Smart Soundbar (2024)

There’s a deal at Bose rn for a smart soundbar+bass module 500 for $750. I have this combo and I’ve been enjoying it. I am in a smaller living room though.

https://preview.redd.it/c77nq7srrbkg1.jpeg?width=5712&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9e6db222253e00cce5c6fbbb1ca40d7482a3a8e4 Small apartment living room. Went with the Bose Smart Soundbar + Bass module 500. Got them on sale for around $700. Beam + sub mini is also really good.

Just picked up a Bose smart soundbar for $300 on eBay. Wanted something compact for my apartment living room. Loving it so far, will def add a bass module though next year

Hey I just got a 75” QM6K pro from Costco as well last month! Got a Bose Smart Soundbar from Bose refurbished for $300. I’m also in an apartment and needed better vocal clarity for tv and movies. Been amazing so far. You can also get a Sonos Beam from their refurbished site for around the same price. Both are good options for your use case https://preview.redd.it/xes4nohpu28g1.jpeg?width=5712&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=eba4aa01503b57c39d634593dd984a68f73d4198

S60D, Sonos beam gen 2, Bose Smart Soundbar (have this and love it), JBL Bar 300mk2.

I’m in an apartment. Bought a Bose smart soundbar and Sonos beam gen 2, both refurbished (both were around $300). Ended up keeping the Bose as it sounded better to me, but you can’t really go wrong with either.

I love my Bose smart soundbar, but I also recently added the bass module 500. All in I paid $700. You can always add the bass module later too https://preview.redd.it/vhdh3iwvurhg1.jpeg?width=5712&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d1c40031ad2408fb3ceab502c4044bbf07bbef17

I tested out the beam gen 2 and Bose, preferred the Bose a little bit more. Can’t really go wrong with either

https://preview.redd.it/hyd0emad5dig1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ccd268c79479e93dd9b5abd463fd9eacd876c574 Bose Smart soundbar, got it for $350. Also added a bass module recently for $350. You could always get the soundbar first and add a sub later. Sonos beam is also a good choice

I got the Bose smart soundbar and I’m loving it. Feel like you can’t really go wrong with any of these options, although I haven’t heard the JBL.

I only tested the beam gen 2 and the Bose smart soundbar. I’ve heard really good things about the ambeo mini though, will def have to check it out next time I’m at the store

I live in an apartment and I picked up a Bose smart soundbar off Bose’s eBay store for $300 last month. It’s been great so far, crisp clear dialogue and quite immersive for its compact size. I think it’s $350 refurb rn and $399 new, but you can get coupon code for first time purchase on their site Other suggestions would be Sonos beam gen 2 (usually goes on sale for around $369) , JBL Bar 300MK2 at $350, and Samsung S60D. These are all good compact soundbars that’ll do good in apartments imo

I was between beam and Bose smart soundbar, ended up with the Bose but both sounded great to me.

Bose Smart Soundbar. It’s at top of your budget but you can thank me later. Selling points for your use: A.I. Dialogue - This is not a gimmick. Bose soundbars have always been particularly great with dialogue intelligibility but this a definitely a step further. I have Ultra Soundbar and this is the main reason I upgraded over my old Soundbar 700. Forgiving with unusually shaped rooms - although it does not have the calibration tool like the higher tier ultra soundbar, it will adjust to your space well. Atmos - I wouldn’t worry about not having full effect if you have weird ceiling heights. It will still sound spacious. Compact for its performance - Biggest sound from the smallest package on the market. I still would recommend getting the base module for better performance but not required. Base will be adequate on its own. Best of all - If you buy it from Bose directly, you have 90 days to return. Bonus - Bose has trade up program. When you decide upgrade several years down the line , you will get pretty good money towards the new one from Bose. I upgraded my Bose Soundbar 700 five years after purchase which I originally paid 750 bucks for. They gave me $300 for it towards Ultra upgrade. https://www.bose.com/p/home-theater/bose-smart-soundbar/SSB-SOUNDBAR.html?dwvar_SSB-SOUNDBAR_color=BLACK&quantity=1

Bose Smart Soundbar: $500, 2.21" H x 27.34" W x 4.09" D (6.909 lb), Atmos. It doesn’t have DTS but I think you are putting unnecessary emphasis on this. You will be playing uncompressed high quality sound with all supported channels. Bose speakers will always give you biggest sound from smallest package. You will have to give up either DTS or the idea of a portable soundbar. You will not find it both in the same speaker. DTS support in soundbars aren’t common unless you are getting a big and high end model. It’s a moot feature as it isn’t such a big deal as long as you can decode uncompressed sound. You really don’t need DTS and most likely wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between uncompressed LPCM and DTS. The only reason DTS is a thing only on Blu-Rays is because it lost the format war to Dolby.

Just for reference, I got used Bose TV Speakers for my parents at $50 a pop with eARC support. These are bad. Minor upgrade to your TV at best. They are worth $40 itself. Yamaha ATS soundbars from eBay are $40 refurbished and they have better sound + subwoofer out. IMO better to get premium soundbars used since they hold value like copper infused gold.

I don’t really follow the market . But for compact speakers Samsungs/LGs do have speakers with center channels (3.0 or more) which help tremendously with dialogue, something that most TV speakers struggle with. I like to get Bose for my parents just purely because they are dead simple to use, well built, and go pretty loud without the risk of permanently damaging them. Hope that helps. eBay refurbs with 20% coupons, Amazon resale clearance when they run extra % off, if you’re not too keen on hitting up facebook marketplace. But you do pay a hefty fee for convenience.

I was in your situation just 2 days ago.. After comparing the Bose smart soundbar with the Sonos Beam Gen2 in-store , I went with the Bose sound bar. I thought it sounded a little bit cleaner than the Sonos, plus the upfiring speakers was a factor for me too. It sounds amazing when playing Dolby Atmos content! Ofcourse, that's just my opinion when comparing it to the sound from my tv speakers. Im happy with my purchase and have no plans of returning it. I'd suggest going to a Bestbuy and trying out both.

We recently got the bose smart soundbar for around 38-39k, it is quite amazing compared to stock TV speakers obviously, but also other soundbars we checked out at the store. Also the sound bounces well in our TV room, the dolby atmos compatible movies are actually great to listen to. The drawback would be that it keeps you locked in to Bose ecosystem, so to get the subwoofer is like another 30k. With JBL (not sure about the others as I haven't tried them out), they include the subwoofer with it. But also, people swear by the samsung soundbars, as they own JBL as well, and probably use the best of tech in their own soundbars. Would suggest swinging by your nearest showrooms to try them out personally, really comes down to how you perceive their sound

I recently got an LG G5 with a Bose smart soundbar and couldn’t be happier.

Yes, I got the Bose smart soundbar with my new LG and eARC makes everything easier.

I love my Bose smart soundbar. So much sound for the small size and I'm amazed how it can fill a room with atmos sound. Meets all my needs and expectations.

I have a bose smart soundbar in my room and it's awesome.