Short answer: the Sonos Beam (Gen 2). It ranks #9 of 27 all-in-one soundbars by sound quality, rated 3.7/5, at $489; the Bose Smart Soundbar ranks #14, rated 3.4/5, and costs $549, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The Sonos Beam (Gen 2) is the better-sounding choice. The Beam fits under smaller TVs yet sounds balanced and clear, with dialogue that stays easy to follow. Watch for: Atmos height is simulated rather than fired at the ceiling, so overhead effects are subtle.
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. Watch for: Bass is light, so action scenes lack weight without a Bose bass module.
Buy the Sonos Beam (Gen 2). It is rated higher for sound quality than the Bose Smart Soundbar and costs less, so it is the default pick unless a specific strength of the other one matters more to you.
Still deciding? The full TV Soundbars rankings cover every ranked option.
The Beam fits under smaller TVs yet sounds balanced and clear, with dialogue that stays easy to follow.
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
| Sonos Beam (Gen 2) | Bose Smart Soundbar | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $489.00 | $549.00 |
| Ranked | #9 of 27 in All-in-One Soundbars | #14 of 27 in All-in-One Soundbars |
| App | Yes (Sonos) | Yes (Bose) |
| Aux Input | No | - |
| Bluetooth | No | Yes |
| Channels | 5.0 | 3.0.2 |
| DTS:X | No | No |
| Dimensions | 2.7”H x 25.6”W x 3.9”D (68 x 651 x 100 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: 5 drivers (1 tweeter, 4 elliptical midwoofers) plus 3 passive radiators | Bar: 5 drivers (2 up-firing dipole transducers, 2 side-firing racetrack transducers, 1 center tweeter) |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| HDMI eARC | Yes | Yes |
| Included Subwoofer | None (optional Sonos Sub or Sub Mini) | None (optional Bose Bass Module 500 or 700) |
| Optical Input | Yes | Yes |
| Rear Speakers | Optional (Sonos Era 100 or One SL) | Optional (Bose Surround Speakers or Surround Speakers 700) |
| Room Correction | Yes (Trueplay) | No |
| Voice Assistants | Alexa, Sonos Voice Control | Alexa |
| Weight | 6.4 lbs (2.9 kg) | 6.8 lbs (3.1 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes (AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, Sonos app streaming) | Yes (AirPlay 2, Chromecast, Spotify Connect) |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 5.0 |
Watch Them Compared
Videos and reviews that test both speakers side by side.
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