Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3
Score: 78/100
Bose Smart Ultra
Score: 82/100Rankings
The Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar offers premium nine-speaker Dolby Atmos performance with ADAPTiQ calibration and dual-assistant voice control. Its lack of an integrated subwoofer and bright tuning may limit bass impact, making it ideal for users seeking high-end features in a single bar.
The Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 is a premium 3.1.2 soundbar delivering audiophile-grade audio and integrated bass in a sleek, wall-mountable package. Its remote is cumbersome and the system cannot be expanded with extra speakers, limiting future upgrades. Ideal for listeners who prioritize high-fidelity sound and design over modularity.
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
— | 5best | |
10.2 cmbest | — | |
| ↓ lower better | 6.5 kg | 5.75 kgbest |
2 yearsbest | 1 years | |
14.2 cm | 104.5 cmbest | |
7.4 cmbest | 5.82 cm | |
121.2 cmbest | 10.69 cm |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
Audio(1) | ||
Supported Audio Formats | Dolby Atmos, Dolby TrueHD, 24-bit Hi-Res Streaming | Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, DTS, DTS:X, DTS-HD MA, PCM |
General(1) | ||
Warranty Period (years) | 2 years | 1 years |
Design(4) | ||
Soundbar Weight (kg) | 6.5 kg | 5.75 kg |
Soundbar Width (cm) | 14.2 cm | 104.5 cm |
Soundbar Height (cm) | 7.4 cm | 5.82 cm |
Soundbar Depth (cm) | 121.2 cm | 10.69 cm |
Products in the top-left offer the best value (high score, low price).
Professional reviewers commend the Panorama 2 for its audiophile-grade sound, wide imaging, and effective Atmos height effects, noting its superb build quality and dynamic performance even at high volumes. However, they point out the lack of a dedicated music surround mode, limited on-board EQ, and fewer features compared to competitors, making it a strong but feature-light all-in-one solution.
Everyday users overwhelmingly praise the Panorama 2 for its exceptional sound, deep integrated bass, sleek design and straightforward setup, often calling it the best sound bar they've owned. Recurring criticisms focus on the unwieldy remote, high price and the bar's large size, which can be problematic in smaller spaces.
Professional reviewers praise the Bose Smart Ultra for its AI Dialogue clarity, TrueSpace upmixing, and ADAPTiQ room calibration, noting its accurate and spacious sound. However, they criticize the bright default tuning, limited height immersion without satellites, and the absence of a bundled subwoofer, which reduces bass impact compared to larger systems.
Everyday users love the ultra-crisp vocals, immersive surround feel, and the convenience of voice control, while consistently noting that the sound can become treble-heavy and that bass lacks punch without an optional subwoofer. Sync issues with non-eARC TVs are also a recurring complaint.
