The Bose Smart Soundbar 700 is a 3.0 setup released in 2019. It's a sleek and premium soundbar with built-in voice assistant support for hands-free control right from the comfort of your couch. You can use it as a standalone bar, or you can upgrade it to the full Bose Smart Soundbar 700 with Speakers + Bass Module for improved performance. Unlike the Bose Smart Soundbar 900, there's no support for object-based audio formats like Dolby Atmos, but it still offers some premium features, such as the ADAPTiQ room correction tool.
Our Verdict
The Bose Soundbar 700 is decent for mixed usage. Overall, it's a really premium and well-built soundbar with built-in voice assistant support, and it has a great sound quality that's suitable for lots of different audio content. Dialogue in movies and TV shows is reproduced with clarity, and instruments in your favorite tunes are detailed in the mix. Without a sub, you don't get a deep rumble in the low-bass, and without satellites, its surround sound performance isn't the best, but you can add on both of these components separately. There's no support for object-based formats like Atmos, though.
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Very well-built design.
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Neutral sound profile.
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Easily upgradable setup.
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Lacks sub-bass.
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Lacks Full HDMI In ports.
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No Atmos support.
The Bose Soundbar 700 is good for dialogue-centric content like TV shows and podcasts. Dialogue is clear and present in the mix right out of the box, so you can follow along with your favorite shows with ease. Its discrete center channel improves overall vocal reproduction, and if you want dialogue to sound more crisp and clear, there's also a dialogue enhancement tool on hand. Plus, its low latency ensures that there aren't any lip-synching issues.
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Neutral sound profile.
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Very wide soundstage.
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Diffused sound due to large soundstage.
The Bose Soundbar 700 is very good for music. Like most premium setups on the market, there's a room correction feature available to optimize its frequency response based on your room's unique acoustics. The bar's sound is very even, especially in the mids, so voices and lead instruments are reproduced with clarity and detail. Aside from bass and treble adjustments, however, you don't have much ability to control its sound, and you'll need to add on a separate subwoofer to enjoy the deep rumble in the low-bass.
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Neutral sound profile.
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Very wide soundstage.
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Lacks sub-bass.
The Bose Soundbar 700 is fair for movies. While it doesn't offer support for object-based formats like Dolby Atmos, you can still playback 5.1 surround sound like Dolby Digital, which are commonly found on different streaming platforms. Without satellites, however, the bar has to downmix this content into stereo in order to play it, which doesn't sound as immersive. However, you can always add on separate satellites to improve its surround sound.
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Neutral sound profile.
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Very wide soundstage.
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Diffused sound due to large soundstage.
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Lacks sub-bass.
- Mixed Usage
- Dialogue/TV Shows
- Music
- Movies
- Updated Jun 02, 2023: Converted to Test Bench 1.2. Updated the results for audio format support via ARC/eARC, HDMI In, and Optical. Added Video Passthrough to TV results as well.
- Updated Mar 13, 2023: Added cable lengths to In The Box.
- Updated Mar 10, 2023: Converted to Test Bench 1.1. With this update, we've added a Mounting test and added information aboutSubwoofer Output, Spotify Connect, and Microphone Mute.
- Updated Jan 20, 2023: Rewrote text for accuracy and clarity. No changes to test results.
- Updated Jan 17, 2023: Confirmed that the bar doesn't support Dolby Vision Passthrough or 4k @ 120Hz.
- Updated Nov 16, 2022: Added market comparison with the Bose Smart Soundbar 600 to the Height (Atmos) box.
- Updated Mar 15, 2022: Firmware update adds Chromecast built-in support.
- Updated Oct 01, 2021: Updated 5.1 PCM support via ARC to 'Yes'.
- Updated Mar 23, 2021: Updated latency measurements with new methodology.
- Updated Mar 11, 2021: Updated review for accuracy and clarity.
- Updated Feb 09, 2021: Converted to Test Bench 1.0.
- Updated Oct 05, 2020: We have updated our text regarding whether this soundbar supports 5.1 PCM content via its HDMI ARC port.
- Updated Sep 27, 2019: Review published.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Bose Soundbar 700 comes in two color variants, 'Black' and 'Arctic White'. We tested the 'Black' variant, and you can see the label for the model we tested here. We expect both variants to perform similarly in tests.
