I know the agony of choice when searching for that ideal soundbar to transform your TV viewing and music listening experience. With so many models and technical jargon to wade through, it‘s tough finding one that truly matches your needs and budget.
Well, you‘re in luck! As an experienced home theater enthusiast, I have carefully tested and reviewed the latest lineup of Bose soundbars to save you research time and help uncover your perfect audio upgrade.
In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll explore Bose‘s top-rated soundbars, see how they stack up in areas like sound quality and features, get answers to common questions, and make sense of all those specs so you can discover the ideal Bose soundbar for your situation. Time to transform those weak built-in TV speakers into an immersive entertainment oasis!
Overview: Bose‘s Soundbar Families
- Quick refresher – a soundbar is simply an elongated speaker designed to boost audio from your TV or music player with bigger, better sound than tiny TV speakers can muser. Sleek and compact, they are an affordable and popular audio upgrade.
Before diving into specific recommendations, it helps to understand Bose‘s soundbar product lineup. Bose makes two distinct soundbar families:
- Smart Soundbars – Feature voice assistants, streaming music services, and Bose smart speaker integration
- Base-model Soundbars – More affordable options focused purely on audio performance
Within each family are different sizes and series ranging from premium flagship models with all the bells & whistles down to cheaper picks concentrating on great sound above all else.
To further help compare these feature-packed devices, let‘s look at some key soundbar terminology and technologies:
Surround Sound – The number of audio channels or speakers contained in the soundbar. More channels means a more immersive, theater-like experience.
- 2.0 – Left and right stereo channels
- 3.1 – Left, center, right channels + added bass module
- 5.1 – Left, center, right, left & right surrounds + subwoofer
Dolby Atmos – Advanced surround sound technology that adds height/overhead channels for ultra-immersive 3D audio.
Bose TrueSpace – Bose-developed surround processing that takes normal stereo/5.1 signals and converts them to take advantage of 3D speaker setups.
WiFi/Bluetooth – Allow wireless music streaming from smartphone apps.
Voice Assistants – Hands-free voice controls like Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri.
Now let‘s check out this year‘s crop of excellent Bose soundbars to upgrade your entertainment!
Best Overall: Bose Smart Soundbar 900
After extensive testing of all major players, I can safely say the superb Bose Smart Soundbar 900 stands atop as king. Yes, it is expensive with an MSRP of $899, but you get what you pay for and then some. This thing delivers a transcendent home theater and music experience that needs to be heard firsthand to fully appreciate.
Let‘s dig into why it earns my highest recommendation:
Mind-blowing surround sound – With five powerful drivers plus two special upfiring speakers, the 900 envelops you in heart-pounding 5.1.2 surround sound. Dolby Atmos and Bose TrueSpace technologies create shockingly realistic 3D audio with amazing separation between dialogue, effects, and instruments. This all combines to put you dead center in the movie or concert action.
Builtin smarts – Alexa and Google Assistant give you handy voice control. Bose Voice4Video enhances their capabilities, letting you change TV channels, control your cable box, and operate smart devices using just your voice.
Sleek style – Few soundbars exude elegance like the 900 with its tempered glass chassis and metal grille cloth. At just 2.3 inches high, it effortlessly matches modern décor.
Simple to use – From initial setup to daily operation, Bose designs products for simplicity. Connecting to your gear is a breeze with HDMI eARC and WiFi/Bluetooth. ADAPTiQ audio calibration tunes the soundbar to your room‘s acoustics.
Flexibility – Don‘t confined it to TV duty either. With integrated Spotify, Pandora, and Alexa music services, it jams as a standalone wireless speaker. Bose SimpleSync lets you easily pair with Bose headphones for private listening too.
I‘ll be frank, you can find soundbars with more thunderous bass or flashy LED lights, but none replicate a true living room cinema like the 900. Both CNET and Trusted Reviews rate it five stars and a class-best soundbar. If you desire the pinnacle of Bose engineering and performance, this is it!
