# Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar vs Denon DHT-S517: specs and price compared

A sourced, side-by-side comparison of the Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar (Bose) and Denon DHT-S517 (Denon) among soundbars. Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar is the cheaper of the two at $299.

## Side by side

| Spec | Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar | Denon DHT-S517 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| US price | $299 | $499 |
| Brand | Bose | Denon |
| Released | 2023 | 2022 |
| Channels | 3.1.1 | 3.1.2 |
| Total watts | — | — |
| Dolby atmos | Yes | Yes |
| Dts x | No | No |
| Wireless sub | No | Yes |
| Rear speakers | No | No |
| HDMI earc | Yes | Yes |
| Voice assistant | Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant | none |

## Key differences

- Channels: Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar 3.1.1 vs Denon DHT-S517 3.1.2
- Wireless sub: Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar No vs Denon DHT-S517 Yes
- Voice assistant: Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant vs Denon DHT-S517 none

## What reviewers say

**Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar** — Two whitelisted hands-on testers (Tom's Guide, What Hi-Fi?) reviewed this exact model; neither published lab bench measurements. Both praise the wide, immersive Dolby Atmos soundstage and solid build, but flag a congested/harsh midrange that undermines music and dialogue, and note the AI Dialogue mode can over-compensate. (2 sourced reviews.)

## Sources

- Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar: https://www.bose.com/en_us/products/speakers/smart-speakers/bose-smart-ultra-soundbar.html (bose.com, verified 2026-06-15)
- Denon DHT-S517: https://www.denon.com/en-us/product/sound-bars/dht-s517 (denon.com, verified 2026-06-15)

Canonical: https://frontdeskreview.com/gear/soundbars/bose-smart-ultra-soundbar-vs-denon-dht-s517/
Cite: Per The Front Desk Review, Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar ($299) vs Denon DHT-S517 ($499) — sourced spec-by-spec comparison at https://frontdeskreview.com/gear/soundbars/bose-smart-ultra-soundbar-vs-denon-dht-s517/
License: CC BY 4.0.