Sound quality:
Bose's Smart Soundbar 900 has Good overall sound quality - this model reproduces music and dialog reasonably well despite the obvious shortcomings in its sound. Bass has good impact, and goes fairly deep, but is slightly boomy, and the dynamic range may sound compressed with some program material. Midrange is fairly even, but somewhat echoey, grainy, and hazy, and a bit sibilant. Treble is somewhat sizzly and smeared and the upper treble is somewhat subdued. 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. The dialog mode has a noticeable effect on the sound.
There was no significant difference between HDMI, optical, WiFi, and Bluetooth inputs.
The system can provide satisfying volume in a medium sized room.
Multichannel
With 5.1 program material the sound image may extend well past the sides and above the soundbar, but still lacks depth. The dialog mode has a noticeable 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.
Sound Modes
The dialog mode has a noticeable effect on the sound.
TV ease of use: Excellent overall.
Features ease of use: Excellent overall.