If you come across a variant not listed here, let us know in the discussions below so we can update our review.
Compared To Other Soundbars
The Bose Smart Soundbar 700 can easily be upgraded with a wireless sub and satellites to the Bose Smart Soundbar 700 with Speakers + Bass Module. By itself, the bar has an extremely wide soundstage thanks to the side-firing speakers. Though it lacks some low-bass, it has a neutral sound profile that makes it suitable for listening to a variety of audio content. It's also one of the better-built soundbars that we've tested and it has a very unique and sleek style with a glass panel.
If you want to see more options, check out our recommendations for the best soundbars, the best Dolby Atmos soundbars, and the best soundbars with a subwoofer.
The Bose Smart Soundbar 700 is a slightly better soundbar than the Sonos Arc. The Sonos isn't as well-built, but it supports Atmos, which is great for a more immersive listening experience. However, the Bose has a more neutral sound profile, and it allows for Bluetooth playback. Both setups can be upgraded easily.
When comparing the bars by themselves, the Bose Smart Soundbar 700 is slightly better than the Sonos Beam. The Bose can get slightly louder, without as much compression at max volume. It feels better-made and has a premium feel, with a glass plate covering. The Bose also has more inputs and can play content wirelessly via Bluetooth as well as Wi-Fi. On the other hand, the Sonos is smaller and easier to fit in your home theater setup.
The Bose Smart Soundbar 700 is a better soundbar than the Bose Soundbar 500. The 700 has a better overall audio quality and can get louder, on top of having less compression at max volume. It also supports more audio formats and is slightly better-built. Its design feels more premium, thanks to the glass panel on top.
The JBL Bar 9.1 is a better soundbar than the standalone Bose Smart Soundbar 700. The JBL is a 5.1.4 setup that comes with a dedicated subwoofer and satellites, and it supports Atmos content. It has a more extended low-bass and a more extended low-bass. Also, it comes with EQ presets and a Full HDMI In port. That said, the 3.0 Bose is better built, and you can also upgrade it to the Bose Smart Soundbar 700 with Speakers + Bass Module.
The Sonos Beam (Gen 2) and the Bose Smart Soundbar 700 are both good standalone soundbars. The Sonos has a more compact design, and unlike the Bose, it supports Dolby Atmos content. It also has a better surrounds performance. That said, the Bose has a more balanced sound profile out-of-the-box, which some users may prefer. It also gets louder, and it supports more wireless playback options like Bluetooth.
The standalone Bose Smart Soundbar 700 is slightly better for mixed usage than the Sony HT-G700. The Bose is better built, and it has better soundstage and dynamics performances. It comes with a room correction feature, built-in voice assistant support, and offers more wireless playback options. That said, the Sony supports Dolby Atmos content, so it may be better suited for movies. Also, it comes with an auto-volume mode and a Full HDMI In port, unlike the Bose. However, you can also upgrade to the Bose Smart Soundbar 700 with Speakers + Bass Module for a better performance.
The Bose Smart Soundbar 700 is better than the Bose Solo 5. The Bose is a better-built 3.0 setup that gets louder with less compression at max volume. It has better soundstage, center, and surround performances, as well as built-in voice assistant support. There are even more sound enhancement features and an ARC input.
The Bose Smart Soundbar 700 is better than the Yamaha YAS-209. The Bose is better built with better soundstage and center channel performances. It gets louder, and it has a room correction feature. It even supports more wireless connectivity options. That said, the Yamaha comes with some EQ presets as well as Full HDMI In port, unlike the Bose.
The Bose Smart Soundbar 700 is a bit better for mixed usage than the JBL Bar 5.1 Surround. The Bose is better-built, with better soundstage and surround performances. Also, it has built-in voice assistant support. That said, the JBL reproduces a more extended low-bass and supports more wireless playback options. It also comes with EQ presets and a Full HDMI In port, unlike the Bose.
Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the Bose Smart Soundbar 700 or the Sony HT-A7000. The Bose is a 3.0 setup with a better soundstage. It also gets louder than the Sony. However, unlike the Bose, the Sony supports Dolby Atmos content and has a Full HDMI In port for high-quality passthrough. It also offers a better surrounds performance.
