The Bose Solo 5 is a small, compact soundbar that doesn't take up a lot of space in your existing setup. Its sound profile is pretty balanced and neutral, especially in the mid-range, so voices and lead instruments are reproduced clearly. However, its integrated subwoofer struggles to reproduce low bass, and this small soundbar doesn't get very loud. That said, it's Bluetooth-compatible, so you can easily stream audio from your phone or tablet to the bar wirelessly.
Our Verdict
The Bose Solo 5 is mediocre for mixed usage. Its balanced mid-range can reproduce dialogue-heavy content like podcasts and TV shows clearly. However, its integrated subwoofer struggles to create a low bass, which can be disappointing for some music fans. It doesn't support Dolby Atmos content, and it downmixes surround sound into stereo.
- Good build quality.
- Bluetooth-compatible.
- Doesn't support Dolby Atmos.
- Lacking low-bass.
The Bose Solo 5 is good for dialogue-heavy content like TV shows. Though it has a phantom center channel, it can still reproduce voices clearly thanks to its balanced mid-range. It's also Bluetooth-compatible, so you can easily stream podcasts to the bar from your phone wirelessly. You can even use the dialogue enhancement feature to make voices sound more clear and crisp. Unfortunately, it doesn't get very loud.
- Good build quality.
- Bluetooth-compatible.
- Dialogue enhancement feature.
- Not very loud.
The Bose Solo 5 is passable for music. Its sound profile is decently well-balanced, especially in the mid-range where vocals and lead instruments are reproduced. However, its integrated subwoofer doesn't create a very extended low-bass, which may be disappointing for fans of bass-heavy music genres. Unfortunately, there aren't a lot of sound customization features available.
- Good build quality.
- Lacking low-bass.
The Bose Solo 5 is poor for movies. It doesn't support Dolby Atmos content, and it has to downmix surround sound into stereo, which doesn't sound as immersive. Its sound profile is lacking a bit of low-bass, so action-packed scenes lack deep thumps and rumbles. Also, it doesn't get very loud.
- Good build quality.
- Not very loud.
- Doesn't support Dolby Atmos.
- Lacking low-bass.
Changelog
- Updated Jun 19, 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 27, 2023: Added cable lengths to In The Box.
- Updated Mar 22, 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 Sep 27, 2021: Changed RCA In from 'Yes' to 'No'.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Bose Solo 5 TV Sound System only comes in one color variant: 'Black'. If you come across another variant of this soundbar, let us know in the discussions.
Popular Soundbar Comparisons
The Bose Solo 5 is one of the smallest soundbars we've tested. It has a decently neutral sound profile, so it's suitable for lots of audio content. It won't get as loud as other soundbars and lacks bass as it doesn't have an external subwoofer. See our recommendations for the best budget soundbars, the best small soundbars, and the best soundbars under $200.
The Bose TV Speaker is a better 2.0 setup for dialogue and TV shows than the Bose Solo 5. The TV Speaker feels better built, and its sound profile is more neutral. The TV Speaker also has an HDMI ARC port. However, while the Solo 5 doesn't get as loud as the TV Speaker, it can reach max volume with less thumping and compression artifacts.
The Bose Smart Soundbar 300 is a better soundbar than the Bose Solo 5. The Smart Soundbar 300 is better-built, and it comes with an ARC port and more wireless playback options. It has better soundstage and surround performances, and it gets louder. Also, it has built-in voice assistant support. That said, some listeners may prefer the Solo 5's more compact design.
The Sonos Beam is a better soundbar than the Bose Solo 5. The Sonos has a 3.0 configuration with a dedicated center channel, which makes voices even clearer. It's better built, and it gets louder than the Bose. Also, its soundstage is wider and has more sound enhancement features. However, only the Bose supports Bluetooth.
The Sony HT-S100F is a better 2.0 soundbar than the Bose Solo 5. The Sony can get louder with fewer compression artifacts, which is handy if you have a large room, and it has some EQ presets so you can adjust its sound. It also has an ARC port, which supports Dolby Digital, a format common to streaming platforms and Blu-rays. That said, the Bose has a better build quality and a more balanced and neutral sound.
Test Results
