Short answer: the JBL Bar 300MK2. It ranks #11 of 27 all-in-one soundbars by sound quality, rated 3.6/5, at $449.95. The Bose Smart Soundbar ranks #14, rated 3.4/5, at $399, $50.95 cheaper, a saving that is not big enough to make up the sound-quality gap.
Why pick the JBL Bar 300MK2: For a slim single bar it produces surprisingly deep, room-filling bass, so films have weight without a separate sub. The catch: The surround and height effects are processed, so sound rarely seems to come from above.
What the Bose Smart Soundbar does well: The Smart Soundbar puts real up-firing drivers into a compact bar, so it sounds more open than its size suggests. The catch: Bass is light, so action scenes lack weight without a Bose bass module.
Buy the JBL Bar 300MK2. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $50.95 with the Bose Smart Soundbar does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
Still deciding? The full TV Soundbars rankings cover every ranked option.
For a slim single bar it produces surprisingly deep, room-filling bass, so films have weight without a separate sub.
The Smart Soundbar puts real up-firing drivers into a compact bar, so it sounds more open than its size suggests.
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Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Bar 300MK2 | Bose Smart Soundbar | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $449.95 | $399.00 |
| Ranked | #11 of 27 in All-in-One Soundbars | #14 of 27 in All-in-One Soundbars |
| Amplifier Power | 450W max (225W RMS) | - |
| App | Yes (JBL ONE) | Yes (Bose) |
| Aux Input | No | - |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.0 |
| Channels | 5.0 | 3.0.2 |
| DTS:X | Virtual:X | No |
| Dimensions | 2”H x 37”W x 4.1”D (50 x 940 x 104 mm) | 2.2”H x 27.3”W x 4.1”D (56 x 694 x 104 mm) |
| Dolby Atmos | Virtual (decodes Atmos, no up-firing drivers) | Yes (up-firing drivers) |
| Drivers | Bar: 9 drivers (5 x 42x80 mm racetrack woofers, 4 x 0.75” tweeters) | Bar: 5 drivers (2 up-firing dipole transducers, 2 side-firing racetrack transducers, 1 center tweeter) |
| HDMI Input | 1 | No |
| HDMI eARC | Yes | Yes |
| Included Subwoofer | Built-in | None (optional Bose Bass Module 500 or 700) |
| Optical Input | Yes | Yes |
| Rear Speakers | No | Optional (Bose Surround Speakers or Surround Speakers 700) |
| Room Correction | Yes (Easy Sound Calibration) | No |
| Voice Assistants | No | Alexa |
| Weight | 6.4 lbs (2.9 kg) | 6.8 lbs (3.1 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes (AirPlay 2, Chromecast, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect) | Yes (AirPlay 2, Chromecast, Spotify Connect) |
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