The Samsung HW-Q950A is a better soundbar than the Bose Smart Soundbar 700. The 11.1.4 Samsung comes with a dedicated subwoofer and discrete satellite speakers, and it reproduces a more extended low-bass. Unlike the Bose, it supports Dolby Atmos content, and it has a better surround performance. It also comes with more sound enhancement features including a graphic EQ and presets, as well as a Full HDMI In port. However, the 3.0 Bose is better built and offers a better soundstage performance.
The Bose Smart Soundbar 700 is better than the Sonos Playbar. The Bose has a more balanced sound profile and less compression present at max volume. The Bose also has more inputs, although neither soundbar has an HDMI In port. It has a more premium feel, thanks to the glass panel on the top. Both soundbars can be upgraded easily with a sub and satellites.
The standalone Bose Smart Soundbar 700 is better than the Bose TV Speaker. The Soundbar 700 is better built, with better soundstage, center, and surround performances. It gets louder, and it has built-in voice assistant support. It also offers a room correction feature and more wireless playback options.
The Sony HT-ST5000 is a better soundbar setup than the Bose Smart Soundbar 700 by itself. Since the Sony comes with a subwoofer, it has a more extended bass than the Bose. It also has more input options and supports a greater variety of audio formats. However, the Bose has a more neutral sound profile and less compression and distortion at max volume.
The Bose Smart Soundbar 700 and the Klipsch Cinema 600 are similarly performing soundbars, so depending on your listening habits, you may prefer one over the other. The Bose is better-built, has a better soundstage, and offers a room correction feature, unlike the Klipsch. However, the Klipsch comes with a dedicated subwoofer which helps produce a more extended low-bass.
The Bose Smart Soundbar 700 is a wider, better-built alternative to the Bose Smart Soundbar 600. The 700's larger size means it's little surprise that it gets louder than the 600 and has a better stereo soundstage. That said, unlike the 600, it doesn't support Dolby Atmos content, which is disappointing if you watch a lot of content on streaming platforms.
The Bose Smart Soundbar 900 is a bit better than the Bose Smart Soundbar 700. The 900 has a better surrounds performance, and unlike the 700, it supports Dolby Atmos content. That said, the 700 has a better-balanced stereo frequency response.
The Bose Smart Soundbar 900 with Speakers + Bass Module is better than the Bose Smart Soundbar 700. The 900 full setup comes with a subwoofer and satellites, and it supports Dolby Atmos content. It can reproduce a more extended low-bass, and it has better soundstage and surround performances. That said, you can upgrade the 700 with a sub and satellites as the Bose Smart Soundbar 700 with Speakers + Bass Module if you prefer.
The Samsung HW-Q700A is better than the standalone Bose Smart Soundbar 700. The Samsung supports Atmos content, and it has more sound enhancement features like a graphic EQ and auto-volume mode. It also comes with a Full HDMI In port. However, the Bose is better built with a better soundstage. It has built-in voice assistant support and a room correction feature. You can also upgrade it to the Bose Soundbar 700 with Speakers + Bass Module for a better performance.
The Bose Smart Soundbar 700 is a better soundbar than the Bose Smart Soundbar 300. The 700 feels better built, it supports eARC, and it has room correction as well as EQ presets. It can also get louder with fewer compression artifacts present at max volume, and it has a better surround performance.
The Bose Smart Soundbar 700 is better for most uses than the JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam. The Bose is better-built with a more neutral sound profile out-of-the-box. It gets louder, has a better stereo soundstage, and offers built-in voice assistant support. That said, the JBL is better for movies. It supports Atmos content, and it has a better surrounds performance. It has more wireless playback options and a Full HDMI In port.
The Bose Smart Soundbar 700 with Speakers + Bass Module is a better soundbar than the standalone Bose Smart Soundbar 700. Adding the subwoofer to the setup helps create a more extended low-bass, resulting in a more neutral sound profile out-of-the-box. The surround speakers also create a better surround performance and a wider soundstage.
The Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers is a better overall soundbar than the Bose Smart Soundbar 700. The Sonos comes with satellites and a dedicated subwoofer, which helps reproduce a more extended low-bass. It offers a better surround performance, and it supports Dolby Atmos content, unlike the Bose. It also comes with more sound enhancement features. That said, the Bose supports more wireless playback options, and it can be upgraded as the Bose Smart Soundbar 700 with Speakers + Bass Module for better performance.
The Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar Plus is better than the Bose Smart Soundbar 700. They're both very premium standalone setups, and the Bose has a better stereo soundstage, offering an immersive sound. However, it doesn't support Dolby Atmos content like the Sennheiser, so you can't take advantage of more immersive audio formats, and it lacks an HDMI In port for video passthrough.
The Bose Smart Soundbar 700 is a better soundbar than the Bang & Olufsen Beosound Stage. The Bose has a more balanced sound profile, and it offers a room correction feature that automatically adjusts the sound profile to the acoustics of the room. However, the Bang & Olufsen supports Dolby Atmos, has a graphic EQ, and has a wider array of inputs. It also has outstanding wireless playback options.
The Bose Smart Soundbar 700 is better than the Denon Home Sound Bar 550 for most uses. The Bose is better built, and it gets louder. It also has a better soundstage performance. Unlike the Denon, it has a discrete center channel. That said, the Denon supports Atmos content and has a better surround performance. It also comes with a Full HDMI In port that supports high-quality passthrough, unlike the Bose.
The Sony HT-Z9F and the Bose Smart Soundbar 700 are two very different soundbar setups. The Bose is a premium standalone bar that's better built. It has a better soundstage, and it comes with built-in voice assistant capabilities. You can also upgrade it to the Bose Smart Soundbar 700 with Speakers + Bass Module for better performance. That said, it doesn't support Dolby Atmos content like the Sony. The Sony has a dedicated sub included, so it can reproduce a more extended low-bass.
The Samsung HW-Q600A is better than the standalone Bose Smart Soundbar 700. The Samsung comes with a dedicated sub that helps reproduce a more extended low-bass. It supports Dolby Atmos content, and it has more sound enhancement features like a graphic EQ and auto-volume. However, only the Bose has a room correction feature. The Bose also has a better soundstage, built-in voice assistant support, and more wireless playback options. You can also upgrade it as the Bose Soundbar 700 with Speakers + Bass Module for better performance.
The Samsung HW-Q80R is a better soundbar than the Bose Smart Soundbar 700 by itself, though the Bose can easily be upgraded into the Bose Smart Soundbar 700 with Speakers + Bass Module. The Samsung comes with a dedicated sub and has a more extended bass, as well as a louder max volume. It also supports Atmos thanks to the two up-firing speakers. On the other hand, the 700's soundstage is one of the widest, although a bit diffused. It also doesn't have any Full HDMI In ports, unlike the Samsung.
The Samsung HW-Q70R is better than the Bose Smart Soundbar 700. The Samsung has much better bass performance due to its dedicated subwoofer, and it has up-firing speakers to simulate height in Dolby Atmos content. On the other hand, the Bose has a better center channel performance for dialogue-heavy content and a much better build quality, but it doesn't have as many input options as the Samsung.
The Samsung HW-Q70T is a bit better for mixed usage than the standalone Bose Smart Soundbar 700. The Samsung supports Dolby Atmos content, and its dedicated subwoofer helps reproduce a more extended low-bass. Unlike the Bose, it has a graphic EQ for sound customization as well as a Full HDMI In port that supports high-quality passthrough. That said, the Bose is better built with built-in voice assistant support. It has room correction and a better stereo soundstage. You can even upgrade it to the Bose Smart Soundbar 700 with Speakers + Bass Module for a better performance.
The Bose Smart Soundbar 700 is a better soundbar than the Sony HT-CT800. The Bose has a more balanced sound profile and a wider soundstage. It can also get louder without as much compression present at max volume. Its dedicated center channel helps reproduce dialogue more accurately, and the soundbar can even be upgraded with a sub and satellites as the Bose Smart Soundbar 700 with Speakers + Bass Module. However, if you're looking to use your soundbar as a hub for your devices, only the Sony has Full HDMI In ports.
The Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar MAX is better than the standalone Bose Smart Soundbar 700. The Sennheiser supports Dolby Atmos content and has a better surrounds performance. It also reproduces a more extended low-bass and comes with a graphic EQ and a Full HDMI In port. The Bose is better built, with a better soundstage and built-in voice assistant support.
