Bose Smart Soundbar 600
$499
Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
Dolby Atmos · HDMI eARC · Compact
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, Bose Smart Soundbar 600 lands at 83 and Sonos Beam (Gen 2) at 86. That puts Sonos Beam (Gen 2) ahead by 3 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick Bose Smart Soundbar 600 if…
- ✓Dolby Atmos on most
- ✓One-box simplicity
- ✓eARC passthrough
Pick Sonos Beam (Gen 2) if…
- ✓Atmos in a compact bar
- ✓Trueplay room correction
- ✓Expandable with Sub + rears
Winner by scenario
Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate testDesign
Sonos Beam (Gen 2)Compared on the design sub-score
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) leads on design (92 vs 84).
Ease of use
Sonos Beam (Gen 2)Compared on the ease of use sub-score
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) leads on ease (90 vs 86).
Sound
Sonos Beam (Gen 2)Compared on the sound sub-score
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) leads on sound (86 vs 83).
Value for money
TieSpecdex score per dollar at MSRP
Effectively tied — similar score-per-dollar at MSRP.
Score breakdown
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Bose Smart Soundbar 600 | Sonos Beam (Gen 2) |
|---|---|---|
| Channels | — | 5.0 (virtual Atmos) |
| Connectivity | — | eARC HDMI, Wi-Fi 6, BT 5.0 |
Bose Smart Soundbar 600
- +Dolby Atmos on most
- +One-box simplicity
- +eARC passthrough
- −Rear surrounds sold separately on some
- −App quality varies
- −Cabinet depth needs space
Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
- +Atmos in a compact bar
- +Trueplay room correction
- +Expandable with Sub + rears
- −No upward drivers (virtual Atmos)
- −No DTS
- −App glitches
FAQ: Bose Smart Soundbar 600 vs Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
Which is better, Bose Smart Soundbar 600 or Sonos Beam (Gen 2)? +
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) scores 86 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 3. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is Bose Smart Soundbar 600 worth the price? +
At $499, Bose Smart Soundbar 600 delivers a Specdex score of 83 — strongest in ease.
Is Sonos Beam (Gen 2) worth the price? +
At $499, Sonos Beam (Gen 2) delivers a Specdex score of 86 — strongest in design.
Does Bose Smart Soundbar 600 or Sonos Beam (Gen 2) last longer? +
Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.
Which is better for design, Bose Smart Soundbar 600 or Sonos Beam (Gen 2)? +
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) — leads on design (92 vs 84). Compared on the design sub-score.
Which is better for ease of use, Bose Smart Soundbar 600 or Sonos Beam (Gen 2)? +
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) — leads on ease (90 vs 86). Compared on the ease of use sub-score.