Today we're comparing two compelling options in the premium soundbar market: the $699 Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar and the $799 LG S90TR. Both aim to upgrade your home theater experience, but they take notably different approaches.
The soundbar market has evolved dramatically in recent years. What started as simple TV speaker upgrades have become sophisticated home theater solutions capable of delivering immersive surround sound through technologies like Dolby Atmos, which adds height channels to create a three-dimensional sound field.
Modern premium soundbars need to handle multiple roles:
The fundamental difference between these systems lies in their approach to surround sound. The Bose Smart Ultra is a single-unit solution that uses advanced digital processing and carefully positioned drivers to create virtual surround effects. It relies on techniques like wave-guiding (directing sound waves in specific patterns) and digital signal processing to fool your ears into perceiving sound coming from different directions.
In contrast, the LG S90TR takes a more traditional home theater approach with physical satellite speakers. Its 7.1.3 configuration means:
This physical speaker arrangement typically provides more precise sound placement and better immersion, though it requires more space and setup consideration.
The Bose's standout feature is its AI Dialogue Mode, which uses machine learning to enhance speech clarity without compromising other sounds. In practice, this works remarkably well – dialogue remains clear even during intense action scenes. However, the system's single-unit design means it can't match the LG's ability to place sounds behind viewers.
The LG S90TR creates a more convincing hemisphere of sound thanks to its physical speaker array. When a helicopter flies overhead in a movie, you'll hear it move through space more naturally. The dedicated subwoofer also provides noticeably more impact during explosions and action scenes.
For music, each system has distinct advantages. The Bose exhibits excellent stereo separation and precise imaging – you can clearly place instruments in the soundstage. Its more neutral tuning suits acoustic and vocal-focused music particularly well.
The LG system, with its separate subwoofer, delivers more powerful bass response that works well for electronic music and hip-hop. However, its multi-speaker design can sometimes make stereo music feel artificially spread out.
Gaming is where the LG S90TR really pulls ahead. It supports 4K/120Hz passthrough and various gaming features like Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) and Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM). These features ensure smooth gameplay and minimal audio/video lag when connected to modern gaming consoles or PCs.
The Bose handles gaming adequately but lacks these specialized gaming features. While it still provides immersive audio, serious gamers will appreciate the LG's additional capabilities.
Both systems offer room calibration, but they approach it differently. The Bose's ADAPTiQ system focuses primarily on optimizing dialogue clarity and balanced sound distribution. It's particularly effective in dealing with room reflections that might muddy dialogue.
LG's AI Room Calibration takes a more comprehensive approach, analyzing and adjusting for room acoustics across the entire frequency range. This can make a significant difference in rooms with challenging acoustics, though it sometimes requires minor manual adjustments to achieve optimal results.
The Bose Smart Ultra excels in smart home integration, with built-in voice assistants and seamless multi-room audio capabilities. It works particularly well within the Bose ecosystem and offers straightforward setup through their app.
The LG S90TR provides more traditional connectivity options, including multiple HDMI ports and advanced features like eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel, which allows for high-quality audio transmission between TV and soundbar). It also supports Wi-Fi and Bluetooth streaming, though its smart features aren't quite as polished as the Bose's.
When considering value, it's important to look beyond the $100 price difference. The Bose system can be expanded with an optional subwoofer, but this would push the total cost well above the LG's price point. The LG includes everything needed for a complete surround sound system in its base package.
Choose the Bose Smart Ultra if:
Choose the LG S90TR if:
Both systems represent significant improvements over basic TV speakers or entry-level soundbars. The Bose excels in simplicity and dialogue enhancement, while the LG delivers a more traditional home theater experience with superior immersion and flexibility.
Having spent considerable time with both systems, I can say they're both capable performers that serve different needs. The Bose's single-unit design and advanced processing make it an excellent choice for simpler setups, while the LG's traditional surround approach delivers more impactful home theater performance.