The Samsung HW-S60A and the Bose Smart Soundbar 700 are both premium standalone setups, so depending on your listening habits, you may prefer one over the other. The Bose is a 3.0 setup with a better soundstage. It can also get louder than the Samsung. However, its surround performance isn't as impressive as the 5.0 Samsung. The Samsung also offers more sound enhancement features, including a graphic EQ.
The LG SP8YA is better than the standalone Bose Smart Soundbar 700. The LG is a 3.1.2 setup that supports Dolby Atmos content. It comes with a dedicated sub, so it can reproduce a more extended low-bass. It also offers more sound enhancement features, like EQ presets, and its Full HDMI In port supports high-quality passthrough. That said, the Bose is better built with a better soundstage. You can also upgrade it to the Bose Smart Soundbar 700 with Speakers + Bass Module for a better performance.
The LG SN9YG is better than the Bose Smart Soundbar 700. The LG is a 5.1.2 setup that reproduces a more extended low-bass thanks to its dedicated sub. It supports Atmos content, and it has a better surrounds performance. It comes with more sound enhancement features, too, and its Full HDMI In port supports high-quality passthrough. That said, the 3.0 Bose is better built with a better soundstage. You can also upgrade it to the Bose Smart Soundbar 700 with Speakers + Bass Module for a better performance.
The Samsung HW-Q900A is a better soundbar than the standalone Bose Smart Soundbar 700. The Samsung reproduces a more extended low-bass, and it has a better surrounds performance. Unlike the Bose, it supports Dolby Atmos content, comes with a Full HDMI In port, and offers a graphic EQ and presets for sound customization. That said, the Bose is better built with a better soundstage.
The Samsung HW-Q90R is a better soundbar system than the Bose Smart Soundbar 700, although the Bose can be upgraded easily into the Bose Smart Soundbar 700 with Speakers + Bass Module. The Samsung gets louder and supports Atmos. It also has better connectivity options since the Bose doesn't have any full HDMI In inputs. On the other hand, the Bose has a great stereo soundstage and a premium feel, thanks to the glass plate covering.
The Bose Smart Soundbar 700 is a bit better for mixed usage than the Yamaha YAS-408. The Bose is a better-built standalone 3.0 soundbar. It has better soundstage and center channel performances. Unlike the Yamaha, it also comes with a room correction feature. However, it doesn't come with a dedicated sub like the Yamaha, so if you want more bass in your audio, you may prefer that bar instead.
The Samsung HW-Q60R and the Bose Smart Soundbar 700 are two similarly performing soundbars with slightly different features. The Samsung is a 5.1 setup and comes with a dedicated subwoofer, while the Bose is a standalone 3.0 soundbar. The Samsung also has more input options and better sound enhancement features, including a graphic EQ. However, only the Bose supports Apple AirPlay, and it has a better build quality.
The Samsung HW-Q800T is a better soundbar than the standalone Bose Smart Soundbar 700. The Samsung supports Atmos content and it reproduces a more extended low-bass. Its stereo soundstage performance is better, and it comes with a graphic EQ and presets to customize its sound. Unlike the Bose, it has a Full HDMI In port. However, the Bose is better-built, and it has a room correction feature.
The Bose Smart Soundbar 700 is a better soundbar than the TaoTronics TT-SK023. The Bose is a 3.0 setup and can play both Dolby Digital and DTS surround formats over HDMI ARC. It also has a dedicated center channel that helps reproduce dialogue clearly. It also has a much wider soundstage and a better-balanced sound profile. The TaoTronics is a 2.0 setup, but it's much more compact, so it may fit between the legs of a 55 inch TV more easily.
The Bose Smart Soundbar 700 is a better 3.0 soundbar than the Bowers & Wilkins Formation Bar. The Bose is better built, and it has better soundstage and center channel performances. There are more sound enhancement features to choose from. Unlike the Bowers & Wilkins, it also has DTS support and an HDMI ARC port.
The Bose Smart Soundbar 700 is a better soundbar than the JBL Link Bar. The Bose is easily upgradable, but even the bar itself performs better. It has a dedicated center channel, a more balanced sound profile, and offers more sound enhancement features like room correction. Its soundstage is also wider thanks to the positioning of the speakers, which reflects the sound off the walls. However, the JBL has more ports and connectivity options. It has three full HDMI In ports and an audio jack for an AUX cable, which the Bose lacks.
