Why You Can Trust CNET Bose Smart Soundbar 600 Takes on Sonos Beam for Atmos Playback
Move over Sonos Beam, Bose now has its own Dolby Atmos soundbar under $500.
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Bose has unveiled one of the most affordable Dolby Atmos soundbars yet: the $499 Smart Soundbar 600.
The 600 is a cut-down version of the Smart Soundbar 900, which is itself a competitor to the Sonos Arc, but functionality is mostly the same -- smart, home theater sound with Dolby Atmos and music streaming.
Unlike even cheaper models with virtual height effects -- such as the Denon DHT-S217 or the Sonos Beam -- the Bose offers physical height drivers, which is preferable. The Bose offers five drivers in total -- two angled fronts, a center tweeter for dialog and two upfiring transducers.
The Bose offers plenty of connectivity including HDMI, optical, Wi-Fi, Chromecast and Bluetooth. Like Sonos, the soundbar offers a choice of onboard Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant for voice control. Users can also control their music with the Bose Music app. The soundbar also includes Bose SimpleSync to pair the soundbar with compatible Bose headphones or Bluetooth speakers.
The soundbar is medium-sized at 2.2-inches tall -- which should allow clearance for your TV's IR sensor -- as well as 4.1-inches deep, and measures 27-inches along the front of your TV.
When I reviewed the Smart Soundbar 900 last year, I found that it offered a similar experience to the Sonos Arc, though with a less comprehensive streaming suite. I expect the Smart Soundbar 600 will perform similarly to the Sonos Beam, while the Bose's physical heights may help give it an edge.
The Bose Smart Soundbar 600 can be pre-ordered on Bose.com for $499 and will be available on Oct. 20.