Main trade-off
JBL Bar 300 MK2
No external subwoofer or rear speakers are included.
Head-to-head
JBL Bar 300 MK2 vs Sonos Beam Gen 2: JBL clears a lower screen and adds HDMI, Beam needs much less width
The short answer
Choose JBL Bar 300 MK2 for a low screen or one direct HDMI source. Choose Sonos Beam Gen 2 for a narrow stand or compatible Sonos speakers you already own. Both can add optional surrounds. JBL needs current firmware and a matched Cove M1 or Cove P1 pair. The JBL is lower, but more than 11 inches wider.
Before you choose
The reasoning and the trade-offs
Low and narrow point to different winners
Beam is 30.7% narrower, while JBL is 25.4% lower.
What this is based on
Width: (37 - 25.63) / 37 × 100 = 30.7%. Height: (2.68 - 2) / 2.68 × 100 = 25.4%. These are outer cabinet dimensions.
Main trade-off
Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
No separate HDMI source inputs and no Bluetooth music playback.
JBL Bar 300 MK2
- Choose it for
- Only a little height is available below the TV picture.
- You need a separate HDMI source input or Bluetooth music.
- Main trade-off
- No external subwoofer or rear speakers are included.
Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
- Choose it for
- Your stand cannot take a 37-inch bar.
- You want to grow a compact Sonos setup later.
- Main trade-off
- No separate HDMI source inputs and no Bluetooth music playback.
About this comparison
Compare JBL Bar 300 MK2 and Sonos Beam Gen 2 for TV clearance, HDMI sources and future expansion. Check which bar fits your cabinet and connections.
Choose JBL Bar 300 MK2 for a low screen or one direct HDMI source. Choose Sonos Beam Gen 2 for a narrow stand or compatible Sonos speakers you already own. Both can add optional surrounds. JBL needs current firmware and a matched Cove M1 or Cove P1 pair. The JBL is lower, but more than 11 inches wider.
Winner by situation
Start with what you need it to do
A 30-inch-wide shelf
The JBL exceeds the width. Beam leaves 4.37 inches total spare width.
- JBL Bar 300 MK2
- Not suitable
- Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
- Better fit
Only 2.3 inches below the picture
The JBL body passes. The Beam is 0.38 inch too tall.
- JBL Bar 300 MK2
- Better fit
- Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
- Not suitable
No free TV input for another player
JBL adds one source socket. Beam adds none.
- JBL Bar 300 MK2
- Better fit
- Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
- Caution
Adding Sonos surrounds later
Beam offers the documented Sonos expansion path. Unrelated bars cannot be assumed to accept those speakers.
- JBL Bar 300 MK2
- Caution
- Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
- Better fit
What matters in practice
The differences that matter
Low and narrow point to different winners
Beam is 30.7% narrower, while JBL is 25.4% lower.
How we reached this conclusion
Width: (37 - 25.63) / 37 × 100 = 30.7%. Height: (2.68 - 2) / 2.68 × 100 = 25.4%. These are outer cabinet dimensions.
A 30-inch opening with 2.3 inches of height fits neither
Beam passes width but fails height. JBL does the reverse.
How we reached this conclusion
Both constraints must pass together: width <=30 in and height <=2.3 in. Beam 25.63 × 2.68 in. JBL 37 × 2 in. Excludes cable clearance.
JBL can recover one source connection
If a player was using the TV's audio-return socket, JBL can accept that one source instead. Beam cannot.
How we reached this conclusion
Both use the TV audio-return socket for HDMI sound. JBL provides one additional source input, Beam provides zero. The source's video format still needs a compatibility check.
Try your real numbers
Will the soundbar fit under your TV?
Measure the clear space in front of your TV. Count devices you want to plug into the soundbar, not devices already connected to the TV. The numbers below are examples until you enter yours.
JBL Bar 300 MK2
Meets these checks37 inches wide and 2 inches high, with 1 separate HDMI source input. It leaves 11.0 inches of total spare width.
Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
Does not meet these checks0 separate HDMI source inputs cannot take the 1 device you want to connect to the bar.
Use an open top surface, not an enclosed cubby. Detachable speakers are counted in the docked width. Allow extra depth for cables and the TV stand. This checks physical dimensions and port counts, not Dolby Atmos, 4K/120Hz passthrough or your TV’s audio-format support.
Choice A
JBL, Bar 300MK2
JBL Bar 300 MK2
The Bar 300 MK2 keeps the low cabinet and Wi-Fi features of the 500 MK2 without a separate subwoofer. It also accepts one HDMI source directly, which is useful if the TV is already short of ports. Optional surrounds require current firmware and two Cove M1 or two Cove P1 speakers, bought separately.
