The Bose Smart Soundbar 300 is a smaller and more affordable alternative to some of the more premium options in Bose's lineup. It retains the same sleek, stylish design as other models like the Bose Smart Soundbar 600 and the Bose Smart Soundbar 900, with built-in voice assistant support so you can control it from the comfort of your couch. You can even upgrade it with a separate sub and satellites from the manufacturer. However, this 3.0 setup is best suited for stereo content, and it doesn't offer Dolby Atmos support to make the most of more immersive formats on streaming platforms.
Our Verdict
The Bose Smart Soundbar 300 is a fair choice for mixed usage. It's a simple 3.0 bar that's designed for listening to stereo content, which includes most music and TV shows. Dialogue is clear in the mix, and there's a little extra punch and sparkle to bring voices and other instruments to life. You can adjust its bass and treble, too, though you don't have access to more premium tools like room correction. It's not the best choice for multi-channel content like Dolby Digital, since it downmixes this content into stereo.
-
Outstanding wireless connectivity options.
-
Bass adjustment feature available.
-
Gets loud.
-
No EQ or room correction.
-
Lacks low bass.
-
Doesn't support Atmos.
The Bose Smart Soundbar 300 is satisfactory for dialogue-focused TV shows and podcasts. Thanks to its discrete center channel, its vocal reproduction is really great, and dialogue is clearly and accurately reproduced. You can even use its dialogue enhancement tool to make voices more clear and crisp. However, there's no auto-volume mode, so you can't balance the volume level between commercials and shows like with other bars.
-
Dialogue enhancement feature available.
-
Outstanding wireless connectivity options.
-
No EQ or room correction.
-
No auto-volume feature.
The Bose Smart Soundbar 300 is satisfactory for music. Out-of-the-box, it has a slightly V-shaped sound that's ideal for listening to genres with lots of highs and lows, like rock, pop, EDM, and hip-hop. Voices and lead instruments are clear in the mix, but there's a little extra punch in the bass range, as well as some sparkle in the treble. However, as a standalone bar, it cannot reproduce a very deep low-bass.
-
Bass adjustment feature available.
-
Gets loud.
-
No EQ or room correction.
-
Lacks low bass.
The Bose Smart Soundbar 300 is acceptable for movies. For a standalone bar, it does a good job reproducing dialogue, so you can follow along with the action in your top films. That said, 5.1 surround sound formats like Dolby Digital are downmixed into stereo, which doesn't provide the most immersive sound. You can't watch Dolby Atmos content either, which is a shame if you're looking for a more immersive audio experience from your streaming platforms.
-
Bass adjustment feature available.
-
Gets loud.
-
Lacks low bass.
-
Doesn't support Atmos.
- Mixed Usage
- Dialogue/TV Shows
- Music
- Movies
- Updated Dec 04, 2023: Updated review text for clarity. No changes in test results.
- Updated Jun 07, 2023: Converted to Test Bench 1.2. Updated the results for audio format support via ARC/eARC, HDMI In, and Optical. Added Video Passthrough to TV results as well.
- Updated Mar 13, 2023: Added cable lengths to In The Box.
- Updated Mar 10, 2023: Converted to Test Bench 1.1. With this update, we've added a Mounting test and added information aboutSubwoofer Output, Spotify Connect, and Microphone Mute.
- Updated Dec 20, 2022: Updated the review text for clarity and consistency.
- Updated Nov 16, 2022: Added market comparison with the Bose Smart Soundbar 600 to the Height (Atmos) box.
- Updated Mar 15, 2022: Firmware update adds Chromecast built-in support.
- Updated Oct 04, 2021: Updated review for accuracy and clarity.
- Updated Feb 24, 2021: Converted to Test Bench 1.0.
- Updated Jan 13, 2021: Due to a change in our methodology, we updated DTS and DD+ support via ARC to 'No'.
- Updated Oct 23, 2020: Review published.
- Updated Oct 16, 2020: Early access published.
- Updated Oct 13, 2020: Our testers have started testing this product.
- Updated Oct 06, 2020: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
- Updated Sep 23, 2020: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Bose Soundbar 300 comes in one color variant: Black. You can see the label for the model we tested here.
If you come across another version of this soundbar that's different from ours, please let us know in the forums, and we'll update our review.
