Sonos and Bose Dolby Atmos soundbars compared: six models from $499 to $1,099

Sonos and Bose both sell Wi-Fi soundbars that stream music as well as play TV sound. This comparison covers six of their Dolby Atmos models, at the list prices on each maker's US store on October 28, 2026. It rests on what the makers publish: specifications, prices and warranty terms. It does not judge how any of them sound.

The six at a glance

Height effects: fired upward or processed

A soundbar can create Dolby Atmos height effects in two ways. An up-firing design reflects audio off the ceiling to create overhead effects, as LG describes it. The alternative is processing: Sonos says the Beam (Gen 2) uses advanced processing to create phantom height channels for Dolby Atmos content. The other five models here list upward-firing drivers.

Channel figures are the makers' own descriptions. LG explains the usual shorthand: the first number is the number of speakers, the second the number of subwoofers, and the third signals up-firing channels. Sonos states 7.1.2 for the Beam Ultra and 9.1.4 for the Arc Ultra. Bose states 5.1.2 for the Lifestyle Ultra Soundbar and gives no channel layout for the Smart Soundbar or Smart Ultra Soundbar themselves.

Driver counts are not always consistent either. The Arc Ultra overview says 14 drivers, while its tech specs list nine tweeters, six midwoofers and one woofer. For the Lifestyle Ultra Soundbar, Bose gives its 5.1.2 layout but no total speaker count.

Your TV's HDMI port decides what gets through

All six connect to the TV over HDMI. The Sonos models plug into the TV's HDMI eARC/ARC port with the included cable, and Bose says the Lifestyle Ultra Soundbar connects over HDMI eARC. Bose lists an “HDMI eARC cable” in the Smart Ultra Soundbar box and an HDMI cable with the Smart Soundbar, plus an optical cable with both. Its Smart Soundbar page does not say whether that connection supports eARC.

The difference matters for formats. Sonos's spec sheets mark Dolby Atmos, Dolby TrueHD and multichannel PCM with the footnote “HDMI eARC connection required.” Dolby Atmos via Dolby Digital Plus carries no such footnote. The HDMI Licensing Administrator says eARC supports formats including Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, as well as uncompressed 5.1 and 7.1 audio. Our guide to TV spec sheets explains how to check a TV for eARC.

On DTS, Sonos lists DTS Digital Surround for all three of its models, with a footnote that this is not an indication of a licensed decoder.

Streaming, voice and setup

All six list Wi-Fi and Apple AirPlay. The Bose models also list Google Cast or Chromecast and Spotify Connect. The Sonos Beam Ultra and Arc Ultra are compatible with Wi-Fi 6; the Beam (Gen 2) joins 2.4 GHz networks only, according to Sonos.

Voice support differs more. Sonos says the Beam (Gen 2) works with Sonos Voice Control, Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, the Arc Ultra with Sonos Voice Control and Alexa, and the Beam Ultra with Sonos Voice Control. Bose lists Alexa on all three of its models, with Google Assistant control through a separate Google device on the Smart Soundbar and Smart Ultra Soundbar, and says the Lifestyle Ultra Soundbar is ready for Alexa+ in the US.

For a wired network, the Beam (Gen 2) has a 10/100 Ethernet port, the Beam Ultra needs the Sonos Combo Adapter, sold separately, and Bose says the Smart Ultra Soundbar has Ethernet built in. Sonos lists Trueplay room tuning on all three of its models, though on the Beam (Gen 2) it needs a supported iOS device, and Bose includes its ADAPTiQ headset with the Smart Ultra Soundbar. The Bose Smart Soundbar can also pair with Bose Ultra Open Earbuds, sold separately, which act as rear surround speakers for one listener.

Adding bass and rear speakers

Sonos lists its Sub Mini at $499 and Sub 4 at $899, and sells sets that bundle a soundbar with other speakers. Bose lists a surround sound configuration for the Lifestyle Ultra Soundbar as an optional accessory.

Warranty

Both makers give one year of cover in the US. Sonos's US terms, last updated in September 2026, promise that a product will be free from defects in materials and workmanship for one year after the original purchase, and say that buying from anyone other than Sonos or an authorized dealer or reseller voids the warranty. The same section adds that its limitations do not apply to the extent a product meets the definition of a “consumer product” under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act. Bose gives a one-year limited warranty and sells BoseCare plans on top, priced on each product page and listed below. Our warranty guide explains what federal law says about extended plans.

The six, one by one

What the specs cannot tell you

A spec sheet does not tell you how a soundbar will sound in your room, so this comparison makes no ranking on sound. What the specs can answer are three questions worth settling before you buy: does your TV have eARC, do you want upward-firing drivers or is processed height enough, and which voice assistant and streaming system do you already use?