When it comes to enhancing your home entertainment experience, sound quality is the most important factor. The market offers a multitude of soundbars, each claiming to provide the best audio experience.
When we do research to gather the premium soundbar brands, two names stand out: Sonos and Bose. Both companies have established themselves as leaders in the audio industry, offering high-quality audio solutions that cater to different needs and preferences.
In this blog post, we’ll dive deep into the comparison of Sonos Beam vs Bose 700, which are the most commonly used soundbars in home audio setups. Bose 700 is the most premium offering of the company, while Beam is a compact, affordable, and feature-rich soundbar offered by Sonos.
Whether you’re looking to upgrade your home theater setup or simply want to enhance your audio experience, this comprehensive guide will help you make an informed decision.
Quick Comparison of Sonos Beam and Bose 700
Sonos Beam and Bose 700 both have their strengths and unique features. Sonos Beam is a compact, sleek, and affordable soundbar that delivers excellent sound quality, especially in mid-range frequencies.
It is also easy to set up and use, and it supports a wide range of streaming services and voice assistants, such as the built-in Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. It offers wide connectivity options, including Ethernet, WiFi, HDMI ARC, and AirPlay 2 support.
However, it doesn’t have a dedicated remote and requires you to use a smartphone app for control. While it is moderately priced, the Sonos Beam provides excellent value for the quality it offers.
The Bose 700 is a more expensive soundbar, but it offers a number of advantages over the Sonos Beam. It boasts a stylish and robust build and has a more powerful sound profile, making it a top choice for audiophiles.
It has the features that the Sonos Beam lacks, such as Bluetooth support and a universal remote control. You can expand the Bose 700 soundbar into a 5.1 surround sound system with the addition of the Bose subwoofer and Bose surround speakers.
Sonos Beam vs Bose Soundbar 700 Comparison Table
| Device | Sonos Beam Soundbar | Bose Soundbar 700 |
| Design | Bar | Bar |
| Sound Bar Size (inches) | 2.70″ H x 25.6″ W x 3.94″ D | 2.25″ H x 38.5″ W x 4.25″ D |
| Weight | 6.35 Pounds | 10.5 Pounds |
| Connectivity | HDMI ARC, Wi-Fi, Ethernet | HDMI ARC, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
| Sound Output | 4 full-range woofers, 1 tweeter | Custom-designed drivers, PhaseGuide technology |
| Bluetooth | No | Yes |
| Control by App | Apple iOS, Android | Apple iOS, Android |
| App | Sono app | Bose music app |
| Airplay | Airplay 2 | Airplay2 |
| HDMI ARC | Yes | Yes |
| Microphones | Far-field microphone | Yes |
| Audio Technology | Optical Audio | ADAPTIQ audio calibration |
| Voice Control | Alexa & Google Assistant built-in | Alexa & Google Assistant built-in |
| Dolby Digital | Yes | Yes |
| DTS | No | No |
| Dolby Atmos | No | No |
| Includes Remote | No | Yes |
| Spotify | Yes | Yes |
| Amazon Music | Yes | Yes |
| Separate Subwoofer | Optional | Optional |
| Colors | Black and white | Black and white |
| Wall-mountable | Yes | Yes |
| Owner’s Manual | Yes | Yes |
| Warranty | 1 Year | 1 Year |
Detailed Comparison of Bose 700 vs Sonos Beam
Now, let’s dive deeper into the detailed comparison between these two soundbars.
Design and Build
Sonos Beam has a compact, sleek, and minimalistic design, making it a perfect fit for smaller living spaces or minimalistic setups. This smart soundbar is ideal for music listening, television watching, and other entertainment.
Its dimensions are 2.70 x 25.6 x 3.94 inches, and it weighs 6.35 lbs. It is available in black and white finishes and includes a fabric grille that adds a touch of sophistication. It has a sturdy build quality and feels durable despite its small size.
There are capacitative touch controls on the top of the Beam, allowing you to control music tracks, mute the microphone, control volume, and do a plethora of other tasks.
