JBL Bar 700 vs. Denon DHT-S517: Which Soundbar Delivers Better Value?

If you've ever tried watching an action movie with your TV's built-in speakers, you know the struggle. Explosions sound like popping balloons, dialogue gets lost in the mix, and forget about feeling the rumble of a spaceship flying overhead. That's where soundbars come in – they're designed to fix these problems without turning your living room into a maze of wires and speakers.

Today we're comparing two popular options: the JBL Bar 700 ($650) and the Denon DHT-S517 ($300). While both aim to improve your TV's audio, they take very different approaches to get there. Understanding these differences will help you choose the right one for your space, budget, and listening habits.

Understanding What Makes a Good Soundbar

Before diving into specifics, let's talk about what really matters when choosing a soundbar. The most important factors are audio quality (how clear and balanced the sound is), surround sound capabilities (whether you get that "theater" feeling), room compatibility (will it work well in your space), connectivity options (how easily it connects to your devices), and overall value for money.

Think of a soundbar as the middle ground between your TV's tiny speakers and a full home theater system. The best ones manage to deliver much of the impact of a traditional surround sound setup while keeping installation simple and your living room looking clean.

The Contenders: Two Different Philosophies

The JBL Bar 700 launched in 2024 as JBL's premium offering, representing their latest thinking on what a high-end soundbar should deliver. It's a true 5.1-channel system, meaning it has five main speakers plus a dedicated subwoofer for bass. What makes it unique is those detachable rear speakers – they're battery-powered and can be placed behind your seating area to create genuine surround sound.

The Denon DHT-S517, released in late 2022, takes a more traditional approach. It's a 3.1.2-channel system, which means three front-facing speakers, one subwoofer, and two upward-firing drivers that bounce sound off your ceiling to simulate height effects. Denon designed this as a no-fuss solution that focuses on getting the basics absolutely right.

Sound Quality: Where You'll Hear the Difference

The most obvious difference between these two is raw power. The JBL pumps out 620 watts compared to the Denon's 140 watts. But power isn't everything – it's how that power is used that matters.

The JBL Bar 700 delivers what I'd call an "event" experience. When you're watching Top Gun: Maverick and those jets scream overhead, you feel it in your chest. The 10-inch subwoofer digs down to 35Hz, which is deep enough to reproduce the lowest bass notes in most movies and music. This kind of extension means you're not just hearing the bass – you're feeling it.

The Denon takes a more refined approach. Its 5.25-inch subwoofer won't shake your room, but it delivers tight, controlled bass that complements the main speakers beautifully. For dialogue-heavy content like news, documentaries, or drama series, this balance actually works better. The bass doesn't overpower the voices, and everything sits in its proper place in the mix.

One area where the Denon really shines is dialogue clarity. Its Dialogue Enhancer feature uses digital processing to boost the frequency range where human voices live, making it easier to understand what characters are saying even during loud scenes. You can adjust this enhancement to three different levels depending on your needs. The JBL counters with its PureVoice technology, which uses a more sophisticated algorithm to maintain vocal clarity without making voices sound artificial or overly bright.

Surround Sound: Real vs. Virtual

This is where the fundamental difference between these soundbars becomes most apparent. The JBL Bar 700 gives you actual surround sound with its detachable rear speakers. These aren't just decoration – they're full-range speakers that handle all the rear-channel effects in movies and games.

When those rear speakers are positioned correctly behind your seating area, the effect is genuinely impressive. In a good action movie, you'll hear bullets whizzing past your head, helicopters circling around the room, and ambient sounds that make you feel like you're inside the scene rather than just watching it. The speakers charge when they're attached to the main bar, and their battery life of up to 10 hours means you won't be constantly worrying about them dying mid-movie.

The Denon takes the virtual route, using psychoacoustic processing (basically tricks that fool your brain into hearing sounds that aren't really there) to create a wider soundstage. Its upward-firing drivers bounce sound off your ceiling to simulate height effects for Dolby Atmos content. This works better in some rooms than others – you need a relatively low ceiling and good acoustics for the effect to be convincing.

I've found that virtual surround processing has come a long way in recent years, and the Denon does it well. You'll definitely get a wider, more spacious sound than you'd get from a basic soundbar. But it's not the same as having actual speakers behind you. The effects are more subtle, and they don't have the precision of discrete channels.

