ZDNET Key Takeaways

• The new Bose Smart Soundbar is available for $499
• This soundbar offers premium features like AirPlay, Dolby Atmos, and unique integration with Bose headphones
• Its outstanding software features can be hit or miss.

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These days, a soundbar is an essential part of your home TV setup. If your TV speakers aren’t doing the trick, but investing in a sound system is too big of an expense or commitment, you’re probably in the market for a soundbar.

Although soundbars are an alternative for budget-conscious home theater fanatics, a potential buyer might assume that the larger the soundbar, the better the audio experience. But that’s not always the case, and Bose proves it. The last of Bose Smart soundbar debuts with a compact form factor, numerous high-quality audio features and exclusive functionality Bose Ultra Open Headphoneswhich I will discuss later.

Also: I Changed These 5 Soundbar Settings for a Better TV Watching (and Audio) Experience

The new Smart Soundbar is an updated version of the Bose Smart Soundbar 600. It has the same dimensions, connectivity and speakers as the 600. Two software features distinguish the new Smart Soundbar from the older Smart Soundbar 600.

The first software feature, AI Dialogue Mode, uses machine learning to adjust the tonal balance of your audio. As a result, the soundbar will enhance or minimize lower or higher frequency sounds in real time to help you hear dialogue more clearly.

The AI ​​dialogue did not compromise the volume or intensity of the explosions or musical stings while I watched Twists. And as the violent winds of the film’s tornadoes swept through the city, I could still hear what Glen Powell was saying through his character’s thick country accent.

Also: Bose Ultra Open review

During Monday Night Football broadcasts, the AI ​​dialogue feature made the broadcasters’ voices sound strange, forced, and unnatural, unless fans in the stadium muffled their voices. This feature is useful, but only when you have real difficulty hearing voices from the speakers.

Historically, soundbar software features were reserved for the TV you connected to it, but companies are looking for new ways to integrate users’ headphones into their home audio experience beyond just connecting the two via Bluetooth.

Earlier this year, Sonos launched the Sonos Ace Headphoneswhich debuted with a feature called TV Audio Swap. This feature is compatible with select Sonos soundbars and exchanges audio from the soundbar to the headphones to provide the user with a private and immersive viewing experience.

Also: Sonos just introduced TV Audio Swap to more devices. Here’s why it’s my favorite headset feature of all time

Bose responded with a similar idea, integrating the Bose Ultra Open headphones into the user experience of the new Smart Soundbar. The Ultra Open are open earphones that provide users with an unobstructed listening experience, so their integration with the soundbar is unique.

Bose’s new Personal Surround Sound feature engages the Ultra Open to act as the rear surround speakers when using the Smart Soundbar. You can enable this feature in the Bose app, and I used it while streaming I can’t get enough by J. Cole on the soundbar via AirPlay.

Unlike Sonos’ TV Audio Swap, Bose Personal Surround Sound doesn’t mute the soundbar once the headphones enter chat. You can still hear the soundbar clearly, thanks to the open design of the earcups, and the earbuds provide subtle amplification to the soundbar’s audio output. And it’s very subtle.

Otherwise, the new Smart Soundbar comes with AirPlay, Bluetooth, Spotify Connect, and built-in Chromecast and Roku TV. Amazon’s Alexa and Google’s voice assistant are compatible with the soundbar, and Dolby Atmos is available.

Also: What is spatial audio? Here’s everything you need to know

If your TV doesn’t have an eARC port, which encodes audio in Dolby Atmos, Bose’s new soundbar comes equipped with Bose TrueSpace processing. This feature processes non-Atmos audio and adds more height and depth to the audio through the upward-firing speakers, enhancing the immersive experience. You can plug the included optical audio cord into your TV and download the Bose app to adjust the height of the audio channels.

ZDNET’s purchasing advice

The new Bose smart soundbar is a great way to upgrade your home audio setup in a compact and inexpensive way. Bose’s latest soundbar offers some of the same audio features as the Sonos Arc and Sennheiser Ambeo soundbars for at least $400 less.

If you have a small space or want a new, high-quality soundbar at a lower price, Bose has you covered. The Smart Soundbar is smaller than you think, and its sleek, unpretentious design blends into any interior design aesthetic.

That said, you don’t need to buy the Ultra open earphones to get the most out of this soundbar. The Personal Surround Sound feature is nice if you already own the Ultra Open and are considering this soundbar. However, this feature adds so little to the overall user and listening experience that it’s not worth spending an extra $300 on the headphones. For $100 more you can buy a pair of Bose surround speakers.