The key is matching the system to your specific needs and room constraints. Consider your space, primary use case, and whether you value simplicity over maximum performance. Either way, both represent significant upgrades over basic TV audio and will enhance your home entertainment experience.
| $699 Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar | $799 LG S90TR 7.1.3 Channel |
|---|---|
| System Configuration - Determines overall sound immersion capabilities | |
| Single unit soundbar with virtual surround | 7.1.3 system with wireless sub and rear speakers |
| Channel Configuration - More channels typically mean better sound placement | |
| 5.1.2 virtual channels | 7.1.3 physical channels |
| Subwoofer - Critical for bass impact in movies | |
| Optional add-on purchase | Included wireless subwoofer |
| Height Channels - Important for Dolby Atmos effects | |
| Virtual upward-firing | 3 dedicated physical height channels |
| Room Size Optimization - Affects placement flexibility | |
| Best for small to medium rooms (up to 300 sq ft) | Suitable for medium to large rooms (300-600 sq ft) |
| AI Sound Features - Helps with dialogue clarity | |
| Advanced AI Dialogue Mode with machine learning | Basic AI sound calibration |
| Gaming Features - Important for console/PC gaming | |
| Basic 4K passthrough | 4K/120Hz, VRR, ALLM support |
| Physical Dimensions - Consider your space | |
| 34.5" x 4.5" x 3.5" (single unit) | 49.2" x 2.5" x 5.3" (main unit) plus satellites |
| Power Output - Affects maximum volume capability | |
| 65W total | 125W combined system |
| Smart Features - Convenience for streaming | |
| Built-in Alexa, Google Assistant, AirPlay 2 | AirPlay 2, Chromecast, basic voice control |
| Room Calibration - Optimizes sound for your space | |
| ADAPTiQ system with dialogue enhancement | AI Room Calibration with full-range optimization |
| Setup Complexity - Consider installation effort | |
| Simple single-unit setup | More complex with multiple speaker placement |
| Value Proposition - Overall price-to-performance | |
| Lower initial cost, expandable system | Higher initial cost but complete system included |
The $799 LG S90TR provides better movie performance with its physical 7.1.3 speaker system, dedicated subwoofer, and rear speakers. The $699 Bose Smart Ultra still offers good virtual surround but can't match the true immersion of physical speakers.
The LG S90TR delivers significantly better bass with its included wireless subwoofer. The Bose Smart Ultra has more limited bass response unless you purchase their optional subwoofer separately.
While not essential, physical rear speakers like those included with the LG S90TR provide more accurate surround effects. The Bose Smart Ultra creates virtual surround sound that's convincing but not as precise.
The Bose Smart Ultra is ideal for small rooms due to its compact single-unit design. The LG S90TR requires more space for optimal speaker placement.
The Bose Smart Ultra offers simpler setup with just one unit to place. The LG S90TR requires more setup time to position and configure multiple speakers.
Both soundbars support Dolby Atmos, but the LG S90TR provides better Atmos effects with physical height channels. The Bose Smart Ultra uses virtual processing for height effects.
The Bose Smart Ultra excels at dialogue clarity with its AI Dialogue Mode. The LG S90TR offers good dialogue but doesn't have as advanced dialogue enhancement.
Both support streaming via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. The Bose Smart Ultra offers better smart features and voice control, while the LG S90TR provides fuller sound for music with its subwoofer.
The LG S90TR is superior for gaming with 4K/120Hz passthrough and gaming-specific features. The Bose Smart Ultra handles gaming adequately but lacks advanced gaming features.
The LG S90TR includes everything needed for full surround sound. The Bose Smart Ultra requires separate subwoofer purchase for enhanced bass.
At $799, the LG S90TR includes more hardware and better overall performance. The Bose Smart Ultra costs less at $699 but requires additional purchases for similar capabilities.
Both soundbars can be wall-mounted. The Bose Smart Ultra is easier to mount as a single unit, while the LG S90TR requires mounting multiple components.
We've done our best to create useful and informative comparisons to help you decide what product to buy. Our research uses advanced automated methods to create this comparison and perfection is not possible - please contact us for corrections or questions. These are the sites we've researched in the creation of this article: techradar.com - bose.com - bestbuy.com - tomsguide.com - pcrichard.com - rtings.com - bose.com - boselatam.com - avsforum.com - bose.com - rtings.com - abt.com - youtube.com - bestbuy.com - microcenter.com - buydig.com - bestbuy.com - videoandaudiocenter.com - oceanstateappliance.com - youtube.com - lg.com
