If you are in a Hurry! here is a quick comparison of Bose Solo 5 vs Sonos Beam.
| Model | Bose Solo 5 | Sonos Beam |
|---|---|---|
| Audio output channels |
2.0 |
32.0 |
| Bluetooth |
Yes |
Yes (only for setup) |
| Wi-Fi |
No |
Yes |
| Dimensions |
21.5 x 2.76 x 3.39 in |
25.6 x 2.69 x 3.9 in |
| Weight |
3.7 pounds |
6 pounds |
| External subwoofer |
No |
No |
| Color options |
Black / White |
Black |
| Remote control |
Included |
Available |
| Audio input |
No |
Yes |
| Smartphone App |
No |
Yes |
| HDMI cable |
No |
Yes |
| Voice assistant |
No |
Yes |
| Rating | ||
| Price |
Trying to elevate, enrich, and modernize your home experience? There is no better way to do so than with a soundbar, perfect for listening to music and enhancing your home-cinema experience.
Soundbars can make a huge difference in the way you experience TV shows, movies, or music, which is why they are gaining popularity as a trendy home-speaker choice. But, of course, the difference a soundbar can make for you all depends on purchasing the best-performing speaker on the market.
That’s why we decided to put two of the best-reviewed soundbars, the Sonos Beam and the Bose Solo 5 in a side-by-side comparison to find out which one is best for you.
Sonos Beam
Sonos is a company specializing in the home-based speaker market; they have released many attractive products that offer excellent sound for your money. This is as true as ever in the case of the Sonos Beam.
In terms of design, the Beam comes in what’s considered an entry-level size, at 650 x 100 x 68.5mm. Even though this is much smaller than super-sized products like the Sonos PlayBar, it still offers the most advanced sound with its 3.0 channel beam.
It is designed to bounce sound off of your walls, comprised of a center channel with two woofers, two woofers on the right and left channels, and a single tweeter.
The Sonos Beam comes with voice assistance and can play music from any source like Apple Music, Amazon, Google Play, Spotify, etc. It also supports AirPlay 2 and can connect to your TV through its HDMI input.
Basically, this Beam is all you need to create an impressive home theater experience from the comfort of your sofa.
Pros
- Impressive sound quality
- Deep bass
- Great streaming capabilities
- Sleek design
Cons
- Could use more HDMI inputs
Bose Solo 5
As a direct competitor we have the Bose Solo 5, which is also an incredible soundbar for your home entertainment needs. Bose is known for its simple design, which extends to its Solo 5 model. It is a compact soundbar that fits perfectly underneath your TV.
To keep things both sleek and simple Bose eliminated every button or switch on the Solo 5, so it is just a plain black grille front with a plastic back.
Behind the grille, two drivers angle out slightly for a wider sound field. There are also a couple of indicators that illuminate when certain features are enabled. Even though the Solo 5 is a soundbar, it can also be programmed to work as a universal control for your TV.
With such small dimensions, you cannot expect the most powerful sound, but it still carries enough to fill up the room. The quality is certainly much better than your TV’s original sound, with improved clarity and weight.
Pros
- Compact size
- Remote control included
- Good dialog clarity
- Easy to use
Cons
- Lacks punch
Sonos Beam vs Bose Solo 5 – Face to Face
Sound Quality
Sound quality plays a vital role in your home theater experience. In terms of such quality, there is a significant difference between these two devices.
The Sonos Beam uses four full-range woofers with three passive radiators and a single tweeter. Even though the Beam has only one tweeter, it is amplified by the five, class-D digital amplifiers to reach unbelievably high frequencies that exceed expectations.
This setup is designed for the best surround sound experience, and with its passive radiators, the Beam can deliver quite a punch.
On the other hand, the Bose Solo 5 has two drivers. Bose mounted the two central cone speakers at an angle to improve the sound field, and this trick seems to work beautifully. It produces a better sound quality than most TVs, and it is excellent for movies since it helps make the dialog exceptionally clear.
The only drawback with the Bose Solo 5 is the shallowness of the sound and lack of bass, but it is still a decent soundbar for your home cinema.
