If you are in a hurry! here is a quick comparison of Bose Soundbar 500 vs Soundbar 700.
|
Model |
Bose Soundbar 500 |
Bose Soundbar 700 |
|---|---|---|
|
Audio output channels |
3.0 |
3.0 |
|
Bluetooth |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Wi-Fi |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Dimensions |
31.5 x 1.75 x 4.0 in |
38.5 x 2.25 x 4.25 in |
|
Weight |
7 pounds |
10.5 pounds |
|
External subwoofer |
No |
No |
|
Color options |
Black |
Black / White |
|
Remote control |
Yes |
Yes (Universal) |
|
Streaming services |
Deezer, Amazon Music, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, Pandora, and much more. |
Deezer, Amazon Music, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, Pandora, and much more. |
|
Smartphone App |
Yes |
Yes |
|
HDMI cable |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Voice assistant |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Dolby Digital |
Yes |
Yes |
|
DTS |
No |
Yes |
|
Rating |
||
|
Price |
If you want to create the ultimate cinematic experience, you must upgrade your living space with a soundbar. Soundbars are designed mainly for improving the sound quality on your TV, but nowadays, they come as multi functional devices that can be used for a variety of things.
When it comes to choosing the best soundbar manufacturer, Bose is a serious contender. They have been in this industry long enough to tune the sound quality on their devices to perfection.
Some of the most talked-about soundbars are Bose Soundbar 500 and 700. They both have great reviews and perform outstandingly. However, in this article, we will go over their specifications and find out which is better, Bose Soundbar 500 or 700.
About Bose
Bose is a well-known audio device manufacturer, and when you see the logo on a device, you already know that it can produce an outstanding sound quality.
They’ve been making high-quality audio-focused listening devices since 1964, and over the years, they’ve built their reputation to be one of the greatest audio device manufacturers in the world.
They have an extensive portfolio of products, and they are focused on innovation and premium sound quality.
Bose Soundbar 500
As you can expect from Bose, the Soundbar 500 comes with premium sound quality out of the box. It is not the most exquisite sound coming out of a soundbar, but it is still sleek and quite loud.
In terms of design, Bose is focusing on creating the ultimate high-end looking speaker. The matte black finish on the top is fingerprint resistant, and it accents the luxury design of the soundbar. It will be an eye-catcher in your living space.
It comes with two touch-sensitive buttons on the top, where one controls the power for the eight built-in microphones, and the other is an action button.
The Bose Soundbar 500 is only 31.5 inches long, and 1.75 inches tall, which fits right in the mid-range sized soundbar market. Despite the small size, the Soundbar 500 is still enough to fill a mid-sized room with sound, but if you want a massive home theater, you should probably go with a bigger option.
Pros
- Voice assistant (eight microphones)
- Decent sound quality
- Good looking design
- Dialogue enhancer
Cons
- Less powerful audio
- Subwoofer or dual speakers cost extra
Bose Soundbar 700
On the other hand, we have the larger 38.5 inches long and 2.25 inches tall Bose Soundbar 700. This is a premium soundbar that comes with upgraded sound, larger size, and additional components.
In terms of design, it has the same signature design as most Bose soundbars. However, Bose decided to go with a glossy finish, which makes dust and fingerprints visible. That’s why Bose included a cleaning cloth in the box.
The Bose Soundbar 700 comes with two touch-sensitive buttons on the top and universal remote control for extended functionality. It also comes in two color options (black or white), and they look fantastic.
When it comes to sound quality, Bose Soundbar 700 runs rings over its competition. With its more built-in drivers, you’ll get the ultimate theatrical experience in your living room. You can sense the bass that pops, and the vocals are more noticeable.
Basically, the Bose Soundbar 700 looks, feels, and sounds like a premium soundbar.
Pros
- Excellent sound quality with more mid-range drivers
- DTS support
- Universal remote control
- Voice assistant
- PhaseGuide transducers
Cons
- The glassy top gets dirty
- No built-in Chromecast
Bose Soundbar 500 vs 700 – Face-To-Face
To determine the winner in this comparison test, we have to dig deeper into their specifications and find out which is better, Bose Soundbar 500 or 700.
Design
In terms of design, they both look very similar. The most noticeable difference is the bigger size on the Bose Soundbar 700. The Bose Soundbar 700 comes in 38.5 inches long and 2.25 inches high, whereas the Bose Soundbar 500 is 31.5 inches long and 1.75 inches tall.
The Bose Soundbar 700 is also heavier coming at 10.5 lbs compared to the 7 lbs on the Bose Soundbar 500.
They have the same metal grille and a sleek design with rounded corners that look extraordinary. They both have two touch-sensitive buttons on the speaker’s top used for voice assistant and as an action button when it comes to controls.
However, to access all functions, they both come with remote control. The Bose Soundbar 700 has a universal remote control that can be used for controlling other devices, whereas the Bose Soundbar 500 comes with a remote control that can only control the speaker.
Another important difference in terms of design is the color option. The Bose Soundbar 700 comes in Black or White, but the Bose Soundbar 500 comes only as a black version.
Since you are buying a Bose speaker, you should not be concerned about the built quality. All of their products are made with very durable materials and will last for a lifetime.
