The Smart Soundbar 600 has two microphones for voice, and Bose treats a silent one as an Alexa problem: check that the microphone-off button on top is not showing a red indicator (red means disabled), remove and re-add Alexa in the Bose app, confirm the Amazon account is not linked to a second Bose account, and reset the soundbar. Bose adds that the microphone cannot be turned on or off by voice command or from the Bose app, only by the button.
Differential
Likely causes of “Bose Smart Soundbar 600 microphone sounds bad or is not detected”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
The microphone-off button is on
What separates it The indicator light on the top button is glowing red and Alexa never answers any request
How to confirm Press the microphone button on top until the red indicator goes out
- 2
No voice assistant is set up
What separates it The microphone indicator is off, so the mic is live, but nothing responds to the wake word
How to confirm Add Alexa in the Bose app under Settings, Voice Assistant
- 3
The Amazon account is linked to another Bose account
What separates it Errors appear when you try to add the Amazon account to the Bose app
How to confirm Remove the Amazon account from any other Bose account and add it again
- 4
A stale Alexa link
What separates it Alexa answered normally for a while and then stopped responding after a change
How to confirm Remove and re-add Alexa in the Bose app to re-link it
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The color of the microphone indicator
- Whether Alexa is set up under Voice Assistant
- How many Bose accounts use the same Amazon login
Try in this order
0 of 5 completedCheck the button
ReversibleLook at the left button on top. A red indicator means the microphone is disabled. Press it once so the indicator is off.
Confirm a voice assistant exists
ReversibleIn the Bose app tap Settings, Voice Assistant, and check that Alexa is listed. Without one the microphone is on but unused.
Re-link Alexa
ReversibleRemove Alexa in the app, then add the same Amazon account again. This re-links Alexa to the Bose account and fixes many faults.
Check account sharing
ReversibleAn Amazon account links to only one Bose account. Remove it from any other Bose account, then share the soundbar instead using product sharing.
Reset
ReversibleUnplug the soundbar for 30 seconds, restore power and try the wake word again once the light bar settles.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- The two buttons on top
- The left button switches the voice-assistant microphone off and on, and the right button wakes the assistant when the microphone is on. Power is on the remote or in the Bose app.
- Two Alexa entries
- In the Amazon Alexa app the soundbar appears twice, one entry for Alexa features and one for Bose product control. Bose says not to remove either.
- One Amazon account per Bose account
- An Amazon account links to only one Bose account at a time. A second Bose account holding the same Amazon login is a known cause of Alexa errors.
- Remote details
- The remote reaches about 20 feet and controls the soundbar by IR from emitters in its corners, so a soundbar pushed back or with covered corners loses reach. The top button switches the system on or off, and Bose advises alkaline batteries because rechargeables may supply less voltage.
- Finding network details
- In the Bose app's Technical Info screen you can read the soundbar's IP address, MAC address and Wi-Fi Strength, from -30 dBm best to -90 dBm poor. Bose MAC addresses often begin 00-0C-8A, 08-DF-1F, 28-11-A5, 2C-41-A1 or 4C-87-5D, which helps identify it in a router's device list.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If the soundbar never responds after re-adding Alexa and a factory restore, request service
- !If Alexa answers on other devices but not the soundbar, contact Bose about the microphones
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
HDMI ARC or optical, Bose app setup, amber light bar, Alexa step.
Discoverable mode, blue light bar, white on connect, TV and Windows cautions.
The 10-second Bluetooth button hold.
Default, Off and Options 2 to 7.
Disable CEC on the TV, try another CEC option, reset the TV.
20-foot range, IR emitters in the corners, alkaline batteries.
Firmware 11.0.40, 10.0.30 and earlier release notes, app OS requirements.
Firmware, account membership, reset and reinstall steps.
Wi-Fi strength readout, bands, extenders, WMM.
Setup, the two Alexa entries, unsupported Alexa features.
Microphone-off button, one Amazon account per Bose account.
30-second power reset and the factory reset on the remote.
Audio delay, TV settings, extender caution.
The 0 to 200 slider under Sync and Delay.
Router and network checks.
Inputs, Bluetooth 4.2, five speakers, Atmos formats.
Exact questions
Common questions
Where is the microphone button?+
On top, the left of the two buttons.
What does a red indicator mean?+
The microphone and voice assistant are disabled.
Can I say a command to turn the mic off?+
No, only the button controls it.
Which assistants work?+
Alexa built in and Google Assistant compatible.
Is Alexa's wake word changeable?+
No, Bose lists that as unavailable.
What does the right button do?+
It activates the assistant when the microphone is on.
Do voice requests control grouping?+
No, grouping is not available by voice.
Why two Alexa entries?+
One is for Alexa features and one for Bose control.