Compared To Other Soundbars
The Bose Smart Soundbar 300 is a 3.0 setup from this manufacturer's 2020 lineup. Compared to the Bose TV Speaker, it adds an additional channel to improve vocal reproduction in the mix. However, it's still quite a simple soundbar that lacks the more premium features of Dolby Atmos soundbars from the manufacturer, like the Bose Smart Soundbar 900 or the Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar. If you mostly listen to stereo content, you may find it's a better value overall.
If you're looking for more soundbars, check out our recommendations for the best Bose soundbars, the best small soundbars, and the best soundbars for dialogue.
The Sonos Beam is a better soundbar than the Bose Smart Soundbar 300. The Sonos has a more balanced sound profile and has room correction and auto-volume features. However, the Bose is smaller, can support more audio formats via its HDMI ARC port, and has more wireless playback options.
The Bose Smart Soundbar 300 is a better soundbar than the Bose Solo 5. The Smart Soundbar 300 is better-built, and it comes with an ARC port and more wireless playback options. It has better soundstage and surround performances, and it gets louder. Also, it has built-in voice assistant support. That said, some listeners may prefer the Solo 5's more compact design.
The Bose Smart Soundbar 300 is better for mixed use than the Bose TV Speaker. The 300 has a better center and surround performance. It also offers treble adjustment and more wireless playback options like Apple AirPlay 2. It also connects to the Bose Music app that gives you a bit more functionality.
The Bose Smart Soundbar 700 is better than the Bose Smart Soundbar 300. The 700 feels better built, supports eARC, and has room correction and EQ presets. It can also get louder with fewer compression artifacts present at max volume, and it has better surround performance.
The Sonos Beam (Gen 2) is better than the Bose Smart Soundbar 300. The Sonos is a better-built 5.0 setup. It has better soundstage and surround performances. Unlike the Bose, it supports Dolby Atmos content. Also, there are more sound enhancement features, like room correction. That said, only the 3.0 Bose supports Bluetooth connectivity.
Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the Bose Smart Soundbar 300 or the Yamaha YAS-209. The Bose is a 3.0 setup with better center channel and soundstage performances. It's better-built, with more wireless playback options, and it gets louder. That said, the Yamaha reproduces a more extended low-bass, so you feel more thump and rumble in bass-heavy music and action-packed movies.
The Bose Smart Soundbar 600 is better than the Bose Smart Soundbar 300. While both bars have the same size and shape, the 600 adds support for Dolby Atmos content, which you're likely to come across on many different streaming platforms.
The Sonos Arc is a better soundbar than the Bose Smart Soundbar 300. The Sonos is a 5.0.2 setup with a more extended bass and sound enhancement features. It also has better surround and soundstage performances and supports Dolby Atmos content. It can even be upgraded to the Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers. However, the 3.0 Bose offers more wireless playback support.
The Bose Smart Soundbar 300 is a better 3.0 setup than the Bose Soundbar 500. The 300 is smaller and able to deliver a better-balanced sound profile. It can get louder with fewer compression artifacts, and it supports more audio formats via its HDMI ARC port. However, the 500's surround performance is better and offers room correction and EQ presets.
The Bose Smart Soundbar 900 is better than the Bose Smart Soundbar 300. The 900 is a 5.1.2 setup that's better built. It has better soundstage and surround performances, and unlike the 300, it supports Dolby Atmos content.
The Bose Smart Soundbar 300 is better than the Bose Solo Soundbar Series II. The 300 is a 3.0 setup, meaning it has a discrete center to improve vocal reproduction. It's better built, has more wireless playback options, and has an HDMI port for CEC support. Unlike the Solo, you can control its basic features with your TV remote as a result.
The JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam is a better soundbar than the Bose Smart Soundbar 300. The JBL is a 5.0 setup with a better surrounds performance and Atmos support. It comes with a room correction feature, EQ presets, and a Full HDMI In port, too. That said, the 3.0 Bose has a better soundstage performance.
The Bose Smart Soundbar 700 with Speakers + Bass Module is a better soundbar than the Bose Smart Soundbar 300. The Soundbar 700 is better built, and it comes with a dedicated sub and satellite speakers. It reproduces a more extended low-bass, and it has better soundstage and surround performances. Also, it comes with a room correction feature.
The JBL Bar 5.1 Surround is better than the Bose Smart Soundbar 300. The JBL is a 5.1 setup with a dedicated sub that helps reproduce a more extended low-bass. It has a better surrounds performance, and it comes with a room correction feature and EQ presets. Also, it supports Chromecast built-in. That said, the 3.0 Bose has a better soundstage and built-in voice assistant support.
