The idea of great music and an immersive watching experience arouses the imaginations of home theatres, floor-to-ceiling projectors, and surround music systems – all worthy investments. However, a soundbar might be all you need to upgrade your home’s watching and music experience.
Bose has been a reliable brand in sound equipment for decades, and their premium soundbars are no exception. The best Bose soundbar offers an economical, compact, and hassle-free way to create cinema-like sound effects. However, all their products are not made equally and differ in features.
This guide will help you learn about the different types of Bose soundbars available and determine which one is best suited to your needs so you can get the most out of your experience with the Bose soundbars.
We’ve rounded up five of the top-ranking Bose soundbars; here they are
- Best Overall: Bose Smart Soundbar 900
- Best for Surround Sound: Bose Soundbar 700
- Best for TV: Bose TV Speaker
- Best for Mixed-Use: NEW Bose Smart Soundbar 600
- Best for Budget: Bose Smart Soundbar 300
Best Overall: Bose Smart Soundbar 900
- Two custom-engineered upfiring dipole speakers
- Exclusive Bose Voice4Video technology
- Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Apple AirPlay 2, and Spotify Connect
- Bose TrueSpace spatial processing
- Built-in Google and Alexa
- Noise-rejecting microphones
Bose Smart Soundbar 900 is our top pick because it combines build quality, clear-cut sound, connectivity, upgradeability, and modern design. Besides, it offers an immersive theatre experience, wireless surround sound speakers, SimpleSync, and more.
Thanks to Bose Smart 900’s SimpleSync feature, it’s now easy to pair the soundbar with your headphones or other compatible Bose speakers via Bluetooth. You can also pair compatible devices via Wi-Fi or HDMI. Its exclusive technology includes ADAPTiQ and Dolby Atmos, which level up sound realism, unlike other soundbars. ADAPTiQ (an audio calibration) helps you to adjust sound quality depending on what’s in your room (furniture, floor types, carpets, etc.).
On the other hand, Dolby Atmos (a surround audio format) allows individually placing sounds in a 3D space creating a clear, captivating, and more life-like sound experience. For instance, if there’s a helicopter on your screen, the Smart Soundbar 900 can make it sound as if it’s right above you.
It’s a premium 5-channel sound system that elevates sound output but clearly distinguishes between speech, effects, and instruments. The 5 channel represents the middle speaker, two speakers at the back, and two in front for multi-directional sound.
It’s a smart soundbar and offers built-in voice assistants, including Alexa and Google Assistant. Not forgetting the built-in noise-rejecting microphones that ensure voice pick-up even when the music is loud. In addition, the Bose Voice4Video enables you to stretch your voice assistant capabilities by using voice commands to change TV channels and control the satellite box and cable. This feature will also let you make or answer calls to your contacts, Bose smart products, or Amazon Echo products. The Bose Smart Soundbar 900’s stunning, sleek, glossy tempered glass design makes it an appealing appliance for any room.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Premium surround sound | Quite pricey |
| Built-in Alexa/Google Assistant | It lacks a deep cinematic bass response |
| Great sleek design | |
| Auto room correction | |
| Dolby Atmos support |
Check out the Bose Smart Soundbar 900 on Amazon.
Best for Surround Sound: Bose Soundbar 700
- The best performing sound bar from Bose, featuring an unmatched combination of sophisticated design and exceptional sound
- With alexa built in, just Ask to play music, get Answers to questions, and control smart home devices. An eight-microphone Array ensures superior voice pickup
- Play integrated WiFi music services like Spotify and music or use a Bluetooth Connection to play anything from your phone or tablet
- Designed for the Bose sound bar 500, the Bose sound bar 700, and sound touch 300
- Made of Premium steel for easy wall mounting
The Bose Soundbar 700 doesn’t disappoint; it brings all of your entertainment to life with an unequaled blend of stylish tempered glass finish, great design, and superior sound. This soundbar reflects the original soundbar impression but adds an elegant exterior and impeccably clear and immersive sounds. Its 5.1 surround audio output as it produces a mesmerizing sound, deep bass, and clear speech all in one. It’s also wireless and ultra-compact, making it convenient to carry outdoors for picnics, workout sessions, or family/friends get-togethers.
The Bose 700 comes in either black or white, and both colors blend seamlessly into almost any room. Like the Bose Smart 900, it also features ADAPTiQ sound calibration to set sound output to match the surroundings. It’s also a smart soundbar featuring AirPlay 2, Amazon’s Alexa, and Google assistant controls. The best part about smart soundbars is that you can listen to your favorite music by simply issuing a voice command. Moreover, its Bose SimpleSync technology helps connect to any Bose smart device with certain Bose headphones for a personalized listening experience.