The Bose Smart Soundbar 700 is better than the Sony HT-X8500. The Bose is a 3.0 setup that's better built and offers more wireless playback options. It has better soundstage, center, and surround performances, as well as built-in voice assistant capabilities. It also gets louder with less compression at max volume, and you can even upgrade it with a sub and satellites. However, the 2.1 Sony supports Atmos content, unlike the Bose.
The 3.0 channel Bose Smart Soundbar 700 is a better soundbar than the AmazonBasics 2.1 Channel Bluetooth. The Bose has a more balanced sound profile and a wider soundstage, as well as more sound enhancement features like room correction. It also supports DTS surround content. However, the AmazonBasics isn't as wide, so it might fit between the legs of a 55 inch TV more easily.
The Klipsch Cinema 800 is better than the standalone Bose Smart Soundbar 700. The Klipsch comes with a dedicated sub, meaning it can reproduce a more extended low-bass. It also supports Atmos content, unlike the Bose. However, the Bose is better built with a better soundstage. It even has built-in voice assistant support. You can also upgrade it to the Bose Smart Soundbar 700 with Speakers + Bass Module for better performance.
The Samsung HW-Q900T is a better soundbar than the standalone Bose Smart Soundbar 700. The Samsung is a 7.1.2 setup that supports Dolby Atmos content and reproduces a more extended low-bass thanks to its dedicated subwoofer. It also comes with a graphic EQ and presets for sound customization, as well as a Full HDMI In port. That said, the 3.0 Bose is better built, with a better soundstage and a room correction feature. You can also upgrade it as the Bose Smart Soundbar 700 with Speakers + Bass Module for a better performance.
The Samsung HW-Q800A is a better 3.1.2 setup than the 3.0 Bose Smart Soundbar 700. The Samsung has a dedicated subwoofer, which helps it produce a more extended low-bass. It also supports Dolby Atmos content, unlike the Bose, even though its height performance is sub-par. It comes with a wider selection of sound enhancement features, including a graphic EQ and presets that let you customize its sound profile. However, the Bose has a wider soundstage, and there's less compression present when it's pushed to max volume. You can also upgrade it with a sub and satellites as the Bose Smart Soundbar 700 with Speakers + Bass Module.
The Harman/Kardon Enchant 1300 is a slightly better soundbar than the Bose Smart Soundbar 700. The Harman/Kardon offers a better surrounds performance and more sound enhancement features. It also comes with three Full HDMI In ports, and it supports high-quality passthrough. However, the Bose is better built, and its default sound profile is more neutral. You can also upgrade both bars with a subwoofer, and you can also see the results for the Bose Smart Soundbar 700 with Speakers + Bass Module.
The LG SP9YA is better than the standalone Bose Smart Soundbar 700. The LG comes with a dedicated sub that helps reproduce a more extended low-bass. Unlike the Bose, it supports Atmos content, and it has a Full HDMI In port for high-quality passthrough. It also comes with more sound enhancement features like EQ presets. However, the Bose is better built with a better soundstage. It also has built-in voice assistant capabilities. You can even upgrade it to the Bose Smart Soundbar 700 with Speakers + Bass Module for a better performance.
The Bose Smart Soundbar 700 is a better soundbar than the Klipsch Cinema 400. The Bose is better built, and since it's a 3.0 setup, it has a discrete center channel that offers a better center performance. It has a wider soundstage and gets louder, too. However, the Klipsch has a more balanced sound profile and can produce a more extended bass.
The Bose Smart Soundbar 700 is a better soundbar than the Samsung HW-S60T. The Bose has a more balanced sound profile, and it can get louder with less compression present at max volume. Its discrete center channel also helps reproduce dialogue clearly and accurately, and it even supports eARC. That said, the Samsung has a better companion app that you can also use as a remote. The bar itself is less wide, so it may fit more easily between the legs of a 55 inch TV.
