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Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar

Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar

By Bose · Soundbars · Desk & Streaming Setup · More from Bose

  • Dolby Atmos with Bose TrueSpace
  • A.I
  • One HDMI eARC input and optical output
  • 1045mm wide, 58mm tall, 107mm deep
  • Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Apple AirPlay 2, Chromecast, Spotify Connect

Price not listed

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Problems, parts and running costs

Summary

A slim one-piece Dolby Atmos soundbar for TV watchers who want better sound without a subwoofer or rear speakers. Check the bass before you buy: without a subwoofer the low end is punchy rather than deep, and every reviewer says a Bose bass module is what unlocks satisfying sound.

Strengths

  • Detailed height and width effects from a single bar, with precise horizontal panning on film soundtracks.
  • Dialogue is clear, and A.I. Dialogue Mode lifts buried speech in difficult mixes.
  • Slim, low-profile cabinet that fits under most TVs.
  • ADAPTiQ room calibration is included, and reviewers say it produces more balanced results.
  • Alexa built in, plus AirPlay 2, Chromecast and Spotify Connect for streaming.
  • Expandable later with a Bose bass module or surround speakers.

Weaknesses

  • Bass without a subwoofer is limited — punchy rather than deep; every reviewer flags it.
  • A.I. Dialogue Mode can sound harsh and upset the bar’s tonal balance.
  • Music sounds weaker than movies, with a congested midrange and compressed dynamics on some material.
  • No DTS or DTS:X, so those soundtracks fall back to Dolby.
  • No Google Assistant on board and no volume buttons on the bar itself.
  • At list price it costs more than rival systems that include a subwoofer and surrounds.

Verified specifications

Channels5.1.2 with nine drivers — three tweeters plus six racetrack full-range drivers, two of them firing upward.
Audio formatsDolby Atmos, Dolby Digital, Dolby TrueHD and Dolby Digital Plus; no DTS or DTS:X.
HDMIone HDMI eARC input, with no extra HDMI inputs for sources.
Other wiredoptical digital input limited to 5.1 channels, Ethernet, a USB-C service port, and 3.5 mm jacks for the bass module, data, infrared and the ADAPTiQ headset.
WirelessWi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, Apple AirPlay 2, Google Chromecast built-in and Spotify Connect.
Streaming in the appSpotify Connect, Amazon Music and Deezer; no Tidal Connect, so Tidal plays over Bluetooth only.
VoiceAmazon Alexa built in; Google Assistant needs a separate Google device.
CalibrationADAPTiQ with the included headset, run from the Bose Music app at up to five listening positions.
AppBose Music app required for full setup; no EQ presets, but separate bass, treble, centre and height level controls.
Expandabilitypairs wirelessly with a Bose Bass Module 500 or Bass Module 700, or a wired subwoofer through the 3.5 mm bass jack; Bose Surround Speakers or Surround Speakers 700 add rear channels.
Remoteincluded remote with power, volume, source, mute and play/pause.
Wall mountoptional bracket; the bar has no keyholes.
ColorsBlack and Arctic White.
Dimensions41.1 × 4.2 × 2.3 in (105 × 5.8 × 11 cm); 12.68 lb (5.8 kg).
In the boxsoundbar, remote control, ADAPTiQ calibration headset and power cable.
Full research notes and sources

Bass and the optional modules

The bass caveat is universal across the professional tests: without a subwoofer the low end is punchy rather than thumpy, and every outlet recommends budgeting for a bass module. Bose’s wireless Bass Module 500 is $499 and the Bass Module 700 is $849, while Bose Surround Speakers are $399 and the Surround Speakers 700 are $599. The optional wall bracket is $39.99. Buyers who want deep low end or a full surround effect should price those in from the start, or look at a rival system with a subwoofer and rears included.

Dolby Atmos, formats and connections

The bar handles Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital, Dolby TrueHD and Dolby Digital Plus, but not DTS or DTS:X. Full Atmos needs HDMI eARC; the optical input is limited to 5.1 channels. There is one HDMI eARC port and no additional HDMI inputs for sources, so you switch devices at the TV rather than the bar. Wireless covers Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, AirPlay 2, Chromecast built-in and Spotify Connect, and there is a USB-C service port plus Ethernet for a wired network.

Setup, app and controls

Full setup runs through the Bose Music app: Wi-Fi, Alexa, casting, ADAPTiQ calibration and accessory pairing all happen there, so long-term features depend on Bose app and firmware updates. The included ADAPTiQ headset measures the room at up to five listening positions, and reviewers say it works well. There are no EQ presets, but you get separate bass, treble, centre and height level controls. The bar itself has no volume buttons — only a mic mute switch and an action button — so volume comes from the remote, the app, or your TV remote over HDMI CEC.

Is it worth it?

CNET scored it 8.2/10 and cited the Sonos Arc at $719 and the Vizio Elevate at $600 as better-value options. PCMag named it an Editors’ Choice for its height imaging and large sound field. What Hi-Fi was the toughest, scoring the sound below the build and features and judging the Sonos Arc clearer and more refined at the same price. At street prices such as the $690.43 at Best Buy and $999 at Walmart and Crutchfield seen when the reviews were published, it makes more sense for buyers who specifically want a slim, feature-rich one-piece bar and accept the bass limitation.

Which model this is

This is the Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar, Bose’s 2023 flagship one-piece bar and the successor to the Smart Soundbar 900, sold in Black and Arctic White. The Amazon listing is ASIN B0C548MYF3. Don’t confuse it with the newer Bose Lifestyle Ultra Soundbar, a different 2026 product sold with a subwoofer, or with the Smart Soundbar 900, 600 or 300.

Sources

Manufacturer:

Independent reviews:

Owner reports:

  • No owner threads were collected for this bar; the sections above rest on the professional tests listed.

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