Sound quality:
Bose's Smart Soundbar has acceptable overall sound quality - this model reproduces music and dialog reasonably well despite the obvious shortcomings in its sound. With the tone controls set for the most even tonal balance the bass has good impact, but is bit boomy and deep bass is lacking, and the dynamic range may sound a bit compressed with some program material. The midrange is fairly even, but is somewhat grainy and a bit hazy, constricted and sibilant. Treble is fairly extended, but is somewhat sizzly and a bit smeared. Does a so-so job of recovering room ambience, and the constricted and echoey quality of the midrange can give the sound an artificial "processed" quality and is overall compressed. The two channel sound field extends somewhat above and to the sides of the speaker array enclosure, and the depth is flat. Individual instruments and voices can be identified, but can sound two dimensional.
Sound Modes
The various sound modes such as the dialogue mode has a slight effect and the wall eq mode has a noticeable effect on the sound.
Multichannel
With 5.1 channel Dolby digital program material the sound image may extend well past the sides and above the soundbar, but still lacks depth. The dialog mode had a slight effect on the sound.
Dolby Atmos
When playing Dolby Atmos material the width and height of the sound stage expands and depending on the program material can fill the front end of the room; audio imaging can extend up and above from the front of the room to almost directly overhead depending on the program material, but there was no rear surround effect, and sounds that should have been in the rear come from the front. Individual instruments and voices are easy to identify but are two dimensional. The dialogue mode has a slight effect on the sound.
TV ease of use: very good overall.
Features ease of use: acceptable overall.
