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  1. Home
  2. Soundbar
  3. Compare
  1. Table of Contents
  2. Top
  3. Main Differences
  4. Design
    1. Style - Bar
    2. Style - Subwoofer
    3. Style - Satellites
    4. Dimensions - Bar
    5. Dimensions - Subwoofer
    6. Dimensions - Satellites
    7. Mounting
    8. Build Quality
    9. In The Box
    10. Back - Bar
    11. Back - Subwoofer
    12. Back - Satellites
  5. Sound
    1. Stereo Frequency Response
    2. Stereo Frequency Response With Preliminary Calibration
    3. Stereo Soundstage
    4. Stereo Dynamics
    5. Stereo Total Harmonic Distortion
    6. Center
    7. Surround 5.1
    8. Height (Atmos)
    9. Sound Enhancement Features
  6. Connectivity
    1. Inputs/Outputs - Bar
    2. Audio Format Support: ARC/eARC
    3. Audio Format Support: HDMI In
    4. Audio Format Support: Optical
    5. Audio Latency: ARC
    6. Audio Latency: HDMI In
    7. Audio Latency: Optical
    8. Video Passthrough To TV
    9. Wireless Playback
    10. Connectivity - Subwoofer
    11. Connectivity - Satellites
  7. Additional Features
    1. Interface
    2. Bar Controls
    3. Remote
    4. Voice Assistants Support
    5. App
    6. Other Features
  8. Comments

Bose Smart Soundbar 900 vs Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

Bose Smart Soundbar 900
Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3

Tested using Methodology v1.3

Updated May 10, 2024 04:31 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v1.0

Updated Jan 11, 2024 02:49 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Picture
Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Picture
Channels
5.1.2
Channels
3.1.2

Variants

  • Smart Soundbar 900 (Black)
  • Smart Soundbar 900 (White)
  • Panorama 3 (Black)

Review

See Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Review
See Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Review
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Our Verdict

Bose Smart Soundbar 900

Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3

The Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 and the Bose Smart Soundbar 900 are both premium standalone setups, but the Bose is better overall. It has better soundstage, surround, and Atmos performances. Also, there are more sound enhancement features on hand. You can also upgrade it with a sub and satellites down the line, unlike the B&W.

0 

Check Price

Black
Smart Soundbar 900
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Black
Panorama 3
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White
Smart Soundbar 900
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Black
Panorama 3
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Black
Panorama 3
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Black
Panorama 3
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Panorama 3
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Main Differences for
Mixed Usage

Threshold 

0.10

Mixed Usage 

7.5
6.7

Stereo Frequency Response 
 

7.4
6.9

Stereo Soundstage 
 

8.0
6.5

Stereo Dynamics 
 

8.1
6.6

Surround 5.1 
 

6.4
4.2

Dialogue Enhancement 
 

Yes
No

Full Comparison

Design

Style - Bar  

Style photo - bar  

Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Style photo - bar
Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Style photo - bar
Show Text 

Style - Subwoofer  

Style photo - sub  

Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Style photo - sub
Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Style photo - sub

Sub Wireless 
 

No
No

Enclosure 
 

No Subwoofer
Integrated
Show Text 

Style - Satellites  

Style photo - satellites  

Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Style photo - satellites
Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Style photo - satellites

Satellite Wireless 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Dimensions - Bar  

Dimensions photo - bar  

Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Dimensions photo - bar
Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Dimensions photo - bar

Width  

41.1" (104.5 cm)
47.4" (120.3 cm)

Height  

2.2" (5.7 cm)
2.5" (6.4 cm)

Depth  

4.3" (11.0 cm)
5.3" (13.5 cm)
Show Text 

Dimensions - Subwoofer  

Dimensions photo - sub  

Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Dimensions photo - sub
Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Dimensions photo - sub

Width  

N/A
N/A

Height  

N/A
N/A

Depth  

N/A
N/A

Dimensions - Satellites  

Dimensions photo - satellites  

Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Dimensions photo - satellites
Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Dimensions photo - satellites

Width  

N/A
N/A

Height  

N/A
N/A

Depth  

N/A
N/A

Mounting 
 

Bar Mounting Holes  

Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Bar Mounting Holes

Satellite Mounting Holes  

Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Satellite Mounting Holes

Mountable Bar 
 

Yes

Bar Brackets Included 
 

No

Mountable Satellites 
 

No

Satellite Brackets Included 
 

No
Show Text 

Build Quality 
 

8.5
7.5

Build quality photo  

Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Build quality photo
Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Build quality photo
Show Text 

In The Box 
 

In The Box photo   

Bose Smart Soundbar 900 In The Box photo
Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 In The Box photo

HDMI Cable Length 
 

1.0 m (3.3 ft)

