Bose specializes in sound technology and their soundbars are no exception, but how do you identify the best ones? Our experts have tested some of the best Bose soundbars so you can prevent an exasperating return process if a pick proves to be subpar.
Reviews of the Best Bose Soundbars
1. Bose SoundTouch 300
The Soundtouch 300 isn’t just a soundbar, but it’s a whole home theater system on its own with DTS format decoding. The soundbar also supports 4K passthrough through HDMI connection for all the higher quality content on your flat screen TV.
The blend of a glass top and metal on the Soundtouch 300 creates a luxurious soundbar that can stream either music or movies wirelessly with Bluetooth.
What We Like
- Works with Amazon Alexa
- Features DTS decoding for life-like audio
- Supports 4K passthrough
- HDMI
- Luxurious and elegant design
- Bluetooth and WiFi to access streaming services
What We Don't Like
- HDMI does not work with Samsung SmartTV
- No external subwoofer
2. Bose Soundbar 700
The 700 soundbar is an extremely well-performing soundbar from the brand. However, this HDMI ARC-compatible home theater system does come with a higher price tag. You may pick of either white or black to blend into any interior design.
Aside from exceptional sound from 4 powerful drivers, Airplay 2 and Google Assistant are built-in to help you control the audio. Your invisible assistant makes it possible to perform other subtle voice commands such as reporting on the weather and increasing or decreasing the volume.
What We Like
- Powerful acoustics
- Built-in Airplay 2 and Google Assistant
- Elegant glass top design
- Comes in black and white
- Custom drivers
- SimpleSync technology
- Universal remote included
- HDMI ARC compatible
What We Don't Like
- Difficult to add to Alexa speaker groups
- No external subwoofer
3. Bose Solo 5
This Bose soundbar is one of the most popular choices. Not only is it a very affordable product, but it takes up minimal space with its small profile as well.
Advanced technologies such as dialogue mode bring out previously inaudible speech and enhance whispers. Conversations in movies will pop more with this one.
The Bluetooth wireless streaming let you connect to external devices so you can enjoy elevated sound on the Bose Solo 5.
What We Like
- Small and compact
- Affordable price
- Built-in dialogue mode
- Wireless music streaming
- Universal remote
- Flexible placement
- Adjustable bass
What We Don't Like
- No external sub
- No HDMI
4. Bose Soundbar 500
The Bose Soundbar 500 is a slim soundbar expertly engineered for a more powerful sound. You can easily pair this Bose soundbar with your headphones of the same brand with Simple Sync and enjoy your favorite tunes with the 500 soundbar as your TV speakers.
If you want added bass for either movies or music, feel free to add more speakers or budget subwoofer to make the sound much better. With this Bose soundbar, you can still add one sub or two rears as well.
Built-in Amazon Alexa can pick up your voice commands with eight noise rejecting microphone arrays for precise identification. Overall, the Soundbar 500 is one of the best Bose soundbars on our list.
What We Like
- Simple Sync technology
- Apple Airplay 2 support
- Features eight noise rejecting microphone arrays
- Bluetooth and WiFi compatible
- Full-range buildable system
- HDMI ARC compatible
What We Don't Like
- Voice assistant capabilities are limited
- No external subwoofer
5. Bose Bass Module 700
The Bass Module 700 is a subwoofer device optimized to pair with the Soundbar 700 for a much more dramatic bass. You can enjoy tunes from the Bose Music app with higher definition audio as well.
This one gives you access to a dynamic audio range with minimal harmonic distortion each time. You can pump up the bass without compromising the quality at any volume level.
What We Like
- Pairs seamlessly with the 700 soundbar
- Minimal harmonic distortion
- Dramatic bass
- Premium design
- A powerful driver
- May be connected with other surround speakers
- Wireless connection
- Cinematic sound
What We Don't Like
- Requires a soundbar
- Need the compatible app
Bose Soundbars Buyer’s Guide
Size
The bar’s size correlates directly with your TV and the space you have. As a general rule of thumb, you should use a soundbar a few inches shy of your flat screen’s length.
