This Bose Smart Soundbar Is on Sale for $170 Right Now.
You don’t usually associate Bose with “budget,” but Woot’s current offering for the Bose Smart Soundbar 550 comes pretty close. It’s going down to $169.99 over the next 12 days (or until it sells out), and that’s a noticeable drop from the $229 sale price it’ll be selling on Amazon . Just keep in mind that this is a certified refurbished device, which means it may have minor cosmetic scuffs, but has been tested and approved by Bose to perform like new, and also includes a one-year limited manufacturer’s warranty. (Woot only ships within the contiguous 48 US states, and unless you’re a Prime member, you’ll have to pay $6 for shipping.)
The Soundbar 550 doesn’t look flashy (it’s just a low-profile rectangle), but it does a lot in a relatively compact package. It supports Dolby Atmos, and even if the content isn’t Atmos encoded, Bose’s TrueSpace technology helps simulate the same immersive feeling. Dialogue is clear, and spatial audio helps effects feel like they’re coming from everywhere, not just the TV. The 550 features five speakers, two of which are upward-firing, reflecting sound off the ceiling and walls for a more immersive experience. It won’t replace a full surround sound system, but for a single device it’s an impressive upgrade.
You’re also not tied to movies and shows—Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Apple AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, and Chromecast built-in mean your playlists and podcasts are streamed just as easily. If you’re already part of the Bose ecosystem, things get even better. The Soundbar 550 works with SimpleSync, so you can pair it with other Bose headphones or Bluetooth speakers, or group it with other Bose devices for full-home audio. Setup is primarily done through the Bose Music app, and there’s also an HDMI eARC and optical connection if you want a wired setup.