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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

Denon Home Sound Bar 550 vs Bose Smart Soundbar 900

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

Denon Home Sound Bar 550
Bose Smart Soundbar 900

Tested using Methodology v1.0

Updated Jan 12, 2024 08:01 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v1.3

Updated May 10, 2024 04:31 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Denon Home Sound Bar 550 Picture
Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Picture
Channels
2.0
Channels
5.1.2

Variants

  • Home Sound Bar 550 (Black)
  • Smart Soundbar 900 (Black)
  • Smart Soundbar 900 (White)

Review

See Denon Home Sound Bar 550 Review
See Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Review
1 
2 

Our Verdict

Denon Home Sound Bar 550

Bose Smart Soundbar 900

The Bose Smart Soundbar 900 is better than the Denon Home Sound Bar 550. The Bose is a better-built setup with better soundstage, center, and surround performances. It gets louder with less compression at max volume, too. That said, it doesn't support DTS content like the Denon.

0 

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Black
Home Sound Bar 550
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Black
Smart Soundbar 900
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Black
Home Sound Bar 550
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White
Smart Soundbar 900
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Black
Home Sound Bar 550
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Black
Home Sound Bar 550
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Home Sound Bar 550
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Main Differences for
Mixed Usage

Threshold 

0.10

Mixed Usage 

6.8
7.5

Stereo Dynamics 
 

5.2
8.1

Center 
 

6.3
8.6

Height (Atmos) 
 

3.7
6.6

Audio Format Support - Full HDMI In 
 

10
0.0

Surround 5.1 
 

4.2
6.4

Stereo Frequency Response 
 

7.1
7.4

Auto-Volume/Night Mode 
 

Yes
No

Stereo Soundstage 
 

7.0
8.0

Full Comparison

Design

Style - Bar  

Style photo - bar  

Denon Home Sound Bar 550 Style photo - bar
Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Style photo - bar
Show Text 

Style - Subwoofer  

Style photo - sub  

Denon Home Sound Bar 550 Style photo - sub
Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Style photo - sub

Sub Wireless 
 

No
No

Enclosure 
 

No Subwoofer
No Subwoofer
Show Text 

Style - Satellites  

Style photo - satellites  

Denon Home Sound Bar 550 Style photo - satellites
Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Style photo - satellites

Satellite Wireless 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Dimensions - Bar  

Dimensions photo - bar  

Denon Home Sound Bar 550 Dimensions photo - bar
Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Dimensions photo - bar

Width  

25.6" (65.0 cm)
41.1" (104.5 cm)

Height  

3.0" (7.5 cm)
2.2" (5.7 cm)

Depth  

4.8" (12.2 cm)
4.3" (11.0 cm)
Show Text 

Dimensions - Subwoofer  

Dimensions photo - sub  

Denon Home Sound Bar 550 Dimensions photo - sub
Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Dimensions photo - sub

Width  

N/A
N/A

Height  

N/A
N/A

Depth  

N/A
N/A

Dimensions - Satellites  

Dimensions photo - satellites  

Denon Home Sound Bar 550 Dimensions photo - satellites
Bose Smart Soundbar 900 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 
 

8.0
8.5

Build quality photo  

Denon Home Sound Bar 550 Build quality photo
Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Build quality photo
Show Text 

In The Box 
 

In The Box photo   

Denon Home Sound Bar 550 In The Box photo
Bose Smart Soundbar 900 In The Box photo

HDMI Cable Length 
 

1.5 m (4.9 ft)

Digital Optical Cable Length 
 

1.5 m (4.9 ft)
Show Text 

Back - Bar  

Back photo - bar  

Denon Home Sound Bar 550 Back photo - bar

Bar Mounting 
 

Universal (holes on back)
Show Text 

Back - Subwoofer  

Back photo - sub  

Denon Home Sound Bar 550 Back photo - sub

Enclosure 
 

No Subwoofer
No Subwoofer

Back - Satellites  

Back photo - satellites  

Denon Home Sound Bar 550 Back photo - satellites

Mounting 
 

No
Sound

Stereo Frequency Response 
 

7.1
7.4

Stereo Setup  

Denon Home Sound Bar 550 Stereo Setup
Bose Smart Soundbar 900 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 
 

