Bose Smart Soundbar vs Sony Bravia Theater Bar 6: which Dolby Atmos soundbar is right for you?

There’s a good chance that your TV needs a soundbar (most do), and if so, you should be considering a Dolby Atmos model. The Sony Bravia Theater Bar 6 and the Bose Smart Soundbar are just two of the many soundbars with Atmos compatibility, and they’re both among the more capable and feature-packed ones available.

Sony and Bose each earned a 4.5-star overall rating from me when I reviewed them, though there are crucial differences. The Sony Bravia Theater Bar 6 has a fuller sound thanks to a wireless subwoofer and it also has some Sony Bravia TV-specific features. The Bose Smart Soundbar adds in Alexa integration as well as a unique wireless surround feature when used with Bose Ultra Open earbuds.

Both have more similarities than differences. They sound good and deliver impressive spatial audio, including the ability to upscale a stereo mix (like music) into a virtual Dolby Atmos experience. Both have a narrow soundstage, however, and could be considered pricey for what’s on offer.

When it comes to finding the best soundbar for a smaller room, the Sony Bravia Theater Bar 6 and Bose Smart Soundbar are both great options. But one is likely to fit your specific needs better than the other.

Bose Smart Soundbar vs Sony Bravia Theater Bar 6: price

In terms of pricing, the Sony Bravia Theater Bar 6 is the more expensive model at $649.00 / £449.00 / AU$899. However, it’s currently discounted to $498 on Amazon and has dropped to that price or lower three times over the last year.

The Bose Smart Soundbar is not as heavy on the wallet, though its $499.00 / £499.95 / AU$799.95 price isn’t exactly low. Since its release, it seems to have dropped to $399 at many retailers, making it the seemingly cheaper model of the two.

The Sony Bravia Theater Bar 6 does come with a subwoofer, a factor that makes it look like the better value, even with its higher price. The Bose can be paired with one of the company’s wireless subwoofers (sold separately), though the cheapest suggested option is the Bose Bass Module 500, which retails for $549 / £449.95 / AU$699.95. That still adds up to a pretty pricey package.

Bose Smart Soundbar vs Sony Bravia Theater Bar 6: specs

Bose Smart Soundbar vs Sony Bravia Theater Bar 6: Features

Both models have Dolby Atmos support (and also DTS:X on the Sony), dialog and night sound modes, spatial audio upscaling, and Bluetooth connectivity, but each also has distinctly unique features.

For the Sony, it’s the features that integrate with select Bravia TVs, such as an AI-powered dialog booster and the ability to use the TV remote to control soundbar functions beyond just volume level. Of course, you have to own one of those specific TVs to access those features.

The Bose Smart Soundbar can pair with the Bose Ultra Open earbuds for use as rear speakers in a surround sound setup with the soundbar, an exciting feature that also requires an additional purchase. You can also use these to listen to audio beamed wirelessly from the soundbar while the soundbar itself is muted.

The Bose Smart Soundbar has Alexa and Chromecast support, allowing for further integration with other devices. When testing this soundbar, it was the only Alexa device in my room, and I would talk to it like I would to an Amazon Echo speaker.

Winner: Bose Smart Soundbar

Bose Smart Soundbar vs Sony Bravia Theater Bar 6: Design

The Bose Smart Soundbar may have the more impressive feature set, but it comes up short of the Sony when it comes to design. It’s a bit boxier looking, and doesn’t have any bass-only drivers or an external subwoofer like the Sony, though it does at least come with a subwoofer output

The Sony Bravia Theater Bar 6 is wider than the Bose by about ten inches and looks a little more interesting with its curved corners. And not only does it come with a subwoofer, but the sub connects wirelessly.

It’s also worth noting that despite both soundbars being Dolby Atmos models, the upward-firing speakers are situated slightly differently. Bose has the two drivers sitting next to each other in the center of the unit, while Sony’s are situated on opposite ends. I didn’t notice much of a difference in the width of the spatial audio presentation when I reviewed them, but it’s worth mentioning. Also worth mentioning is that the upward-firing speakers on the Sony are angled forward a little bit so that the sound bounces off the ceiling towards the listener’s ears more directly.

Winner: Sony Bravia Theater Bar 6

Bose Smart Soundbar vs Sony Bravia Theater Bar 6: Performance

For sound, the Sony Bravia Theater Bar 6 and the Bose Smart Soundbar share a lot of positives but also some negatives. Whether you go with the Sony or the Bose, you’ll get a well-balanced mid-range as well as crisp highs. But when I tested these soundbars, I found the soundstage to be fairly narrow on both.

Where the two differ most is in the low-end. I’ve already mentioned the Sony Bravia Theater Bar 6’s subwoofer (many times), and it makes a huge difference. While both soundbars are meant for smaller setups or slightly smaller rooms, the Sony’s subwoofer provides a higher impact home theater experience.

With the Bose Smart Soundbar, the low-end doesn’t go very low, so it doesn’t have that same rumble the Sony brings during big action scenes in movies. When I was testing and would boost the bass level, it would bleed into the mid-range, creating a somewhat unbalanced, bottom-heavy sound.

Winner: Sony Bravia Theater Bar 6

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 for different situations. Though both are solid choices for a smaller setup, the Sony Bravia Theater Bar 6 gives a more home theater-like experience thanks to the included subwoofer. It has a solid feature set, but a portion of those features requires a connection to a specific Sony Bravia TV to unlock.

The Bose Smart Soundbar, on the other hand, adds in Alexa and Google smart home support that some will find more useful. If you’re willing to spend more, you can add a subwoofer or the Bose Ultra Open earbuds for use as surround speakers. That last one is a really cool feature, though one that unfortunately requires an extra $200 / £200.

Winner: Sony Bravia Theater Bar 6 for sound and Bose Smart Soundbar for features

Do you own either of these soundbars? If so, let's hear your take on them in the comments!