Sound System
Is it just the Bose soundbar itself, or does it come with a subwoofer, satellite speakers, and more? For smaller rooms, the soundbars from the manufacturer alone will be able to permeate the room with impressive audio quality.
But if you need a full-range home theater or a multi-room speaker system, it’s best to add more speakers to Bose soundbars for better sound.
If you are looking for a device for your PCs, you can check our top-performing PC soundbars here.
ADAPTIQ Technology
Adaptiq technology in a Bose soundbar can customize your new system and calibrate the audio to work best with the room’s acoustics, creating a 3D surround sound.
Controls
Bose Soundbars will come with their own remote control and can be set up with your existing universal remote. If you want to use just one remote to make things simple, an easy way to do that is to connect your universal remote to the bar.
Mount
Bose soundbars like the Bose TV Speaker are slim products that offer flexible placement. An excellent location to set up your device would be on the wall, and most of Bose bars come with a wall mount.
Still, you may want to make things simple by placing the product on the TV rack. Feel free to do that as well if you need better access.
Interested in bookshelf speakers that performs just as well as large speakers? See our review of Bose 161 here.
Price
Consider the price of your next product as well. All highly-reviewed Bose soundbars like the Bose Soundbar 700 are high-performing audio products that can create life-like acoustics each time. With a higher price tag, you may get both WiFi and voice control aside from exceptional sound.
Bass
The best soundbars boast a lot of bass, and some can allow simple adjustments depending on the content, whether it’s movies or music. Some soundbars that will enable users to control the level of bass using the remote or app to customize the device to their liking.
Connectivity
Audio bars can feature both wired and wireless connections. Our experts suggest HDMI ARC wired connection since it has the best load handling capabilities. On Bose soundbars, you often see Bluetooth and WiFi for wireless sound streaming and setup. Access to smart home functions can add convenience and ease of use as well.
For other options, you can setup and connect your devices using an HDMI CEC cable here.
Subwoofer
While not many Bose soundbars come with a subwoofer, you have the choice of adding bass to enhance the low tones in your setup. Still, it’s possible to get great bass sound from models like the Bose TV Speaker without the additional module.
Audio Modes
Clear voice found in Bose soundbars help optimize onscreen speech. Other useful audio modes that will boost your content include movie, news, and gaming.
Channels
How many channels do your soundbars have? Five channels are the industry standard for enveloping and life-like vocals and effects [1]. Still, to get the full experience, an additional subwoofer and rear satellite speakers would be best for a multi-room system.
Easy Setup
The setup of your Bose soundbar should be easy as well. When you buy Bose soundbars, everything you need will be in the box, including necessary cables, one instruction manual, and a remote control.
FAQ
1. Are Bose soundbars any good?
Yes, Bose soundbars are good. They are expertly tuned and calibrated soundbars that offer life-like sound.
2. Is Bose worth the money?
Yes, Bose is worth the money. Their devices are equipped with all the latest audio technology and capabilities such as Dolby Atmos and DTS for a full cinematic experience.
3. Is Bose overrated?
No, Bose isn’t overrated. It’s a brand that has consistently produced reliable products that can elevate your viewing experience.
Our Top Pick for the Best Bose Soundbar: Soundtouch 300
Our experts choose the Bose Soundtouch 300 as the best Bose soundbar on our list. It earns the top spot with its DTS decoding capabilities paired with a smooth and luxurious glass surface design. The Soundtouch 300 is calibrated to deliver an excellent listening experience each time.
The Soundtouch 300 also has access to Amazon Alexa, letting you use your speakers for simple commands. You can easily adjust the volume level or check the weather with Voice Assistants like Google.
See how the Soundtouch 300 compares against the Sonos Playbar here.
Bose does not have the monopoly on good soundbars. Take Samsung, for instance, and its HW-J250 that comes with a good price.
