Sound bars transmit sound from a TV or computer via multiple speakers in a single enclosure. Like most of the company’s audio equipment, Bose sound bars deliver good performance, premium construction and user-friendly operation. They’re also pretty expensive for the sound quality. By contrast, Vizio makes a wide range of models, from the ultra-affordable to the high-end.
Both brands get high marks for reliability and general audio quality, but one is considerably more cost-effective.
One big selling point of Bose speakers and headphones is their dependable connectivity and ease of setup. They also tend to offer wide-ranging customization. While expensive, Bose audio equipment is widely regarded as some of the best for premium setups. However, at least some of that praise is based on name recognition.
Plenty of up-firing drivers and a high volume output make this great if you’re willing to make the investment. It works especially well with the Bose 700 subwoofer.
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Integrated Alexa voice control makes this one of the best midrange combination smart speakers and sound bars on the market.
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While it’s not wide enough for a truly cinematic audio experience, it’s well-made and provides a huge upgrade over integrated TV speakers.
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Vizio doesn’t enjoy the same brand recognition as Bose, but makes products that are just as good in many ways. It offers a wide lineup of both affordable and high-end sound bars, with a variety of driver configurations and wireless subwoofers.
Although it’s costly, it boasts 18 speaker drivers, including automatically rotating up-firing drivers that adapt to your room and provide possibly the best Dolby Atmos performance available.
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You’ll be hard-pressed to find a better midrange option for three-dimensional movie audio.
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The Vizio V-Series is the perfect choice if you want powerful stereo 2.1-channel audio but don’t want to spend much.
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It lacks a matching subwoofer and up-firing drivers, but it’s as affordable as a brand-name sound bar gets.
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It pairs an entry-level price with midrange performance, but can’t produce real Dolby Atmos audio.
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Unless you’re a diehard fan of the Bose brand, you’ll get a more consistent sound profile and better performance for the dollar with a Vizio sound bar.
A. They’re not necessarily required, but a subwoofer goes a long way in fighting sound bars’ biggest drawback: subpar low-end output. Consumers will appreciate that both Bose and Vizio offer a number of wireless subwoofers that work perfectly with their sound bars.
A. They refer to the number of speakers in a surround-sound setup. The first number represents the stereo, center and satellite channels. The second digit refers to the subwoofer. The third tells you how many up-firing drivers the setup offers.
A. Up-firing drivers point in other directions besides at the viewers. Driven by advanced algorithms, they produce sounds using object-based audio streams and attempt to recreate the sensation of true 3D audio. Note that they’re only really effective alongside advanced technologies such as Dolby Atmos and DTS:X.
A. Dolby Atmos is an advanced technique for simulating 3D audio. To take full advantage of it, you need a sound bar or surround-sound setup with either up-firing or down-firing drivers, depending on your home theater’s layout. By pointing audio in novel directions and working with the Atmos algorithm, a sound system can deliver audio nearly as immersive as an actual movie theater.
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Chris Thomas writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