- Best matched use
- A low-profile single bar that adds one HDMI source input
Checked facts
- 5.0-channel single-bar package.
- Cabinet measures 37 × 2 × 4.1 inches.
- One HDMI source input and one eARC TV connection.
- Five racetrack drivers and four tweeters form the driver array.
- Wi-Fi streaming, PureVoice 2.0 and sound calibration are supported.
- Firmware 26.33.11.82.00, released August 19, 2026, adds Cove grouping. Optional expansion requires two Cove M1 or two Cove P1 speakers and JBL One setup. The speakers are sold separately.
Choice B
Sonos, Beam Gen 2
Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
The Beam fits a narrow TV stand and keeps a path open to a larger Sonos system. Its Atmos presentation uses processing rather than upward-firing drivers, and room tuning needs a compatible iPhone or iPad.
- Best matched use
- A compact TV setup with optional rear speakers later
Checked facts
- Cabinet measures 25.63 × 2.68 × 3.94 inches.
- HDMI eARC or ARC connection and an included optical adapter.
- Five amplified drivers, with no upward-firing drivers.
- Wi-Fi music, AirPlay 2, Night Sound and Speech Enhancement are supported.
Meaningful differences
What changes the fit
| What changes | JBL Bar 300 MK2 | Sonos Beam (Gen 2) | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Width | 37 in | 25.63 in | The Beam fits narrower stands. |
| Height | 2 in | 2.68 in | The JBL fits below lower pictures. |
| Depth | 4.1 in | 3.94 in | Allow additional cable clearance. |
| Separate HDMI inputs | One | None | Beam expects source devices to use TV inputs. |
| TV link | eARC or optical | eARC or included optical adapter | Check your TV's output connection. |
| Height effects | Virtual | Virtual | Neither has upward-firing drivers. |
| Bluetooth music | Yes | No | JBL gives guests a Bluetooth listening route. |
| Room tuning | JBL sound calibration | Trueplay with compatible iOS device | Your phone changes the tuning workflow. |
| Optional surround expansion | Optional matched Cove M1 or Cove P1 pair with current firmware | Compatible Sonos surrounds, sold separately | Both can expand. Existing compatible speakers and the complete add-on cost can change the better purchase. |
What you give up
Every choice has a cost
If you choose JBL Bar 300 MK2
- Atmos height is virtual rather than produced by upward-firing drivers.
If you choose Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
- Height effects are virtual rather than produced by upward-firing drivers.
What matters in practice
How to make the call
Measure the opening, not the TV diagonal
The space between the TV feet and the height below its picture are the useful measurements. Screen size does not tell you either. Keep the bar's top unobstructed and include the cable bends behind it.
An eARC socket is not an extra console socket
The audio-return connection links the bar to the TV. JBL has a separate source input, which can help when the TV is full. That alone does not prove it passes every gaming refresh rate or video format.
Buy the expansion route you will actually use
Beam makes sense when compatible Sonos surrounds or a Sonos subwoofer are part of your plan. JBL can also add surrounds with current firmware and two Cove M1 or two Cove P1 speakers through JBL One. These systems use different compatible accessories, so price the complete planned setup. If you intend to keep one bar, decide on cabinet fit, HDMI sources and Bluetooth instead.
What this comparison cannot tell you
- No sound-quality ranking is inferred from cabinet size.
- Virtual Atmos support does not establish the result in your room.
What the facts say
What the comparison shows
Useful conclusions from the current soundbars comparison, followed by the checked facts used to reach them.
Compared set
None of the 31 models checked covers every part of “My screen sits close to the stand”, “I need a bar no wider than 32 inches”, “I have no room for a bass box”, and “My TV is running out of HDMI ports”, so the recommendation favors the closest practical compromise.
0 matching models from 31 checkedSee the checked facts and calculation notes
Match countThe count uses the current product-to-need assignments for “My screen sits close to the stand”, “I need a bar no wider than 32 inches”, “I have no room for a bass box”, and “My TV is running out of HDMI ports”. A need with no documented match does not count.
| Product | Needs matched | Checked facts | Source records |
|---|---|---|---|
| JBL Bar 300 MK2 |
|
|
|
| Sonos Beam (Gen 2) |
|
|
|
Ready to choose?
Check the price. Read the owner reviews.
Open either model on Amazon to check the current price, customer reviews and delivery options.
JBL Bar 300 MK2
Only a little height is available below the TV picture.
See price & reviews on AmazonSonos Beam (Gen 2)
Your stand cannot take a 37-inch bar.
See price & reviews on AmazonLinks open in a new tab.