Winner: Sonos Beam
More: Bose Solo 5 vs Vizio sb3621n-e8: Which Soundbar Is Better?
Controls
Like most soundbars, the Bose Solo 5 comes with a universal remote control; this can be used to control basic settings like volume and sound modes, but also to operate the TV.
In comparison, the Sonos Beam doesn’t come with a remote control. Instead, you can use the Sonos app to control all the features.
Both methods are very effective – it all depends on your personal preference.
Winner: Tie
More: Bose Quietcomfort 35 II vs Beats Studio 3: Which Headphones are Better?
Connectivity Options
The most significant differences between the two soundbars are the connectivity options. The Solo 5 uses Bluetooth connection to pair with other smart devices. You can also connect it to your TV using an optical cable included in the original packaging. It includes a 3.5mm input jack as well, to make everything easier.
In comparison, the Sono Beam uses Wi-Fi for connecting with other devices. It comes with Bluetooth, but that is only used for the initial setup. Sonos uses Wi-Fi connectivity on all of its products, which promises better sound quality. There is also a modern HDMI connection option for creating your home theater.
Winner: Sonos Beam
Voice Assistant
When interested in buying a soundbar, voice control is not usually the top priority in terms of features. The primary purpose of a soundbar is, of course, to enhance the sound quality on your TV or stereo system, but a voice assistant can be a surprisingly handy feature.
The Sonos Beam comes with five far-field microphones that can pick up voice controls even from far away. This enables you to access Alexa or Google Assistant and use the soundbar to control various things in your home or get information.
Unfortunately, the Solo 5 doesn’t come with a voice assistant.
Winner: Sonos Beam
More: Bose Soundbar 700 vs Solo 5: Which Soundbar You Should Buy
Stand Out Features of the Sonos Beam
Sound Quality
The range of woofers enhances the sound coming out from the Sonos Beam. It is an excellent device for creating the ultimate surround-sound listening experience. The extra bass makes the Sonos Beam a dream for listening to your favorite tunes.
Wi-Fi Streaming
There are undeniable benefits that come with streaming audio through Wi-Fi. One, for example, is the ability to play larger files. While Bluetooth compresses the sound and often produces a less stable connection, streaming music with Wi-FI is effortless and provides overall better quality.
Voice Assistant
If you choose the Sonos Beam, you’re not just buying a soundbar, but also a smart speaker. Since it comes with an array of far-field microphones, it can be used to summon Alexa or Google Assistant.
Its microphones are very sensitive, easily able to pick up voice commands even from across the room.
More: Tozo T6 vs T10: Which Earbuds are Better?
Stand Out Features of the Bose Solo 5
Dialogue Enhancement
Most soundbars have low frequencies that tend to make the dialogue in movies difficult to hear. Bose worked around this issue by adding a dialogue enhancer. This smart system picks up the conversation in films and pushes it in front of all other sounds.
This makes the Bose Solo 5 perfect for you if your focus is on your home theater.
Bluetooth Connectivity
Despite the wired connection to your TV, you can also use the built-in Bluetooth to stream music on your soundbar. As you would expect from Bose, the Solo 5 connects and pairs instantly with other devices, providing a decent range for the connection as well.
Value for Money
Since the Bose Solo 5 is an entry-level soundbar model, it offers an excellent value for your money. Considering that it is cheaper than many of its competitors, it still provides fantastic sound quality with dual speakers and a wide sound field to project clearly across your living room.
If you want an affordable soundbar that still performs very well, the Bose Solo 5 is the perfect purchase for you.
More: Check out our details review of Jaybird Vista vs AirPods Pro Here
Which Is Better, the Sonos Beam or the Bose Solo 5?
Choose the Bose Solo 5 if:
- You want a more compact soundbar.
- You want a dialogue enhancer for movies.
- You want more value for less money.
- You want decent sound quality.
Choose the Sonos Beam if:
- You want a beefier sound.
- You have Wi-Fi streaming.
- You prefer the HDMI connection.
- You want a voice assistant.