It is also equipped with LED lights that indicate the voice assistant status, whether it is receiving voice commands or is mute. Overall, this minimalistic and compact soundbar can fit into any environment and look beautiful without consuming too much space.
Bose has always been known for its attention to detail in design and build quality. The Bose 700 doesn’t disappoint in this regard, featuring a stylish and robust build. It comes with a wraparound metal grille and tempered glass on its top.
Bose Soundbar 700 comes with dimensions of 2.25 x 38.5 x 4.25 inches, and its weight is around 10.5 lbs. It is available in black and Arctic white finishes, both of which are sure to complement your home decor.
Winner: The Bose 700 wins in terms of design and build, thanks to its premium build quality and stylish aesthetics.
Sound Performance
Sonos Beam offers impressive sound performance, especially at mid-range frequencies. It is equipped with four woofers that perfectly reproduce mid-range frequencies. It was developed by award-winning engineers and performs outstandingly at enhancing human voices.
It delivers clear dialogue and well-balanced audio, making it ideal for movies and TV shows. However, its bass response is limited due to its compact size. Both the action scene and whispers are delivered with superb dialogue clarity, thanks to its speech enhancement feature. You can hear each word crisply and clearly. Sonos Beam also offers multi-channel echo cancellation and advanced beamforming.
Bose is renowned for its audio quality, and the Bose 700 lives up to that reputation. It delivers outstanding clarity and spatial audio, creating an immersive listening experience. The bass produced by the Bose 700 is deep and impactful, which makes it a great choice for music enthusiasts.
It also has an ADAPTiQ audio room calibration feature, which adjusts the acoustic performance of the soundbar according to the environment of the room, allowing you to listen to music clearly.
By using PhaseGuide technology, Bose 700 delivers an unprecedented level of spaciousness, creating the illusion that sound is coming from outside the speaker. Although the Bose 700 has a slim design, it provides exceptional sound performance.
Winner: The Bose 700 takes the lead in sound performance, offering exceptional audio quality across the spectrum.
Connectivity
Bose 700 and Sonos Beam both offer a wide variety of connectivity options. The Sonos Beam offers an HDMI ARC (audio return channel) connection that you can use to connect the Beam to your TV. If your TV doesn’t support HDMI ARC, you can use an optical cable to connect it.
Sonos Beam also offers Ethernet and WiFi connectivity, giving you both wired and wireless connection options. As a result, you can easily connect the Beam to the music source without dealing with any wires and stream music and other audio content from your network.
It also supports AirPlay 2. This versatility ensures seamless integration with your home entertainment system and other devices.
Bose 700 also offers the same connectivity options, such as Ethernet, HDMI ARC, WiFi, and optical audio. However, it has a few additional connectivity options that the Sonos Beam lacks, such as Bluetooth and universal remote control.
The Bluetooth support allows you to stream content from your phone or other mobile device very easily. Additionally, the universal remote control helps you control your TV and other devices with the same remote.
Winner: Bose 700 wins in terms of connectivity due to its broader range of connectivity. It offers Bluetooth support, which the Sonos Beam lacks.
Voice Control
Sonos Beam comes equipped with a built-in Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, helping you control your soundbar and smart home devices using voice commands. With the help of your Sonos Beam, you can adjust the volume, control music, play news, set alarms, and more without the need for a separate device. Moreover, the Sonos Beam features LED lights that indicate the status of the microphone, whether it is on or off.
Bose Soundbar 700 also offers built-in voice assistants such as Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for seamless voice control.
It comes with a custom microphone array that can easily pick up your voice, even in the noise. It also has a very elegant light bar to indicate the voice assistant status, whether it is listening, thinking, or speaking.
Winner: It’s a tie in terms of voice control, as both soundbars offer similar capabilities.
Remote Control
Sonos Beam relies on a smartphone app for control, and while it’s convenient for some, it lacks a dedicated physical remote control. The Bose Soundbar 700 comes with a dedicated remote control, providing a traditional way to control your soundbar settings. This is one of the best remote controls we’ve tested and reviewed so far.
