Soundbars · Ranked #7 of 10 · Best for Clearest dialogue

Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar

79
Mixed
Average of 7 professional reviews
5 of 7 recommend it · critics split
Where the 7 reviews landedRange 60–90
Score printed by the outlet Estimated from the verdict

Exact average 78.9 · 5 printed, 2 estimated · printed scores only: 78

Bose Smart Ultra SoundbarImage: Bose

7 professional reviewers tested the Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar, and 5 recommend it. Most praised: sound quality and build quality. Most common complaint: call quality.

Reviewed by Homes and Gardens, CNET, Tom's Guide and 4 more

The catch: Less impressive with music.

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What 7 critics said

Highest score first · all converted to 0–100
  1. 90
    Homes and GardensHands-on review · 2025

    Delivers balanced, detailed sound with convincing surround effects and an easy app.

    Read Homes and Gardens review
  2. 82
    CNETBuying guide · 2024

    Names it the best single soundbar under $1,000 for movies and music, beating the Sonos Arc in his tests.

    Read CNET review
  3. 80
    Tom's GuideRated 4/5 · Hands-on review

    A solid Dolby Atmos soundbar with clear dialogue and easy setup, though it has HDMI CEC trouble and strained bass.

    Read Tom's Guide review
  4. 80
    How-To GeekHands-on review · 2023

    A simple-to-use soundbar with full room-filling sound and useful extras.

    Read How-To Geek review
  5. 60
    What Hi-Fi?Hands-on review · 2024

    Well built with an expansive soundstage, but a congested midrange, harsh highs and weak dynamics leave it behind rivals at this price.

    Read What Hi-Fi? review
  6. 83est.
    Trusted ReviewsNo printed score · Hands-on review · 2024

    A strong one-box Atmos soundbar with punchy, spacious sound, held back by random audio dropouts and missing DTS support.

    Read Trusted Reviews review
  7. 77est.
    Expert ReviewsNo printed score · Hands-on review · 2023

    Premium build, detailed wide sound and good controls, but little height or punch.

    Read Expert Reviews review

"Est." means the outlet printed no score, so we estimated one from its verdict and checked our estimates against ratings outlets print. How we check estimates

What critics praise most

Sound quality7 of 7
Build quality3 of 7

What critics dislike most

Call quality2 of 7

Other soundbars critics rate highly

Samsung HW-Q990FImage: Samsung
Top pick, narrowlySamsung HW-Q990F11 reviews · broad agreement89
Sonos Beam UltraImage: Sonos
Best compact Atmos soundbarSonos Beam Ultra4 reviews · broad agreement89
Sonos Arc UltraImage: Sonos
Most reviewed pickSonos Arc Ultra21 reviews · broad agreement88
Sonos Beam (Gen 2)Image: Sonos
Mid-size roomsSonos Beam (Gen 2)12 reviews · critics agree85

Compare head to head

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Common questions

Is the Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar worth it?

Most critics think so: 5 of 7 recommend it. Less impressive with music.

Do critics agree about the Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar?

Critics split: scores range from 60 (What Hi-Fi?) to 90 (Homes and Gardens), a spread of 30 points across 7 reviews. Reviewers disagree, so read the individual reviews before buying.

What do critics dislike about the Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar?

Call quality (2 of 7 reviews).

What is the best alternative to the Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar?

The Samsung HW-Q990F (critic score 89), top pick, narrowly.