Sound quality:
Bose's Smart Ultra Soundbar has acceptable overall sound quality - this model reproduces music and dialog reasonably well despite the obvious shortcomings in its sound. With the ADAPTiQ room calibration program run and the tone controls set for the most even tonal balance the bass has good impact and goes fairly deep, but is slightly boomy and the dynamic range may sound a bit compressed with some program material. The midrange is fairly even, but is somewhat grainy and hazy, and a bit echoey and sibilant. The treble is fairly extended, but is somewhat sizzly and a bit smeared. This model only does a so-so job of recovering room ambience, and the echoey quality of the midrange can give the sound an artificial "processed" quality. The two channel sound field extends somewhat above but not much beyond the width of the speaker array enclosure, and the depth is flat.
There was no significant difference in sound quality between HDMI, optical, WiFi, and Bluetooth inputs.
Multichannel
With multi-channel Dolby digital program material the sound image may extend well past the sides and above the soundbar, but still lacks depth.
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.
Dialog Mode
Regardless of the type of program material being played, the dialogue mode only has a slight effect on the sound.
TV ease of use: Very good overall.
Features ease of use: Acceptable overall.