The Bose Smart Soundbar 900 with Speakers + Bass Module is better than the Bose Smart Soundbar 300. The 900 is a full setup with a dedicated subwoofer and satellites, while the 300 is just a standalone bar. The 900 supports Dolby Atmos content, and it has better soundstage and surround performances. It can also reproduce a more extended low-bass. There are even some more sound enhancement features available, like room correction. However, if you're low on space and just want to watch dialogue-centric content like TV shows, the 300 is still a solid choice.
The Bose Smart Soundbar 300 is a bit better than the Sonos Ray for most uses. The Bose is a 3.0 soundbar, so unlike the 2.0 Sonos, it has a discrete center channel to improve dialogue clarity. It reproduces more low-bass, too, and has HDMI connectivity. However, it doesn't offer as many sound enhancement features as the Sonos.
Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the Bose Smart Soundbar 300 or the Denon Home Sound Bar 550. The Bose is a 3.0 soundbar with a better soundstage performance and a discrete center channel. It gets louder than the Denon, too. However, the Denon supports Atmos content and comes with more sound enhancement features, including EQ presets and auto-volume mode. Also, it has a Full HDMI In port.
The Sony HT-G700 is better than the Bose Smart Soundbar 300. The Sony supports Dolby Atmos content, and it has a better surround performance. Unlike the Bose, it has a Full HDMI In port. However, the Bose is better built with built-in voice assistant support. It also has a better soundstage and more wireless playback options.
Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the Bose Smart Soundbar 300 or the Klipsch Cinema 400. The Bose is a better built 3.0 setup with better soundstage and center channel performances. It also gets louder, and it has built-in voice assistant capabilities. However, the Klipsch comes with a dedicated sub that can reproduce a more extended low-bass.
The Samsung HW-A650 is better than the Bose Smart Soundbar 300. The Samsung is a 3.1 setup with a dedicated sub. It can reproduce a more extended low-bass, and it has more sound enhancement features like a graphic EQ. It even comes with a Full HDMI In port, unlike the Bose. However, the Bose offers a solid performance for a standalone bar, especially for dialogue-centric content like TV shows. It even has a better soundstage, and built-in voice assistant support.
The 5.0 Samsung HW-S60A is a better soundbar than the 3.0 Bose Smart Soundbar 300. The Samsung has two side-firing speakers, so it offers a better surrounds performance. Also, it comes with more sound enhancement features, including a graphic EQ, presets, and an auto-volume mode.
The Samsung HW-Q700A is better than the Bose Smart Soundbar 300. The Samsung comes with two up-firing drivers that support Dolby Atmos content, and it has a better surround performance. It also reproduces a more extended low-bass, and it comes with a graphic EQ and presets for sound customization. However, the Bose has built-in voice assistant support, whereas the Samsung requires a third-party device to access Amazon Alexa.
Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the Bose Smart Soundbar 300 or the Sony HT-X8500. The Bose is a 3.0 setup that's better-built and comes with built-in voice assistant support. It offers better soundstage and center channel performances, and it supports more wireless playback options. However, the Sony supports Dolby Atmos content, unlike the Bose. It also comes with a few more sound enhancement features, including auto-volume mode and EQ presets, and it has a Full HDMI In port.
The LG SN8YG is better than the Bose Smart Soundbar 300. The LG is a 3.1.2 setup with a dedicated subwoofer. It can reproduce a more extended low-bass, and it has more sound enhancement features such as room correction. Unlike the Bose, it supports Atmos content and has a Full HDMI In port for high quality passthrough. That said, the standalone Bose is better built and has a better soundstage.
The JBL Bar 9.1 is better than the Bose Smart Soundbar 300. The JBL supports Dolby Atmos content, and it has more sound enhancement features like room correction and EQ presets. Its subwoofer helps reproduce a more extended low-bass, and its satellites help create a better surround performance. It also has a better soundstage. That said, only the Bose has built-in voice assistant capabilities.
The Samsung HW-Q70T is better than the Bose Smart Soundbar 300. The Samsung supports Dolby Atmos content, and it comes with a graphic EQ and presets for sound customization. Also, its dedicated sub helps reproduce a more extended low-bass. That said, the Bose has a better soundstage and built-in voice assistant support.
