LG S40TR vs JBL Bar 500MK2: Which Setup Fits Your TV Room?
Choose by room wiring and TV workflow. LG lists a rear pair with its S40TR, but the rear speakers are wired to each other and one needs AC. JBL's Bar 500MK2 listing instead documents a soundbar-and-subwoofer package, Wi-Fi services and an HDMI input. These are setup differences, not a tested sound-quality ranking.
Published by Pickoryx · Published 2026-10-02
Source checked 2026-10-02 18:58 UTC
Products compared
Product A · ASIN B0FHBVS6GC
JBL Bar 500MK2 Soundbar (Black, JBLBAR500M2BLKAM)
Last observed offer
$499.95 List Price: $649.95
Per listed package.
Offer eligibility must be confirmed on Amazon.
Checked 2026-10-19 15:45 UTC. Price and availability may change.
Product B · ASIN B0D1CPPL85
LG S40TR Home Theater Soundbar (Black)
Last observed offer
$249.99
Per listed package.
Offer eligibility must be confirmed on Amazon.
Checked 2026-10-19 07:05 UTC. Price and availability may change.
Pickoryx may earn a commission from qualifying purchases through the paid Amazon links on this page, at no added cost to you.
The buying question
Which documented setup best fits your room and TV: LG’s included rear pair with its wire and power requirements, JBL’s listed Wi-Fi services and HDMI input, or LG’s selected-compatible-TV integration?
LG lists rear speakers in the S40TR package, but says they must connect to each other by wire and one needs AC power. JBL's Bar 500MK2 listing names a soundbar and wireless subwoofer in the box, plus Wi-Fi streaming, one HDMI input and eARC output. The published descriptions answer setup fit, not which system sounds better.
Quick verdict
Choose JBL Bar 500MK2 Soundbar (Black, JBLBAR500M2BLKAM) if
- You want the JBL's documented Wi-Fi music-service options or a soundbar HDMI input for a source device.
- You prefer the JBL package's listed soundbar and subwoofer contents without planning rear-speaker positions.
Choose LG S40TR Home Theater Soundbar (Black) if
- You want rear speakers included and can plan a wire between them plus AC power at one rear speaker.
- You have a compatible LG TV and want to check the documented WOW Orchestra or one-remote workflow for your exact models.
When the recommendation changes
- If you cannot route a wire between rear positions or power one rear speaker, the LG installation may not fit. If your decision depends on sound quality, dialogue or bass performance, listen to both in your room or seek comparable testing; the cited documentation does not establish a performance winner.
- Before relying on JBL network streaming or HDMI passthrough, check the exact TV, source device, network and audio-format settings. LG describes its one-remote and WOW Orchestra features only for selected compatible LG TVs and soundbars.
The differences that matter
Surround Layout And Required Wiring
JBL Bar 500MK2 Soundbar (Black, JBLBAR500M2BLKAM)
JBL identifies the Bar 500MK2 as a 5.1-channel soundbar system. Its listed box contents name the soundbar and wireless subwoofer, not a rear-speaker pair.[1]
LG S40TR Home Theater Soundbar (Black)
LG lists the S40TR as a 4.1-channel package with rear speakers and subwoofer. LG states that the rear pair must connect to each other by wire and one rear speaker needs AC power.[3]
What this changes: The room-planning choice is between JBL's documented bar-and-subwoofer package and LG's included rear-pair arrangement, which needs a wire route between rear positions and an outlet at one of them. Neither channel label proves better surround performance.[1, 3]
Tv Input And Network Streaming
JBL Bar 500MK2 Soundbar (Black, JBLBAR500M2BLKAM)
JBL's US product page lists one HDMI input and an HDMI eARC output, Wi-Fi on 2.4/5 GHz, and AirPlay, Google Cast, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect and Roon Ready. Its manual explains eARC/CEC and source-device setup, with connection details dependent on the TV and source.[1, 2]
LG S40TR Home Theater Soundbar (Black)
LG's US S40TR page describes WOW Orchestra and one-remote control for selected compatible LG TV and soundbar models. The cited page does not provide a complete HDMI or network-streaming inventory, so no unsupported absence is inferred.[3]
What this changes: JBL's published page supports checking a network-music and HDMI-source workflow against your devices. LG's page supports a conditional LG-TV integration workflow. Verify the exact TV model and connection path before buying; this documentation does not establish that one product lacks unlisted functions.[1, 2, 3]
Best for your routine
A system whose listed package does not call for placing a rear-speaker pair around the room
Best fit: JBL Bar 500MK2 Soundbar (Black, JBLBAR500M2BLKAM)
Based on listed features, not comparative testing.
JBL's listed contents name the soundbar and wireless subwoofer; this is a placement-fit recommendation, not a surround-sound performance claim.
