Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Review
Bose’s Soundbar series has always been a fan favorite, and the latest addition, the Smart Soundbar 900, is no exception. This high-end Soundbar is the first from Bose to feature a ceiling channel unit and support for Dolby Atmos 3D sound effects, making it a long-anticipated release.
In addition to these impressive features, the Smart Soundbar 900 also boasts Bose’s signature ADAPTiQ automatic voice tuning and a wealth of network music options, all housed in a sleek, integrated design. It’s no wonder that the Smart Soundbar 900 is poised to become the most simple and highest-quality sound choice on the market.
The Design
The Bose Smart Soundbar 900 maintains the simple and elegant design of the Soundbar 700 and Soundbar 500 that came before it, and offers two color options: pure black and pure white. The top surface of the host is made of anti-collision tempered glass, while the front and sides feature metal mesh covers. The combination of glass and metal gives the Soundbar 900 a high-end, premium look.
In addition, the rectangular body with fully curved edges exhibits excellent craftsmanship. At a height of 58.1mm, the Soundbar 900 is slim enough to fit on most TV stands without blocking the screen.
In terms of audio performance, the Soundbar 900 is equipped with 7 built-in sound units, including 2 dipole upward sound units on the top, which provide overhead sound effects through ceiling reflections. This allows the Soundbar 900 to support Dolby Atmos 3D sound effects. The other units include 1 set of tweeters, 4 sets of racetrack-shaped mid-bass units, and Bose’s PhaseGuide technology, which helps to deliver accurate sound positioning.
The Soundbar 900 is also noteworthy as Bose’s first Smart Soundbar with independent ceiling channel outputs. This means that it can deliver a more immersive and realistic audio experience, as the overhead sound effects are produced by dedicated channels rather than being simulated.
In addition to its support for Dolby Atmos sound effects, the Bose Soundbar 900 is also equipped with Bose’s TrueSpace technology. This technology is able to intelligently analyze non-Dolby Atmos sound formats such as 5.1-channel or stereo and remix and upconvert the audio for 3D sound output. This means that no matter what type of audio-visual content you watch, you can enjoy immersive sound effects.
The Bose Smart Soundbar 900 is designed to be an all-in-one solution, combining multiple audio components into a single, sleek package. However, unlike many all-in-one Soundbars that can struggle with bass output, the Soundbar 900 is equipped with Bose’s QuietPort technology, which allows it to deliver excellent low-frequency sound even in a slim form factor.
The QuietPort technology also enables the Soundbar 900 to produce ultra-low distortion sound effects at different volume levels. This is achieved through the use of bass reflex holes on the back of the Soundbar, which enhance low-frequency output.
The Soundbar 900 also boasts Bose’s ADAPTiQ intelligent sound adjustment system, which automatically adjusts the sound settings based on the viewing space to provide the best possible sound quality for the environment. There are lights on the left side of the Soundbar that show the operating status, including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth connection, and system update.
A head-mounted radio microphone is included with the Soundbar 900 and can be used to perform ADAPTiQ’s intelligent tone adjustment after being connected to the Soundbar with a 3.5mm cable.
Connections
The Bose Soundbar 900 offers a variety of connectivity options to make music playback convenient and easy. It supports both Wi-Fi and LAN connectivity, as well as Bluetooth and Apple AirPlay 2. The soundbar also has a set of HDMI ports on the back, which allow for a direct connection to your TV and support eARC, Dolby Atmos, and other audio outputs.
In addition to its Wi-Fi capabilities, the Bose Soundbar 900 also has a LAN interface for a wired network connection. It also has an optical audio input, allowing for the connection of game consoles, set-top boxes, or other equipment that does not support HDMI.
The Smart Soundbar 900 supports the Multi-Room function, allowing it to be connected to other Bose smart speakers to play music together. It also has a SimpleSync function, enabling it to be connected to specific Bose headphones and Bluetooth speakers to output sound effects together.
A small remote control is included, making it easy to adjust the volume and select the signal source. The Soundbar 900 is a versatile and convenient device for enhancing your audio experience.
The Bose Soundbar 900 comes with a small, easy-to-use remote control that allows you to quickly adjust the volume, control music playback, and select signal sources. For more advanced settings, you can use the Bose Music mobile app.
Through the app, you can easily pair the Soundbar 900 with other Bose speakers and headphones and select ADAPTiQ sound effects. You can also independently adjust the center channel, high channel, low frequency, and high-frequency output.
The Bose Music app makes it easy to manage all of your Bose devices in one place. To set up the Soundbar 900, simply download the app and follow the instructions to add the device. Most new Bose headphones and speakers can be added and managed through the app.
In addition to managing primary settings such as ADAPTiQ correction, EQ, and Internet radio stations, the Bose Music app also allows you to enable a dialogue mode to enhance human voices, which is useful for watching movies and news. You can also view and control playback, pause, and song skipping for music played through AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, and Bluetooth.
Overall, the Bose Soundbar 900 is easy to set up and use, with most primary settings able to be managed through the Bose Music app. The initial setup process takes about 10 minutes, with the option to perform ADAPTiQ sound correction during the setup or in the menu later on.
Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Setup Guide
1. HDMI eARC connection and settings
To fully enjoy the 3D sound effect of native Dolby Atmos with the Bose Soundbar 900, you will need to connect the HDMI eARC/ARC of your TV to the soundbar using an HDMI cable. eARC is the latest standard of the HDMI 2.1 interface and has a higher bandwidth, allowing it to natively support Dolby Atmos audio tracks and provide the best 3D sound performance when paired with the Soundbar 900.
It also has better compatibility with HDMI CEC control. ARC is used in HDMI 2.0 and earlier versions and can still transmit 3D sound effects through Dolby Digital + built-in Dolby Atmos audio tracks. Streaming media platforms such as Netflix and Disney+ often use this method to save bandwidth.
