The Bose Soundbar 500 is an okay soundbar when used by itself without the separate sub and back satellites. It doesn’t get as loud as other soundbars but its sound profile is fairly well-balanced and neutral sounding. However, some may feel like this bar lacks sub-bass. On top of not being able to get very loud, it has trouble performing at max volume, and compresses a lot, especially in the bass range. On the upside, the L/R drivers of this 3.0 setup are on the side of the bar, which helps to widen the soundstage a bit, but nothing quite like the Bose Smart Soundbar 700.
Our Verdict
Okay for mixed usage. Without its sub and satellites, the Bose 500 isn’t a great option for movies as it doesn’t support Atmos and lacks quite a bit of sub-bass. The sound profile is still fairly good as it's neutral and well-balanced. This bar is a decent option for voice-oriented content like audiobooks and podcasts and will be versatile for a wide variety of music, but won’t be ideal for bass-heavy genres. It also doesn't get as loud as other bars, but should still be loud enough for most uses.
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Very well-built design.
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Well-balanced sound profile.
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Great center channel performance for dialogue in movies.
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Easily upgradable setup.
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Doesn’t get as loud as other soundbars.
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Lacks sub-bass.
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No DTS support.
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No Full HDMI In ports.
Decent for dialogue and TV shows. The Bose Soundbar 500 has a well-balanced stereo frequency response which will result in an accurate reproduction of voices, which is great for dialogue, audiobooks, and podcasts. However, the bar doesn’t get very loud at max volume, but should be loud enough for casual listening. Also, it has a dialogue enhancement feature to help make voices clearer and it's easy to stream content wirelessly to the bar.
Decent for music. The sound profile of the Bose Soundbar 500 is fairly flat and well-balanced, although some may feel like it lacks sub-bass without the optional subwoofer. On the upside, it has room correction so it sounds better in your room. On the downside, it doesn’t get very loud and there’s noticeable compression at max volume, especially in the bass range, meaning it might not be the best option for bass-heavy genres.
Mediocre for movies. It lacks a good thumpy bass for action movies and the bar doesn’t get as loud as other soundbars, which is disappointing. On the upside, it is good for hearing dialogue in movies. On the downside, it doesn’t support Atmos for an immersive listening experience, but the fact the stereo speakers are on the side of the bar helps to make the soundstage sound a bit wider.
- 6.7 Mixed Usage
- 7.2 Dialogue/TV Shows
- 7.2 Music
- 6.1 Movies
- 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 Mar 16, 2021: Converted to Test Bench 1.0.
- Updated Oct 01, 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.
Compared To Other Soundbars
The Bose Soundbar 500 can easily be upgraded with a separate subwoofer and satellites, but we only tested the bar. By itself, the bar has an okay performance but lacks bass without the sub. On the upside, it still has a very neutral and accurate sound profile.
See our recommendations for the best soundbars, the best budget soundbars if you're looking for something more affordable, and the best soundbars with a subwoofer.
The Sonos Beam is a better soundbar than the Bose Soundbar 500. The Sonos is a more compact soundbar that can get a bit louder, and its stereo frequency response is more accurate. The soundstage of the Sonos is wider, which feels more immersive. The Sonos also has a room correction feature that automatically adjusts the sound profile based on the room's acoustics. On the other hand, the Bose supports eARC, even though it reencodes these formats into Dolby Digital, and is also Bluetooth-compatible. The Sonos only supports wireless streaming via Wi-Fi.
The Bose Soundbar 500 is slightly better than the Bose Solo 5. The Soundbar 500 is a 3.0 setup with a dedicated center channel, which makes dialogue in movies clearer and easier to understand. It also has more sound enhancement features like room correction. The Solo 5 has a slightly better stereo frequency response but overall, the Soundbar 500 will sound more natural due to the larger soundstage. The Soundbar 500 also has more inputs and supports DTS, on top of supporting eARC, although it has to reencode eARC formats into Dolby Digital.
The Sonos Arc is a better soundbar than the Bose Soundbar 500. The Sonos supports Dolby Atmos content, and it offers better soundstage and surround performances. It also reproduces a more extended low-bass. You can even upgrade it to the Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers for better performance. However, the Bose supports more wireless playback options.
The Bose TV Speaker and the Bose Soundbar 500 are two well-built soundbars with different setups. The Bose TV Speaker is a 2.0 setup that's smaller and more compact, which some users may prefer. It has a better-balanced sound profile with a decent amount of bass. The 500, on the other hand, is a 3.0 setup with a better-performing discrete center channel. It also has a better surround performance, EQ presets, and an ethernet port if you want to listen to audio from a flash drive. It even supports eARC, and although it re-encodes these formats into Dolby Digital, it has a companion app, and you can stream audio to it via Wi-Fi, Apple AirPlay, and Bluetooth.
The Sonos Beam (Gen 2) is a better standalone bar than the Bose Soundbar 500. The Sonos is a 5.0 setup that's better built. Unlike the Bose, it supports Dolby Atmos content. It also has better soundstage and surround performances. That said, the Bose supports more wireless playback options.
The Yamaha YAS-209 is a bit better for mixed usage than the Bose Soundbar 500. The Yamaha reproduces a more extended low-bass, and it has a better center channel performance. Unlike the Bose, it has EQ presets for sound customization as well as Full HDMI In port. However, the Bose is better built, and it has a room correction feature. Also, it supports Apple AirPlay connectivity.
While the Bose Soundbar 500 and the Bose Smart Soundbar 600 offer similar performances, the 600 is the more versatile pick. Unlike the 500, the 600 supports Dolby Atmos content, meaning you can enjoy an immersive sound with content often found on streaming platforms and Blu-rays.
The Bose Smart Soundbar 300 is a better 3.0 setup than the Bose Soundbar 500. The 300 is smaller and able to deliver a better-balanced sound profile. It can get louder with fewer compression artifacts, and it supports more audio formats via its HDMI ARC port. However, the 500's surround performance is better and offers room correction and EQ presets.
The Bose Smart Soundbar 900 is better than the Bose Soundbar 500. The 900 is a 5.1.2 setup that's better built. Unlike the 500, it supports Dolby Atmos content. It also gets louder, and it has better soundstage and surround performances.
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 better than the Bose Soundbar 500. Unlike the Bose, the JBL supports Dolby Atmos content and comes with a dedicated sub and two satellites. It gets louder, and it has a better soundstage. Also, it comes with a Full HDMI In port that supports high-quality passthrough. However, only the Bose has built-in voice assistant support.
The Sony HT-G700 is better than the Bose Soundbar 500. The Sony supports Dolby Atmos and DTS content, unlike the Bose. Its dedicated sub can reproduce a slightly more extended low-bass. Don't watch a lot of movies? The Bose is still a decent choice for dialogue-centric content like TV shows as well as music.
The Bose Smart Soundbar 700 with Speakers + Bass Module is better than the Bose Soundbar 500. The 700 is better built, and it comes with a dedicated sub and satellites. Its sub helps reproduce a more extended low-bass, and its satellites help create a better surround performance. It also has a better stereo soundstage.
The Sony HT-Z9F is better than the Bose Soundbar 500. Thanks to its dedicated sub, the Sony can reproduce a more extended low-bass. It gets louder, and it has a Full HDMI In port that supports high-quality passthrough. Unlike the Bose, it supports Atmos content, and it has a better surrounds performance. Only the Bose has room correction and built-in voice assistant support.
The Sonos Playbar is slightly better than the Bose Soundbar 500. It can get a bit louder than the Bose, and its stereo soundstage is noticeably wider. It also has more sound enhancement features, which is great. On the other hand, the Bose can play content wirelessly via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, while the Sonos doesn't support Bluetooth. Also, the Sonos doesn't have any HDMI ports.
The Samsung HW-Q800A is better than the Bose Soundbar 500. The Samsung comes with a dedicated sub that helps reproduce a more extended low-bass. It gets louder, and it has better soundstage and surround performances. Unlike the Bose, it supports Dolby Atmos content and comes with a graphic EQ as well as a Full HDMI In port. That said, only the Bose comes with room correction.
The Samsung HW-Q700A is better than the Bose Soundbar 500. The Samsung comes with a subwoofer that helps it reproduce a more extended low-bass. It has better soundstage and surround performances, and it has more sound enhancement features. Unlike the Bose, it supports Atmos content and has a Full HDMI In port for high-quality passthrough. That said, only the Bose has voice assistant support.
The Samsung HW-Q600A is better than the Bose Soundbar 500. The Samsung comes with a dedicated sub that helps reproduce a more extended low-bass. Unlike the Bose, it has Atmos support and a Full HDMI In port for high-quality passthrough. It also gets louder, and it has a graphic EQ for sound customization. That said, only the Bose has room correction and built-in voice assistant support.
The Samsung HW-S60A is better than the Bose Soundbar 500. The Samsung is a 5.0 setup with better soundstage and surround performances. It gets louder than the Bose, and it has more sound enhancement features like a graphic EQ. That said, the Bose is still a decent choice for music and dialogue-centric content like TV shows.
The JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam is better than the Bose Soundbar 500. The JBL is a 5.0 setup that supports Dolby Atmos content. It gets louder, and it has a better surround performance. Unlike the Bose, it has a Full HDMI In port that supports high-quality passthrough.
The Samsung HW-Q950A is better than the Bose Soundbar 500. The Samsung is an 11.1.4 setup with a dedicated sub and satellites. Unlike the Bose, it supports Dolby Atmos content. It can reproduce a more extended low-bass, and it has better soundstage, center, and surround performances. There are also more sound enhancement features, like room correction. That said, some users may prefer the Bose's smaller, standalone design.
The Samsung HW-Q70R performs better overall than the Bose Soundbar 500. Although they have similarly great build quality, the Samsung is more versatile, supports Dolby Atmos, and offers more connectivity options. However, the Bose is smaller, and you can easily upgrade the setup if you decide you need a subwoofer and satellites.
Test Results
The Bose Soundbar 500's bar is fairly simple. The top is made of solid plastic and has two touch-sensitive buttons on the left. The front and the sides are surrounded by a metal grill. The entire feel of the bar is very good.
The bar isn't too wide and you should be able to place it between the legs of the stand of most 55" TVs. It's not very tall and you shouldn't have issues with it blocking the view of your screen, unless you have a TV that sits flush on the table.
The back of the bar has a port on the left and an opening in the middle where all the inputs connect. To wall-mount it, you have to peel off the big rubber feet on the underside to expose the mounting holes.
The Bose Soundbar 500's overall build quality is great. It's mostly made of good quality plastic, aside from the metal grill at the front face and the sides. The entire build feels robust but not too premium.
- Remote
- Manuals
- Small Screwdriver
- HDMI cable
- Power cables (x4)
- Satellite Brick (x2)
- Brick to Satellite cable (x2)
- Bar Power Brick
- Bose ADAPTiQ headset (used for room calibration)
The Bose 500 has an okay stereo frequency response for a soundbar. Its low-frequency extension is fairly high, so the bar has trouble reproducing the deep thump and rumble from movies and bass-heavy music genres. The general sound profile is flat and well-balanced, but it lacks a bit of sub-bass. You can get a wireless subwoofer for this setup, though.
Note:This soundbar was tested with the bar only, but we plan to test it with a full setup (sub and satellites) in the future.
When listening to the Bose Soundbar 500, the soundstage is decent. The left and right drivers of the Bose are actually on its side instead of on the front, which helps to get a wider soundstage than the size of the bar. However, this results in a slightly diffused soundstage and objects are harder to pinpoint.
The Bose Soundbar 500's stereo dynamics performance is just okay. The bar can get decently loud, but not as much as most other soundbars such as the Bose Smart Soundbar 300. Also, there are noticeable compression artifacts when pushing the bar to its max volume, which is disappointing, especially in the bass range.
The Bose 500's THD performance is good. At a normal listening volume, the amount of THD is within very good limits. Also, when pushing it to its maximum volume, there’s no big jump in THD, which is great for a clean and pure sound.
This is a 3.0 setup that has great performance in the center channel. Due to its configuration, the Bose 500 has a dedicated center speaker, which results in a clearer and more accurate audio reproduction of the dialogue in movies. However, the bar doesn’t get very loud, which is disappointing.
The Bose 500's performance when sending surround content to the soundbar is quite poor. Everything is downmixed to a stereo signal and it uses the left and right speakers due to the 3.0 configuration, which won’t do an accurate and clear representation of surround objects. This means the result isn’t very immersive and the objects are perceived to come from the front instead of the sides or behind you. On the upside, the L/R drivers are situated on the side of the bar, which might make the surround experience a bit wider than a traditional bar with stereo speakers at the front.
If you want a similar bar from the manufacturer with Atmos support, check out the Bose Smart Soundbar 600.
This soundbar has decent sound enhancement features. Unlike the Bose TV Speaker, the Bose Soundbar 500 has a room correction feature that you set up using the Bose ADAPTiQ headset and it applies sound correction depending on your room. It also has a Dialogue Enhancement feature, which helps make dialogue in movies a bit clearer, even at a lower volume. Unfortunately, it doesn’t have an EQ to help you customize the sound to your personal liking.
The Bose Soundbar 500 has a limited set of physical connections. It can't be put in between your game console and your TV due to the lack of a Full HDMI In. Also, older devices can’t connect to the bar using their analog audio out jack. On the upside, you can cast files to this bar using your wired home network.
Update 10/01/2020:We have changed the results of our 5.1 PCM (eARC only) test from 'Untested' to 'Undetermined'. While this bar has an HDMI ARC port and it supports eARC, it seems to reencode these formats into Dolby Digital. We can't determine if it supports PCM as it could be reencoded as Dolby Digital instead.
Fair audio format support via ARC. This soundbar supports eARC but unfortunately, it has to reencode these formats into Dolby Digital in order to play them. Unfortunately, this bar can't offer you a more immersive experience due to the lack of support for object-based surround sound formats, like Dolby Atmos.
The Bose Soundbar 500 doesn't have an HDMI In and can't be placed between your TV and an external device like a console, or a Blu-ray player.
You can enjoy Dolby Digital surround sound, downmixed to 3.0 when connected to the bar through Optical. Dolby Digital is common in streaming platforms and in Blu-rays. The DTS format, which isn't supported, isn't widely available on its own, but rather as a fallback of the common DTS-HD MA found on many Blu-ray discs.
Update 03/14/2022: Firmware update adds Chromecast built-in support. You can update the bar by holding down the Music button on the remote for ten seconds. Then, you need to enable Chromecast in the Bose Music app and follow the steps provided by the manufacturer here.
The wireless playback options are excellent. Bluetooth is the simplest way to enjoy your music from your phone on the bar, and you can also connect to the Bose 500 through Wi-Fi, and you can cast sound using Apple AirPlay and Chromecast.
The Bose Soundbar 500 can't accept video as input and there's nothing to passthrough.
The Bose Soundbar 500 has quite a unique interface. It communicates with the user using a set of lights that behave differently according to your actions. Although it's neat, it requires a lot of time to learn and understand what it's doing. Fortunately, it's all in the manual.
The Bose Soundbar 500 has only two buttons: a 'microphone off' and an 'action button'. The action button can be used to manually activate voice assistants if you don't want to use your voice to activate them. Its other use is silencing alarms or timers. The 'microphone off' completely disables voice assistants and you have to unmute the mic to re-activate them.
A rather small but stylish remote is included with the bar. It has a few preset buttons, can control playback, can control the volume, and can activate Bluetooth pairing.
The Bose Soundbar 500 pairs with the Bose Music app which includes the TuneIn service and can play internet radio or podcasts. Although the app can do many things, you still need the remote to change the inputs in certain cases.