Digital Optical Cable Length 
 

N/A
Show Text 

Back - Bar  

Back photo - bar  

Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Back photo - bar

Bar Mounting 
 

Proprietary
Show Text 

Back - Subwoofer  

Back photo - sub  

Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Back photo - sub

Enclosure 
 

No Subwoofer
Integrated

Back - Satellites  

Back photo - satellites  

Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Back photo - satellites

Mounting 
 

No
Sound

Stereo Frequency Response 
 

7.4
6.9

Stereo Setup  

Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Stereo Setup
Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Stereo Setup

Raw Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Frequency Response Small  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Channels 
 

5.1.2
3.1.2

Tested Preset 
 

No Preset
No Preset

Slope 
 

0.05
-0.78

Standard Error 
 

2.64 dB
4.33 dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

50.4 Hz
51.9 Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

19.9 kHz
19.9 kHz
Show Text 

Stereo Frequency Response With Preliminary Calibration 
 

7.4
7.0

Frequency Response Calibrated  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Suggested Preset 
 

No Preset
No Preset

Suggested Bass Setting 
 

0
-1

Suggested Treble Setting 
 

0
4

Slope 
 

0.05
0.10

Standard Error 
 

2.64 dB
3.70 dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

50.4 Hz
52.6 Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

19.9 kHz
19.9 kHz
Show Text 

Stereo Soundstage 
 

8.0
6.5

Crosstalk  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Crosstalk Error 
 

2.00 dB
2.97 dB
Show Text 

Stereo Dynamics 
 

8.1
6.6

Dynamic Range Compression  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

93.9 dB SPL
98.4 dB SPL

DRC @ 90dB 
 

0.54 dB

DRC @ Max Volume 
 

1.96 dB
5.17 dB
Show Text 

Stereo Total Harmonic Distortion 
 

8.0

THD  

See details on graph tool

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.31

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

1.75
Show Text 

Center 
 

8.6
8.0

Center Setup  

Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Center Setup
Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Center Setup

Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Discrete
Discrete

Slope 
 

0.50
-0.76

Std. Err. 
 

2.57 dB
4.30 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

95.3 dB SPL
96.0 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.50
0.32

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

2.37
1.21
Show Text 

Surround 5.1 
 

6.4
4.2

Surround Setup  

Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Surround Setup
Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Surround Setup

Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Phantom (Front Firing, Bar)
Stereo (Downmix)

Slope 
 

0.18
-0.85

Std. Err. 
 

2.51 dB
3.99 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

95.8 dB SPL
98.1 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.45
0.29

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

2.35
1.87

7.1 Rears 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Height (Atmos) 
 

6.6
5.8

Height Setup  

Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Height Setup
Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Height Setup

H Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Phantom (Up Firing, Bar)
Phantom (Up Firing, Bar)

Slope 
 

0.63
1.30

Std. Err. 
 

3.20 dB
5.09 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

90.4 dB SPL
89.7 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.47
2.16

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

1.14
0.35
Show Text 

Sound Enhancement Features 
 

4.5
1.0

Room Correction 
 

Yes
No

Dialogue Enhancement 
 

Yes
No

Auto-Volume/Night Mode 
 

No
No

Subwoofer Level Adjustment 
 

No
No

Bass Adjustment 
 

Yes
Yes

Treble Adjustment 
 

Yes
Yes

EQ 
 

No
No

Surround Level Adjustment 
 

No
No

Rear Level Adjustment 
 

No
No

Height Level Adjustment 
 

Yes
No

Virtual Surround 
 

No
No
Show Text 
Connectivity

Inputs/Outputs - Bar 
 

Physical Connections Bar Photo 1  

Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Physical Connections Bar Photo 1
Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Physical Connections Bar Photo 1

Physical Connections Bar Photo 2  

Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Physical Connections Bar Photo 2
Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Physical Connections Bar Photo 2

Optical Audio In 
 

1
1

HDMI Out 
 

eARC
No

HDMI 2.1 Class Bandwidth 
 

No

Full HDMI In 
 

No
No

Analog Audio In 3.5mm (Aux) 
 

