Connection is straightforward by design. The soundbar uses a single cable to reach the TV, either HDMI eARC or optical, with both cables included, Bose UK confirms. All source devices must route through the TV first; the soundbar handles audio only and passes no video signal. On TVs with limited HDMI ports, unreliable eARC implementation, or no optical output, that routing requirement creates real friction. Compatibility is broad, but not unconditional.

Nine drivers are packed into the bar, including two upward-firing units for height effects. Bose US describes this as its best spatialized audio and soundbar performance to date.

Two processing systems define the Bose pitch. The first is ADAPTiQ room calibration: during initial setup, an included microphone measures how sound reflects off walls, furniture, and the room's shape, then adjusts the system's frequency response accordingly. The Sony Theatre System 6 has no equivalent automatic calibration feature, Expert Reviews noted last July. The second is TrueSpace, Bose's proprietary spatial processing engine. Per Bose US, TrueSpace analyzes signals other than Dolby Atmos, such as stereo and 5.1 content, and upmixes them to create a sense of height and spatial width. Native Dolby Atmos content is handled by the Atmos decoder directly. For households watching standard broadcast TV and streaming shows rather than Atmos-encoded blockbusters, TrueSpace is the feature doing the most work day-to-day.

Bose also claims an AI Dialogue Mode that uses machine learning to identify speech in real time and lift vocal clarity with minimal impact to the surround mix, per Bose US. HomeTechnologyReview described the underlying mechanism last September: algorithms trained on millions of audio clips to recognize dialogue as it occurs. These remain manufacturer-supported claims; no independent listening tests focused specifically on this feature appear in the sources reviewed here.

The connectivity gap between the two systems is stark. The Bose bar supports Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, AirPlay 2, Chromecast, and Spotify Connect. Alexa is built in; Google Assistant is available by linking a compatible device. Bose's Voice4Video feature extends Alexa control to TV inputs and power state, according to Bose UK. Sony's Theatre System 6 has no Wi-Fi, no smart assistant support, and no AirPlay or Chromecast, though it does support Bluetooth 5.3 streaming from phones and control via Sony's Bravia Connect app, Expert Reviews noted. The smart-home depth Bose offers simply isn't part of Sony's design here.

Independent reviews are aligned on Sony's main strength: cinematic impact. The Theatre System 6's subwoofer reached bass depths during testing that rattled objects in the room at default settings, performance Expert Reviews described as exceeding even Samsung's HW-Q990 flagship models in raw low-frequency force. For action movies and gaming specifically, HomeTechnologyReview concluded last September that Sony delivers "significantly more engagement" when physical bass hardware is in the room.

The system claims 1,000W output across 5.1 channels and 10 separate speaker units, retailing at £549 in the UK, Expert Reviews confirmed. That's substantial hardware for the money.

One distinction worth getting right: the Theatre System 6 has no physical up-firing speakers. Any height effects come from virtual processing, Sony's Vertical Surround Engine, Dolby Speaker Virtualisation, or DTS Virtual:X, per Expert Reviews. The separately sold Theater Bar 6 standalone soundbar does include physical up-firing drivers. Buyers comparing Sony's lineup should be careful here.

Music performance is more nuanced than the system's movie-first identity might suggest. Expert Reviews called it the System 6's "single biggest and best surprise": the subwoofer shifts cleanly from movie rumbles to lighter, faster musical bass without drawing attention to itself, and left-right separation in stereo mode is strong. The caveats are real but specific. Vocals can become slightly blended into the mix, bass frequencies tend to dominate in stereo mode, and DTS Virtual:X produced noticeably quieter, more muted results than Sony's default VSE system in the same review. WIRED also advised against using the Soundfield upmixing mode for regular stereo or music content. Better than expected overall, with particular weaknesses in vocal separation and one virtual processing mode.

Setup is a genuine friction point. The rear speakers require a wireless receiver box that then runs long cables to each speaker. The main soundbar and subwoofer must be physically wired together. Because there's no Wi-Fi, firmware updates require a USB drive, a process WIRED described as frustrating in practice.

Sony's value case is direct. £549 / approximately $800 gets you a complete 5.1 system, subwoofer and rear speakers included, from day one, per Expert Reviews and WIRED. No further hardware outlay required to reach full surround.

Bose's current retail price is not clearly established in the sources available for this piece, a genuine gap that prevents a clean head-to-head value comparison. What is documented is the upgrade structure: bass modules and surround speakers are optional wireless add-ons, with support for up to two bass modules simultaneously, though both must be the same model, Bose US confirms. The soundbar functions as a capable standalone unit, but closing the hardware gap with Sony's full 5.1 package requires additional spending beyond the base price. HomeTechnologyReview noted last September that the Sony Theater Bar 6 standalone soundbar typically costs less than the Bose Smart Ultra; whether that holds when comparing the Theatre System 6 against a fully expanded Bose setup is harder to pin down with current data.

Bose does offer a 90-day return window with complimentary shipping, per Bose US. That's meaningful given that ADAPTiQ calibration will perform differently in your actual room than any store demo can demonstrate. No equivalent Sony return policy appears in the sources cited here.

The sources draw consistent lines. HomeTechnologyReview concluded last September that Bose suits buyers who prioritize smart features, room adaptability, and balanced performance across all content types. The case rests on the whole ecosystem: Wi-Fi streaming without the TV on, automatic room tuning, smart-home integration, and a modular upgrade path that stays wireless throughout.

Sony's case rests on what a dedicated subwoofer and real rear speakers do to a film's third act, something no single-bar solution replicates. For buyers who can accommodate a subwoofer Expert Reviews described as physically large, who are prepared to manage the cable routing that full 5.1 demands, and who have no use for Wi-Fi streaming or voice assistant control, the Theatre System 6 delivers cinematic hardware that's hard to match at £549.

Two things would sharpen this comparison: independent listening tests focused specifically on Bose's AI Dialogue Mode and TrueSpace processing, neither of which appear in the sources reviewed here, and a clearly documented current Bose list price. Until both are available, the hardware-versus-software question is the right frame to work through before buying.