Verdict

At its price point, the Bose Smart Soundbar delivers a remarkable soundstage, making it feel as if audio is emanating from my entire 14-foot wall. It creates an immersive surround sound experience, ideal for larger spaces, yet its performance is hindered by a lack of bass due to the absence of a subwoofer.

Pros

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  Expansive soundstage

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  Precise sound direction complements visuals

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  Surround sound exceeds expectations for the price

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  Clear sound effects

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  Low latency and easy Bluetooth/Wi-Fi connectivity

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  Sleek, compact design

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  Low bass suitable for shared living spaces

Cons

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  Bass lacks depth and richness

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  Dialogue can be unclear

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  Some distortion during loud tracks

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  No room calibration feature

Our expert reviewers rigorously test and compare the latest products to help you make informed choices. The Bose Smart Soundbar stands out as a mid-range option, incorporating some flagship technology while maintaining affordability.

As a longtime fan of Bose speakers, I was eager to see if the Bose Smart Soundbar could uphold the brand's reputation. I tested various TV and movie clips alongside a curated playlist spanning diverse genres to determine if it ranks among the top soundbars.

My Quick Verdict

The Bose Smart Soundbar is a strong contender, with a price tag significantly lower than Bose's flagship models. Its standout feature is the detailed surround sound and clarity that aligns beautifully with on-screen action.

Sound balance is commendable, with highs, mids, and lows rendered accurately, despite the bass being less powerful. While it excels in tonal balance, the soundbar lacks depth, featuring five speakers but no dedicated subwoofer, resulting in weak bass across most audio.

For enhanced bass, consider the Bose Bass Module 500, though it significantly raises the total cost. Alternatively, the Yamaha True X Bar 40A offers built-in subwoofers, producing punchy bass at a lower price point.

For $399-599, you'd expect better bass performance, especially when compared to the Sonos Arc Ultra or the Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar, which both provide richer audio experiences.

Specifications

Setup

Setting up the Bose Smart Soundbar was reminiscent of the Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar. It may be a bit tricky, especially if the unit has been previously used. After connecting HDMI and power cables, my Roku TV prompted me to pair with the soundbar, and it quickly played a demo showcasing its capabilities.

However, upon powering the TV again, audio wasn't outputting through the soundbar, prompting me to reset it to factory settings. If purchased new, this issue likely won't occur.

Using the app, you can easily connect to Wi-Fi and name your soundbar for convenience. Its compatibility with Apple AirPlay and Chromecast integrates it seamlessly into smart home systems.

Design and Features

This soundbar features five speakers: three horizontal and two upward-firing for surround sound, enabling Dolby Atmos playback and creating a wide soundstage despite its compact size.

Measuring just 27.34 inches, it's significantly smaller than the 41-inch Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar and the 47-inch Sonos Arc Ultra, making it a perfect fit for small spaces.

While it lacks built-in subwoofers, the Bose app offers ample EQ settings for personal sound preferences:

It provides detailed control over four channels, allowing for effective sound adjustments. Additionally, AI Dialogue Mode enhances clarity for spoken audio, proving effective during tests.

There's minimal latency when adjusting settings via the soundbar remote, TV remote, or app, which is a pleasant surprise compared to some competitors.

However, it lacks room optimization, missing out on a feature that allows it to adapt to your space's acoustics. The Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar has this capability, making its absence noted in this model.

Visually, it features a classic matte black design with a flat top that blends well with most decor styles.

TV and Movies

Movies and shows deliver an expansive audio experience, with a wide soundstage and clear sound direction enhancing immersion. While soundtracks are rich and effects crisp, the overall depth is lacking, with vocals occasionally sounding raspy.

In tests with Our Planet II, adjusting EQ settings helped improve bass response but didn't eliminate the harshness in vocal sibilance. The wide soundstage was impressive, creating an enveloping audio environment.

Scenes from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 showcased immaculate sound effects, with clear directional audio enhancing the viewing experience. Dialogue displayed more spaciousness, but some sibilance persisted, albeit improved with AI Dialogue Mode.

Testing various scenes revealed the soundbar's performance in busy audio environments, where it excelled. However, the absence of deep bass remained noticeable, especially during impactful scenes in Avengers: Infinity War.

While the jazz in Arrested Development lacked sharpness, the soundstage maintained clarity, ensuring background noises complemented rather than distracted from the experience.

Music

While the soundbar produces lush treble and clear sound balance, its lack of a subwoofer limits its overall music performance. Testing tracks like Massive Attack's Angel revealed the absence of deep bass, even at high volumes.

In contrast, Daft Punk's Phoenix showcased a more pronounced bass response, but distortion appeared at higher volumes. Despite this, the other elements of sound remained crisp.

Tracks like Erykah Badu's Didn't Cha Know and Sade's Feel No Pain exhibited similar distortion issues, particularly when layered sounds increased. However, softer songs like Big Thief's Simulation Swarm benefited from the soundbar's clarity.

Led Zeppelin's Ramble On highlighted the soundbar's strength in vocal and instrument balance, revealing the limitations primarily due to the lack of a subwoofer.

For smaller spaces where loud bass isn't a concern, the absence of a subwoofer may actually be a positive aspect, as it allows for detail without overwhelming neighbors.

Pricing

The Bose Smart Soundbar retails for $549 at Bose, but is often available for as low as $399. Its primary drawback remains the lack of a subwoofer, which is uncommon for similarly priced models. An external subwoofer, like the Bose Bass Module 500, adds around $549 to the total cost.

Given this price, I recommend considering the Sonos Arc Ultra or the Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar, which provide superior audio quality without the need for a subwoofer.

If you're sticking to a budget, the Yamaha True X Bar 40A offers built-in subwoofers and robust bass for around $399.95, making it a strong alternative.

Testing Methodology

I tested the Bose Smart Soundbar in a spacious room with a 14-foot wall, assessing its performance with a variety of genres and scenes to evaluate sound quality across frequencies.

If you're seeking to enhance your home audio experience on a budget, my reviews of the Fire TV Soundbar Plus and Sonos Ray may also guide you toward great options.