The Samsung HW-Q800A is better than the Bose Smart Soundbar 300. The Samsung comes with a dedicated sub that helps reproduce a more extended low-bass. It supports Dolby Atmos content, and it has a better surrounds performance. It also comes with more sound enhancement features such as a graphic EQ and presets.
The Samsung HW-A550 is a bit better than the Bose Smart Soundbar 300. The Samsung is a 2.1 setup with a dedicated sub that can reproduce a more extended low-bass. It supports DTS content, unlike the Bose, and it also has more sound enhancement features such as a graphic EQ. That said, the 3.0 Bose is better-built. It has better soundstage and center performances, and it's still a solid choice for vocal-centric content like TV shows.
The Samsung HW-Q600A is better than the Bose Smart Soundbar 300. The Samsung supports Dolby Atmos content, and it reproduces a more extended low-bass. It also comes with more sound enhancement features like a graphic EQ and auto-volume mode. That said, the Bose has more wireless playback options and built-in voice assistant support. It also has a better stereo soundstage.
The Samsung HW-A450 is a bit better for mixed usage than the Bose Smart Soundbar 300. The Samsung comes with a dedicated sub, so it can reproduce a more extended low-bass. It also comes with more sound enhancement features, like a graphic EQ and presets. That said, the Bose is better built with better soundstage and center performance. It also has built-in voice assistant support, unlike the Samsung soundbar.
The Bose Smart Soundbar 300 is better than the Yamaha YAS-109. The Bose is a 3.0 setup that's better built. It also has better soundstage and center performances. That said, only the 2.0 Yamaha has a Full HDMI In port for high quality passthrough. Some users may also prefer that it has EQ presets for sound customization.
The Bose Smart Soundbar 300 is a bit better than the Polk Audio Signa S2. The Bose is a 3.0 setup with a standalone design that's ideal if you don't have a lot of space. Despite its smaller size, it has a better soundstage, and it also has a better center channel performance. The Polk does come with a dedicated sub though, so it can reproduce a little more low-bass than the Bose.
The Samsung HW-Q950A and the Bose Smart Soundbar 300 are two very different soundbar setups. The Samsung is a more versatile setup with a dedicated sub and satellites. It supports Dolby Atmos content, unlike the Bose, and it has a better surrounds performance. It gets louder, and there are more sound enhancement features available. However, the standalone Bose is still a decent pick for users who just want a small bar for dialogue-centric content like TV shows.
The Sony HT-Z9F is better than the Bose Smart Soundbar 300. The Sony supports Dolby Atmos content, and it comes with more sound enhancement features like auto-volume and EQ presets. That said, the Bose has a better soundstage performance.
The Samsung HW-Q60T is better than the Bose Smart Soundbar 300. The Samsung is a 5.1 setup with a dedicated sub that reproduces a more extended low-bass. It has more sound enhancement features, including a graphic EQ, and a Full HDMI In port for high quality passthrough. However, the 3.0 Bose has a better soundstage, more wireless playback options, and built-in voice assistant support.
The Bose Smart Soundbar 300 is better than the Bowers & Wilkins Formation Bar. The Bose is better built and offers a better center channel performance. It even comes with some extra sound enhancement features, including dialogue enhancement, as well as an HDMI ARC port.
The Samsung HW-Q800T is better than the Bose Smart Soundbar 300. The Samsung reproduces a more extended low-bass, and it supports Dolby Atmos content. It gets louder, has a better soundstage, and comes with a Full HDMI In port. Also, its graphic EQ is handy for sound customization. However, the Bose supports Apple AirPlay connectivity, unlike the Samsung.
Test Results
It's a small soundbar with a sleek design. It's mostly made of plastic, and there's a metal grille wrapping around the front and the sides. There are two buttons on top of the bar to control its features.
There's no subwoofer included, but you can buy a compatible model from the manufacturer separately.
The manufacturer also sells compatible satellites if you want to add them to your setup.
While it's not as small as the Bose TV Speaker, this bar can easily fit between the legs of a 65-inch TV. It's not very tall either, so it doesn't obscure your TV unless the screen sits flush with the table.
You can mount this bar to your wall, but you must purchase the brackets separately.
The bar has a great build quality. It's mostly made of plastic with a metal grille covering the front and sides to help protect the drivers inside. The materials feel solid and premium. Rubber pads on the bottom of the bar help to hold it in place, too.