It’s important to note that while TVs usually have 3 to 4 sets of HDMI ports, only one of them typically supports eARC/ARC, and the sound effect can only be returned through this supported interface. In the past, soundbars often required multiple sets of HDMI inputs to expand equipment connections, but now, smart TVs have streaming media functions such as Netflix, Disney+, and YouTube, making them feature-rich signal sources.
In addition to the eARC/ARC-capable HDMI connection, the Soundbar 900 also has an optical input for additional connectivity options.
To connect and set up streaming media on your TV for use with the Soundbar 900, you will need to ensure that the TV’s audio output is set to external HDMI (the Soundbar 900). You will also need to enable eARC (which is usually off by default) and, if available, the Dolby Atmos compatibility option.
Make sure that the streaming media playback has a Dolby Atmos soundtrack, and the 3D audio should be able to be sent back to the Soundbar via eARC/ARC during playback. The specific settings may vary depending on your TV model, but the options can generally be found in the sound setting menu. With the basic settings in place, you should be able to fully enjoy Dolby Atmos 3D sound with the Soundbar 900.
2. Set-top box, Blu-ray player, game console connection and settings
If you want to connect an external set-top box, Blu-ray player, or game console to the Bose Soundbar 900 and these devices do not have Dolby Atmos sound effects, you can connect them to the soundbar through an optical fiber. In terms of audio output, choose the digital streaming method of returning to Bitstream, and the Soundbar 900 will be able to decode it for the best results.
For equipment that supports HDMI output with Dolby Atmos sound effects, you can use other HDMI inputs on the TV and return the audio to the Soundbar 900 output through eARC/ARC. The Soundbar 900 also has detailed EQ settings that can further enhance the low-frequency and upper sound effects, making the effects more exciting when watching movies and playing games and creating a better sense of envelopment.
Whether you are using an HDMI or optical fiber connection, it is important to choose the Bitstream output for the audio and send it to the Bose Smart Soundbar 900 for decoding. This will ensure that you get the best possible sound quality from your external devices.
3. Music playback (Spotify, AirPlay 2, Bluetooth) connection and settings
Music playback is one of the strong points of the Bose Soundbar 900. Even when connected to your mobile phone through Bluetooth, it still has good sound quality. Simply switch the input to Bluetooth and pair and connect with your mobile phone. In addition to Bluetooth, the Soundbar 900 also supports AirPlay 2 and Spotify Connect for a wide range of music playback options.
For example, iPhone users can select the Soundbar 900 as the output device on the AirPlay interface when playing streaming music such as TIDAL or MOOV. They can also use the remote control to directly control playback, pause, and skip songs.
Android users can also select the Soundbar 900 as the output device on the mobile app interface when playing music through Spotify, or use the Bose Music app to directly control playback. The switching between different playback options is fast and the sound quality is excellent.
To connect to the Soundbar 900 through Bluetooth, simply switch the input to Bluetooth and pair and connect with your mobile phone. The process is fast and easy, just like connecting to any other Bluetooth speaker.
In addition to Bluetooth, iPhone users can also select the Soundbar 900 as the output device through the AirPlay 2 menu when playing streaming music such as TIDAL, MOOV, or KKBOX. Similarly, playing music with Spotify is also convenient, as the Soundbar 900 can be directly selected on the Spotify playback interface.
Regardless of whether you are using AirPlay 2 or Spotify Connect, you can view song information and control playback directly in the Bose Music app, and switching between different apps is just one click away with a fast response.
Sound Performance
In this sound performance test, the unadjusted [native] sound effect of the Bose Soundbar 900 was first tried. The first impression was that the human voice was very clear and prominent, with a good three-dimensional effect and a good degree of reproduction. There was a certain sense of enveloping sound effects, with the horizontal sound field about twice as wide as the Soundbar itself and presenting some upper sound effects. Overall, the performance was considered good.
However, the real standout performance came after using the ADAPTiQ intelligent tone adjustment. The entire sound field was significantly widened and the sound positioning became clearer. When watching the fighting and chasing scenes of “Transformers,” the sense of direction for punching and kicking was very clear. The upper sound effects of rain sounds and aircraft sounds could be presented from the position above the front to directly above. The low frequency was already quite good before the adjustment, but after adjustment, it provided a stronger impact and increased the sense of volume.
While the depth of the sound field was limited due to the size of the Soundbar, the sense of envelopment was good and the analysis and details were excellent. Low frequency has always been a strong point for Bose, and the Soundbar 900 exceeded expectations, particularly after ADAPTiQ tuning.
The Bose Soundbar 900 delivers excellent music playback, with clear and prominent mid-frequency sound effects, even without special adjustments to the EQ or activating the dialogue mode. Its three-frequency equalization, three-dimensional sound field, and good texture and positioning of musical instruments make it one of the best soundbars for listening to music.
It is comparable to some high-quality mini speakers and delivers an enjoyable listening experience. In particular, the strong low-frequency boost of rock and pop music adds full dynamics without affecting vocals and high frequencies.
Conclusion
Looking for an all-in-one solution for your home entertainment needs? The Bose Smart Soundbar 900 may be the perfect fit for you! With its sleek design and easy setup, simply connect the power supply and HDMI to start enjoying your favorite movies and TV shows with exceptional sound quality.
The Bose Smart Soundbar 900 uses ADAPTiQ technology to provide an immersive 3D sound field with excellent envelopment, allowing you to feel fully immersed in your content. But the Bose Smart Soundbar 900 isn’t just for movies – its excellent music playback capabilities and wide range of song-playing options make it a great choice for music lovers as well. Don’t miss out on this all-around top performer – get the Bose Smart Soundbar 900 today!