No
No

RCA In 
 

No
No

USB for Files 
 

No
No

Ethernet 
 

1
1

Subwoofer Output 
 

Yes

HDMI ARC 
 

1
Show Text 

Audio Format Support: ARC/eARC 
 

8.1
8.8

Dolby Atmos 
 

Supported
Yes

Dolby Digital 
 

Supported
Yes

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

Supported
Yes

Dolby TrueHD 
 

Supported
Yes

DTS 
 

Not Supported
No

DTS:X 
 

Not Supported
No

eARC 
 

Yes

DTS-HD MA 
 

Not Supported
No

PCM Channels 
 

Up To 7.1

5.1 PCM (eARC only) 
 

Yes
Show Text 

Audio Format Support: HDMI In 
 

0.0
0.0

Dolby Atmos 
 

Not Supported
No

Dolby Digital 
 

Not Supported
No

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

Not Supported
No

Dolby TrueHD 
 

Not Supported
No

DTS 
 

Not Supported
No

DTS:X 
 

Not Supported
No

DTS-HD MA 
 

Not Supported
No

PCM Channels 
 

Not Supported

5.1 PCM 
 

No
Show Text 

Audio Format Support: Optical 
 

6.5
6.0

Dolby Digital 
 

Supported
Yes

DTS 
 

Not Supported
No

PCM Channels 
 

2.0
Show Text 

Audio Latency: ARC 
 

9.0

ARC Latency Video  

PCM-2.0 ch 
 

59 ms

PCM-5.1 ch 
 

61 ms

Dolby MAT (PCM) Atmos 
 

61 ms

Dolby Digital 
 

81 ms

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

85 ms

Dolby Digital Plus Atmos 
 

95 ms
Show Text 

Audio Latency: HDMI In 
 

0.0
8.5

HDMI Latency Video  

Latency Video  

PCM-2.0 ch 
 

N/A

PCM-5.1 ch 
 

N/A

Dolby MAT (PCM) Atmos 
 

N/A

Dolby Digital 
 

N/A

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

N/A

Dolby Digital Plus Atmos 
 

N/A

ARC 
 

63 ms

Optical 
 

22 ms

Full HDMI In 
 

N/A
Show Text 

Audio Latency: Optical 
 

7.3

Optical Latency Video  

PCM-2.0 ch 
 

135 ms

Dolby Digital 
 

189 ms
Show Text 

Video Passthrough To TV 
 

0.0
0.0

1080p Max Refresh Rate 
 

Not Supported

1080p @ 4:4:4 Max Refresh Rate 
 

Not Supported

4k Max Refresh Rate 
 

Not Supported

4k @ 120Hz @ 10-Bit 
 

Not Supported

4k @ 4:4:4 Max Refresh Rate 
 

Not Supported

8k Max Refresh Rate 
 

Not Supported

HDR10 Passthrough 
 

No
No

HDR10+ Passthrough 
 

No

Dolby Vision Passthrough 
 

No

HDMI Forum VRR Passthrough 
 

No

4k @ 60 Hz Passthrough 
 

No

FreeSync Passthrough 
 

No

G-SYNC Passthrough 
 

No

ALLM Passthrough 
 

No

4k @ 60 Hz @ 10 bit Passthrough 
 

No

4k @ 60 Hz @ 4:4:4 Passthrough 
 

No
Show Text 

Wireless Playback 
 

10
9.0

Bluetooth 
 

Yes
Yes

Wi-Fi Playback 
 

Yes
Yes

Chromecast built-in 
 

Yes
No

Apple AirPlay 
 

Yes
Yes

Spotify Connect 
 

Yes
Show Text 

Connectivity - Subwoofer 
 

Physical inputs subwoofer photo 1  

Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Physical inputs subwoofer photo 1

Physical controls subwoofer photo 1  

Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Physical controls subwoofer photo 1

Sub Wireless 
 

No
No

Connectivity - Satellites 
 

Physical inputs satellites photo 1  

Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Physical inputs satellites photo 1

Physical controls satellites photo 1  

Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Physical controls satellites photo 1

Sat Wireless 
 

No
No
Additional Features

Interface 
 

Interface photo  

Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Interface photo
Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Interface photo

Display 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Bar Controls 
 

Controls photo  

Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Controls photo
Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Controls photo
Show Text 

Remote  

Remote photo  

Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Remote photo
Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Remote photo

Universal Remote 
 

No
Show Text 

Voice Assistants Support 
 

Amazon Alexa 
 

Yes (Built-in)
Yes (Built-in)

Google Assistant 
 

Yes (Built-in)
No

Apple Siri 
 

No
No

Microphone Mute 
 

Yes
Show Text 

App 
 

App image  

Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 App image

App Name  

Bowers & Wilkins Music

iOS  

Yes

Android  

Yes

Acts As A Remote 
 

Yes

Controls Soundbar's Settings 
 

All

Casts Device Files 
 

Yes
Show Text 

Other Features 
 

Power Saving 
 

Standby

HDMI CEC (TV Remote Control) 
 

Yes
Show Text 

Check Price

Black
Smart Soundbar 900
Searching
Finding store
Black
Panorama 3
Searching
Finding store
White
Smart Soundbar 900
Searching
Finding store
Black
Panorama 3
Searching
Finding store
 
Black
Panorama 3
Searching
Finding store
 
Black
Panorama 3
Searching
Finding store
 
Black
Panorama 3
Searching
Finding store
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Bose Smart Soundbar 900

Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3

Comments

  1. Comparison
 • Posted 1 year ago

Bose Smart Soundbar 900 vs Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3: Main Discussion

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