- Table of Contents
- Intro
- Our Verdict
- Test Results
- Differences
- Compared To Others
- Deals
- Discussions
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 it can hear you clearly even if you aren't close to it or are in a noisy environment. Out-of-the-box, it has a fairly neutral sound profile suitable for listening to lots of different types of audio content, and it also has bass and treble adjustment features in its app to help you customize its sound.
Our Verdict
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.
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Amazing soundstage performance.
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Bass and treble adjustments.
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Some compression at max volume.
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Lacks low-bass.
The Bose Home Speaker 500 is decent for videos and movies. Thanks to its 360-degree design, it has an open soundstage that can immerse you in your audio from all angles. It has a balanced mid-range that reproduces dialogue clearly, though it may also sound 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.
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Amazing soundstage performance.
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Bass and treble adjustments.
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Some compression at max volume.
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Lacks low-bass.
The Bose Home Speaker 500 is okay for podcasts. Its balanced mid-range reproduces clear and accurate dialogue, though it may sound 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.
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Amazing soundstage performance.
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Bass and treble adjustments.
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Some compression at max volume.
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No multi-device pairing.
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.
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Built-in Alexa and Google Assistant.
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Excellent far-field performance.
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Some compression at max volume.
The Bose Home Speaker 500 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
- Updated Jun 14, 2022: Updated review and test results to include Google Chromecast following firmware update.
- Updated Mar 03, 2021: Review published.
- Updated Feb 26, 2021: Early access published.
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Test Results
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 it 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.
This speaker isn't very portable. It's wired-only, so you have to keep it plugged into a power source for it to work. It's also a bit bigger than the Bose Home Speaker 300, so you may not be able to carry it with one hand.
The Bose Home Speaker 500 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 you should be careful if you plan to use it near water.
The Bose 500's 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 that 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.
The Bose 500 has fair frequency response accuracy. It has a fairly neutral sound profile, so vocals and lead instruments are reproduced clearly and accurately. However, they may also sound a bit dark due to the underemphasized treble range. This speaker also struggles to reproduce a thumpy low-bass. However, there are bass and treble adjustment features in the app 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.
The Bose Home Speaker 500 has an amazing soundstage performance. This stereo speaker has impressive directivity thanks to its 360-degree design, resulting in an open, spacious soundstage. For a speaker with an even better soundstage performance, check out the Sony SRS-RA3000.
The Bose 500 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, there's some compression 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.
This wired-only speaker doesn't have a battery.
The Bose Home Speaker 500 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. 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.
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 adjustments 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.
This speaker has an AUX port so you can wire your smartphone to the speaker. There's also a micro USB port on the bottom, but it's just for servicing the speaker.
The Bose Home Speaker 500 has great Bluetooth connectivity. While it doesn't support multi-device pairing, it has low latency 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.
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.
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 we 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 discussions, 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 it's a bit larger and comes with an LED screen on its front. It offers an outstanding voice assistant performance, and it's also compatible with the Bose Music app, which has bass and treble adjustments for sound customization.
See also our recommendations for the best Bluetooth speakers, the best home speakers, and the best speakers for iPhone and iPod.
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, though we don't test for this. 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.
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.
The Bose Home Speaker 500 is a better speaker than the Sonos One Gen 2. The Bose has a better soundstage performance, and it 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 it can also be paired with a Sonos soundbar.
The Apple HomePod 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. That said, the Bose offers bass and treble adjustment features and a mic mute button. It also supports Bluetooth, while the Apple only supports Wi-Fi.
The Bose Home Speaker 500 is a better speaker than the Amazon Echo Studio. The Bose is better-built and it has a better soundstage performance. It supports Apple AirPlay, and it has lower latency when paired with iOS and Android devices over Bluetooth. Also, its voice assistant does a better job understanding you in noisy settings. However, the Amazon gets louder with less compression at max volume.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The Bose Home Speaker 500 is a better speaker than the JBL Charge 5, though they have different strengths. The Bose can play stereo content without downmixing it to mono and has better directivity resulting in a wider and more immersive-sounding soundstage. Its companion app features bass and treble adjustments you can use to tweak its sound to your liking. It also offers incredible voice assistant support with Alexa and Google Assistant built-in. That said, the JBL is battery-powered, making it easier to take with you when you're on the move. You can pair it with up to two devices at once, so you can easily switch between audio sources.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The Bose Home Speaker is a better speaker than the Sonos Roam, 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.
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.
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.