Choosing a perfect speaker setup is difficult enough as it is but it’s more complicated if the choice comes down to two products that come from the same line made by one brand. The Bose SoundTouch 20 and 30 look identical in photos but are meant for different uses. Our experts zoom in on the differences in this Bose SoundTouch 20 vs Bose SoundTouch 30 comparison.
SoundTouch 20 or SoundTouch 30?
- Wave guide technology
- WiFi and Bluetooth streaming
- Works with Alexa devices
- Easy to set up and control
- WiFi and Bluetooth streaming
- Works with Alexa devices
- Features six presets
- Buildable system
Features of the SoundTouch 20 and SoundTouch 30
Sound Quality of the Bose Soundtouch 30 and 20
Audio quality is the most important consideration for our experts when choosing a speaker system. Soundtouch 20 and Soundtouch 30 speakers are some of the highest quality audio peripherals in the world, and with the Sound Touch family speakers, you can’t really go wrong no matter which one you get.
When it comes to compatibility, both the Bose 20 and 30 speakers can play common music files such as MP3, WMA, AAC, FLAC, and Apple Lossless. There is no diminished quality when playing through a Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connection.
In this Bose 20 vs 30 SoundTouch speakers showdown, the main difference lies in music dynamics. The SoundTouch 30 speaker is a significantly larger system and can play much bigger and deeper tunes when directly compared to the SoundTouch 20 speaker.
The crucial difference is Bose’s Waveguide technology. It was patented in 1967 and is much-vaunted in the industry. It consists of tunnels of internal channels, paths that are optimized and amplified in relation to the drivers and subwoofer. As a result, the audio profile is much richer and louder than its unassuming size would seemingly allow.
Even though the Bose 20 and 30 speakers have identical file compatibility and signal strength through WiFi and Bluetooth, overall aural quality is different. The SoundTouch 30’s speakers deep and driving tune is far and away the winner here.
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Sound Space
The bass spectrum on the SoundTouch 30 is very impressive because of the built-in subwoofer. The dynamic is wider and deeper, with a punchy bass that will easily blast your music throughout your house during a party but will not overwhelm the overall sound profile of what you’re listening to. Bose’s Waveguide technology is specifically optimized for these drivers, and it creates one big sounds that fill decently-sized rooms.
The power in SoundTouch 30’s woofer delivers magnificent quality even in low-to-medium volume. It still delivers one great performance at 25% volume and below. Podcasts, audiobooks, and low-key film and TV scenes with just dialogue and no sweeping background music are still very much crisp and clear to the ear.
While both speakers do a fantastic job in terms of designed to provide a means for sites to earn fees by advertising and connectivity, the SoundTouch 30 undoubtedly delivers superior sound given its dedicated woofer. Its much larger size provides significantly louder, fuller, deeper audio power compared to the SoundTouch 20. It’s a fantastic device you can use in your home and control via remote yes or Wi-Fi connection.
Inputs and Outputs
The SoundTouch 20 and 30 have identical input ports: 10/100 Mbps Ethernet, 3.5 mm AUX, and USB Type A.
Overall power consumption in the SoundTouch 20 is 90 Watts, while it’s 150 Watts for the SoundTouch 30.
Connectivity
The SoundTouch 20 and 30 are both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi-capable (802.11 b g n), with built-in controls through Amazon Alexa, mobile app support, a USB and ethernet port, a 3.5 mm AUX port, and a physical remote control.
You can access many popular music streaming services like Spotify [1], iTunes, Apple Music, Pandora, Deezer, internet radio and iHeartRadio.
Bose’s SoundTouch 30 bose line is specifically designed to be parts of a multi-room set-up, so pairing up to four devices is a breeze. No matter which device you choose, you will not lack options for wireless control. Bose’s speakers are chock full of features that will let you play your choice of music and radio from anywhere in your home, with more specific control through the Bose app. The software is intuitive to use and there will be little need for technical support or hand-holding to get started.
Bose SoundTouch 20 and 30 Controls
The SoundTouch 20 and 30 have identical speaker control features.
They both have embedded OLED displays in the center that show connection and music data. Manual control consists of six physical preset buttons, AUX input, and a power button. The presets can be assigned to six favorites of your choice, perhaps your iTunes library, a Spotify playlist, or your favorite radio station. This is an excellent feature that will save you the trouble of taking out your phone every time you want to play something specific.
At the point of purchase, you get a small, sleek infrared-powered remote control that fits easily in one hand. Unfortunately, a 3.5 mm cable is not included in the box.
Like Sonos Play 3 and Play 5 with very convenient and intuitive app, it has its own app as well. The SoundTouch app lets you have total control of your remote speaker. You can browse all the popular services like music, your downloaded music, as well as internet radio stations through TuneIn. The app makes music playback personalization a breeze, and you can seamlessly jump between playlists, radio stations, and streaming services.
Integration
Bose’s SoundTouch line has Alexa integration through Bose Skills for Amazon Alexa.
Bose SoundTouch 20 and 30 Accessories
The SoundTouch 20 and 30 come from the same product line produced by the same company, so their design aesthetic and features are identical.
It has always kept to minimalist designs. The SoundTouch 20 and 30 are no exception with their simple box speaker shapes with an outward bend in the middle. The clean, sleek lines make them an unobtrusive addition to any room. They are both very clearly premium-built, with great textures and reflectivity across their surfaces.
FAQ
What's the difference between Bose SoundTouch 20 and 30?
The difference between SoundTouch 20 vs SoundTouch 30 is speaker size, weight, and corresponding quality. SoundTouch 30’s larger size, Waveguide technology, and dedicated subwoofer deliver louder and richer audio. The two speaker systems are not very different otherwise and are great purchases at their respective prices.
Overall Winner: Bose SoundTouch 30
For one top-notch audio quality that can fill up large spaces with sound for a party or a movie night, then the Bose SoundTouch 30 is our experts’ perfect choice. It has a great minimalist design, delivers deep, rich audio bass and volume throughout any large room in your home, and has an excellent control system via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Alexa, the SoundTouch app, USB, AUX input, an ethernet port, and more.
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