If you love music and movies, you should consider the Bose soundbar 700 because it’s made with your needs in mind. You can stream music via your home Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connectivity, Spotify, or AirPlay 2.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Enthralling 5.1 surround sound | Expensive |
| Private listening option | Some music services are not supported in the app |
| Realistic viewing experience | |
| SimpleSync Technology for connectivity | |
| Modern design and quality finish |
Check out the Bose Soundbar 700 on Amazon.
Please Note: As of July 18, 2023, the Soundbar 700 + Mount is currently unavailable on Amazon. If you are unable to locate this product elsewhere, please check back later.
Best for TV: Bose TV Speaker
- 2 full-range drivers
- Designed to enhance dialogue
- Bluetooth, Auxiliary, Optical, and HDMI connectivity
- Features Bass Boost
The Bose TV Speaker is a simple, matte-textured, and compact soundbar (2.21” height) that accentuates speech clarity and elevation along with realistic and spacious audio performance. The Bose TV soundbar is a simple plug-and-play or single-step connection option. Regardless, it makes an excellent upgrade for standard TV speakers, especially if you love listening to stereo content. It features Bluetooth, HDMI-ARC connectivity, and optical input to enable easy connection to the TV, and has a remote control for easy adjustments.
It has a dialogue mode setting that detects what you’re watching and boosts the vocals for you to clearly discern speech. Or you can add bass to experience the rumble that brings most music genres to life. Besides, it’s a 2.0 stereo audio system and can be easily upgraded by pairing it with a Bose bass system which makes a huge difference.
Bose TV soundbar enhances your TV-watching experience although its sound quality and general performance are not as impressive as pricier models. It does not feature Dobly Atmos support and has a smaller soundstage but offers Dolby Audio that outputs a cinematic quality sound.
It’s also Roku-TV certified, which gives you confidence that it will seamlessly connect and work with any Roku TV. This compatibility gives you a smooth sound, compatibility with your Roku remote, and easy use. In case you lose its original remote control, you can get a third-party universal remote programmed to control your Bose soundbar.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Straightforward to set up | No full HDMI port |
| Affordable | No Alexa and Google Assistant voice control |
| Enhanced dialogue | No ADAPTIQ |
| Easy upgradable setup | No Dolby Atmos support |
| Wide natural sound | |
| Expandable |
Check out the Bose TV Speaker on Amazon.
Best for Mixed Use: NEW Bose Smart Soundbar 600
- Features two upward-firing transducers
- Bose TrueSpace technology analyzes signals other than Dolby Atmos, like stereo or 5.1, and upmixes them
- 5 speakers (including 2 upward-firing)
- Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Apple AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, and Chromecast built-in compatibility
- Includes remote control and the Bose Music app
The NEW Bose Smart Soundbar 600 is the best Bose has to offer for a blend of uses including movies, gaming, and streaming music. This soundbar brings all your entertainment to life with a great blend of stylish design (in black or white) and superior sound.
NEW Bose Soundbar 600 sounds impeccably exceptional in almost all environments. Like the Bose Smart 900, it also offers Dolby Atmos compatibility for an engaging sound experience. The Dolby Atmos feature, combined with upward-firing loudspeakers and TruSpace technology, renders a surprisingly immersive sound for a soundbar of its size.
The Bose Music app elevates your music experience by allowing you to preset preferences and/or use Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Chromecast, AirPlay, or Spotify connect for music streaming. The Bose 600 accurately recreates the speech from your favorite TV episodes and the voices and musical instruments from various musical genres. Moreover, you can pick Alexa or Google Assistant or opt to run both simultaneously for voice commands. It has a universal (IR) remote, but some users opt to add a compatible app to manage sound levels and EQ.
The NEW Bose Soundbar 600 may be expensive. However, the fantastic combination of supplementary height effects, the TrueSpace technology, sound quality, and a class-leading design makes it a worthy investment. It also has many practical features—including your choice of voice assistant—that the NEW Bose Soundbar 600 offers, highlighting why the purchase is valuable.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Supports Dolby Atmos | Lacks low bass |
| TrueSpace technology | No EQ |
| Multipurpose use | |
| Separate sub and satellites available |
Check out the NEW Bose Smart Soundbar 600 on Amazon.
Best for Budget: Bose Smart Soundbar 300
- 5 full-range drivers
- Built-in Alexa
- Exclusive Bose Voice for Video technology expands Alexa's capabilities
- You can pair your device to the soundbar to stream your music and more via a Bluetooth connection, Wi-Fi network, Apple AirPlay 2, or Spotify Connect
If you are on a budget but still want to step into Bose’s soundbar ecosystem without compromising sound quality, the Bose Smart Soundbar 300 is an excellent option. It lacks total immersion but still adds excitement to your viewing experience through custom fine-tuning sounds for a personalized experience.
