- Table of Contents
- Intro
- Updates
- Comparison
- Best Soundbars
- Conclusion
- Discussions
We've currently reviewed four Bose soundbars. Bose is an audio-centric brand that focuses on creating premium-feeling, well-built products that are just as sturdy as they are sleek-looking. While they may lack in audio customization, their balanced and neutral sound reproduction makes their soundbars relatively easy and simple to use. Although we've only tested these soundbars on their own, we have plans to eventually retest them with their full setups.
Updates
- 11/20/2020 Bose Solo 5 updated
- 10/23/2020 Bose Smart Soundbar 300 reviewed
- 09/08/2020 Bose TV Speaker reviewed
- 09/30/2019 Bose Soundbar 500 updated
- 09/30/2019 Bose Soundbar 700 updated
Best Bose Soundbars
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Best Bose Soundbar
Channels3.0The best Bose soundbar that we've tested is the Bose Soundbar 700. This 3.0 channel soundbar has a premium look and feel thanks to its unique glass top and metal grille. Its setup is easily upgradable, so you can always add a subwoofer or satellite speakers down the line. This soundbar has a balanced and neutral sound profile out-of-the-box, making it easy to enjoy your audio as soon as you plug it in. Those who want a little more customization can also use its bass and treble adjustments or its EQ presets to tweak the sound, and its room correction feature can help improve its sound quality depending on the shape of your room.
Although it's also similar in performance to the more affordable Bose Soundbar 500, its soundstage still feels wider and more speaker-like, which can help deep immersion into your favorite movies or music. You can even cast your podcasts to it using Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. Unfortunately, it doesn't have a full HDMI In port, so it can't support Dolby Atmos content. While it does support Dolby Digital and DTS via an optical connection, it has to downmix it into 3.0. Still, it's a good choice for those who can't commit to a full setup right away but like the possibility to expand this bar's capabilities in the future, and it's the best Bose soundbar that we've tested.
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Best Small Bose Soundbar
Channels2.0The best small Bose soundbar that we've tested is the Bose TV Speaker. This compact 2.0 setup is sturdy and well-built, and it can easily fit between the legs of most TVs. It has Optical and HDMI ARC ports that make it easy to connect this soundbar to your TV, and you can also stream content to the bar from your phone or tablet using a Bluetooth connection. Its sound profile is quite neutral, and its balanced mid-range helps to reproduce dialogue and vocals clearly and accurately. There's even a dialogue enhancement feature to help make voices in your favorite podcasts and TV shows sound more clear and crisp.
Unfortunately, this 2.0 soundbar doesn't support Atmos content, which may be disappointing for avid movie fans. It also lacks a lot of sound customization features, including an EQ or an auto-volume mode. It doesn't get very loud, and when it's played a max volume, there's a lot of compression artifacts, so it's not the best choice to use during a crowded party. That said, if you don't have a lot of space but still want an upgrade over your TV speakers, the Bose TV Speaker is a solid choice.
Compared to other brands
- Balanced sound profile. Although the soundbars we've currently tested lack a subwoofer by default and struggle to create a thumpy bass, the rest of their sound profiles tend to be balanced and fairly neutral, making them suited for a variety of audio content.
- Well-built design. Bose soundbars are generally well-built, with a premium look and feel to them.
- Easily upgradable setup. Both the Bose Soundbar 500 and Bose Soundbar 700 can be upgraded by purchasing a separate subwoofer or satellites, which is great if you may like to expand your setup down the line.
- Lacking low-bass. Without a dedicated subwoofer, Bose soundbars tend to lack thump and rumble integral to genres like EDM and hip-hop.
- No height channels. Bose soundbars don't support Dolby Atmos content found on many 4k Blu-rays or some streaming services, so you won't get the most immersive experience when watching movies.
- No Full HDMI In port. You won't be able to use Bose soundbars as a hub between external devices like a Blu-ray player and your TV.
Bose makes well-built and neutral-sounding soundbars. They tend to be very straightforward to use, and some of their setups are easily upgradable. However, due to their simple design, they don't have as many sound enhancement features as other brands and they lack HDMI In ports. That said, Bose still provides a solid sound experience right out-of-the-box, which is great for those who don't like to tinker with their settings too much.
Conclusion
Bose is a well-known brand that focuses on well-built, premium-feeling audio products that can reproduce a balanced and neutral sound out-of-the-box. While their soundbars are a little lackluster, especially compared to brands that offer more of a variety of setups, they still have a sound suited for most audio content, and most of their setups can be upgraded down the line. They're a good choice for those who want something simple, yet sturdy in design without sacrificing audio quality.
If you're looking for more soundbars, check out our recommendations for the best soundbars, the best small soundbars, and the best soundbars under $300.
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