The Bose Smart Soundbar adds Alexa integration to its already feature-rich Dolby Atmos soundbar. One such feature is the ability to use the Bose Ultra Open earbuds (sold separately) as surround speakers.
The Sony Bravia is not only a great soundbar with Dolby Atmos, but it also has a wireless subwoofer. It’s also loaded in the features section, especially if you have a Bravia TV.
They both have more similarities than differences. It also sounds good, offering impressive spatial audio, including the ability to upscale your stereo music mix to virtual Dolby Atmos. However, they both have a narrow soundstage and can be considered expensive due to the features they offer.
If you’re looking for the best speakers for a small room, the Sony Bravia Theater Bar 6 and Bose Smart Soundbar are two great options. However, one may be better suited to your specific needs than the other.
Bose Smart Soundbar vs Sony Bravia Theater Bar 6: Price
In terms of price, the Sony Bravia Theater Bar 6 is the most affordable model at $649 / £449 / AU$899. However, its price is currently discounted to $498 on Amazon, and it has fallen below that price three times in the past year.
The Bose Smart Soundbar is priced at $499.00 / £499.95 / AU$799.95. It’s not cheap, but it won’t hurt your wallet too much. This appears to be the cheaper of the two models as several retailers have dropped the price to $399 since launch.
The Sony Bravia Theater Bar 6 comes with a subwoofer, an element that makes it more valuable despite its high price. Bose also lets you pair it with the company’s wireless subwoofer (sold separately), but the recommended cheaper option is the Bose Bass Module 500, which costs $549 / £449.95 / AU$699.95. However, it is an expensive package.
Bose Smart Soundbar and Sony Bravia Theater Bar 6: Technical Specifications
Features of Bose Smart Soundbar and Sony Bravia Theater Bar 6
Both models come with Dolby Atmos support (DTS:X on the Sony), conversation and night mode audio, spatial zoom, and Bluetooth connectivity, but each also has its own unique features.
For Sony, that means features built into some Bravia TVs, like AI-powered dialogue enhancer and the ability to use the TV remote to control the soundbar’s on and off functions. Naturally, you’ll need one of these specific TVs to access these features.
The Bose Smart Soundbar can be paired with Bose Ultra Open earbuds to use the soundbar as rear speakers in a surround sound system. Using this great feature also requires an additional purchase. You can also use it to listen to audio streamed wirelessly from the speaker if the speaker itself is muted.
Bose Smart Soundbar supports Alexa and Chromecast for better integration with other devices. When I tested this speaker, it talked to me like I was talking to an Amazon Echo speaker because it was the only Alexa device in my room.
Winner: Bose Smart Soundbar
Bose Smart Soundbar vs Sony Bravia Theater Bar 6: Design
The Bose Smart Soundbar has a better feature set, but it can’t compare to the Sony in terms of design. It looks a bit boxy and doesn’t have a dedicated woofer or external subwoofer like the Sony, but at least it has a subwoofer output.
The Sony Bravia Theater Bar 6 is about 10 inches wider than the Bose and has rounded edges for a more interesting look. Not only does it come with a subwoofer, but the subwoofer connects wirelessly.
It’s also worth noting that while both speakers are Dolby Atmos models, the placement of the upward-firing speaker is slightly different. Two Bose drivers are located side by side in the center of the device, and two Sony drivers are located at opposite ends. When I reviewed it, I didn’t find much of a difference in spatial audio presentation, but it’s noticeable. Sony’s upward-firing speakers are also angled slightly forward, so the sound bounces off the ceiling straight into the listener’s ears.
Winner: Sony Bravia 6 Theatrical Tape
Bose Smart Soundbar vs Sony Bravia Theater Bar 6: Performance
When it comes to sound, the Sony Bravia Theater Bar 6 and Bose Smart Soundbar have a lot in common, but they also have some shortcomings. Whether you choose Sony or Bose, you’ll get balanced mids and punchy highs. However, when we tested these speakers, we found that both of them had a fairly narrow audio range.
Where the two differ the most is at the lower levels. We’ve mentioned the subwoofer in the Sony Bravia Theater Bar 6 several times, and it makes a big difference. Both soundbars are designed for smaller setups or slightly smaller spaces, but the Sony subwoofer offers a more powerful home theater experience.
Thanks to the Bose smart speaker, the bass won’t be too low, so you won’t get echoes like the Sony during fast-paced scenes in movies. Increasing the bass levels during testing resulted in bass being extended into the middle, creating a slightly unbalanced and heavy bottom end.
Winner: Sony Bravia 6 Theatrical Tape
Bose Smart Soundbar vs Sony Bravia Theater Bar 6: Verdict
I really like the Sony Bravia Theater Bar 6 and the Bose Smart Soundbar. But they work better in other situations. Both are solid choices for small systems, but the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 6 offers a home theater-like experience with its built-in subwoofer. It has a solid set of features, but you’ll need to pair it with a specific Sony Bravia TV to unlock some of them.
On the other hand, the Bose smart speaker adds Alexa and Google smart home support, which some people may find more convenient. If you don’t mind spending a little more, you can add a subwoofer or Bose Ultra Open headphones to use as surround speakers. This last feature is really cool, but unfortunately it costs an extra $200/£200.
Winner: Sony Bravia Theater Bar 6 for sound and Bose Smart Soundbar for features.
Do you have this soundbar? If so, please let us know in the comments what you think!