The Soundbar 300 features two dedicated speakers at each end and two at the center (you can enjoy left/center/proper channels) with its five-driver 3.0 system. The soundbar is compact, making it ideal for use under most TVs without obstruction. Additionally, this module is for you if you want an easily upgradeable sound system. You can upgrade to a 5.1 surround sound with the same Bose Bass Model 700 and Bose Surround Speakers 700 that the Bose Smart Soundbar 900 supports.
For the lower price, you’ll still get Alexa, Google Assistant, Voice4Video, Spotify, Chromecast, and AirPlay 2, which other pricier models have. Voice assistants are the easiest ways to launch a movie with those you love. What’s fantastic about its Voice4Video assistant is the noise-rejecting mic system that detects your voice even when there is too much background noise or when the soundbar’s volume is too high. The module soundbar 300, however, features fewer drivers, lacks room correction, and Dolby Atmos support.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Affordable for its sleek design | Lacks Dolby Atmos support |
| Bose Voice4Video technology | Lacks room correction |
| Wide and clear sound | No HDMI |
| Easy to set up | No ADAPTIQ |
| Smart features | |
| Easily upgradeable |
Check out the Bose Smart Soundbar 300 on Amazon.
How to Pick the Best Bose Soundbars: Step by Step
Finding the best soundbar can improve your viewing experience, but what are the factors you should consider? We’ve come up with a list of essential features you should consider before buying one. These include
- Smart home compatibility
- Sound type (stereo vs. surround sound)
- Finding the right size
- Additional features & accessories
Smart Home Compatibility
Bose soundbars come with smart assistants, WiFi, and multi-room audio connectivity. Remember to consider the type of smart assistant you dote on, whether Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri, while looking for a new soundbar. If you do not need a smart soundbar in your living room, several non-smart options can help you save money.
Sound Type: Stereo vs. Surround Sound
Sound output has to be the number one consideration when looking for a great soundbar. You should pay attention to each bass level and how loud/quiet they get with each sample song. In our guide, the soundbars are suitable for either 2.0, 2.1, and 3.1 stereo or 5.1 surround sound. Besides, you get the left and right audio channels for the 2.0 and 2.1 stereo sound systems. A 3.1 system adds a simple Bose bass module. Most people prefer the 5.1 surround sound for an immersive sound.
If you prefer a stereo sound output, it’s best to know that it can always be upgraded with extra speakers and subwoofers to produce a compact sound, and you can enhance your home theater output if you move into a home with more space.
Finding the Right Size
Bose soundbars come in many sizes, from 12 to 60 inches. The perfect length should be relative to your TV screen’s size. As a rule of thumb, you can go for 5 to 10 inches shorter than your screen. Most people are often comfortable with 28 and 36-inch-sized soundbars. Additionally, factor in different weights and get the most compact soundbar for portability if you desire to carry your soundbar from place to place.
Besides, check the ports or connection types (including HDMI and optical inputs) so that they can blend with your TV design. And some feature Bluetooth and WiFi capability for wireless connections.
Additional Features & Accessories
Different Bose soundbars offer various features to cater to different preferences. Some have Bluetooth support, while others only have Wi-Fi. Their Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connectivity enables users to stream music easily from any smart device. A universal remote control is another great feature that should be included with your purchase. Some remotes can also connect to your TV, which offers enhanced convenience.
What to Know Before Buying Bose Soundbars
Here are a few checkpoints you should consider before buying a soundbar. Consider where you want to place the soundbar – is there enough space on your TV cabinet, or would you like to mount the soundbar? If mounting is your best option, you may need a wall mount if your screen is on a wall.
Some soundbars also have an upgradable setup by buying separate subwoofers or satellites. A range of Bose soundbars can work flawlessly with other speakers, which is excellent if you want to expand your setup sometime later. Bose speakers are great in premium sound quality. They have an amiable bass and treble hence a popular choice for music enthusiasts. Besides, you should invest in a high-quality sound system if you have a high-quality TV. However, you should keep in mind that premium comes at a higher price for most Bose soundbars; but there are affordable options too.
Using Bose Soundbar: What it’s Like
Bose soundbars generally have a high-end feel, contemporary design, and advanced features and are durable. Moreover, they are easy to set up and operate thanks to their balanced and captivating sound performance.
Additionally, you may upgrade if you prefer more punch (bass) and clarity to your stereo by buying any of their separate subwoofers. Their surround performances, state-of-the-art soundstage, and modern technology (including Voice4Video, Dolby Atmos, TrueSpace, and SimpleSync) make them stand out and produce a more engaging sound output.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Jonathan Weiss/Shutterstock.com.
