The Bose Smart Soundbar adds Alexa integration to an already feature-rich Dolby Atmos soundbar. One such feature is the ability to use Bose Ultra Open Earbuds (sold separately) as surround speakers.
Pros
- Good sound quality
- Personal surround sound function
- Alexa voice assistant support
Cons
- A little expensive
- Lighter bass compared to Sony system
- Narrow soundstage
Theater bar Sony Bravia 6
The Sony Bravia is not only a fantastic soundbar with Dolby Atmos, but it's also a wireless subwoofer. It's also loaded in the features department, especially if you have a Bravia TV.
Pros
- Fuller sound than Bose
- Easy setup
- The application allows you to fine-tune
Cons
- Somewhat narrow soundstage
- Control delay when using the application
- No Alexa, AirPlay or Chromecast support.
Both have more similarities than differences. They sound good and deliver impressive spatial audio, including the ability to convert a stereo mix (like music) into Dolby Atmos virtual format. However, both have a narrow soundstage and could be considered expensive for what they offer.
When it comes to searching best soundbar For a small room, the Sony Bravia Theater Bar 6 and Bose Smart Soundbar are excellent options. But one is likely to suit your specific needs better than the other.
Bose Smart Soundbar vs Sony Bravia Theater Bar 6: Price
From a pricing point of view, Theater bar Sony Bravia 6 this is the more expensive model at US$649.00 / £449.00 / AU$899. However, it is currently priced at $498. Amazon and has fallen to that price or below three times in the past year.
Bose Smart Soundbar isn't that heavy on the wallet, although its $499.00 / £499.95 / AU$799.95 price tag isn't exactly low. Since its release, the price has dropped to $399 at many retailers, making it seemingly the cheaper model of the two.
The Sony Bravia Theater Bar 6 comes with a subwoofer, making it a better value even though it has a higher price tag. Bose can be paired with one of the company's wireless subwoofers (sold separately), although the cheapest option on offer is the Bose Bass Module 500, which retails for $549 / £449.95 / AU$699.95. It's still a pretty expensive package.
Bose Smart Soundbar vs Sony Bravia Theater Bar 6: Specifications
| Header Cell – Column 0 |
Bose Smart Soundbar |
Theater bar Sony Bravia 6 |
|---|---|---|
|
Dimensions |
27.34 x 2.21 x 4.01 inches (694 x 56 x 102 mm) |
Plank: 37.5 x 2.63 x 4.38 in / 950 x 64 x 110 mm, (optional) 8.27 x 15.28 x 15.28 in / 210 x 388 x 388 mm |
|
Speaker channels |
3.0.2 |
3.1.2 |
|
Connections |
1x HDMI (with eARC), optical, Bluetooth, USB, aux out, IR |
1x HDMI (with eARC), optical, Bluetooth, USB, IR |
|
Dolby Atmos/DTS:X |
Not really |
Yes/Yes |
|
Subwoofer included |
No |
Yes |
|
Functions |
Airplay 2, Spotify Connect, Chromecast Built-in, AI Conversation Mode, Personal Surround Sound via Bose Ultra Open Headphones, Bose TrueSpace, App Support |
Bravia Sync, DSEE, application support |
Bose Smart Soundbar vs Sony Bravia Theater Bar 6: Features
Both models have support for Dolby Atmos (as well as DTS:X on Sony), conversational and night modes, spatial audio scaling and Bluetooth connectivity, but each also has completely unique features.
For Sony, these are features that integrate with some Bravia TVs, such as an AI-powered dialogue enhancer and the ability to use the TV's remote control to control soundbar functions beyond just volume levels. Of course, you'll need one of these TVs to access these features.
The Bose Smart Soundbar can be paired with Bose Ultra Open Headphones. for use as rear speakers in a surround sound system with a soundbar – an interesting feature that also requires an additional purchase. You can also use them to listen to wireless audio from the soundbar when the soundbar itself is muted.
The Bose Smart Soundbar supports Alexa and Chromecast for further integration with other devices. When I tested this soundbar, it was the only Alexa device in my room, and I spoke to it just like I would to Amazon Echo speaker
Winner: Bose Smart Soundbar
Bose Smart Soundbar vs Sony Bravia Theater Bar 6: Design
The Bose Smart Soundbar may have a more impressive feature set, but it falls short of the Sony in terms of design. It looks a little more boxy and doesn't have bass-only speakers or an external subwoofer like the Sony, although at least it has a subwoofer output.
The Sony Bravia Theater Bar 6 is about ten inches wider than the Bose and looks a little more interesting thanks to its rounded corners. And not only does it have a subwoofer, but it also connects wirelessly.
It's also worth noting that while both soundbars are Dolby Atmos models, the upward-firing speakers are positioned slightly differently. Bose has two speakers located next to each other in the center of the device, while Sony has two speakers on opposite ends. When I reviewed them, I didn't notice much of a difference in the width of the spatial audio presentation, but it's worth mentioning. It's also worth mentioning that Sony's upward-firing speakers are tilted forward slightly to bounce sound off the ceiling more directly to the listener's ears.
Winner: Sony Bravia 6 Theater Bar.
Bose Smart Soundbar vs Sony Bravia Theater Bar 6: Performance
When it comes to sound, the Sony Bravia Theater Bar 6 and Bose Smart Soundbar have a lot of positives, but there are also some negatives. Whether you choose Sony or Bose, you'll get a well-balanced midrange as well as crisp highs. But when I tested these soundbars, I found that the soundstage of both of them was quite narrow.
These two options differ most in the lower price segment. I've mentioned the Sony Bravia Theater Bar 6 subwoofer (many times) and it makes a huge difference. While both soundbars are designed for small or slightly smaller rooms, the Sony subwoofer delivers a more powerful home theater experience.
Thanks to the Bose Smart Soundbar, the bass doesn't drop very low, so it doesn't have that rumble that the Sony creates during fast-paced scenes in movies. When I tested and boosted the bass level, it leaked into the midrange, creating a somewhat unbalanced, bass-heavy sound.
Winner: Sony Bravia 6 Theater Bar.
Bose Smart Soundbar vs Sony Bravia Theater Bar 6: Verdict
I really like both the Sony Bravia Theater Bar 6 and the Bose Smart Soundbar. But they work better in different situations. While both options are good choices for a small setup, the Sony Bravia Theater Bar 6 provides a home theater feel thanks to the included subwoofer. It has a solid feature set, but some of those features require a connection to a specific Sony Bravia TV to unlock.
On the other hand, the Bose Smart Soundbar adds Alexa and Google smart home support, which some will find more useful. If you're willing to spend more, you can add a subwoofer or Bose Ultra Open headphones to use as surround speakers. The last feature is a really cool feature, although unfortunately it costs an extra $200.
Winner: Sony Bravia Theater Bar 6 for sound and Bose Smart Soundbar for features.
Do you have any of these soundbars? If yes, then let's hear your opinion about them in the comments!
