If you are in a hurry! here is a quick comparison of Bose SoundTouch 30 vs Sonos Play 5
|
Model |
Bose TouchSound 30 |
Sonos Play:5 |
|---|---|---|
|
Dimensions |
9.69 x 17.13 x 7.09 inches |
8.03 x 14.33 x 6.06 inches |
|
Weight |
18.51 lbs |
14 lbs |
|
Alexa support |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Streaming services |
8 |
30 |
|
Bluetooth |
Yes |
No |
|
Controls |
App and Physical remote |
App-only |
|
AUX Port |
Yes |
Yes |
|
AirPlay 2 |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Number of drivers |
2 |
6 |
|
Color options |
Black, White |
Black, White |
|
Rating |
||
|
Price |
If you are serious about your music, you should pay close attention to some of the speaker’s specifications. However, if you don’t know what to look for in a speaker, you should buy a brand like Bose or Sonos that have been around for a long time in the sound industry.
As modern technology advances, we can get a Wireless speaker with outstanding sound quality. The best fan-favorite speakers that we will compare are Bose SoundTouch 30 vs Sonos Play 5 and find out which is the best.
About Bose
Bose is a byword for high-quality sound, which is why most professional artists and music producers use Bose products. Bose Corporation is an American manufacturing company that specializes in audio equipment.
The company has been running for more than 50 years, and they are continually pushing the limits of sound technology. When it comes to speakers, they have a wide range of products, from small earbuds to large wireless speakers.
The best thing is that, when you are buying Bose, you know that most of your money goes into sound quality.
Bose SoundTouch 30
This is a wireless multi-room audio speaker designed to replace all the sound systems in your home. This is a large speaker with dimensions of 17 wide x 10 high 7inches deep.
The design of the Bose SoundTouch 30 is simple and bulky, and it comes in a choice of black and white finishes. In terms of design, on the front side, there is an OLED display right in the center of the unit.
One of the most significant changes compared to its predecessor is the design. Now the Soundtouch 30 is considerably larger and a lot heavier 18.5lb (compared to 7lb).
On the top, you can find the rubberized buttons that can be used to control your audio. You can also customize these buttons and create shortcuts to your favorite playlist. Sadly, there isn’t a mute or play button on the top.
The SoundTouch 30 has two full-range drivers in a stereo configuration, as well as a single bass woofer. This means that we are talking about a compelling wireless speaker.
The speaker sounds outstanding at low and medium volume, but as you crank up the volume, you might experience a little distortion due to the oomph of the bass woofer.
Pros
- Very large and powerful
- Comes with a useful app
- The sound quality is impressive
- You can optimize the bass to your taste
Cons
- Can distort and high volume
- No mute button
About Sonos
Sonos has been a leader in the wireless multiroom audio market for a long time. Sonos is a premium wireless sound system manufacturer that shines in the sound quality department.
Basically, they are responsible for revolutionizing the home speaker system by creating affordable Wi-Fi sound systems with a lot of functionality. Their products are packed with features like cinematic sound, TV sound, gaming sound, and it is the only speaker you will ever need in your home.
Sonos Play:5
Sonos Play 5 is probably one of the best wireless speakers money can buy. The sound is breathtaking, and it features excellent software that offers many functionalities.
On top of that, their design is simple and classy, and it looks like it was built yesterday.
In terms of design, it is no bedside speaker. The Play 5 has a large body with dimensions 14.5 inches wide and 7.9 inches tall. However, if you are short on space, the Sonos Play 5 can be flipped to sit vertically, which looks even more impressive.
Where other speakers use physical buttons, the Play:5 has a touch panel on top. There is a play/pause pad on the top, and four-dot markers on each side to alter the volume with touch control.
There are plenty of streaming services like Apple Music, Google Play, Spotify, and Tidal that are easily accessible through the Sonos Controller app.
However, sound quality is where the Sonos Play 5 shines. Inside the classy exterior, there are six custom-designed drivers, three mid-woofers, and three tweeters. If you combine all that, you’ll get the recipe for success for outstanding sound.
Even though there isn’t a woofer, the Sonos Play 5 still has a good amount of bass, which doesn’t compromise the highs and mids.
Pros
- Impressive sound quality
- Looks classy and elegant
- TruePlay helps in certain environments
- Supports many streaming services
Cons
- A single app can be difficult to operate
- TruePlay can be challenging to set up
Face-to-Face
Which is Better Sonos Play:5 or Bose SoundTouch 30?
In order to determine which speaker is the best for you, we need to dig a bit deeper and compare their specifications.
Design
Let’s get one thing straight both wireless speakers have visually pleasing aesthetics. Since the wireless speaker will be a focal point in your room due to its large size, you need to choose the best one for you.
It is hard to describe the design on the SoundTouch 30 as elegant and compact. With its sheer size, it doesn’t look as visually appealing as the Sonos Play 5.
The OLED display on the front is an excellent way to accent modern technology, and the size shortcut buttons on the top are simply lifesavers.
If you decide to purchase the SoundTouch 30, you will get a remote control with few more buttons for even better control.
Overall, the SoundTouch 30 is built very well, and will definitely leave a good impression.
On the other hand, we have the Sonos Play:5, which is one of the most beautifully made wireless speakers available on the market. It is far more compact than the SoundTouch 30 and takes up less space.
The Sonos Play:5 comes in two colors, white and black, but the front grille remains black on each model you choose. It is also lighter than the SoundTouch 30 coming at 14lb (compared to 18.5lb).
