The first notable characteristic of the Bose Smart Soundbar 900 is its compact size when compared to most other Dolby Atmos bars in its category. Measuring at 41 inches in width and less than 3 inches in height, it’s not exactly petite, but the Sonos Arc surpasses it by 4 inches in width (and over an inch in height), while the robust Sony A7000 stretches to over 51 inches in width. Regardless of sound wave manipulation, physical constraints come into play here. Nevertheless, this soundbar is among the slimmest and least obtrusive singular Atmos systems I’ve had the opportunity to test.

Its all-black facade blends seamlessly with my black-topped TV console, while the 900’s glass top delicately shimmers in the light, allowing you to either appreciate its design or forget it’s there, depending on your perspective. Similar to Sonos and Apple, Bose has mastered the art of crafting a package that exudes the premium quality suggested by its price point. I would even venture to say that this one might possess a superior aesthetic appeal compared to most, if not all, of the soundbars I’ve evaluated.

While it might appear as a slight drawback due to its size, one of the primary criticisms of the Bose Smart Soundbar 900 is its lack of bass authority. No standalone soundbar can replicate the thunderous impact of a dedicated subwoofer, but the Sonos Arc fares better due to its substantial size and additional drivers. Sony’s HT-A7000 goes even further in emulating a subwoofer, though it still struggles to convincingly reproduce the deepest frequencies.

Even in the lower midrange, for both music and cinematic content, the Smart Soundbar 900 noticeably lacks a powerful punch. This is a consideration you must take into account, especially when juxtaposed with its more modest size. For some users, the decision may hinge on the dimensions of their room or even their TV console.

Bose’s Smart Soundbar 900 boasts a slender and exceptionally stylish design, convenience features like built-in smart capabilities and multi-room audio, and expansive sound that pleasantly fills the room far beyond what its size would imply. While it may not match the sheer scale and impact of many competing Dolby Atmos soundbars, it compensates by occupying less space and offering a contemporary aesthetic for your mantle. Though it comes with a relatively high price tag, it offers an accessible path to enter the Bose ecosystem and provides numerous compelling reasons to do so.

If you desire a larger soundstage in a larger yet similarly minimalist setup, the Sonos Arc presents an evident solution. It incorporates nearly all the features of the Smart Soundbar 900 (excluding Bluetooth) into its versatile ecosystem and serves as an overall more capable sound system. For those more inclined toward high-octane A/V experiences than versatility, Sony’s HT-A7000, while pricier, is significantly better equipped for such adventures.

The Bose 900 soundbar has an elegant and simple design. It has a glass plate at the top of the bar which gives it a more premium look. Metal grilles cover the front and power speakers on top.
Bose Soundbar 900 is a 5.0.2 configuration released in 2021. It replaces the Bose Smart Soundbar 700 and, unlike its predecessor, supports Dolby Atmos content. You can also update this setting with a compatible Bose bass module and Bose surround speakers. Its main competitors include Sonos Arc, Sony HT-A7000 and JBL Bar 9.1.

The Bose Smart Soundbar 900 has excellent build quality. It is made of high quality plastic, with metal grids on the sides of the bar to protect the conductors inside. You can also find rubber feet at the bottom of the bar to help hold it in place. There is also a glass plate on the top, which gives it a very premium feel.
The Bose 900 soundbar is a great for music. Its ADAPTiQ room correction function can automatically optimize audio playback depending on the room you are in. It has a neutral and balanced sound profile that is suitable for many different musical genres. Unfortunately, it strives to play a thundering and rumbling bass, which may disappoint fans of heavy bass genres such as EDM and hip hop. You can customize the sound using bass and treble settings, but it lacks a full EQ.
The Bose Soundbar 900 is good for dialogue focused content such as TV shows and podcasts. Thanks to its discrete central channel, it is possible to accurately locate the dialogue in a precise position in the sound image. Its balanced midrange reproduces the voice with clarity and detail, too. There is also a dialogue enhancement mode to make the voices sharper. Unfortunately, it lacks an automatic volume mode, which can be disappointing for listeners who watch a lot of TV at night.

The Bose Smart Soundbar 900 is a fairly wide soundbar that probably won’t fit between the legs of a 55″TV. That said, it’s not very high, so you shouldn’t lock the TV screen unless the TV is flush with the table.
The Bose 900 soundbar is good for movies. Its balanced midrange can reproduce the dialogue clearly, but it strives to reproduce the boom, boom bass-bass in action-packed scenes. Supports Dolby Atmos content. It also uses side-trigger speakers to represent objects when viewing surround sound content, but this doesn’t seem as engaging as a soundbar with a discrete configuration.
The Bose Smart Soundbar 900 is a standalone 5.0.2 configuration with a premium design. Unlike the Bose Smart Soundbar 700, it comes with two rising trigger controllers that support Dolby Atmos content. It performs a neutral and balanced audio profile suitable for listening to many different types of audio content, and there is also an ADAPTiQ camera correction function to optimize audio playback according to your space. While it has some bass and treble settings to help you customize your sound, unfortunately, it lacks more premium sound enhancement features like a graphic equalizer. You also struggle to play a bass-thud bass, but you can always update this setting with a Bose Bass module and Surround speakers. Photo: BOSE

Bose Smart Soundbar 900 specs:

• 2.29″ H x 41.14″ W x 4.21″ D (12.68 lb)
• Top: Premium glass
• Front: Metal grille
• Bluetooth range: up to 30 ft (9 m)
• Bluetooth version: 4.2
• HDMI eARC (enhanced Audio Return Channel)
• Optical input
• Ethernet port
• Power
• ADAPTiQ input
• USB (for service only)
• Wired bass module (optional)
• Wired IR blaster (optional)
• Bose Music app
• Supported audio format: Dolby Atmos®, Dolby Digital, Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus
• Video source compatibility: HDMI
• ADAPTiQ audio calibration
• Voice4Video™ technology
• SimpleSync™ connectivity

Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Current Price $699.00

What’s in the box

• Bose Smart Soundbar 900
• Remote control with 2 AAA batteries pre-installed
• Cleaning cloth
• ADAPTiQ headset
• Optical cable
• HDMI cable
• Power cord
• Quick start guide