If you are in a hurry here is a quick comparison of Bose Soundbar 700 vs Bose Solo 5
|
Specifications |
Bose Solo 5 |
Bose Soundbar 700 |
|---|---|---|
|
Audio output channels |
2.0 |
3.0 |
|
Bluetooth |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Dimensions |
21.5 x 2.76 x 3.39 in |
38.5 x 2.25 x 4.25 in |
|
Weight |
3.7 pounds |
10.5 pounds |
|
External subwoofer |
No |
No |
|
Color options |
Black |
Black / White |
|
Remote control |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Streaming services |
No |
Deezer, Amazon Music, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, Pandora, and much more. |
|
Smartphone App |
No |
Yes |
|
HDMI cable |
No |
Yes |
|
Voice assistant |
No |
Yes |
|
Rating |
||
|
Price |
We live in digital times, where we see technological advancements almost every day. The audio industry is also a part of this process, which is why we see new innovative solutions for listening to music or watching movies.
Just because the smart TV industry can bring the cinema to your home, you need excellent audio performance to create the ultimate theater experience.
Soundbars are very popular at the moment, which is why we decided to review Bose’s top-rated soundbars and decide which is better: Bose Soundbar 700 or Bose Solo 5.
About Bose
Even if you are not interested in the audio industry, you’ve probably heard about Bose. They are the leading manufacturers of audio devices, and they have been in this industry for more than 50 years.
Clearly they know what they are doing. Apart from their large portfolio of products, we’ve seen Bose collaborating with other companies in different industries like the automotive. With their focus on the ultimate sound, they’ve become a byword for quality.
Bose Soundbar 700
This is one of Bose’s greatest soundbars, and it is a product where modern design meets with top-notch technology.
In terms of design, the Bose Soundbar 700 is a real jaw-dropper. With its sleek lines and simple design, it will be the centerpiece in your living room. The Soundbar 700 comes in two color options (black or white), and they both look incredible.
It features a great design and compact size. It is 38.5 inches wide and only 2.25 inches height, so it is narrow enough to fit between the legs of almost any TV wider than 50 inches.
Fortunately, when it comes to connections, they updated their connectivity to HDMI ARC, but you can also use an optical cable to connect to your TV. There is also a port for an external subwoofer, but it is a proprietary Bose port, so you cannot connect a sub from a different company.
The sound quality on the Bose Soundbar 700 is incredibly good. There are a series of center midrange drivers and a tweeter behind the beautiful looking grille, which are responsible for the vibrant sound and clear dialogue.
Pros
- Incredible sound quality
- HDMI port
- Beautiful design
- Smart universal remote
- Private listening option
- Voice assistant
Cons
- Not all music streaming services are supported
Bose Solo 5
On the other hand, we have the entry soundbar version, Bose Solo 5. It has a similar minimalistic design as the Soundbar 700, but its a bit smaller with dimensions of 21.57 (W) x 2.76 (H) x 3.39 (D).
There are no physical buttons on the soundbar, and it only comes in black color. It has a black grille and a rugged plastic cover that will accent your home space.
Since we are talking about an entry version of soundbars, you cannot expect the ultimate sound experience. With that being said, it still provides decent sound quality, and it is perfect for watching movies just because it has a dialogue enhancer feature.
It has two drivers in the center part of the soundbar that are slightly angeled out for extending the sound field.
The only drawback is the lack of bass, which would have made this soundbar perfect for listening to music.
Just as most Bose soundbars, it comes with a universal remote control.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Compact design
- Great for watching movies
- Universal remote control
- Great sound clarity
Cons
- Lack of depth and bass
Bose Soundbar 700 vs Bose Solo 5 – Face-To-Face
Sound Quality
The audio quality is probably the most important thing to consider before buying your soundbar.
The Bose Soundbar 700 is one of the best performing soundbars coming from Bose. As we mentioned, there are a series of center midrange drivers that add a lot of depth to the sound and a tweeter to improve the clarity.
The secret ingredient to the superb sound quality is the Bose’s PhaseGuide arrays, which are cleverly shaped tunnels that project sound out of the soundbar’s sides, creating the impression that there are invisible speakers in each corner in your room.
There is also no noticeable distortion even when you push the speaker to the limit.
In other words, it will definitely enhance your overall home theater experience.
In contrast, Solo 5 has less impressive sound quality. Although the center drivers are mounted at an angle, the sound field is still narrow to recreate a full cinematic experience. Bose Solo 5 provides great sound clarity but lacks in producing low and vibrant low tones.
This means that you cannot enjoy listening to music as much as you would enjoy it on the Bose Soundbar 700.
Winner: Bose Soundbar 700
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Controls
Traditionally, all Bose soundbars come with their signature remote control. Since there are no physical buttons on the device, you need that remote control to easily access features or sound modes.