Its minimalistic approach in terms of design is very eye-catching. Sonos is probably one of those rare companies that take the design of each product very seriously.
Due to antenna placements (within the body), Sonos decided to go with a plastic front grille instead of metal. Also, metal can interfere with the wireless connection.
There are also touch buttons on top of the speaker that work flawlessly.
Winner: Sonos Play:5
Features
The best way to choose your preferred choice is by comparing their features.
In terms of features, both speakers are a bit different. The SoundTouch 30 streams audio using Bluetooth connectivity, whereas the Sonos Play:5 uses wireless streaming technology. By using wireless, your sound will not be interrupted even if you receive a phone call.
Both wireless speakers come with multi-room functionality and a very straightforward 5-minute setup. Additionally, both come with a mobile application and Amazon Alexa support.
In terms of features, there is nothing that can separate these speakers. Both have outstanding features that are very useful.
Winner: Tie
More: Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 6 vs JBL Boombox: Which Bluetooth Speaker Is the Best Choice?
Sound Quality and Performance
This is probably the biggest deciding factor when it comes to purchasing your wireless speaker.
Bose SoundTouch 30 is great in terms of sound quality, but still has a way to reach its full potential. Sometimes the sounds are deteriorating by increasing the volume, and you might hear distortion from the oomph of the woofer.
The best word to describe the sound on the SoundTouch 30 is “beefy.” You can definitely start a party and keep everyone entertained, but if you want more precise sounds, you are probably better off with the Sonos Play:5.
The bass is the most impressive thing on the SoundTouch 30, it is intense and has a strong kick that you can feel in your chest.
If Bose introduces a new sound control on higher volumes, it would be the perfect wireless speaker.
More: Jaybird Vista vs AirPods Pro: Which Wireless Earbuds Should You Buy?
In contrast, we have the Play:5 with its incredible sound capabilities. With its six custom-designed drivers and six amplifiers, this wireless speaker is ready to start a huge party.
The best thing is the TruePlay feature, that makes the Play:5 sound so much better.
The Play:5 has a rich bass, followed by clean and sharp highs and mids. Basically, the recipe for success. Additionally, the sound quality remains almost unchanged (with a small amount of distortion) when you increase the volume to its maximum.
Since all Sonos speakers are using Wi-Fi instead of Bluetooth, there are no connectivity issues. Plus, wireless will allow you to stream better-quality files.
Winner: Sonos Play:5
Mobile Application
To get the most out of your wireless speaker, you need to use the mobile application.
The application on the SoundTouch 30, is just an ordinary app for playing music. There are no extraordinary features, plus it is not that user-friendly. It seems like they didn’t spend so much time making the application.
The app on the SoundTouch 30 is well structured and straightforward. However, the main issue is the low-quality interface, which is not what you would expect from a premium speaker manufacturer.
There are plenty of streaming services available like, Spotify, Pandora, or iHeartRadio. Another disadvantage is that there is no Apple Music support, which we hope to see with future updates.
You can also play music directly from your phone via Bluetooth, and files like Mp3, AAC, WMA, and FLAC are supported.
On the other hand, Sonos provides the best application on the market. It has a high-quality interface, well-structured, and very simple to use.
It has a lot of exciting features and supports almost all streaming services, even Amazon Music and Apple Music.
The best thing about the app is the TruePlay. This simple feature plays a tune in adjusting itself and finding the optimum sound for the entire room.
Winner: Sonos Play:5
What Is The Difference Between Bose SoundTouch 30 and Sonos Play:5?
Sound Quality
In terms of sound quality, they both sound outstanding. However, it seems like both companies had different approaches.
The Play:5 has a more precise sound than the SoundTouch 30. This means that it has lower bass and volume, but the music sounds more lively.
In contrast, the SoundTouch 30 has a punchy sound which is great for parties. The amount of bass is ridiculous, but it pushes the mids and highs in the background.
More: Bose 450 vs Bose 500: Which Home Speaker Is Better?
Connectivity
There is also a difference in the way they interact with other devices.
With the SoundTouch 30, you get Bluetooth connectivity, which is standard for almost all portable devices. However, with the Play:5, there is no Bluetooth connection available. The Play:5 connects with other devices using Wi-Fi.
The difference between Bluetooth and Wireless connection is not astronomical. The wireless connection provides more reliability since you will be able to play larger files or get a phone call with no interruption.
Streaming Services
If you get your music from streaming services, there is a huge difference when we compare both speakers.
Sonos Play:5 can stream music from over 30 different streaming services, whereas the Bose SoundTouch 30 can only stream from 8. The most significant disadvantage for the SoundTouch 30 is the lack of Apple Music support.
However, if you want to play music from your phone, this should not make any difference to your purchase decision.
More: Jabra Elite Sport vs Jaybird Run XT: Which Wireless Earbuds are Better?
Verdict
Choose the Bose SoundTouch 30 if:
- You want harder bass.
- You want more controls.
- You have enough space in your home.
- You want lower mids and high volume.
- You want a party-starting machine.
Choose the Sonos Play:5 if:
- You want touch controls.
- You want a more precise sound.
- You want a better app.
- You want a smaller design.
- You want Wireless streaming.
Both wireless speakers perform excellently, and you will not be disappointed in whichever one you choose.
However, they have a slightly different approach. Bose SounTouch 30 is an immensely powerful bulky speaker that is designed to shake down your house.
On the other hand, the Sonos Play:5 has a better sound quality, and it is much better to live with on day-to-day bases. That’s why Sonos Play:5 should be your preferred choice.
