A soundbar will make a huge difference in the way you experience movies, music, and TV shows. There are many great soundbars in the market, however, The Bose Solo 5 and the Sonos Beam are probably among the most popular ones. They both are good and they both have different advantages. Make sure you read this comparison until the end so you’ll find which one is the right one for you.
Let’s start with our comparison of the Bose Solo 5 VS Sonos Beam!
Bose Solo 5 OR Sonos Beam?
- Compact size; 25.6 inches
- High definition sound
- Buildable system
- Compatible with Sonos app
- Full HD video support
- Bluetooth connectivity
- Dialogue mode
- Single connection to TV
- Universal remote control
- Flexible placement
Features Comparison:
Sonos Beam Versus Bose Solo 5
Here are some features of the Bose Solo 5 and Sonos Beam soundbars and how they compare.
Audio Quality
When it comes to audio quality, there’s a striking difference between the Solo 5 and the Beam.
The Bose Solo 5 uses two drivers. The two cone speakers are located in the center portion behind the grille, and they have a slight angle so as to produce a wider soundfield.
The sound quality is pretty decent compared to TV sound and it’s what you’d expect from a budget soundbar. It also has a superb dialogue mode for movies and TV shows. With the Bose Solo 5, you’ll experience a better sound quality when watching movies or listening to music.
As for the Sonos Beam, it uses four full-range woofers, a tweeter, plus three passive radiators for bass. In comparison to the Solo 5, this setup produces a much more impressive surround sound experience.
The tweeter and the five class-D digital amplifiers also give you a greater sound range because your soundbar will be able to produce those high audio frequencies. As such, you’ll really experience how the media is meant to sound like.
Bass
Both the Bose Solo 5 and Sonos Beam have no dedicated subwoofer. So what kind of bass [1] can you expect?
The Solo 5 has a bass mode, with the bass being adjustable to the levels you prefer. So whether you want a mellower bass or a deeper rumble, you can set the levels to your preference. Even without a subwoofer, this would be enough for the casual user who wants an improved sound in movies and music.
On the other hand, the Sonos Beam soundbar has three passive radiators to produce that rich, deep bass. The bass levels in the sound system are adjustable as well, and you can use the Sonos app to tweak the settings.
If you pride yourself as a bass lover, the Sonos Beam would be the better choice since you can add a separate subwoofer to produce those powerful deep tones for a complete surround sound experience. The Solo 5 doesn’t give you that same option since it’s really meant to stand alone.
Still, the bass of both the Solo 5 and the Beam may not pass the standards of an audiophile, largely due to the lack of a sub. But if you’re not much of a bass enthusiast, then both the Solo 5 and the Beam would work just fine.
Control
Like the rest of the best soundbars in the market, the Bose Solo 5 has a universal remote control included in the box. You can use it to control basic settings such as volume and sound modes.
For the Sonos Beam soundbar, it’s a little different. It doesn’t have a remote control. Instead, you’ll be using the Sonos app to control the soundbar.
In the end, it all depends on your preference on how you want to control your gadget. Reaching out for your phone for soundbar adjustments may be easier, but it can also be a hassle for some users who are used to using a TV remote.
Alexa and Google Assistant
You don’t really need voice control when it comes to soundbars, but we can’t deny that it’s a pretty handy feature in devices too.
The Sonos Beam is compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant. It also has a five far-field microphone array which enables your voice commands to be heard in a clear way without you having to yell. This design makes it easy to adjust the settings of the speakers and play your media right from your couch.
Unfortunately, the Solo 5 doesn’t have this function. So for the Sonos Beam vs Bose Solo 5 battle, the Beam sound bar wins in the voice assistant aspect.
Bluetooth and Streaming
The Solo 5 and the Sonos Beam both use Bluetooth connection, but in a way that’s different from each other.
For the Solo 5, Bluetooth allows you to stream music from your mobile device – a handy feature that many soundbars have as well.
But for the Beam, it uses Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) so your phone or tablet can communicate with the soundbar during the product setup. Music streaming is not supported with this kind of Bluetooth. Instead, you get to stream through the speaker using the WiFi. Another good thing about this is you can connect to Apple Airplay 2 as well.
For impressive home integration, setup your Sonos Connect with your other devices here.
Performance
Both the Bose Solo 5 and the Sonos Beam produce great sound that lets you enjoy that good home theater experience. But if you want to get a serious audio upgrade, it’s best to go for the Sonos Beam.
Beam has four full range woofers, a tweeter, great bass, Alexa voice control, HDMI arc, and WiFi included. It’s all the advanced features you need in a smart soundbar. You’re also free to add in a sub if you want a deep, rumbling bass. And with HDMI arc input capability, it’s a little easier to set up in your room.
But if it’s clear that you’re just looking for a budget soundbar to improve your audio and movie experience, then the Bose Solo 5 gets the job done – and it does it better than its competitors in this price range. It has dual speakers, dialogue mode, adjustable bass, Apple Airplay 2, and Bluetooth connection for streaming – a feature not available in the Beam soundbar. Overall, it’s best for users who want quality without the high price.
Overall Winner: Sonos Beam
Sonos Beam takes the top spot in this soundbar comparison. It can offer more advanced features including Wi-Fi connectivity, voice control, and option to add an external subwoofer for a superb bass and audio.
While Solo 5 overshadows it in some aspects, the added bells and whistles on the Sonos Beam brings it one step ahead in this competition. It can also be built to give you a Sonos 5.1 home theater system.
You can also read our comparison of other soundbars from Bose.
