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Sonos Playbar vs Bowers & Wilkins Formation Bar
Side-by-Side Comparison
Products
Sonos Playbar
Bowers & Wilkins Formation Bar
Tested using Methodology v1.0
Updated Apr 09, 2024 02:26 PM
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Updated Jan 12, 2024 07:36 PM
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Channels3.0
Channels3.0
Variants
- Playbar
- Formation Bar (Black)
Our Verdict
Sonos Playbar
Bowers & Wilkins Formation Bar
The Sonos Playbar is better than the Bowers & Wilkins Formation Bar. The Sonos is better built with better soundstage and center channel performances. It also offers more sound enhancement features to customize its sound. However, the Bowers & Wilkins does offer more wireless playback options, including Bluetooth.
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Standard
Playbar
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Formation Bar
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Playbar
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Formation Bar
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Playbar
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Formation Bar
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Playbar
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Formation Bar
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Playbar
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Formation Bar
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Threshold
Mixed Usage
7.2
6.5
Stereo Frequency Response
7.4
7.1
Dialogue Enhancement
Yes
No
Auto-Volume/Night Mode
Yes
No
Stereo Soundstage
8.0
7.0
Full Comparison
Design
Style - Bar
Style photo - bar
Style - Subwoofer
Style photo - sub
Style - Satellites
Style photo - satellites
Dimensions - Bar
Dimensions photo - bar
Width
35.5" (90.1 cm)
49.0" (124.5 cm)
Height
3.3" (8.5 cm)
4.3" (11.0 cm)
Depth
5.4" (13.8 cm)
4.3" (11.0 cm)
Dimensions - Subwoofer
Dimensions photo - sub
Width
N/A
N/A
Height
N/A
N/A
Depth
N/A
N/A
Dimensions - Satellites
Dimensions photo - satellites
Width
N/A
N/A
Height
N/A
N/A
Depth
N/A
N/A
Back - Bar
Back photo - bar
Bar Mounting
Proprietary
Proprietary
Back - Subwoofer
Back photo - sub
Enclosure
No Subwoofer
No Subwoofer
Back - Satellites
Back photo - satellites
Mounting
No
No
Build Quality
8.0
7.5
Build quality photo
In The Box
In The Box photo
HDMI Cable Length
N/A
N/A
Digital Optical Cable Length
1.5 m (4.9 ft)
1.0 m (3.3 ft)
Sound
Stereo Frequency Response
7.4
7.1
Stereo Setup
Raw Frequency Response
Frequency Response Small
Tested Preset
No Preset
No Preset
Slope
0.48
0.02
Std. Err.
2.21 dB
3.32 dB
Channels
3.0
3.0
Low-Frequency Extension
51.9 Hz
53.4 Hz
High-Frequency Extension
15.6 kHz
19.9 kHz
Stereo Frequency Response With Preliminary Calibration
7.5
7.1
Frequency Response Calibrated
Suggested Preset
No Preset
No Preset
Suggested Bass Setting
1
0
Suggested Treble Setting
-3
0
Slope
-0.11
0.02
Std. Err.
2.04 dB
3.32 dB
Low-Frequency Extension
51.1 Hz
53.4 Hz
High-Frequency Extension
19.3 kHz
19.9 kHz
Stereo Soundstage
8.0
7.0
Crosstalk Error
2.63 dB
4.10 dB
Stereo Dynamics
7.7
7.8
Dynamic Range Compression
SPL @ Max Volume
96.0 dB SPL
96.0 dB SPL
DRC @ Max Volume
2.41 dB
2.23 dB
Stereo Total Harmonic Distortion
7.6
8.4
Weighted THD @ 80dB
0.47
0.20
Weighted THD @ Max Volume
1.96
1.10
Center
8.8
7.8
Center Setup
Frequency Response
Localization
Discrete
Discrete
Slope
0.44
-0.02
Std. Err.