The Samsung HW-Q950T is a better soundbar than the Bose Smart Soundbar 700. The Samsung is a 9.1.4 setup that comes with a sub and satellites and supports Dolby Atmos content. It gets louder, reproduces a more extended low-bass, and has a better surrounds performance. It also comes with a graphic EQ and presets for sound customization and a Full HDMI In port. That said, the 3.0 Bose is better built, with a better soundstage performance and a room correction feature.
The Bose Smart Soundbar 700 is better than the Klipsch Bar 48 for most uses. The Bose has a wider soundstage and a better stereo frequency response. The Klipsch lacks low-bass, which is disappointing. The Bose can also be easily upgraded into the Bose Soundbar 700 with Speakers + Bass Module, which can boost its bass production.
The Nakamichi Shockwafe Ultra 9.2Ch and the Bose Smart Soundbar 700 are often compared. However, since we only tested the Bose with the bar alone, results between a 9.2.4 setup and a 3.0 soundbar aren't very comparable. That said, the Nakamichi can get louder and it offers an amazing surround experience, thanks to the additional speakers. However, the Bose has a wider soundstage due to its side-firing speakers.
The Bose Smart Soundbar 700 is a better soundbar than the Sony HT-S200F. The Bose has a more neutral sound profile, as well as an extremely wide soundstage. It has a more premium design and a sturdier build. It also gets louder than the Sony, and there isn't too much compression at max volume. The Bose 700 can be upgraded with a sub and satellites as the Bose Smart Soundbar 700 with Speakers + Bass Module.
The Bose Smart Soundbar 700 is a better soundbar than the Insignia NS-HSB318 2.0. The 3.0-channel Bose has a more balanced sound profile with stereo content, and it can downmix a few different surround formats. It has a dedicated center channel that helps reproduce dialogue clearly, and its stereo soundstage is quite impressive as well. The Insignia doesn't have as many sound enhancement features and doesn't support any surround sound formats. That said, it has a more compact design, so it may fit between the legs of a 55 inch TV more easily.
Test Results
The Bose Soundbar 700 has a unique style, with a glass top and a metal grille that covers the front and sides. The bar is fairly large and gives off a premium feel.
This setup has no dedicated subwoofer, though you can purchase one on the side. If you're looking for a soundbar with a dedicated sub, check out the Klipsch Cinema 600.
There are no satellites with this setup, but they can be purchased separately.
The Bose Smart Soundbar 700 has a fairly large bar that will likely not fit between the legs of a 55-inch TV stand. Fortunately, it's not very tall, so you can place it in front of the TV without blocking the screen or the IR reception, which is located at the bottom edge of most TVs.
The soundbar has an excellent build quality. It has a unique design with a premium feel, and the entire setup is very robust and sturdy. The soundbar is mainly made of plastic, with a metal grille that wraps around the front and sides. The top is covered in a glass plate, which can easily collect dust and attract fingerprints.
- Manuals
- Remote and batteries
- HDMI cable (4.9 ft / 1.5m)
- Optical cable (4.9 ft / 1.5m)
- Cleaning cloth
- Bose ADAPTiQ headset (used for room calibration) (23 ft / 7m)
- Power Cable (4.9 ft / 1.5m)
This soundbar has a good stereo frequency response. Like most premium setups, it has a room correction feature that optimizes its output based on your room's unique acoustics, which is called ADAPTiQ. Its sound profile is very even and balanced, especially in the mids, which is where most voices and lead instruments are reproduced. It's suitable for listening to lots of different types of audio content, but it doesn't bring as much low-bass as the full Bose Smart Soundbar 700 with Speakers + Bass Module.
With calibration, the bar has a good stereo frequency response. When the bass is set to +20 and the treble is set to -30, it can produce a slightly more extended bass. Its sound profile is still quite neutral overall, making it suitable for listening to most audio content.
This soundbar has a very good soundstage. It has side-firing speakers that project the sound at the walls, which reflects it back to the listener. This results in an extremely wide soundstage, though it can feel a bit unnatural and overdone. Unfortunately, its focus is mediocre, and objects seem to come from a more general area rather than an accurate location.
This soundbar can get very loud, and there isn't much compression present at max volume. It's a great choice for filling larger or more open rooms with sound.
The bar's THD performance is good. At a normal listening volume, there isn't much distortion, resulting in a clean and pure sound. Although there's a bit more distortion when the soundbar is used at max volume, it's not a huge jump, so it isn't really noticeable with real-life content unless you're a very astute audiophile.
