Bose Smart Soundbar

Smart Soundbar with Dolby Atmos and AI Support

In a nutshell

The Bose Smart Soundbar impresses with great sound, Dolby Atmos support, and AI-assisted voice enhancement – ideal for small to medium-sized living rooms. Its compact design, easy app-based setup, and versatile connectivity make it a flexible all-rounder for TV and music. For those who can live without automatic room calibration, it offers a well-thought-out audio system with smart user convenience.

Pros:

Dolby Atmos sound
AI-assisted dialogue enhancement for clearer speech
Ideal for medium-sized TVs
Alexa, AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, and Chromecast integration
Compatible with Bose Open Earbuds Ultra for a surround effect
Expandable to a 5.1 system with other Bose speakers
SoundLink pairing with QuietComfort headphones

Cons:

No automatic room calibration
No native Siri support

If you want to give your flat-screen TV a sound upgrade, modern soundbars are hard to ignore – and the Bose Smart Soundbar promises to be an especially elegant and compact model that not only impresses with Dolby Atmos, but also scores points with clever AI voice optimisation, wireless expansion options, and intuitive control via app, voice commands, and remote control.

Design & Compatibility – Discreet and Versatile

Measuring 69.5 cm wide, 56 mm high, and 104 mm deep, the 3.2 kg Bose Smart Soundbar fits neatly under medium-sized TVs (49–55 inches), whether placed on a TV stand or wall-mounted. The minimalist design is premium in feel, with no buttons on the unit – just a subtle LED light strip to indicate status.

Quick Setup & Flexible Connections

Setup is straightforward: HDMI eARC or optical cable (both supplied) gets you connected in minutes. The connection ports of the Bose Smart Soundbar are neatly recessed on the rear. The free Bose Music app for iOS and Android automatically detects the soundbar and guides you through Wi-Fi pairing and account registration.

Alexa, AirPlay 2 & More

Beyond Bluetooth, the Bose Smart Soundbar supports Spotify Connect, Apple AirPlay 2, and Google Chromecast, making it compatible with virtually all major streaming sources. The app also allows you to save sound profiles for different content types.

Amazon Alexa is built in, with a touch-sensitive mic mute button on the top left. You can also disable the mic entirely for added privacy. The Bose Voice4Video feature lets Alexa control your TV, satellite box, and receivers via voice commands. Google Assistant works only when paired with an external smart speaker, while Siri is unsupported. A compact remote is included for everyday control.

App Integration

The Bose Music app is well organised and user-friendly, allowing quick access to EQ presets, source selection, and device settings.

Sound Quality – Spacious and Intelligent

With two up-firing drivers and three front-firing speakers, the Bose Smart Soundbar creates a surprisingly wide and immersive soundstage for films, TV, and music.

AI Dialogue Mode

The AI-enhanced dialogue function of the Bose Smart Soundbar intelligently boosts voices for clearer speech – particularly useful for news, talk shows, and content with complex background soundscapes. While effective, it can sometimes be too prominent, requiring manual adjustment in the app depending on the source quality.

Headphone Integration

Owners of Bose Ultra Open Earbuds can use them for the rear channels in a virtual surround setup – great for personalised home cinema. QuietComfort headphones can also be paired, with independent volume control via the app – ideal for hearing-impaired listeners.

Bose Ultra Open Earbuds

Comfortable open-ear earbuds with spatial audio.

To the Review

Music Playback

For music, Dolby Atmos tracks deliver impressive dynamics in smaller rooms, while stereo content is rendered cleanly and accurately. Bass is tight and precise, with rear-firing bass ports that can be redirected forward via the app for wall-mounted setups.

Expandability & Multiroom

Additional Wi-Fi-enabled Bose speakers can be grouped via the app for 2.1 or 5.1 setups. However, there’s no auto room calibration – something competitors like the Sonos Beam or Arc offer. A subwoofer can be connected via a wired analogue connection.

Conclusion – Who Should Buy the Bose Smart Soundbar?

The Bose Smart Soundbar is a premium, well-designed choice for those who value compact size, ease of use, and smart dialogue enhancement. It shines in small to medium rooms with clear, spatial audio and flexible functionality for TV, streaming, and music. If you can live without auto room correction, it’s one of the best mid-range soundbars of 2025.