1.99 dB
5.04 dB
SPL @ Max Volume
96.1 dB SPL
96.5 dB SPL
Weighted THD @ 80dB
0.67
0.20
Weighted THD @ Max Volume
1.83
5.13
Surround 5.1
4.5
4.2
Surround Setup
Frequency Response
Localization
Stereo (Downmix)
Stereo (Downmix)
Slope
0.12
-0.69
Std. Err.
2.51 dB
3.50 dB
SPL @ Max Volume
94.8 dB SPL
94.2 dB SPL
Weighted THD @ 80dB
1.24
0.43
Weighted THD @ Max Volume
2.53
1.07
7.1 Rears
No
No
Height (Atmos)
0.0
0.0
Height Setup
H Frequency Response
Localization
Not Supported
Not Supported
Slope
N/A
N/A
Std. Err.
N/A
N/A
SPL @ Max Volume
N/A
N/A
Weighted THD @ 80dB
N/A
N/A
Weighted THD @ Max Volume
N/A
N/A
Sound Enhancement Features
6.2
1.0
Room Correction
Yes
No
Dialogue Enhancement
Yes
No
Auto-Volume/Night Mode
Yes
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
No
No
Virtual Surround
No
No
Connectivity
Physical Inputs - Bar
Physical inputs bar photo 1
Physical inputs bar photo 2
Optical Audio In
1
1
HDMI ARC
No
No
HDMI Out
No
No
Full HDMI In
No
No
Analog Audio In 3.5mm (Aux)
No
No
RCA In
No
No
USB for Files
No
No
Ethernet
2
1
Audio Format Support - ARC
0.0
0.0
eARC
No
No
Dolby Atmos
No
No
Dolby Digital
No
No
Dolby Digital Plus
No
No
DTS
No
No
DTS:X (eARC only)
No
No
Dolby TrueHD (eARC only)
No
No
DTS-HD MA (eARC only)
No
No
5.1 PCM (eARC only)
No
No
Audio Format Support - Full HDMI In
0.0
0.0
Dolby Atmos
No
No
DTS:X
No
No
Dolby Digital
No
No
Dolby Digital Plus
No
No
DTS
No
No
Dolby TrueHD
No
No
DTS-HD MA
No
No
5.1 PCM
No
No
Audio Format Support - Optical
10
6.0
Dolby Digital
Yes
Yes
DTS
Yes
No
Latency
8.8
7.3
Latency Video
ARC
N/A
N/A
Optical
36 ms
81 ms
Full HDMI In
N/A
N/A
Wireless Playback
2.0
9.0
Bluetooth
No
Yes
Wi-Fi
Yes
Yes
Chromecast built-in
No
No
Apple AirPlay
No
Yes
Other Input Specifications
4k @ 60 Hz Passthrough
No
No
4k @ 60 Hz @ 10 bit Passthrough
No
No
4k @ 60 Hz @ 4:4:4 Passthrough
No
No
HDR10 Passthrough
No
No
Connectivity - Subwoofer
Physical inputs subwoofer photo 1
Physical controls subwoofer photo 1
Sub Wireless
No
No
Connectivity - Satellites
Physical inputs satellites photo 1
Physical controls satellites photo 1
Sat Wireless
No
No
Additional Features
Interface
Interface photo
Display
No
No
Bar Controls
Controls photo
Remote
Remote photo
Universal Remote
No
No
Voice Assistants Support
Amazon Alexa
No
No
Google Assistant
No
No
Apple Siri
No
No
App
App image
App Name
Sonos Controller
Bowers & Wilkins Formation Setup and Bowers & Wilkins Music
iOS
Yes
Yes
Android
Yes
Yes
Acts As A Remote
Yes
Yes
Controls Soundbar's Settings
All
All
Casts Device Files
Yes
Yes
Other Features
Power Saving
No
Standby
HDMI CEC (TV Remote Control)
No
No CEC, limited IR remote
Check Price
Standard
Playbar
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Formation Bar
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Playbar
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Formation Bar
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Playbar
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Formation Bar
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Playbar
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Formation Bar
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Playbar
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Formation Bar
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Sonos Playbar
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Sonos Playbar vs Bowers & Wilkins Formation Bar: Main Discussion
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