Bose launches Smart Soundbar with innovative features to enhance audio experience

Bose has launched its latest audio innovation, the Smart Soundbar, retailing at $499. This sophisticated device comes with premium features such as AirPlay, Dolby Atmos, and an exclusive integration with Bose’s own Ultra Open earbuds. The soundbar builds on the design and capabilities of the previous Bose Smart Soundbar 600, maintaining identical dimensions, connectivity, and speaker components. It does, however, introduce two novel software enhancements designed to improve the audio experience.

The first of these features is AI Dialogue Mode, which utilises machine learning technology to optimise audio tonal balance dynamically. This means that whether you’re watching an action-packed film or a dramatic TV show, the soundbar can enhance or minimise certain frequencies in real-time, ensuring dialogue is clear without sacrificing the intensity of other audio elements such as background music or sound effects.

However, the effectiveness of the AI Dialogue Mode can vary depending on the audio context. It was noted that during sports broadcasts, such as Monday Night Football, the broadcaster’s voices occasionally sounded unnatural unless offset by crowd noise.

In response to market trends set by competitors, Bose has adopted a personal audio integration feature akin to the Sonos TV Audio Swap. Dubbed Personal Surround Sound, this feature allows users to integrate their Ultra Open earbuds with the Smart Soundbar, turning them into auxiliary rear surround speakers. The implementation is handled through the Bose app, which provides simple toggling of this feature. Unlike Sonos’ implementation, Bose’s setup does not mute the soundbar when earbuds are active, allowing for a slight auditory enhancement through its open-ear design.

Besides these standout features, the Smart Soundbar is compatible with a range of connectivity options including Bluetooth, Spotify Connect, Chromecast, and Roku TV. It also supports voice commands via Amazon’s Alexa and Google’s voice assistant, alongside Dolby Atmos. For those with TVs lacking an eARC port, the soundbar is equipped with Bose TrueSpace processing. This capability simulates a three-dimensional soundscape from non-Atmos audio sources.

With the compact size and extensive feature list, Bose’s new Smart Soundbar provides a high-quality home audio solution, positioning itself as a cost-effective alternative to some of the pricier models from competitors like Sonos and Sennheiser. However, while the soundbar integrates well with the Ultra Open earbuds, its Personal Surround Sound feature adds only marginally to the experience, which might not justify the additional purchase of earbuds if one seeks significant audio enhancement.

In the realm of personal audio devices, Nothing has introduced its first pair of open earbuds, the Nothing Ear Open, priced at $150. These earbuds are particularly notable for their ergonomic design and superior sound quality, making them suitable companions for exercising. They offer a viable alternative for individuals who dislike the isolated sound experience of noise-canceling earbuds.

The Nothing Ear Open excels in comfort and auditory performance, possessing a lightweight and flexible silicone ear hook design that stays secure during physical activities. The open-ear configuration ensures that environmental sounds can be heard while maintaining impressive sound clarity and loudness. Despite their open design, they incorporate Sound Seal technology to minimise sound leakage effectively.

The earbuds boast a respectable battery life of eight hours, extendable to an additional 30 hours with their charging case. Connectivity is seamless, although there may be occasional issues with the Multipoint Bluetooth feature. Despite this minor drawback, the Nothing Ear Open offers significant value at its price point, appealing especially to those who are active or require situational awareness in their audio experience.

Both the Bose Smart Soundbar and Nothing Ear Open earbuds showcase advancements in personal and home audio technology, offering consumers varied options to enhance their audio setups based on their specific needs and preferences.

Source: Noah Wire Services