Technical Features That Actually Matter

Both soundbars support Dolby Atmos, but they implement it differently. Dolby Atmos is an audio format that treats sounds as individual objects that can be placed anywhere in a three-dimensional space, rather than just assigning them to specific channels. The JBL Bar 700 uses its rear speakers and main array to create this 3D effect, while the Denon DHT-S517 relies on its upward-firing drivers and processing algorithms.

The JBL's connectivity options are much more extensive. Built-in Wi-Fi means you can stream music directly from services like Spotify, Apple Music, or Amazon Music without needing your phone or another device as a middleman. It supports AirPlay for iPhone users, Chromecast for Android users, and even works with Alexa Multi-Room Music if you have other compatible speakers around your house.

The Denon keeps things simpler with Bluetooth 5.0 for wireless music streaming from your devices. It's less convenient than built-in Wi-Fi streaming, but it's also less complicated. Some people prefer this approach – fewer features mean fewer things that can go wrong.

Both soundbars support HDMI eARC (enhanced Audio Return Channel), which is crucial for getting the best audio quality from your TV. This single cable connection handles both sending video to your TV and receiving audio back to the soundbar, plus it lets you control the soundbar's volume with your TV remote.

Room Size and Placement Considerations

The JBL Bar 700 is designed for larger rooms. With 620 watts of power and that substantial 10-inch subwoofer, it has the muscle to fill a big space with sound. If your main viewing area is larger than about 250 square feet, this extra power becomes important. Smaller rooms might actually find the JBL overwhelming – too much of a good thing.

The Denon DHT-S517 is perfectly scaled for small to medium rooms. Its 140 watts might not sound like much compared to the JBL, but it's plenty for most apartments and average-sized living rooms. The smaller subwoofer is also less likely to annoy neighbors in apartments or condos.

Placement flexibility is another consideration. The JBL's detachable rear speakers give you options, but they also require thought about positioning. You need space behind your seating area, and you need to remember to put the speakers back on the main bar occasionally to charge. The Denon's simpler design means fewer decisions about placement, but also fewer options for customization.

Value Proposition: What You Get for Your Money

At $650, the JBL Bar 700 isn't cheap, but it delivers a lot of technology for the price. True 5.1 surround sound systems with wireless rear speakers typically cost much more. The smart streaming features, powerful subwoofer, and sophisticated processing make it competitive with much more expensive home theater setups.

The Denon DHT-S517 at $300 represents exceptional value in its price range. You're getting Dolby Atmos processing, a wireless subwoofer, and solid build quality for less than half the price of the JBL. For many people, especially those who primarily watch TV shows and movies with lots of dialogue, this delivers most of the benefits of a premium soundbar at a fraction of the cost.

Performance in Real-World Scenarios

For home theater enthusiasts who love action movies, sci-fi epics, and immersive gaming, the JBL Bar 700 provides a significantly more engaging experience. The rear speakers make a huge difference in movies like Dune or Blade Runner 2049, where the sound design is meant to surround you. Gaming also benefits enormously – being able to hear enemies approaching from behind or pinpoint the direction of gunfire gives you a real advantage in competitive games.

The Denon DHT-S517 excels with content that focuses on dialogue and music. News programs, documentaries, sitcoms, and dramas all sound excellent. The balanced frequency response and dialogue enhancement make voices clear and natural. It's also great for streaming music – while it doesn't have the JBL's built-in Wi-Fi streaming, the Bluetooth connection is reliable and the sound quality is impressive for a soundbar in this price range.

Making the Right Choice

Your decision should start with honest assessment of your room and viewing habits. If you have a large living room and love movies that make full use of surround sound, the JBL Bar 700 will transform your experience in ways that justify its higher price. The detachable rear speakers and powerful subwoofer create genuine home theater immersion.

But if your room is smaller, your budget is tighter, or you primarily watch dialogue-heavy content, the Denon DHT-S517 delivers outstanding value. Its focused approach to audio quality and simplicity makes it ideal for everyday TV watching and casual movie viewing.

Consider also your tolerance for complexity. The JBL requires more setup, more decisions about speaker placement, and more ongoing management (like charging the rear speakers). The Denon is essentially plug-and-play – connect it to your TV and you're done.

Both soundbars represent smart choices in their respective price ranges. The JBL pushes closer to true home theater performance, while the Denon maximizes value and simplicity. Your choice should align with your space, budget, and how seriously you take your home entertainment setup.

JBL Bar 700 Dolby Atmos 5.1 Soundbar with Subwoofer Deals and Prices

Denon DHT-S517 Soundbar with Wireless Subwoofer Deals and Prices