Bose Smart Soundbar 900
Channels: 5.1.2
Surround Sound: Dolby Atmos
Voice Assistant: Alexa + Google Assistant
Wireless: WiFi, Bluetooth
Connections: 1 x HDMI eARC, optical input
Speakers: 5 drivers + 2 upfiring| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Phenomenal surround sound | Very expensive |
| Built-in voice assistants | Large, may block TV IR sensor |
| Gorgeous, minimalist design | |
| ADAPTiQ audio calibration |
Best Value: Bose Smart Soundbar 300
concentrating purely on audio chops and overall versatility, the compact Bose Smart Soundbar 300 packs tremendous value at just $399. You still enjoy room-filling sound, built-in Alexa/Google Assistant, and gracious connectivity. It makes an unbeatable starter soundbar.
Bose doesn‘t cut many corners here. The 300 retains their hallmark attention to sonic detail and fidelity. Five full-range drivers powered by custom amps fill spaces with rich, vibrant sound featuring clear mids/highs and thumping bass – a noticeable step up from cheap competitors. The wider center channel ensures crisp dialogue while TrueSpace processing expands the soundstage beyond the physical cabinet.
It still integrates seamlessly into your connected home too. The 300 grants you WiFi streaming from Spotify/Pandora, Apple Airplay 2, Chromecast compatiblity, and the simplicity of just asking Alexa to queue up music. Play/pause, volume adjustments, and switching inputs are equally as effortless with the included remote.
Matching modern décor is no worry either with its low-profile rectangular silhouette able to squeeze beneath most TVs on a credenza. For just $399, the little Bose Smart Soundbar 300 overdelivers in nearly every metric that counts.
Bose Smart Soundbar 300
Channels: 3.0
Surround Sound: TrueSpace
Voice Assistant: Alexa + Google Assistant
Wireless: WiFi, Bluetooth
Connections: 1 x HDMI ARC, 1 x optical input
Speakers: 5 drivers| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Great bang for buck | No Dolby Atmos |
| Wide, immersive sound | No ADAPTiQ calibration |
| Built-in voice assistants | |
| Compact size |
Also Consider
The Bose Smart Soundbar 900 and 300 earn my top picks for their combo of awesome performance, smart features, and good value. However, Bose offers other compelling models like:
Bose Smart Soundbar 700 – Flagship smart soundbar pumps out virtual surround sound nearly matching the 900 but costs $100+ less.
Bose TV Speaker – No frills soundbase perfect for upgrading dialogue and adding bass.
Bose Smart Soundbar 500 – Balance of strong audio and Alexa smarts behind a handsome glass face.
I encourage you to check each of them out to see if they better fulfill your particular needs and budget!
Choosing Your Ideal Bose Soundbar
I hope this guide has empowered you to zero in on that dream Bose soundbar to transform your entertainment experience. While their catalog may seem intimidating at first glance, just adhere to a few important guidelines when shopping:
Sound First
Never compromise audio quality – it‘s the whole reason to buy a soundbar! Prioritize models with surround sound, 3D audio formats like Dolby Atmos, and Bose innovations like PhaseGuide and TrueSpace for the most immersive realism.
Match Your Room
Bigger spaces can handle the large-scale, cinema-esque sound of top-shelf models like the Smart Soundbar 900. Smaller rooms would likely better suit more affordable 300- and 500-series options.
Voice Assistant Preference
If you want Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri integration for smart home control or music streaming, stick with Bose‘s Smart Soundbar family. Otherwise basic models just concentrate on audio.
Appearance Matters
Soundbars come in different shapes, sizes and style options. Be sure to measure entertainment console space to guarantee it fits while matching your decor taste – whether modern, retro, or incognito.
Shop Your Budget
Bose delivers elevated design and performance even in lower-priced options like the $399 Smart Soundbar 300. Figure out how much you can spend then get the best model possible for that range.
Wrap Up
Thanks for letting me guide you on this journey to uncover the perfect Bose soundbar for your particular wants and needs! I aimed to demystify the terminology, technology, and model choices so you can make that big-ticket purchase with total confidence.
If anything remains fuzzy or you need personal buying tips, don‘t hesitate to drop me a line. I‘m always happy to offer friendly, honest advice to help transform your space with beautiful immersive sound.
Now get out there and enjoy theatersounds in your living room!