The bar is a 3.0 setup that has an excellent performance in the center channel. It has a dedicated center speaker, which results in clearer and more accurate dialogue reproduction. Also, its mid-range is well-balanced, making dialogue and vocals sound clear and present in the mix.
Like the Bose Soundbar 500, the Bose Soundbar 700 has a poor surround performance. Due to its 3.0 system configuration, the bar downmixes surround content to stereo, which doesn't make a clear and accurate representation of surround objects. This results in a less immersive sound since sound objects are perceived to come more from the front instead of all around you. It has a fairly bass-heavy sound profile in this configuration, which can help you feel the deep thump and rumble in action-packed movie scenes but may be too boomy for some listeners. You can always add on separate satellites if you want a better experience, though.
The bar doesn't support height content. If you want to watch Atmos from a similar smart soundbar, check out the Bose Smart Soundbar 900 or the more affordable Bose Smart Soundbar 600.
Like most premium setups, this bar has a room correction feature that you can set up using the Bose ADAPTiQ headset, which will adjust the soundbar's sound profile to the acoustics of the room it's in. It also has a Dialogue Enhancement feature, which can make dialogue in movies sound a bit clearer, even at a lower volume. On the downside, unlike the Samsung HW-S60T or Bang & Olufsen Beosound Stage, it doesn’t have a graphic EQ to help you customize the sound to your personal liking. However, there are some bass and treble adjustments on hand.
This soundbar has limited wired connectivity. You can't use it as a hub as it lacks a Full HDMI In port and there's no RCA In or Analog Audio In, which can be helpful with older devices. Unlike the Bowers & Wilkins Formation Bar, it has HDMI inputs, too. There's an 'IR' input that you can use to connect an infrared transmitter so the bar can relay the infrared signal it receives. There's also a 'BASS' port for connecting to an external subwoofer, a 'DATA' port for firmware upgrades, and the 'ADAPTiQ' port for the headset that's included to help with room calibration.
Just like the Bose Soundbar 500, this bar supports eARC. Unfortunately, it downmixes surround sound encoded in the Dolby Digital and DTS formats to 3.0 due to the bar's speaker configuration. Dolby Digital is widely available on streaming platforms, whereas DTS is usually the fallback of the higher-quality DTS-HD MA format. This bar can't offer you a more immersive sound experience, as it lacks support for object-based surround sound formats like Dolby Atmos.
The Bose Soundbar 700 can use Optical to decode surround sound content that's encoded in Dolby Digital or DTS formats. However, it has to downmix this content to 3.0 due to its speaker configuration. Dolby Digital is common in streaming platforms and Blu-rays, whereas the DTS format isn't widely available on its own, but rather serves as a fallback to the DTS-HD MA that's commonly found on Blu-ray discs.
This soundbar has low latency through ARC and Optical inputs, making it suitable for watching videos or playing video games. However, some apps and some TVs compensate for latency differently, so your real-world experience may vary.
This bar doesn't have a Full HDMI In and can't relay a video signal from an external source. For a soundbar that supports high-quality passthrough, check out the Harman/Kardon Enchant 1300 instead.
The Bose Soundbar 700 has remarkable wireless playback support. You can seamlessly play music from your phone or tablet using the Bluetooth connection, which you can't do with the Sonos Arc. You can cast to this bar using Apple AirPlay, and it can connect to your Wi-Fi network, which lets you cast to it directly.
The Bose Soundbar 700 has an interface that's identical to the Bose Soundbar 500. It mainly consists of a strip of light that behaves differently depending on the action you perform. Although it looks nice, it's not immediately easy to understand what the different light patterns represent. There's a small light underneath the 'Microphone Off' button, which tells you whether or not the microphone is off.
The bar has just two buttons: 'Action' and 'Microphone Off'. The 'Action' button manually activates voice assistants and can also be used to silence alarms or timers. The 'Microphone Off' button completely disables voice assistants and you have to unmute the mic to re-activate them.
This soundbar comes with a remote that can control all the functions of the bar. It's quite large, but it can also act as a universal remote for controlling other devices in your household. If you want to control the bar from your phone, you can also use the Bose Music app, which includes TuneIn radio service.