Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar: Sleek, smart, and cinematic — but is it worth the price?
The Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar put you in the centre of your music or movies. Pictures: Bose.
Due to the ultra-thin design of modern TVs, it’s impossible to fit great speakers inside, so it’s unsurprising that so many people are spending extra to upgrade their sound experience. The most convenient way to upgrade your lacklustre built-in speakers is with a soundbar — a sleek, space-saving solution that dramatically enhances your audio quality. A good soundbar can transform your TV watching into a theatre-like experience with richer bass, clearer dialogue, and an enveloping soundstage. The Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar combines cutting-edge technology with elegant design.
The Smart Ultra has a sleek, minimalist design. It’s compact enough to fit seamlessly under most TVs while still looking modern and stylish. At 5.82cm high, 104.5cm wide, and 10.7cm deep, its slim profile doesn’t dominate your entertainment setup.
The build quality is excellent, with a sturdy, heavyweight design weighing 5.8kg. The low profile integrated nicely into my 65-inch LG TV, and Bose says it should work with TVs 50 inches or larger.
The top surface features a premium glass finish that is surprisingly resistant to smudges, while the front is wrapped in a metal grille. There’s no display. Instead, an LED light strip provides subtle feedback for volume adjustments and microphone activity. The lack of a display is a little irksome. I like seeing information like volume level, input, and the sound type encoded, such as Dolby Atmos.
I placed the soundbar on a small table under my wall-mounted TV for testing. However, if you want to wall-mount the soundbar, no mounting brackets are included, although Bose sells them for an additional €40.
The Smart Ultra is equipped with Bose’s proprietary TrueSpace technology, creating a wide, immersive soundstage that mimics surround sound without additional speakers. Being a virtual surround system, as good as it is, doesn't compare to actual surround speakers. However, many users will be more than happy with Bose’s TrueSpace sound tech, but those looking for a near theatre experience can add Bose Surround (€400) or Bose Surround 700 (€600) speakers to the mix. Unfortunately, I only received the soundbar on its own for this review, so I can’t specify how good the full-blown system is.
The soundbar shines with cinematic content, offering a spacious soundstage and clear dialogue. Action scenes feel dynamic, but the absence of a dedicated subwoofer prevents the visceral thud of explosions or the rumble of deep soundtracks.
Music playback is well-balanced and detailed, with vocals and instruments rendered beautifully. Tracks across various genres sound rich, though the bass may fall short for those who enjoy a deeper, punchier sound.
Regardless of how great a movie is, there’s nothing worse than being unable to hear the dialogue. Who hates constantly turning up the volume for dialogue and then turning it down for action sequences? Bose’s Dialogue mode ensures crystal-clear speech, making it ideal for dialogue-heavy content or those struggling with muffled audio in films and TV shows, whether it’s a quiet conversation in a drama or rapid exchanges in an action film, voices cut through the mix with clarity.
On the downside, the bass is adequate but underwhelming for a device in this price range. While it delivers balanced and controlled low-end performance, it lacks the impactful depth that enhances movie explosions or bass-heavy music. Those who crave a richer bass experience might want to pair it with the Bose Bass 500 (€500) or Bose Bass Module 700 (€600).
Bose has packed this soundbar with smart features, including Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant support, for hands-free operation. The far-field microphones are impressively sensitive, picking up commands even during audio playback.
The soundbar supports HDMI eARC for high-quality audio transmission and offers various streaming options, including Apple AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi. This ensures compatibility with virtually any device or service you use.
Unfortunately, there’s only a single HDMI port, which is disappointing for a soundbar in this price category. There are additional ports for Ethernet, optical, ADAPTiQ, wired bass module (optional), and wired IR blaster (optional).
The Bose Music app makes the setup easy, with sound customisation and control via smartphone. The app walks you through everything from setting up Wi-Fi to configuring voice assistants. HDMI CEC compatibility allows you to control the soundbar with your TV remote, simplifying day-to-day use.
It also supports Bose SimpleSync, letting you pair the soundbar with other Bose devices — whether for private listening with headphones or creating a multi-room audio setup. I tested this feature with the Bose Open Buds Ultra, and while they did add to the experience, they’re not as good as actual surround speakers. Also, you can only pair one set to the soundbar, and unless you have a pair already, I wouldn’t buy them just for this feature. Your money would be better spent on getting the Bose surround speakers instead.
The Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar is a sophisticated and capable addition to any home entertainment system. It excels in dialogue clarity and offers an expansive soundstage for an immersive listening experience, particularly for films, TV shows, and music. Its smart features and sleek design make it an excellent option for those seeking a modern, integrated solution.
The Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar offers a lot at its premium price point. However, the need to purchase add-ons like the Bass Module 700 or additional surround speakers to unlock its full potential could be a turn-off for some. Competing products like the JBL Bar 1000 in this range include a subwoofer and detachable rear speakers. If you value simplicity, sleek design, and immersive audio in a compact package, the Bose Smart Soundbar is worth considering. Just be prepared to invest in additional accessories to unlock its full potential.
Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar €1,000 Bose.ie
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