Bose Smart Soundbar

The Bose Smart Soundbar is the compact model in Bose’s current range, aimed at a normal living room rather than a dedicated cinema.

Bose’s approach has always been processing rather than speaker count: getting a wide, enveloping sound from a single bar using psychoacoustic techniques instead of physical surround speakers. Whether that suits you is a matter of taste, and it is worth hearing before buying.

What Apple Home actually does with it

This is an AirPlay 2 device rather than a HomeKit accessory.

• It appears in the Home app as a speaker you can play to, and as an AirPlay target in Control Centre.
• You can put it in a room and group it with HomePods for synchronised multi-room audio.
• Siri can send music to it by room name.
• It can be the audio output in a scene or an automation.

Television sound does not go through Apple Home at all. That arrives over HDMI ARC or optical from the television, and the soundbar’s own remote and app control the modes and the volume.

Before you buy

Bose sells matching wireless subwoofers and surround speakers that pair to the bar. Starting with the bar alone and adding a subwoofer later is a reasonable plan, and the subwoofer usually makes more difference than the surrounds.

Measure the space under the television. A bar that blocks the screen or the remote sensor is a daily irritation.

The Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar is the larger model with more processing.

Specifications