Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar vs Sonos Beam Gen 2 Soundbar
The Sonos Beam Gen 2 is the better buy for most people. It costs $389.00 at eBay as of November 3, against $697.87 at Best Buy for the Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar. The Bose is the stronger pick if you want a wider nine-speaker array with a built-in subwoofer and more inputs.
Today the Sonos Beam Gen 2 Soundbar costs $308.87 less at its best price.
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Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar
$697.87at Best BuyObserved at 6:12 AM
Choose the Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar if you want a wider speaker array, a built-in subwoofer and more wired inputs, and the roughly $309 price gap does not matter.
Pros
- Nine-speaker array with a built-in subwoofer, so no separate sub is needed
- Dolby Atmos support for height effects
- HDMI eARC plus optical, Ethernet and USB service inputs
- Alexa and Google Assistant built in
Cons
- About $309 more than the Beam Gen 2
- Wider bar takes more space under a TV
- No Sonos-style multi-room ecosystem
What separates them
| Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar | Sonos Beam Gen 2 Soundbar | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $697.87 at Best Buy as of November 3, 2026 | $389.00 at eBay as of November 3, 2026 |
| Speaker array | 9-speaker array with built-in subwoofer | Five Class-D amplifiers, one tweeter, four midwoofers, three passive radiators |
| Bass | Built-in subwoofer, no separate sub needed | Passive radiators give deep bass for its size, but a Sonos Sub is an add-on |
| Size | Full-width bar | 25.63 in wide, 2.68 in tall, 6.35 lbs |
| Inputs | HDMI eARC, optical, Ethernet, USB service port | HDMI ARC or eARC, Ethernet |
| Voice assistants | Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant built in | Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant built in |
| Multi-room | Bose Wi-Fi streaming, not a full multi-room system | Sonos ecosystem for synchronized multi-room and surround |
Price history
$697.87$369.98
- Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar: lowest $696.76 on Oct 30 at Macy's; $697.87 on Nov 3.
- Sonos Beam Gen 2 Soundbar: lowest $369.98 on Nov 2 at eBay.
Prices at every store
Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar
- Best BuyNew
In stock
$697.87Observed at 6:12 AM - Macy'sNew
In stock
$697.87Observed at 6:12 AM - BoseRefurbished
Availability unknown
$559.00Observed at 6:12 AM - Abed TahanNew
Availability unknown
$999.00Observed at 6:12 AM
Specs compared
| Spec | Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar | Sonos Beam Gen 2 Soundbar |
|---|---|---|
| Wireless | Yes | — |
| Color | Black | — |
| Special Purpose | Soundbar | — |
| Assistant Support | Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa | — |
| Smart Functions | Voice Control | — |
| Dolby Atmos Enabled | Yes | — |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, HDMI, Optical Audio | — |
| Height | — | 2.68 in (68 mm) |
| Width | — | 25.63 in (651 mm) |
| Depth | — | 3.94 in (100 mm) |
| Weight |
Questions and answers
- Which is better for movies?
- The Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar has the edge for movies. Its nine-speaker array, built-in subwoofer and Dolby Atmos support give more scale and bass out of the box. The Beam Gen 2 is close for a small room and adds Speech Enhancement for dialogue.
- Is the Bose worth the extra money?
- Only if you want its built-in subwoofer and wider array without add-ons. At $697.87 at Best Buy against $389.00 at eBay, the Beam Gen 2 leaves about $309 for a Sonos Sub or surround speakers.
- Which is better for music?
- The Bose has more low-end weight from its built-in subwoofer. The Beam Gen 2 is detailed and wide for its size, and it fits into a Sonos multi-room setup for music around the house.
- Which is better for a small room?
- The Beam Gen 2. It is 25.63 in wide and 2.68 in tall and costs less, and its passive radiators still give solid bass in a small room.
- Do both support Dolby Atmos?
- The Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar is listed as Dolby Atmos enabled. The Beam Gen 2 is not listed with Dolby Atmos support, so treat the Bose as the Atmos pick.
- Can I add rear speakers later?
- Yes on the Beam Gen 2, through the Sonos ecosystem, which supports surround and multi-room add-ons. The Bose streams over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth but is not part of a multi-room system like Sonos.