Bose Smart Soundbar 900 vs Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3

Which Soundbar Is Better?

Products

Bose Smart Soundbar 900
Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3

Tested using Methodology v1.3

Updated Jul 24, 2024 01:50 PM

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Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v1.0

Updated Jan 11, 2024 02:49 PM

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Amazon.com

Our Verdict

Bose Smart Soundbar 900

Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3

The Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 and the Bose Smart Soundbar 900 are both premium standalone setups, but the Bose is better overall. It has better soundstage, surround, and Atmos performances. Also, there are more sound enhancement features on hand. You can also upgrade it with a sub and satellites down the line, unlike the B&W.

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Variants

  • Smart Soundbar 900 (Black)
  • Smart Soundbar 900 (White)
  • Panorama 3 (Black)

Check Price

Black
Smart Soundbar 900
Amazon.com
Black
Panorama 3
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
White
Smart Soundbar 900
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
Panorama 3
SEE PRICE
B&H
 
Black
Panorama 3
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
 
Black
Panorama 3
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
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Main Differences for
Mixed Usage

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Full Comparison

Design

Style - Bar  

Style photo - bar  

Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Style photo - bar Sample

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Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Style photo - bar Sample

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Show Text 

Style - Subwoofer  

Style photo - sub  

Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Style photo - sub Sample

SAMPLE

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Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Style photo - sub Sample

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Sub Wireless 
 

Locked
Locked

Enclosure 
 

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

Style - Satellites  

Style photo - satellites  

Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Style photo - satellites Sample

SAMPLE

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Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Style photo - satellites Sample

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Satellite Wireless 
 

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

Dimensions - Bar  

Dimensions photo - bar  

Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Dimensions photo - bar Sample

SAMPLE

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Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Dimensions photo - bar Sample

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Width  

Lock" (Lock cm)
Lock" (Lock cm)

Height  

Lock" (Lock cm)
Lock" (Lock cm)

Depth  

Lock" (Lock cm)
Lock" (Lock cm)
Show Text 

Dimensions - Subwoofer  

Dimensions photo - sub  

Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Dimensions photo - sub Sample

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Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Dimensions photo - sub Sample

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Width  

N/A
N/A

Height  

N/A
N/A

Depth  

N/A
N/A

Dimensions - Satellites  

Dimensions photo - satellites  

Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Dimensions photo - satellites Sample

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Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Dimensions photo - satellites Sample

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Width  

N/A
N/A

Height  

N/A
N/A

Depth  

N/A
N/A

Mounting 
 

Bar Mounting Holes  

Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Bar Mounting Holes Sample

SAMPLE

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Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Bar Mounting Holes Sample

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Satellite Mounting Holes  

Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Satellite Mounting Holes Sample

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Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Satellite Mounting Holes Sample

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Mountable Bar 
 

Locked

Bar Brackets Included 
 

Locked

Mountable Satellites 
 

Locked

Satellite Brackets Included 
 

Locked
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Build Quality 
 

N/A
N/A

Build quality photo  

Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Build quality photo Sample

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Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Build quality photo Sample

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In The Box 
 

In The Box photo   

Bose Smart Soundbar 900 In The Box photo  Sample

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Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 In The Box photo  Sample

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HDMI Cable Length 
 

Lock m (Lock ft)

Digital Optical Cable Length 
 

N/A
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Back - Bar  

Back photo - bar  

Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Back photo - bar Sample

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Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Back photo - bar Sample

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Bar Mounting 
 

Locked
Show Text 

Back - Subwoofer  

Back photo - sub  

Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Back photo - sub Sample

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Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Back photo - sub Sample

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Enclosure 
 

Locked
Locked

Back - Satellites  

Back photo - satellites  

Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Back photo - satellites Sample

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Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Back photo - satellites Sample

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Mounting 
 

Locked
Sound

Stereo Frequency Response 
 

N/A
N/A

Stereo Setup  

Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Stereo Setup Sample

SAMPLE

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Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Stereo Setup Sample

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Raw Frequency Response  

Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Raw Frequency Response Sample

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Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Raw Frequency Response Sample

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Frequency Response Small  

Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Frequency Response Small Sample

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Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Frequency Response Small Sample

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Channels 
 

Locked
Locked

Tested Preset 
 

Locked
Locked

Slope 
 

Lock
Lock

Standard Error 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

Lock Hz
Lock Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

Lock kHz
Lock kHz
Show Text 

Stereo Frequency Response With Preliminary Calibration 
 

N/A
N/A

Frequency Response Calibrated  

Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Frequency Response Calibrated Sample

SAMPLE

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Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Frequency Response Calibrated Sample

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Suggested Preset 
 

Locked
Locked

Suggested Bass Setting 
 

Lock
Lock

Suggested Treble Setting 
 

Lock
Lock

Slope 
 

Lock
Lock

Standard Error 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

Lock Hz
Lock Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

Lock kHz
Lock kHz
Show Text 

Stereo Soundstage 
 

N/A
N/A

Crosstalk  

Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Crosstalk Sample

SAMPLE

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Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Crosstalk Sample

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Crosstalk Error 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB
Show Text 

Stereo Dynamics 
 

N/A
N/A

Dynamic Range Compression  

Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Dynamic Range Compression Sample

SAMPLE

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Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Dynamic Range Compression Sample

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SPL @ Max Volume 
 

Lock dB SPL
Lock dB SPL

DRC @ 90dB 
 

Lock dB

DRC @ Max Volume 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB
Show Text 

Stereo Total Harmonic Distortion 
 

N/A
N/A

THD  

Bose Smart Soundbar 900 THD Sample

SAMPLE

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Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 THD Sample

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Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

Lock

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

Lock
Show Text 

Center 
 

N/A
N/A

Center Setup  

Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Center Setup Sample

SAMPLE

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Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Center Setup Sample

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Frequency Response  

Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Frequency Response Sample

SAMPLE

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Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Frequency Response Sample

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Localization 
 

Locked
Locked

Slope 
 

Lock
Lock

Std. Err. 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

Lock dB SPL
Lock dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

Lock
Lock

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

Lock
Lock
Show Text 

Surround 5.1 
 

N/A
N/A

Surround Setup  

Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Surround Setup Sample

SAMPLE

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Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Surround Setup Sample

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Frequency Response  

Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Frequency Response Sample

SAMPLE

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Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Frequency Response Sample

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Localization 
 

Locked
Locked

Slope 
 

Lock
Lock

Std. Err. 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

Lock dB SPL
Lock dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

Lock
Lock

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

Lock
Lock

7.1 Rears 
 

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

Height (Atmos) 
 

N/A
N/A

Height Setup  

Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Height Setup Sample

SAMPLE

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Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Height Setup Sample

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H Frequency Response  

Bose Smart Soundbar 900 H Frequency Response Sample

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Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 H Frequency Response Sample

SAMPLE

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Localization 
 

Locked
Locked

Slope 
 

Lock
Lock

Std. Err. 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

Lock dB SPL
Lock dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

Lock
Lock

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

Lock
Lock
Show Text 

Sound Enhancement Features 
 

N/A
N/A

Room Correction 
 

Locked
Locked

Dialogue Enhancement 
 

Locked
Locked

Auto-Volume/Night Mode 
 

Locked
Locked

Subwoofer Level Adjustment 
 

Locked
Locked

Bass Adjustment 
 

Locked
Locked

Treble Adjustment 
 

Locked
Locked

EQ 
 

Locked
Locked

Surround Level Adjustment 
 

Locked
Locked

Rear Level Adjustment 
 

Locked
Locked

Height Level Adjustment 
 

Locked
Locked

Virtual Surround 
 

Locked
Locked
Show Text 
Connectivity

Inputs/Outputs - Bar 
 

Physical Connections Bar Photo 1  

Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Physical Connections Bar Photo 1 Sample

SAMPLE

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Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Physical Connections Bar Photo 1 Sample

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Physical Connections Bar Photo 2  

Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Physical Connections Bar Photo 2 Sample

SAMPLE

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Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Physical Connections Bar Photo 2 Sample

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Optical Audio In 
 

Locked
Locked

HDMI Out 
 

Locked
Locked

HDMI 2.1 Class Bandwidth 
 

Locked

Full HDMI In 
 

Locked
Locked

Analog Audio In 3.5mm (Aux) 
 

Locked
Locked

RCA In 
 

Locked
Locked

USB for Files 
 

Locked
Locked

Ethernet 
 

Locked
Locked

Subwoofer Output 
 

Locked

HDMI ARC 
 

Locked
Show Text 

Audio Format Support: ARC/eARC 
 

N/A
N/A

Dolby Atmos 
 

Locked
Locked

Dolby Digital 
 

Locked
Locked

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

Locked
Locked

Dolby TrueHD 
 

Locked
Locked

DTS 
 

Locked
Locked

DTS:X 
 

Locked
Locked

eARC 
 

Locked

DTS-HD MA 
 

Locked
Locked

PCM Channels 
 

Locked

5.1 PCM (eARC only) 
 

Locked
Show Text 

Audio Format Support: HDMI In 
 

N/A
N/A

Dolby Atmos 
 

Locked
Locked

Dolby Digital 
 

Locked
Locked

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

Locked
Locked

Dolby TrueHD 
 

Locked
Locked

DTS 
 

Locked
Locked

DTS:X 
 

Locked
Locked

DTS-HD MA 
 

Locked
Locked

PCM Channels 
 

Locked

5.1 PCM 
 

Locked
Show Text 

Audio Format Support: Optical 
 

N/A
N/A

Dolby Digital 
 

Locked
Locked

DTS 
 

Locked
Locked

PCM Channels 
 

Locked
Show Text 

Audio Latency: ARC 
 

N/A
N/A

ARC Latency Video  

Bose Smart Soundbar 900 ARC Latency Video Sample

SAMPLE

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Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 ARC Latency Video Sample

SAMPLE

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PCM-2.0 ch 
 

Lock ms

PCM-5.1 ch 
 

Lock ms

Dolby MAT (PCM) Atmos 
 

Lock ms

Dolby Digital 
 

Lock ms

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

Lock ms

Dolby Digital Plus Atmos 
 

Lock ms
Show Text 

Audio Latency: HDMI In 
 

N/A
N/A

HDMI Latency Video  

Bose Smart Soundbar 900 HDMI Latency Video Sample

SAMPLE

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Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 HDMI Latency Video Sample

SAMPLE

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Latency Video  

Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Latency Video Sample

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Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Latency Video Sample

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PCM-2.0 ch 
 

N/A

PCM-5.1 ch 
 

N/A

Dolby MAT (PCM) Atmos 
 

N/A

Dolby Digital 
 

N/A

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

N/A

Dolby Digital Plus Atmos 
 

N/A

ARC 
 

Lock ms

Optical 
 

Lock ms

Full HDMI In 
 

N/A
Show Text 

Audio Latency: Optical 
 

N/A
N/A

Optical Latency Video  

Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Optical Latency Video Sample

SAMPLE

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Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Optical Latency Video Sample

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PCM-2.0 ch 
 

Lock ms

Dolby Digital 
 

Lock ms
Show Text 

Video Passthrough To TV 
 

N/A
N/A

1080p Max Refresh Rate 
 

Locked

1080p @ 4:4:4 Max Refresh Rate 
 

Locked

4k Max Refresh Rate 
 

Locked

4k @ 120Hz @ 10-Bit 
 

Locked

4k @ 4:4:4 Max Refresh Rate 
 

Locked

8k Max Refresh Rate 
 

Locked

HDR10 Passthrough 
 

Locked
Locked

HDR10+ Passthrough 
 

Locked

Dolby Vision Passthrough 
 

Locked

HDMI Forum VRR Passthrough 
 

Locked

4k @ 60 Hz Passthrough 
 

Locked

FreeSync Passthrough 
 

Locked

G-SYNC Passthrough 
 

Locked

ALLM Passthrough 
 

Locked

4k @ 60 Hz @ 10 bit Passthrough 
 

Locked

4k @ 60 Hz @ 4:4:4 Passthrough 
 

Locked
Show Text 

Wireless Playback 
 

N/A
N/A

Bluetooth 
 

Locked
Locked

Wi-Fi Playback 
 

Locked
Locked

Chromecast built-in 
 

Locked
Locked

Apple AirPlay 
 

Locked
Locked

Spotify Connect 
 

Locked
Show Text 

Connectivity - Subwoofer 
 

Physical inputs subwoofer photo 1  

Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Physical inputs subwoofer photo 1 Sample

SAMPLE

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Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Physical inputs subwoofer photo 1 Sample

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Physical controls subwoofer photo 1  

Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Physical controls subwoofer photo 1 Sample

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Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Physical controls subwoofer photo 1 Sample

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Sub Wireless 
 

Locked
Locked

Connectivity - Satellites 
 

Physical inputs satellites photo 1  

Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Physical inputs satellites photo 1 Sample

SAMPLE

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Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Physical inputs satellites photo 1 Sample

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Physical controls satellites photo 1  

Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Physical controls satellites photo 1 Sample

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Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Physical controls satellites photo 1 Sample

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Sat Wireless 
 

Locked
Locked
Additional Features

Interface 
 

Interface photo  

Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Interface photo Sample

SAMPLE

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Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Interface photo Sample

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Display 
 

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

Bar Controls 
 

Controls photo  

Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Controls photo Sample

SAMPLE

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Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Controls photo Sample

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Show Text 

Remote  

Remote photo  

Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Remote photo Sample

SAMPLE

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Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Remote photo Sample

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Universal Remote 
 

Locked
Show Text 

Voice Assistants Support 
 

Amazon Alexa 
 

Locked
Locked

Google Assistant 
 

Locked
Locked

Apple Siri 
 

Locked
Locked

Microphone Mute 
 

Locked
Show Text 

App 
 

App image  

Bose Smart Soundbar 900 App image Sample

SAMPLE

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Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 App image Sample

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App Name  

Locked

iOS  

Locked

Android  

Locked

Acts As A Remote 
 

Locked

Controls Soundbar's Settings 
 

Locked

Casts Device Files 
 

Locked
Show Text 

Other Features 
 

Power Saving 
 

Locked

HDMI CEC (TV Remote Control) 
 

Locked
Show Text 

Check Price

Black
Smart Soundbar 900
Amazon.com
Black
Panorama 3
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
White
Smart Soundbar 900
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
Panorama 3
SEE PRICE
B&H
 
Black
Panorama 3
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
 
Black
Panorama 3
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com

Bose Smart Soundbar 900

Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3

Comments

  1. Comparison

Bose Smart Soundbar 900 vs Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3: Main Discussion

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