Review: Bose launches its first Dolby Atmos soundbar
The new Bose Smart Soundbar 900 features Dolby Atmos, HDMI eARC, and AirPlay 2. It will be available this month in black and white for $900 / €950 / £850.All-in-one but still flexible
The new 900 replaces the 700 as Bose's top-of-the-line soundbar. It is an "all-in-one powerhouse" that can stand on its own but with flexibility to buy and wirelessly connect rear speakers ($500) and a subwoofer ($700) now or later. - "For true flexibility, the 900 works seamlessly and wirelessly with Bose bass modules and rear speakers for a more complete home theater experience; Bose smart speakers for a multi-room or whole-home system; and the new QuietComfort 45 headphones for the ultimate private watch party," said Bose.It is Bose's first soundbar with Dolby Atmos support and up-firing units for a more immersive listening experience, and it is priced just above the Sonos Arc. To enable Dolby Atmos, Bose has embraced HDMI eARC for connection to an eARC-compatible TV. The soundbar also has an old-school optical port but Atmos is not supported here. The bad news is that it lacks support for any type of DTS audio format. - "While conventional Dolby Atmos soundbars create sound “overhead,” the 900 does more. Bose PhaseGuide technology adds other dimensions just as precisely, placing and “pinning” distinct sound to the right and left where there are no speakers. So the helicopter hovers above you — while the actors run past you, not across your screen. Or the singer is standing center-left when performing — and you hear them performing center-left in your room," the company said.
Bose explained that it has been designed for movies and music, with support for Apple AirPlay 2, Bluetooth, Spotify Connect, Google Assistant, and Amazon Alexa. The Bose Smart Soundbar 900 will be available starting September 23 for $900 / €950 / £850.
Bose Smart Soundbar 900 – specifications
FlatpanelsHD
Soundbar: 2.29" H x 41.14" W x 4.21" D (12.68 lb) 5.81 cm H x 104.5 cm W x 10.7 cm D (5.75 kg) Colors: Black Arctic White Inputs: 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) Audio: Supported audio format: Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital, Dolby TrueHD Video source compatibility: HDMI ADAPTiQ audio calibration Voice4Video technology SimpleSync connectivity 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
