Bose launches refreshed wireless soundbar with upgraded speaker setup and design

Bose has quietly launched the refreshed TV Speaker 2nd Gen. With a retail price that's quite close to the first-gen wireless soundbar, the newer model promises improved sound and better overall aesthetics.

Specifically, while the first-gen TV Speaker features a 2-speaker setup, the second-gen soundbar adds a center tweeter. This addition should make dialogue-heavy content more enjoyable to watch, and Bose itself claims that sound quality will be better than the previous generation model.

There's a dedicated Dialogue Mode, which is said to enhance speech further by separating the vocals from the background audio. While the company claims that the TV Speaker 2 can offer clearer, deeper bass, users can expand the setup by connecting a dedicated subwoofer, with Bose noting compatibility with the Bass Module 700 and the Lifestyle Ultra Subwoofer.

As for the design, the Bose TV Speaker 2 retains the compact form factor of the first-gen model, but it's rounder, which many can view as more elegant-looking than the somewhat boxy predecessor. The dimensions didn't see any change, though.

Connectivity-wise, the new soundbar has an HDMI, optical in, and bass out. For wireless connectivity, there's Bluetooth, but Bose didn't specify the version, so it's unclear whether the wireless aspect has seen an upgrade or not.

The new Bose TV Speaker is available for $299, making it $20 expensive than the first-gen model. While the triple-driver setup and the dialogue mode can make it worth it for some setups, for those with the first version, it might be a good idea to hold onto the soundbar for a little while, as the few improvements won't make the upgrade worth it.