Short answer: the Sonos Beam (Gen 2). It ranks #9 of 27 all-in-one soundbars by sound quality, rated 3.7/5, at $488; the Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar ranks #12, rated 3.5/5, and costs $649, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
What the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) does well: 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.
Why pick the Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar: The Smart Ultra keeps voices front and center, and its AI Dialogue mode helps with mumbled lines. The tradeoff: Bass is thin for a bar this size until you add a Bose bass module.
Buy the Sonos Beam (Gen 2). It is rated higher for sound quality than the Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar and costs less, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one does better.
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 Ultra keeps voices front and center, and its AI Dialogue mode helps with mumbled lines.
Prices on this page were last checked November 2, 2026 at 11:36 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
Specifications Side By Side
| Sonos Beam (Gen 2) | Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $488.00 | $649.00 |
| Ranked | #9 of 27 in All-in-One Soundbars | #12 of 27 in All-in-One Soundbars |
| App | Yes (Sonos) | Yes (Bose) |
| Aux Input | No | - |
| Bluetooth | No | Yes |
| Channels | 5.0 | 5.0.2 |
| DTS:X | No | No |
| Dimensions | 2.7”H x 25.6”W x 3.9”D (68 x 651 x 100 mm) | 2.3”H x 41.1”W x 4.2”D (58 x 1045 x 107 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: 9 drivers (2 up-firing dipole transducers, 1 center tweeter, 6 racetrack transducers) |
| 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) | Yes (ADAPTiQ) |
| Voice Assistants | Alexa, Sonos Voice Control | Alexa |
| Weight | 6.4 lbs (2.9 kg) | 12.8 lbs (5.8 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.
Related Soundbar Comparisons
How Sonos Beam (Gen 2) compares with other leading options: