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Bose Home Speaker 500 Speaker Review

Tested using Methodology v0.8
Review updated Mar 05, 2024 at 09:09 am
Bose Home Speaker 500 Picture
7.3
Music
7.1
Videos/Movies
6.6
Podcasts
9.1
Voice Assistant
5.6
Outdoors

The Bose Home Speaker 500 is a wired-only speaker designed for home use. It has Google Assistant and Alexa voice assistants built-in, and the manufacturer advertises improved voice pick-up technology that can detect your voice commands even in noisy environments, They also promise a wide, room-filling stereo sound with bass and treble adjustment options found via the companion app, so you can tweak the sound to your liking.

Our Verdict

7.3 Music

The Bose Home Speaker 500 is satisfactory for music. This speaker has a fairly neutral sound profile out-of-the-box, with a balanced mid-range that reproduces clear vocals and lead instruments, though they can sound a bit dull. It also lacks a thumpy low bass, which can be disappointing if you love bass-heavy genres like EDM. Fortunately, there are bass and treble adjustments in the Bose Music app to help you adjust its sound more to your liking.

Pros
  • Amazing soundstage performance.
  • Bass and treble adjustments.
Cons
  • Some compression at max volume.
  • Lacks low bass.
7.1 Videos/Movies

The Bose Home Speaker 500 is decent for videos and movies. Thanks to its 360-degree design, it has great directivity, so audio sounds consistent from different angles. It has a balanced mid-range that reproduces dialogue clearly, though it sounds a bit dark. Unfortunately, it struggles to reproduce a thumpy low bass, so you don't really feel the deep rumbles in action-packed scenes. Also, while it gets loud, there's some compression when you play it at max volume.

Pros
  • Amazing soundstage performance.
  • Bass and treble adjustments.
Cons
  • Some compression at max volume.
  • Lacks low bass.
6.6 Podcasts

The Bose Home Speaker 500 is okay for podcasts. Its balanced mid-range reproduces clear and accurate dialogue, though it sounds a bit dull or veiled due to the underemphasized treble. However, there are bass and treble adjustments in the Bose Music app to help you tweak its sound. While it gets pretty loud, unfortunately, there's some compression present when you play it at max volume.

Pros
  • Amazing soundstage performance.
  • Bass and treble adjustments.
Cons
  • Some compression at max volume.
  • No multi-device pairing.
9.1 Voice Assistant

The Bose Home Speaker 500 is incredible for voice assistant support. It has Alexa and Google Assistant built-in, which you can activate using your voice. It can hear you clearly even if you're in a noisy setting or far away. You can also mute the microphone, which is handy.

Pros
  • Built-in Alexa and Google Assistant.
  • Excellent far-field performance.
Cons
  • Some compression at max volume.
5.6 Outdoors

The Bose 500 speaker is wired-only, so it isn't really suitable for outdoor use.

  • 7.3 Music
  • 7.1 Videos/Movies
  • 6.6 Podcasts
  • 9.1 Voice Assistant
  • 5.6 Outdoors
  1. Updated Mar 05, 2024: We've updated this review to ensure the content and language are consistent with our other speaker reviews. We've also added relevant comparisons to similar speakers.
  2. Updated Nov 27, 2023: Added market comparison with the JBL Authentics 200 in the Dynamics box.
  3. Updated Apr 04, 2023: Added market comparison for the Marshall Woburn III in the Wired box.
  4. Updated Jun 14, 2022: Updated review and test results to include Google Chromecast following firmware update.
  5. Updated Mar 03, 2021: Review published.
  6. Updated Feb 26, 2021: Early access published.
  7. Updated Feb 23, 2021: Our testers have started testing this product.
  8. Updated Feb 17, 2021: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.

Differences Between Sizes And Variants

The Bose Home Speaker 500 comes in 'Triple Black' and 'Luxe Silver' color variants. We tested the 'Luxe Silver' variant but expect the other color variants to perform similarly. You can see the label for the model we tested here.

If you come across another version, let us know in the forums, and we'll update our review.

Compared To Other Speakers

The Bose Home Speaker 500 is a wired-only speaker for home with built-in Google Assistant and Alexa capabilities. It has a similar design to the Bose Home Speaker 300 but is a bit larger and has an LED screen on its front. It offers an outstanding voice assistant performance and is compatible with the Bose Music app, which has bass and treble adjustments for sound customization. While it lacks the ability to operate on battery power, like the Bose Portable Smart Speaker, it makes up for it with better directivity and a cleaner sound at max volume.

See also our recommendations for the best Bluetooth speakers, the best home speakers, and the best speakers for iPhone and iPod.

Sonos Move

The Sonos Move is a slightly better speaker than the Bose Home Speaker 500 overall. The Sonos has a better-balanced sound profile that can produce a more extended low-bass than that of the Bose. It's also battery-powered, making it easier to take outdoors with you. Additionally, it's better built with an IP56 rating for dust and water resistance. That said, the Bose offers a wider-sounding soundstage thanks to its 360-degree design and can play stereo content without downmixing it to mono which is more immersive. 

Amazon Echo Studio

The Bose Home Speaker 500 is better than the Amazon Echo Studio. The Bose is better built, and it has a better soundstage performance. It supports Apple AirPlay and has lower latency when paired with iOS and Android devices over Bluetooth. Also, its voice assistant does a better job of understanding you in noisy settings. However, the Amazon gets louder with less compression at max volume.

Apple HomePod (2nd generation)

The Bose Home Speaker 500 and the Apple HomePod (2nd generation) are both wired smart speakers designed for home use. Only the Bose supports Bluetooth audio playback, and its bass and treble adjustments make it more customizable than the Apple. However, its low-bass isn't as extended as the Apple's, so you don't hear as much rumble in bass-heavy music. The Apple speaker is well-suited to users who already own products in their ecosystem.

Denon Home 350

The Bose Home Speaker 500 is a better speaker for most uses than the Denon Home 350. The Bose has better controls, a more immersive soundstage and it has outstanding built-in Alexa and Google Assistant support. It also has lower iOS and Android latency via Bluetooth. However, the Denon can get louder and you can connect two units to create a stereo pair. It can also reproduce more low-bass, which some users may prefer.

Bang & Olufsen Beolit 20

The Bang & Olufsen Beolit 20 and the Bose Home Speaker 500 have different strengths. If you're looking for a voice-enabled home speaker, the Bose Home Speaker is a better choice. It offers fantastic voice assistant support with Alexa and Google Assistant built-in. It also has better directivity, resulting in a more spacious and open-sounding soundstage. If portability and bass reproduction are more important to you, the Bang & Olufsen is battery-powered with a removable carrying strap to help you carry it. Its sound profile is better balanced, with its 'Optimal' preset enabled, and can produce a more extended low-bass.

Sonos One Gen 2/One SL

The Bose Home Speaker 500 is better than the Sonos One Gen 2/One SL. The Bose has a better soundstage performance and gets louder with less compression at max volume. It also supports Bluetooth, and its voice assistant performs better in noisy environments. However, the Sonos comes with the Trueplay tuning feature and can also be paired with a Sonos soundbar.

Sonos Era 100

The Bose Home Speaker 500 and the Sonos Era 100 are similar wired speakers designed for use at home. They're both well-built and feature both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth compatibility, however the Bose has the edge in a few key areas. It has better voice assistant integration, with built-in Google Assistant capabilities, and it does a better job of picking up your voice commands. It also better directivity and a less compressed sound at max volume, so audio generally sounds cleaner and more consistent. It also has lower AV synchronization error with Android and iOS devices, so it's better for watching movies and videos. However, the Sonos has a slightly more balanced default sound profile with a room correction feature that tunes its sound profile to the acoustics of your room. 

JBL Authentics 500

The Bose Smart Speaker 500 and the JBL Authentics are wired home speakers with different strengths. They're both similarly well-built and have great, intuitive control schemes. However, the JBL has a more balanced default sound and can get louder with less compression artefacts present at max volume. That said, the Bose has a better voice assistant performance and can pick up commands even in noisy environments. It also has better directivity, so audio sounds consistent from different listening angles. 

Sonos Five

The Bose Home Speaker 500 is a slightly better speaker than the Sonos Five, though they have different strengths. The Bose offers exceptional voice assistant support with Alexa and Google Assistant built-in and does an excellent job of hearing you when you're far away and in noisier environments. It also has fewer compression artifacts at max volume and has a wider sounding soundstage than that of the Sonos, thanks to its 360-degree design. However, with its Trueplay feature turned on, the Sonos has a better-balanced sound profile that can produce a thumpier and punchier bass than that of the Bose. 

Bose Portable Smart Speaker

The Bose Home Speaker 500 is a better speaker than the Bose Portable Smart Speaker overall, though they have different strengths. The Home Speaker 500 can play stereo content without downmixing it to mono. It can get louder with less compression present at max volume, resulting in cleaner audio at louder volumes. That said, the Smart Speaker is battery-powered, and much more portable than the Home Speaker 500. It also offers a slightly better-balanced sound profile out-of-the-box.

Bose SoundLink Revolve+ II

The Bose Home Speaker 500 is a better speaker than the Bose SoundLink Revolve+ II overall, though they have different strengths. The Home Speaker can play stereo content without downmixing it to mono. It can get louder than the Revolve+ II with less compression present at max volume, resulting in cleaner audio during louder listening sessions. It also offers incredible voice assistant support with Alexa and Google Assistant built-in, and can understand your commands from far and in noisy environments. Its companion app even features bass and treble adjustments to tweak its sound. That said, the Revolve+ II is battery-powered, and has a built-in carrying handle making it more portable. 

Marshall Woburn III

Depending on your preferences, you may opt for either the Bose Home Speaker 500 or the Marshall Woburn III. The Bose is a bit smaller and doesn't reproduce quite as much low-bass. It doesn't get as loud as the Marshall, either. If you want to connect your speaker with your TV, the Marshall speaker's HDMI ARC input may make it a better choice for you, too. However, only the Bose supports Wi-Fi connectivity and built-in voice assistants.

Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 Gen 2

Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the Bose Home Speaker 500 or the Bag & Olufsen Beosound A1 Gen 2. The Bose is a stereo speaker that can produce a more extended low-bass and get louder with less compression at max volume. It offers outstanding voice assistant support with both Alexa and Google Assistant built-in. However, the Bang & Olufsen is a battery-powered portable speaker with EQ presets and a 'Beosonic' sound customization feature to tweak its sound. It also comes with an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, so you don't have to worry about it getting a bit wet or dusty while outdoors. That said, while it comes with Alexa built-in, it uses the Wi-Fi connection from your smartphone to work.

Bang & Olufsen Beosound Explore

The Bose Home Speaker 500 is a better speaker than the Bang & Olufsen Beosound Explore overall, though they have different strengths. The Bose offers fantastic voice assistant support with Alexa and Google Assistant built-in and does an excellent job understanding your commands from far and in noisier settings. It can get louder and can produce a more extended low-bass. However, the Bang & Olufsen is better-built, battery-powered, and is smaller and lighter than the Bose, making it better suited to carry along with you when you're on the move.

JBL Authentics 200

The JBL Authentics 200 and the Bose Home Speaker 500 are both premium home speakers with built-in voice assistant support. The JBL has a retro design that some users may prefer, and it also gets louder with less compression at max volume. The Bose has a better soundstage performance thanks to its 360-degree design, bringing a touch more bass.

Klipsch The Three II

The Bose Home Speaker 500 is a better speaker than the Klipsch The Three II overall. The Bose has better directivity, resulting in a wider-sounding soundstage. It offers outstanding voice assistant support with Alexa and Google Assistant built-in and can understand your commands from far and in noisy environments. It also has a better-balanced sound profile and comes with bass and treble adjustments to customize its sound to your liking. That said, the Klipsch can get louder than the Bose.

Harman/Kardon Aura Studio 3

Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the Bose Home Speaker 500 or the Harman/Kardon Aura Studio 3 overall. The Bose supports Wi-Fi connectivity and offers incredible voice assistant support with Alexa and Google Assistant built-in, who do an excellent job of hearing you from far away and in noisier settings. It's also compatible with the Bose Music app, which features bass and treble adjustments you can use to tweak its sound profile. That said, the Harman/Kardon has a slightly better-balanced sound profile out-of-the-box and has less compression present at max volume. Some users may also prefer its unique dome-shaped design with sot pulsing lights.

Apple HomePod mini

The Bose Home Speaker 500 is a better speaker than the Apple HomePod mini overall. The Bose is a stereo Bluetooth speaker that can get louder and produce a more extended low-bass than the Apple. There are bass and treble adjustments in its companion app to tweak its sound to your liking. It also offers outstanding voice assistant support with Alexa and Google Assistant built-in and has no trouble understanding your commands. However, the Apple comes with Siri built-in, which some Apple users may prefer. It also has better directivity, resulting in a more open-sounding soundstage.

Bose Home Speaker 300

The Bose Home Speaker 500 is a better speaker than the Bose Home Speaker 300. The 500 is better-built, and it supports stereo content. Its LED screen displays the time and information about the track you're listening to. Also, it gets louder, though both speakers have some compression when you play them at max volume. However, some users may prefer the 300's slightly smaller size.

Sonos Roam/Roam SL

The Bose Home Speaker 500 is better than the Sonos Roam/Roam SL, though they're designed for different uses. The Bose is a stereo speaker designed for use at home and needs to remain plugged into a power source to work. It has a more spacious sounding soundstage and can produce a more extended low bass than the Sonos. It can also get louder with less compression at max volume. The Sonos is smaller, battery-powered, and designed to be taken with you when you're out and about. It's better built, with an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, so you don't have to worry about it getting a bit wet or dusty while outdoors.

Apple HomePod (1st generation)

The Apple HomePod (1st generation) and the Bose Home Speaker 500 are very similarly-performing speakers, so depending on your listening habits, you may prefer one over the other. The Apple has a better soundstage performance and a more neutral sound profile out-of-the-box. However, it's been discontinued by the manufacturer and may be harder to find in new condition. The Bose offers bass and treble adjustment features to tweak its sound to your liking. It also supports Bluetooth, while the Apple speaker only supports Wi-Fi.

Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin 2021

The Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin 2021 is a better speaker for music than the Bose Home Speaker 500 overall. The Bowers & Wilkins can get louder with less compression at max volume, so audio quality doesn't degrade as much as you bump up the volume. Its sound profile is also slightly more balanced. However, the Bose offers a wider and more open-sounding soundstage. It's smaller and takes up less space than the Bowers & Wilkins. While both speakers have Alexa built-in, the Bose also comes with Google Assistant built-in.

IKEA SYMFONISK Speaker lamp

The Bose Home Speaker 500 is a better speaker than the IKEA SYMFONISK Speaker lamp. The Bose offers fantastic voice assistant support with Alexa and Google Assistant built-in. It can play stereo content without downmixing it to mono, which is more immersive. It has better directivity resulting in a more open-sounding soundstage, and it can get louder with less compression present at max volume. It's also Wi-Fi and Bluetooth-compatible. However, the IKEA is has a dual function as a Wi-Fi speaker and a lamp and is designed to blend in with your home decor. It can also produce a more extended low-bass than the Bose.

Sony SRS-RA3000

The Bose Home Speaker 500 and the Sony SRS-RA3000 are similar speakers with different strengths. While the Bose has outstanding voice assistant performance, and a better selection of controls, the Sony has a remarkable soundstage that can be perceived as spacious and open. Its companion app also features a graphic EQ and presets you can use to customize its sound to your liking.

Yamaha MusicCast 50

The Bose Home Speaker 500 is a slightly better speaker than the Yamaha MusicCast 50. The Bose offers a wider and more natural-sounding soundstage, so your audio sounds clean from most angles. It also has Google Assistant and Alexa built-in and does an excellent job of understanding your commands from far and in noisier environments. However, the Yahama has can get louder than the Bose, with less compression at max volume, resulting in cleaner audio during louder listening sessions. It's also more customizable thanks to the graphic EQ and presets featured in its companion app.

Google Home Max

The Bose Home Speaker 500 is a better speaker than the Google Home Max. The Bose is better-built and it has a better soundstage performance. Also, its voice assistant does a better job understanding you when you're in a noisy environment. However, the Google has a more neutral sound profile out-of-the-box.

Ultimate Ears HYPERBOOM

The Ultimate Ears HYPERBOOM is a better speaker than the Bose Home Speaker 500 overall, though they have different strengths,  The Ultimate Ears offers a better-balanced sound profile, and can get louder with less compression at max volume, so your audio sounds cleaner at louder volumes. It's battery-powered and comes with a built-in carrying handle, making it more portable. Its sound profile is also more customizable thanks to the graphic EQ and presets in its companion app. That said, the Bose is a wired home speaker that offers outstanding voice assistant support with Alexa and Google Assistant built-in. It also has better directivity, resulting in a wider-sounding soundstage.

Sony SRS-RA5000

The Bose Home Speaker 500 is a slightly better speaker than the Sony SRS-RA5000. The Bose offers outstanding voice assistant support, with Alexa and Google Assistant built-in. It also has a slightly wider-sounding soundstage and can play stereo content without downmixing it to mono. That said, the RA5000 supports Sony's 360 Reality Audio surround format and has an 'Immersive Audio Enhancement' feature you can use to create a virtual soundstage, though we don't test these features. Its companion app also features a graphic EQ and presets you can use to tweak its sound to your liking.

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Test Results

perceptual testing image
Design
Design
Style
RGB Lights No

The Bose 500 is a wired-only speaker that's meant to sit vertically. It has a very similar design to the Bose Home Speaker 300, but it's a bit bigger and comes with a display screen on the front. The display shows the time as well as information about the music you're listening to. It comes in two different color variants: 'Triple Black' and 'Luxe Silver.'

4.3
Design
Portability
Volume
226 in³ (3,702 cm³)
Weight
4.9 lbs (2.2 kg)
Power Source
AC Only
One-Hand Carry
No

This speaker isn't very portable. It's wired-only, so you must keep it plugged into a power source to work. It's also a bit bigger than the Bose Home Speaker 300, so you can't carry it around with one hand. However, given this is a home speaker that's designed to stay in one place, this won't be much of an issue for most users.

6.7
Design
Build Quality
Material Quality
Great
Water Resistance
No
Dust Resistance
Unspecified
Impact Resistance
Unspecified
Floats In Water
No

This speaker has a fair build quality. It has an aluminum body with a grille to help protect the drivers, as well as a plastic top with tactile buttons. There's also a color LED screen on the front. Overall, its build feels solid and durable. However, it doesn't have any advertised rating for water resistance, so be careful if you plan to use it near water.

8.0
Design
Controls
Ease Of Use
Great
Feedback
Great
Music Play/Pause
Yes (Tactile)
Call Answer/End
No
Volume Up/Down
Yes (Tactile)
Track Next/Previous
Yes
Microphone On/Off
Yes (Tactile)
Additional Controls
Yes

The controls are great. There are tactile buttons to help you adjust the volume and play/pause your audio. You can also press the AUX button to activate the input once a device is plugged into the speaker. Pressing the play/pause button twice skips ahead to the next track, and pressing it three times skips back to the previous track. There's also a 'Voice Action' button to activate the voice assistant, a Bluetooth pairing button, and six preset buttons you can program using the app. The mic mute button stays red when it's turned on, which is handy. The color LED screen also displays volume adjustments, pairing information, and information about the track you're listening to.

Design
In The Box

  • Bose Speaker 500
  • Power cable
  • User manual

Sound
6.9
Sound
Frequency Response Accuracy
Slope
-0.62
Std. Err.
3.50 dB
Low-Frequency Extension
55.0 Hz
High-Frequency Extension
17.0 kHz

This speaker has fair frequency response accuracy. It has a fairly neutral sound profile, so vocals and lead instruments are reproduced clearly and accurately. However, they also sound dark due to the underemphasized treble range. This speaker also struggles to reproduce a thumpy low bass. However, the app has bass and treble adjustment features to help you customize its sound more to your liking. If you're looking for a speaker with a more extended low bass, consider the Denon Home 350.

Sound
Raw Frequency Response
Binaural Recording @ 1m
Binaural Recording @ 2m
8.7
Sound
Soundstage
Directivity Index
2.41 dB
Stereo
Yes

This speaker has an amazing soundstage performance. This stereo speaker has impressive directivity thanks to its 360-degree design, resulting in an open sound that sounds consistent from different listening angles. For a speaker with an even better soundstage performance, check out the Sony SRS-RA3000.

7.2
Sound
Dynamics
SPL @ Max Volume
90.5 dB SPL
DRC @ Max Volume
2.19 dB

This speaker has decent dynamics. It gets pretty loud, so it's suitable for using your speaker in a large room or at a crowded party. However, some compression artifacts are present when you play it at max volume, especially in the bass range. If you're looking for a home speaker with a better dynamics performance, check out the Yamaha MusicCast 50 or the JBL Authentics 200.

Active Features
0
Active Features
Battery
Battery Life
N/A
Charge Time
N/A
Power Saving
No
Charging Port
No Battery
Battery Powered
No

This wired-only speaker doesn't have a battery.

10
Active Features
Voice Assistant
Alexa
Built-in (Wi-Fi Only)
Google Assistant
Built-in (Wi-Fi Only)
Speakerphone
No
Siri
No
Voice Assistant
Yes
Voice Activation
Yes
Microphone Mute
Yes
Far-Field Performance
Excellent
Ambient Noise Performance
Excellent

This speaker has an exceptional voice assistant performance. It has built-in support for Alexa and Google Assistant, which you can activate using your voice. However, using Alexa only, you can directly make commands to other Bose smart products, Amazon Echo products, or anyone in your contacts list. Bose advertises that this speaker features superior voice pickup technology, utilizing an array of eight microphones under the surface. As a result, the speaker can hear you clearly even if you aren't very close to it or if you're in a noisy setting. You can also mute the microphone if you don't want it to hear you.

7.7
Active Features
App
App Name
Bose Music
iOS
Yes
Android
Yes
EQ
Bass/Treble
Stereo Pair Mode
No
Party Mode
Yes
Multi-Room
Yes

The Bose Music app is good. Though it doesn't have a full graphic EQ like the Ultimate Ears HYPERBOOM, there are bass and treble adjustment sliders to help you customize its sound more to your liking. You can also use the app to pair it with other Bose Home Speakers to play audio across different rooms in your house or at a crowded party. However, unlike the Ultimate Ears, it can't pair two speakers in stereo.

Connectivity
Connectivity
Wired
Aux Input
Yes
USB Audio
No
Other Ports
Yes

This speaker has an AUX port to wire your smartphone to the speaker. There's also a micro USB port on the bottom, but it's just for servicing the speaker. Check out the Marshall Woburn III for a speaker that connects to your TV over HDMI ARC.

8.2
Connectivity
Bluetooth
Bluetooth
Yes
Bluetooth Version
4.2
Bluetooth iOS Latency
57 ms
Bluetooth Android Latency
88 ms
Bluetooth Range
195.2 ft (59.5 m)
Multi-Device Pairing
No

This speaker has great Bluetooth connectivity. While it doesn't support multi-device pairing, it has low AV synchronization error with both Android and iOS devices, making it suitable for watching videos and movies. However, some apps compensate for latency differently, so your real-world experience may vary.

8.1
Connectivity
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi Version
Unspecified
Wi-Fi Frequency Band
2.4GHz & 5GHz
Wi-Fi
Yes
Apple AirPlay
Yes
AirPlay Latency
45 ms
Google Chromecast
Yes
Chromecast Latency
N/A

This speaker is Wi-Fi compatible and supports Apple AirPlay and Google Chromecast. It has low latency via AirPlay, so audio and visuals remain in sync when watching videos or movies. You can also use Chromecast to cast audio from music streaming services without video, like Spotify or YouTube Music Premium. However, you can't use it to stream videos from most video streaming services and video players like YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, and VLC.