The Bose Soundbar 500 comes only with a 5 ft HDMI cable, whereas the Bose Soundbar 700 has an HDMI cable and a Digital Optical Cable included in the box.
Winner: Bose Soundbar 700
More: Bose Bass Module 700 vs 500: Home Woofer Comparison
Connectivity & Controls
In terms of connectivity, both soundbars come with optical Audio In and HDMI ARC. They also have USB service ports and Ethernet ports.
Both come with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi just so the voice assistant functions properly. Unfortunately, both of them don’t come with Chromecast built-in.
On the other hand, both support Apple Airplay, and you can connect your smartphone through Bluetooth.
The biggest drawback for the Bose Soundbar 500 is the lack of DTS audio support, which is a competitor to Dolby Digital. In contrast, the Bose Soundbar 700 supports Dolby Digital and DTS audio format.
As an added functionality and controllability, they both come with remote control. However, the remote control on the Bose Soundbar 500 is small and lower quality than the universal remote control that comes with the Bose Soundbar 700.
It is worth mentioning that both soundbars can be controlled via app on Apple or Android devices.
Winner: Tie
More: Jabra 75t vs Sony WF-1000XM3: Which Truly Wireless Earbuds are Better?
Sound Quality
Sound quality is the most significant deciding factor when it comes to choosing your soundbar. In this category, the Bose Soundbar 700 takes a clear lead.
The Bose Soundbar 700 has four mid-range drivers, two on either side of a tweeter. On the other hand, the Bose Soundbar 500 has only three front-facing drivers and two side-facing drivers.
The Bose Soundbar 700 comes with more number of drivers than the Bose Soundbar 500, which provides a deeper sound at any frequency range. Bose Soundbar 700 provides an immersive listening experience, especially if you are watching a movie.
Bose Bose Soundbar 700 comes with fantastic vocal and sound quality, and it uses a 3-D effect where the sound bounces off walls creating the ultimate surround sound experience.
With that said, the Bose Soundbar 500 is not a bad speaker. It still provides decent sound quality and a great listening experience when you are watching movies. Actually, if we compare the Bose Soundbar 500 to other soundbars in the industry, it has much better sound quality.
However, if you want the ultimate soundbar, then the Bose Soundbar 700 should be the obvious choice.
Winner: Bose Soundbar 700
More: Bose Solo 5 vs Sonos Beam: Which Soundbar is Best?
Stand Out Features of Bose Soundbar 500
Value For Money
The best thing about the Bose Soundbar 500 is the value for money. It is considerably cheaper than the Bose Soundbar 700. It is an obvious choice for those who like all the high-tech stuff like voice-assistant, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, and decent sound quality.
Built-In Voice Assistant
Voice assistance and smart features are not the first things that come to mind when we think about soundbars, but it is still a nice feature to have. The Bose Soundbar 500 comes with built-in voice control that can help you control your music, manage your day, get information, etc.
The best thing about the 500 is its superior voice pickup ability coming from the eight-microphone array. This means that you will be able to provide voice commands no matter how loud your music is.
More: Bose Solo 5 vs Vizio sb3621n-e8: Which Soundbar Is Better?
Various Music Streaming Services
When it comes to streaming music, you have a lot of options with the Bose Soundbar 500. You can play music through Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Apple AirPlay 2.
You can also browse your favorite music services like Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Deezer, and more, from your phone or tablet.
Stand Out Features of Bose Soundbar 700
Premium Sound Quality
If you are looking for the best sound quality coming out of a soundbar, the Bose Soundbar 700 should be your first choice. The sound coming out from the 700 is rich and has an impressive bass considering no subwoofer.
Its four mid-range drivers produce excellent sound quality, no matter if you are watching a movie or listening to music.
Phase Guide Transducers
Bose is known for pushing the limits of technology, and they did it again with the 700. It uses PhaseGuide transducers to direct sound in more directions. This option comes very handy when you are watching a movie, and you want a surround sound without setting a 5.1 system.
More: Check our review of Bose SoundLink 3 VS. Bose Revolve+ Here
Multiroom Usability
Another great feature on the Bose Soundbar 700 is the multiroom usability. This feature comes in handy when you have more than one Bose soundbar in your home, and it allows you to connect multiple devices and stream music simultaneously.
With the app, you can even tune into the options and play a different song in each room.
Which Soundbar is Better: Bose Soundbar 700 or Bose Solo 5?
Choose the Bose Soundbar 500 if:
- You want a more compact soundbar.
- You want a lighter design.
- You want a cheaper soundbar.
- You want the best value for money.
Choose the Bose Soundbar 700 if:
- You want a more vibrant sound.
- You want the latest surround sound technology with PhaseGuide.
- You want the ultimate movie experience.
- You want a breathtaking sound quality.
- You want a bigger soundbar.
Both the 500 and 700 are outstanding soundbars. After this head-to-head comparison, it is safe to say that the 700 is the superior choice due to extra drivers, better sound quality, and PhaseGuide support.
However, the 500 still is an excellent choice if you plan to spend less money on your soundbar, but Sstill create the ultimate home theater experience.