2.0
5.1.2

Tested Preset 
 

Stereo
No Preset

Slope 
 

-0.55
0.05

Standard Error 
 

2.88 dB
2.64 dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

55.8 Hz
50.4 Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

18.8 kHz
19.9 kHz
Show Text 

Stereo Frequency Response With Preliminary Calibration 
 

7.1
7.4

Frequency Response Calibrated  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Suggested Preset 
 

Stereo
No Preset

Suggested Bass Setting 
 

-3
0

Suggested Treble Setting 
 

1
0

Slope 
 

0.16
0.05

Standard Error 
 

2.67 dB
2.64 dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

59.9 Hz
50.4 Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

19.3 kHz
19.9 kHz
Show Text 

Stereo Soundstage 
 

7.0
8.0

Crosstalk  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Crosstalk Error 
 

3.07 dB
2.00 dB
Show Text 

Stereo Dynamics 
 

5.2
8.1

Dynamic Range Compression  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

87.8 dB SPL
93.9 dB SPL

DRC @ 90dB 
 

0.54 dB

DRC @ Max Volume 
 

5.50 dB
1.96 dB
Show Text 

Stereo Total Harmonic Distortion 
 

7.5

THD  

See details on graph tool

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.57

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

1.25
Show Text 

Center 
 

6.3
8.6

Center Setup  

Denon Home Sound Bar 550 Center Setup
Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Center Setup

Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Phantom
Discrete

Slope 
 

-0.91
0.50

Std. Err. 
 

3.70 dB
2.57 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

90.0 dB SPL
95.3 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.97
0.50

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

1.31
2.37
Show Text 

Surround 5.1 
 

4.2
6.4

Surround Setup  

Denon Home Sound Bar 550 Surround Setup
Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Surround Setup

Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Stereo (Downmix)
Phantom (Front Firing, Bar)

Slope 
 

-0.66
0.18

Std. Err. 
 

3.04 dB
2.51 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

89.6 dB SPL
95.8 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.86
0.45

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

1.30
2.35

7.1 Rears 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Height (Atmos) 
 

3.7
6.6

Height Setup  

Denon Home Sound Bar 550 Height Setup
Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Height Setup

H Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Stereo (Downmix)
Phantom (Up Firing, Bar)

Slope 
 

-0.92
0.63

Std. Err. 
 

3.77 dB
3.20 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

85.0 dB SPL
90.4 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.90
0.47

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

0.82
1.14
Show Text 

Sound Enhancement Features 
 

4.6
4.5

Room Correction 
 

No
Yes

Dialogue Enhancement 
 

Yes
Yes

Auto-Volume/Night Mode 
 

Yes
No

Subwoofer Level Adjustment 
 

No
No

Bass Adjustment 
 

Yes
Yes

Treble Adjustment 
 

Yes
Yes

EQ 
 

Presets
No

Surround Level Adjustment 
 

No
No

Rear Level Adjustment 
 

No
No

Height Level Adjustment 
 

No
Yes

Virtual Surround 
 

Yes
No
Show Text 
Connectivity

Inputs/Outputs - Bar 
 

Physical Connections Bar Photo 1  

Denon Home Sound Bar 550 Physical Connections Bar Photo 1
Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Physical Connections Bar Photo 1

Physical Connections Bar Photo 2  

Denon Home Sound Bar 550 Physical Connections Bar Photo 2
Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Physical Connections Bar Photo 2

Optical Audio In 
 

1
1

HDMI Out 
 

1 (shared)
eARC

HDMI 2.1 Class Bandwidth 
 

No

Full HDMI In 
 

1
No

Analog Audio In 3.5mm (Aux) 
 