A package with listed rear speakers when the room can accommodate their wire route and power connection
Best fit: LG S40TR Home Theater Soundbar (Black)
Based on listed features, not comparative testing.
LG lists the rear speakers and explicitly states their between-speaker wire and AC requirement.
A TV room where JBL's listed network services or HDMI input is useful
Best fit: JBL Bar 500MK2 Soundbar (Black, JBLBAR500M2BLKAM)
Based on listed features, not comparative testing.
The JBL US page lists these connection and service options; confirm the TV, source and network support the intended setup.
An owner of a supported LG TV who wants to check WOW Orchestra or one-remote integration
Best fit: LG S40TR Home Theater Soundbar (Black)
Based on listed features, not comparative testing.
LG documents these features for selected compatible LG models, so exact TV compatibility is a condition of this fit recommendation.
Value and trade-offs
One or both observed offers have eligibility conditions, so no unrestricted price difference is shown.
Compare current checkout offers only after deciding which documented room and TV workflow fits. This article does not rank either product by price or value.
Check current checkout price, seller, included components and return terms when shopping. Price history was not assessed.
Limitations
- No hands-on listening or controlled comparison was performed; the cited manufacturer pages do not establish a sound-quality, dialogue, bass or surround-effect winner.
- LG describes rear speakers as wireless but clarifies that they connect to each other by wire and one needs AC power. Check the room route and outlet before choosing the S40TR.
- JBL's listed Bar 500MK2 box contents identify the bar and wireless subwoofer; no rear-speaker pair is listed there. The article does not infer that unlisted add-ons are unsupported.
- JBL's manual setup path depends on TV eARC/ARC, CEC and source settings. Confirm the exact TV/source combination and desired audio format.
- LG limits WOW Orchestra and one-remote operation to selected compatible LG TV and soundbar models. Check exact model compatibility.
- Current prices, seller terms, availability and price history were not verified for this comparison.
Questions shoppers ask
Are the LG S40TR rear speakers completely wireless?
No. LG says the pair needs a wire connection between the rear speakers, and one rear speaker needs AC power. They are not a wire-free rear-room installation.
Does the JBL Bar 500MK2 include rear speakers?
JBL's listed US box contents name the soundbar and wireless subwoofer, but do not list a rear-speaker pair. Check the exact package contents at checkout rather than assuming an accessory is included.
Can the JBL's eARC or the LG TV integration work with any television?
Do not assume so. JBL's manual describes eARC/ARC and CEC setup requirements; LG says its WOW Orchestra and one-remote features apply to selected compatible LG TV and soundbar models. Check the exact model manuals and settings.
Methodology and sources
Compared the exact US product pages and model-specific setup instructions for included speaker components, room wiring/power, HDMI and network options, and compatible-TV workflows. No listening or controlled performance testing was conducted.
AI assistance organized the exact-model manufacturer research, mapped claims to the cited sources and drafted this comparison. No product testing or performance measurements were conducted.
View 4 sources
- 1.JBL Bar 500MK2 5.1 Channel Soundbar with MultiBeam 3.0 and Dolby AtmosJBL · Official specifications · Source checked 2026-10-02 18:58 UTC
Evidence used on this page
- US product page: SKU JBLBAR500M2BLKAM; product features/connections, specifications and in-box listing, including soundbar, wireless subwoofer, HDMI input/eARC output, Wi-Fi bands and named streaming services.: JBL's US listing identifies the exact black Bar 500MK2 item and documents the system configuration, listed box contents, network services and HDMI connections.
- 2.JBL Bar 500MK2 Owner's Manual, Global English version 5JBL · Official support · Source checked 2026-10-02 18:58 UTC
Evidence used on this page
- HDMI/eARC/ARC source connection and CEC setup sections, printed pages 9–10. The manual is the model-specific global English Bar 500MK2 guide; the exact US SKU is identified separately by the US product page.: The model-specific manual describes the connection options and setup conditions for TV eARC/ARC, CEC and source-device routing. It supports setup guidance, not a performance comparison.
- 3.LG S40TR Home Theater Soundbar with Dolby and Rear Speakers, 4.1 channelLG Electronics USA · Official specifications · Source checked 2026-10-02 18:58 UTC
Evidence used on this page
- US S40TR product description, key features and footnotes: rear speakers/subwoofer included; rear-speaker wireless wording and footnote that the rear pair connect by wire and one rear speaker requires AC; WOW Orchestra and one-remote feature compatibility qualification.: LG's exact US S40TR page documents its included rear speakers and subwoofer, rear connection/power requirement, and selected compatible LG TV integration features.
- 4.LG S40TR.DUSALLK Product SupportLG Electronics USA · Official support · Source checked 2026-10-02 18:58 UTC
Evidence used on this page
- US product-support page for model S40TR.DUSALLK; used only as an additional model identifier.: LG’s US support page identifies the S40TR.DUSALLK model support entry.