The remote control on the Bose Soundbar 700 is more advanced and allows you to control almost any piece of equipment in your entire entertainment system.
Additionally, the Bose Soundbar 700 also comes with a Bose Music App that allows you to extend your soundbar’s control options.
On the other hand, Solo 5 only comes with a remote control, and that’s about it. You cannot control the Solo 5 through an app, and there are no physical buttons on the device.
Winner: Bose Soundbar 700
Voice Assistance
Even though it is uncommon to use a soundbar as a smart speaker, it is still a nice feature to have. Bose Soundbar 700 is compatible with Amazon Alexa, which means you can play music, listen to podcasts, check the weather, and other things using voice controls.
The Bose Soundbar 700 is equipped with an array of microphones that can pick up voice commands even from far away. The only drawback is that setting up Alexa can be a complicated and frustrating process requiring many unnecessary steps.
On the other hand, Solo 5 doesn’t come with built-in microphones, which means it cannot support Alexa or Google Assistant.
More: Jabra Elite 75t vs Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus: Which Truly Wireless Earbuds Should You Buy?
Design
When it comes to design, you won’t be disappointed by purchasing either soundbar. Both of them look very elegant, and it will fit perfectly in a modern home.
The most significant difference in terms of design is the size. Bose Soundbar 700 is a significantly larger speaker, but it is thin so it can easily fit under your TV.
Bose Soundbar 700 comes with dimensions of 38.5 x 2.25 x 4.25 inches and weighs 10.5 lbs. On the other hand, the Bose Solo 5 is only 21.57 x 2.76 x 3.39 and weighs about 3.75 lbs.
The best thing about both soundbars is the build quality. Even though they are made from plastic, they have a premium look and are very durable. It seems like Bose is focusing on a minimalistic approach with their soundbars, which is why they thrive for simplicity by removing all buttons and creating sharp lines.
Overall, they both look and feel amazing, which is what you would expect from a premium audio company like Bose.
Winner: Tie
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Stand Out Features Of Bose Soundbar 700
Multiroom Usability
This exciting feature comes useful if you have more than one Bose soundbar in your home. The multiroom usability allows you to connect and play audio on all devices simultaneously.
You can also play different songs from different speakers all through the user-friendly app.
Impressive Sound
It seems like Bose pulled off something amazing with their latest PhaseGuide Technology. Even though this soundbar is small compared to more conventional home theater speakers, it delivers a breathtaking sound that can rival even more powerful speakers.
The side cones push the sound from the speaker’s sides, which bounce off the walls and give you that surround sound feel. It is awe-inspiring, especially when watching a movie.
More: Jaybird X4 vs Tarah Pro: Which Earphones are Better?
Voice Assistance
If you already have a smart hub, this feature won’t make any difference to you since the soundbar is not designed to be a smart speaker. However, it is still a nice feature to have where you can use your voice to get all kinds of information using Alexa or Google Assistant.
The microphones fitted on the Bose soundbar 700 are pretty decent and can pick up voice commands even from far away or played.
Stand Out Features Of Bose Solo 5
Dialogue Enhancement
Since most soundbars use an amplifier to pump up the sound quality from the small drivers, most of them can reshape some of the tunes, making them sound deeper than usual. This is a problem when you are watching a movie.
Deep and muted dialogue in movies can be hard to understand, but Bose found a solution to the problem. The dialogue enhancing feature works flawlessly, and the voice in films is easily understandable and sharp.
More: Check our review of Bose SoundTouch 30 vs Sonos Play:5 here
Compactness
If you are looking for the smallest soundbar that truly makes a difference to your home cinema experience, then Bose solo 5 is the best choice for you. Its compact size and lightweight design are perfect for small living spaces and don’t take a lot of space underneath your TV.
Given its size, it delivers a much better sound than expected, so it won’t be disappointed.
Which Soundbar is Better: Bose Soundbar 700 or Bose Solo 5?
Choose the Bose Solo 5 if:
- You want a more compact soundbar.
- You want a dialogue enhancer in movies.
- You want a cheaper soundbar.
- You want a universal remote control.
Choose the Bose Soundbar 700 if:
- You want a beefier sound.
- You want the latest surround sound technology.
- You want the perfect movie experience.
- You want a breathtaking sound quality.
- You want more features.
Since both soundbars come from Bose, you cannot expect anything else than perfection. However, the Bose Soundbar 700 is a much more powerful and advanced model than Solo 5. It comes with more features, connectivity options, and, best of all, a much better sound quality.
With that being said, the Bose Solo 5 can find its use in smaller apartments. It is also a great soundbar that has all basic features that you’ll ever need.
