If you’ve purchased a new TV any time in the last decade, you probably experienced a pair of conflicting reactions: amazement at the stunning picture quality, and disappointment from the sound coming out of the speakers. It’s no secret that the sound quality on most modern TVs is often quite disappointing, especially for demanding uses like watching a blockbuster action movie. One of the easiest ways to upgrade the underwhelming sound quality of today’s ultra-thin flat panel TVs is with the addition of a soundbar.
Soundbars are simple to set up, easy to operate, and can be bought on a budget. The toughest thing about buying a soundbar? Trying to decide between the numerous models on the market! At the time of this writing, we have eighty-five soundbars from nearly two-dozen different brands available on Abt.com. For simplicity’s sake, today we’re just going to look at a pair of Bose Soundbars.
The Bose TV Speaker and the new Bose Smart Soundbar 300 are the brand’s entry- and mid-level soundbar models. Both of these Bose soundbars are aimed at users who are looking for a significant improvement in TV sound, but don’t have the space for a large soundbar—let alone a full surround sound system.
If you are an established fan of the brand, one look at either of these soundbars should tip you off that they are both unmistakably Bose products. The sleek two-town design, micro-perforated grill, and minimal logo placement echo the aesthetics of their other popular products, like the ubiquitous QuietComfort noise-canceling headphones.
Of course, it’s what’s inside a soundbar that matters the most. Getting big sound out of a small enclosure requires clever engineering, but Bose knows a thing or two about that. From the legendary Bose Wave Radio to their current lineup of portable Bluetooth speakers, Bose has long excelled at maximizing the sound quality of compact speakers. Both the Bose TV Speaker and the Bose Soundbar 300 offer impressive sound quality for their size, and each model features an array of useful features. Check out the videos below for a more in-depth look at each soundbar, or skip to the end for a comparison of the main features.
| Bose Smart Soundbar 300 | Bose TV Speaker | |
| Dimensions (H x D x W) | 2.21 x 4.02 x 26.58 inches | 2.21 x 4.02 x 23.38 inches |
| Number of speakers | 5 | 3 |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | No |
| Apple AirPlay 2 | Yes | No |
| Built-in microphone | Yes | No |
| Aux-in jack | No | Yes |
| Bose Music App Compatibility | Yes | No |
| Voice Assistant Compatibility | Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri | None |
If you’re looking for a simple auxiliary sound solution on a budget, the Bose TV speaker will get the job done. It does lack some features that many users will want, like smart assistant integration and Wi-Fi compatibility. For those, you’ll need to move up to the Bose Soundbar 300. That soundbar’s longer size will also be a better match for large TVs both aesthetically and sonically, as the increased length allowed Bose to squeeze two more drivers into the enclosure. If you’re still having trouble choosing a soundbar or would like some info on other offerings from Bose or any other brand we carry, please don’t hesitate to contact us for advice.
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