SmartThings app. JBL will work with Google Assistant but for that you need additional 3rd party voice enabled device. 

Settings:

Samsung Q950A is the winner in terms of audio settings and options. They both have night mode, sound modes, height, subwoofer and surround level adjustments along with virtual surround option. Samsung has bass/treble and rear level adjustments, voice enhancement and sound modes (Adaptive Sound, 3D Surround, stereo and game pro). 

Cost:

Comparing JBL 9.1 vs Samsung Q950A, JBL Bar 9.1 is less costly than the Samsung soundbar system. It is available at almost half the price of that of the Samsung soundbar. The Q950A is in the market for under $1500. 

FAQ:

Can I connect the PS5 to the Samsung HW-Q950A soundbar?

Yes, gaming consoles like the PS5 can be connected to Samsung Q950A bar. It can effectively play gaming scenes with low latency and clear images.