- Table of Contents
- Intro
- Updates
- Comparison
- Best Soundbars
- Conclusion
- Discussions
We've currently reviewed five 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 Bose Soundbar 700 is the best Bose soundbar that we've tested. This 3.0 channel setup is very well-built and feels premium, thanks to details like its glass top and metal grilles. It has a decently balanced sound profile out-of-the-box, and it's particularly quite neutral in the mid-range, so dialogue in your favorite podcasts and TV shows sounds clear and accurate. While it doesn't offer a more comprehensive EQ, it comes with a few EQ presets, bass and treble adjustments, and even room correction so that you can tweak its sound to your liking. It can also get loud enough to fill a large or crowded room, and unlike the Bose Soundbar 500, there aren't a lot of compression artifacts at max volume. It offers a variety of wireless playback options too, which makes it easy to stream audio from your smartphone to the bar. You can even expand its setup down the line since Bose sells a compatible subwoofer and satellites separately.
On the downside, this soundbar doesn't have a Full HDMI In port, so you won't be able to enjoy Dolby Atmos content. It also has to downmix Dolby Digital and DTS content to 3.0 if you're using its Optical In port. That said, if you're looking for a well-built soundbar that you can upgrade down the line, it offers a solid performance. It's even one of the best soundbars for music 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 at 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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