**Bose Smart Soundbar Review: A Mid-Range Marvel Under $500**
In September 2024, Bose unveiled its newest audio offering, the aptly named Bose Smart Soundbar. Targeted at the mid-range segment, it has swiftly emerged as a serious contender for the top soundbar under $500. Although it doesn’t aspire to compete with high-end options like the Sonos Arc Ultra or Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Max, it provides a noticeable audio enhancement at a competitive price.
### A Balanced Performer
The Bose Smart Soundbar manages to find a sweet spot between high-end features and cost-effectiveness. It’s neither a premium soundbar nor a basic budget model. Instead, it provides a robust audio experience that enriches TV shows, films, and music without overspending. After extensive testing, it’s evident that this soundbar justifies its $499 price tag—and becomes even more appealing when available for $399 on sale.
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### **How Does It Sound?**
Sound quality remains the most vital aspect of any soundbar, and the Bose Smart Soundbar excels in this domain. Its audio output is deep, balanced, and adaptable, making it ideal for diverse types of content.
– **TV Shows and Movies**: Dialogue clarity stands out as a major asset. Even without the AI Dialogue Assist, conversations are articulate and distinct, enabling viewers to switch off subtitles for most programs. Intense action scenes, often filled with loud sound effects, achieve a good equilibrium, preventing dialogue from being overwhelmed by booms or car chases. For instance, watching a Formula 1 race highlighted a richer audio experience, ranging from the roar of engines to the excitement of the crowd.
– **Dolby Atmos Immersion**: The soundbar features five transducers and a central tweeter that creates an enveloping audio atmosphere, with two upward-facing transducers reflecting sound off the ceiling. This feature is particularly impressive when enjoying Dolby Atmos-supported titles like *Dune* or *Mad Max: Fury Road*.
– **Music Playback**: Music lovers will find the soundbar’s capabilities impressive. Tracks with intricate elements, such as Radiohead’s “The National Anthem,” may occasionally subdue vocals, but songs centered around vocals like Adele’s “Hello” come through beautifully. The bass is strong yet refined, steering clear of the excessive boominess that often plagues many speakers.
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### **Design and Aesthetic: Function Over Form**
While the Bose Smart Soundbar shines in audio performance, its design is less remarkable.
– **Appearance**: The soundbar presents a straightforward black rectangle—practical but lacking in flair. Users may value its minimalist style, but those who prioritize aesthetics might find it falls short in visual appeal. Compared to rivals like Sonos, which boast distinctive profiles and notable branding, Bose’s design could be perceived as conventional.
– **Practicality**: Regardless of its plain façade, the soundbar is wisely designed. The angled HDMI and power inputs save space, and its compact dimensions (2.2 x 4.1 x 27 inches) allow it to fit comfortably beneath most televisions.
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### **Connectivity: A Mixed Bag**
Setting up the Bose Smart Soundbar is simple. Even for users not proficient in technology, the process is straightforward—just connect the HDMI cable to your TV’s eARC port and follow the guidance. However, connectivity has its quirks.
– **Bluetooth Issues**: Pairing the soundbar with an iPhone 15 Pro required multiple attempts to re-pair, representing a minor yet irritating drawback. This is not the first instance of Bose facing Bluetooth challenges, as highlighted in reviews for other products like the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds.
– **Speaker Pairing**: While the soundbar can link with other Bose devices, including the Soundlink Max portable speaker, the combined playback experienced a slight delay, rendering it impractical for surround sound systems.
– **Streaming Services**: The Bose app is compatible with Amazon Music but faced challenges connecting to Spotify. While this might be an issue on Spotify’s end, it’s also important to note that Bluetooth streaming remains a dependable alternative.
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### **Is It Worth the Price?**
In spite of its connectivity issues and unremarkable design, the Bose Smart Soundbar presents a compelling option for the majority of users. It offers a notable audio upgrade over standard TV speakers, with features like Dialogue Assist and Dolby Atmos enhancing the overall experience.
For those in pursuit of a genuine Hi-Fi setup, higher-end alternatives exceeding $1,000 will deliver more sophisticated features. Conversely, budget soundbars under $300 frequently fail to offer a substantial enhancement. The Bose Smart Soundbar strikes a perfect balance, providing excellent value for its $499 price tag—and even more at its frequent discounted price of $399.
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### **Final Verdict**
The Bose Smart Soundbar serves as a reliable mid-range choice that provides remarkable sound quality for television, film, and music. While its design and connectivity may need some improvement, its performance and features make it a great option for users.