- Manual
- Optical cable (4.9 ft / 1.5m)
- Remote with battery
- Power cable (4.9 ft / 1.5m)
This soundbar has a decent stereo frequency response. It performs really well for a small standalone bar, with a slightly V-shaped sound profile that's ideal for genres with more lows and highs, like rock, pop, hip-hop, and EDM. The extra emphasis in the high-bass adds some punch to the mix, while the additional treble makes voices and other instruments sparkle. Of course, without a dedicated subwoofer, you don't feel the deep rumble in the low-bass that's common with bass-heavy tracks like EDM and hip-hop. You can always add a separate sub from the manufacturer to improve its low-frequency extension.
The bar has bass and treble adjustments to help you customize its sound, which are measured in intervals of ten. If you prefer a more neutral sound with stereo content, you can set its bass to -30 and its treble to -20. You can't improve its low-frequency extension with these tools, so you don't get any extra rumble in the low-bass.
The Bose Soundbar 300 has a good stereo soundstage performance. Its soundstage is perceived to be wider than the bar itself, which is pretty impressive given its small size. Unfortunately, its focus isn't very good, so sound objects like voices seem to come from a more general area rather than a pinpoint location.
This bar gets loud enough to fill larger and more open spaces with sound. There's some compression when you push it to max volume, especially in the bass range.
This soundbar has a great THD performance. At a normal listening volume, distortion falls within good limits. If you push this bar to its max volume, there's a small jump in THD, particularly in the high-mids, but it is hard to hear with real-life content.
This 3.0 soundbar has a discrete center channel designed to improve vocal reproduction in the mix. The channel's frequency response is quite even and balanced, so voices are clear and detailed in the mix. As a result, it's easy to follow along with conversations on screen.
This soundbar has a poor surrounds performance, like most 3.0 setups. It has to downmix surround content into stereo to play it, which doesn't sound as immersive as a discrete setup. Audio seems like it's coming from in front of you rather than from speakers placed all around you. Its frequency response is also a bit bass-heavy, so sound effects have some extra boom and punch.
You can find an Atmos-enabled version of this bar in the Bose Smart Soundbar 600.
The Bose Soundbar 300 doesn't offer as many sound enhancement features as other budget-friendly bars like the Sonos Ray. If you want to customize its sound, there are bass and treble adjustments available, but it lacks an EQ or preset modes. An extra feature called Wall EQ is advertised to optimize audio quality when the bar is mounted on the wall, but we don't consider this an EQ. It also lacks room correction, so it may sound different depending on the room you're listening in, but at least you can adjust its bass and treble to make up for this.
You can connect the Bose Soundbar 300 to your TV over HDMI or Optical connections. There's also a Bass port to connect to compatible Bose subwoofers, as well as an IR port to connect an IR emitter. The micro-USB port is only for servicing the bar, so you can't use it for audio playback.
This soundbar has mediocre audio format support via its HDMI ARC port. It supports some very common formats, like Dolby Digital, but it has to downmix this content into stereo to play it. It doesn't support eARC or Dolby Atmos.
Unlike the Denon Home Sound Bar 550, this bar doesn't have a Full HDMI In port.
This soundbar only supports Dolby Digital via its Optical In port. This format is commonly found on Blu-ray discs as well as streaming platforms.
Latency falls within good limits. You don't notice a delay between the audio you hear and the video you see on your screen. Some apps and TVs compensate for latency differently, but if you run into any issues, you can manually compensate for the delay using the Sync and Delay feature in the Bose Music app.
The Bose Soundbar 300 has incredible wireless playback support. You can wirelessly stream audio from your phone or tablet to the bar.
The Bose Smart Soundbar 300 has a simple interface. There's a small light under the microphone icon to let you know whether the microphone and voice assistant are enabled or disabled. There's another light underneath the 'Active' button. This light changes colors depending on the bar's functions, including whether you're in setup mode, recovery mode, or if there's no internet connection available.
This bar has two touch-sensitive buttons located on the top left of the bar. There's a button to turn the microphone on/off and an 'Action' button that activates voice assistant and stops alarms or timers.
The bar comes with a simple remote to control its most basic features. You must download the Bose Music app to access additional settings, like Sync and Delay and Dialogue Mode.
The Bose Smart Soundbar 300 has built-in support for Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. According to the manual, you can access the voice assistants even when the bar is turned off. You can also mute the microphone if you don't want them to listen to you.