Winner: The Bose 700 wins in the remote control category for offering a physical remote.
Streaming Services
Sonos is known for its compatibility with a wide range of services, including Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Music, and more. This means you can enjoy your favorite music and content seamlessly. It also supports AirPlay 2.
Additionally, Sonos offers its users the Sonos S2, an app that allows you to control streaming, voice, and other control features in one place.
While Bose 700 continues to expand its app ecosystem, it may have more limited compatibility with certain streaming services compared to Sonos. It is also compatible with Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and more.
Bose also offers a Bose Music app, allowing you to access and control all your music right from one place. With the help of this app, you can choose from various playlists, music stations, and streaming services. It is easy to use and provides a personalized experience and content to its users.
Winner: The Sonos Beam wins in terms of streaming service compatibility, offering a broader range of options.
Features
Sonos Beam, being a modern soundbar, brings more features to the table. First, it comes with built-in voice assistants such as Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. Second, it includes Trueplay, which optimizes audio according to your room’s acoustics.
It also supports AirPlay 2, allowing you to stream music directly from your iOS device. Multi-room audio capabilities and Night Sound mode (which enhances quiet dialogue in movies) are also supported by Sonos Beam.
The Bose 700 soundbar offers features like the Bose Music app for easy control, room-filling sound, and ADAPTiQ calibration to tailor audio to your specific room. It also supports Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa.
Winner: This category is a draw, as both soundbars offer compelling and unique features.
Price
Sonos Beam is moderately priced and is less expensive than the Bose 700 soundbar. It offers excellent value for the quality it provides.
On the other hand, the Bose 700 comes with a premium price tag, which reflects its high-end audio performance and build quality.
Winner: The Sonos Beam wins in terms of affordability.
Sonos Beam: Pros and Cons
• Multi-room audio
• Built-in voice control
• Easy to set up and use
• Compact and modern design
• Trueplay and AirPlay 2 support
• Impressive mid-range sound quality
• Wide streaming service compatibility
• May lack bass for some users
• No dedicated remote control included
Bose 700: Pros and Cons
• Premium build quality and design
• It comes with a universal remote control
• Supports Bluetooth
• Better at reproducing low-end frequencies
• Doesn’t support Dolby Atmos
Verdict
In conclusion, the choice between Sonos Beam vs Bose 700 depends on your personal needs and preferences. Both are excellent soundbars with their own set of strengths and weaknesses. If you’re looking for exceptional audio quality and are willing to invest in a premium product, the Bose 700 soundbar is the clear choice.
However, if you want a budget-friendly option that still delivers impressive sound and unique features such as TruePlay tuning and multi-room audio, the Sonos Beam is an attractive choice.
Ultimately, your decision should be based on your personal needs and budget, but you can’t go wrong with either of these top-tier soundbars.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is Sonos Beam better than Bose 700?
The Sonos Beam and Bose 700 are both excellent soundbars, but they have different strengths and weaknesses. The Sonos Beam is more affordable, has a more compact design, and supports a wider range of streaming services. The Bose 700 has better sound quality, a more premium design, and comes with a universal remote control. Ultimately, the best soundbar for you depends on your individual needs and preferences.
What is better, Sonos Arc or Bose 700?
The Sonos Arc is a newer soundbar from Sonos that offers better sound quality than the Bose 700 soundbar. It also supports Dolby Atmos, which provides a more immersive sound experience. If you’re looking for the best possible sound quality, the Sonos Arc is the better choice.
Is Bose as good as Sonos?
Bose and Sonos are both well-respected brands that make high-quality audio products. Both brands offer a variety of soundbars, speakers, and headphones. Ultimately, the best brand for you depends on your individual needs and preferences.
Will Bose 700 get Dolby Atmos?
Bose has not announced any plans to release a Dolby Atmos update for the Bose 700 soundbar.