1
No

RCA In 
 

No
No

USB for Files 
 

1
No

Ethernet 
 

1
1

Subwoofer Output 
 

Yes

HDMI ARC 
 

1 (shared)
Show Text 

Audio Format Support: ARC/eARC 
 

10
8.1

Dolby Atmos 
 

Yes
Supported

Dolby Digital 
 

Yes
Supported

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

Yes
Supported

Dolby TrueHD 
 

Yes
Supported

DTS 
 

Yes
Not Supported

DTS:X 
 

Yes
Not Supported

eARC 
 

Yes

DTS-HD MA 
 

Yes
Not Supported

PCM Channels 
 

Up To 7.1

5.1 PCM (eARC only) 
 

Yes
Show Text 

Audio Format Support: HDMI In 
 

10
0.0

Dolby Atmos 
 

Yes
Not Supported

Dolby Digital 
 

Yes
Not Supported

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

Yes
Not Supported

Dolby TrueHD 
 

Yes
Not Supported

DTS 
 

Yes
Not Supported

DTS:X 
 

Yes
Not Supported

DTS-HD MA 
 

Yes
Not Supported

PCM Channels 
 

Not Supported

5.1 PCM 
 

Yes
Show Text 

Audio Format Support: Optical 
 

10
6.5

Dolby Digital 
 

Yes
Supported

DTS 
 

Yes
Not Supported

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 
 

8.7
0.0

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 
 

15 ms

Optical 
 

38 ms

Full HDMI In 
 

-56 ms
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 
 

Yes
No

HDR10+ Passthrough 
 

No

Dolby Vision Passthrough 
 

No

HDMI Forum VRR Passthrough 
 

No

4k @ 60 Hz Passthrough 
 

Yes

FreeSync Passthrough 
 

No

G-SYNC Passthrough 
 

No

ALLM Passthrough 
 

No

4k @ 60 Hz @ 10 bit Passthrough 
 

No

4k @ 60 Hz @ 4:4:4 Passthrough 
 

Yes
Show Text 

Wireless Playback 
 

9.0
10

Bluetooth 
 

Yes
Yes

Wi-Fi Playback 
 

Yes
Yes

Chromecast built-in 
 

No
Yes

Apple AirPlay 
 

Yes
Yes

Spotify Connect 
 

Yes
Show Text 

Connectivity - Subwoofer 
 

Physical inputs subwoofer photo 1  

Denon Home Sound Bar 550 Physical inputs subwoofer photo 1

Physical controls subwoofer photo 1  

Denon Home Sound Bar 550 Physical controls subwoofer photo 1

Sub Wireless 
 

No
No

Connectivity - Satellites 
 

Physical inputs satellites photo 1  

Denon Home Sound Bar 550 Physical inputs satellites photo 1

Physical controls satellites photo 1  

Denon Home Sound Bar 550 Physical controls satellites photo 1

Sat Wireless 
 

No
No
Additional Features

Interface 
 

Interface photo  

Denon Home Sound Bar 550 Interface photo
Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Interface photo

Display 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Bar Controls 
 

Controls photo  

Denon Home Sound Bar 550 Controls photo
Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Controls photo
Show Text 

Remote  

Remote photo  

Denon Home Sound Bar 550 Remote photo
Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Remote photo

Universal Remote 
 

No
Show Text 

Voice Assistants Support 
 

Amazon Alexa 
 

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

Google Assistant 
 

No
Yes (Built-in)

Apple Siri 
 

No
No

Microphone Mute 
 

Yes
Show Text 

App 
 

App image  

Denon Home Sound Bar 550 App image

App Name  

Heos

iOS  

Yes

Android  

Yes

Acts As A Remote 
 

Yes

Controls Soundbar's Settings 
 

All

Casts Device Files 
 

Yes
Show Text 

Other Features 
 

Power Saving 
 

No

HDMI CEC (TV Remote Control) 
 

Yes
Show Text 

Check Price

Black
Home Sound Bar 550
Searching
Finding store
Black
Smart Soundbar 900
Searching
Finding store
Black
Home Sound Bar 550
Searching
Finding store
White
Smart Soundbar 900
Searching
Finding store
Black
Home Sound Bar 550
Searching
Finding store
 
Black
Home Sound Bar 550
Searching
Finding store
 
Black
Home Sound Bar 550
Searching
Finding store
 
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Denon Home Sound Bar 550

Bose Smart Soundbar 900

Comments

  1. Comparison
 • Posted 1 year ago

Denon Home Sound Bar 550 vs Bose Smart Soundbar 900: Main Discussion

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