Sonos vs. Bose soundbars are some of the most common audio systems in many households. With nearly similar sound qualities and design, among other considerations, many people need help deciding between Sonos and Bose soundbars.
We offer a detailed comparison between these two soundbar brands and point out areas where each speaker performs best. Our comparison will help you decide on the soundbar that would be the best fit for your home.
Table of Contents
- Sonos vs. Bose: What are the Key Differences?
- Sonos vs. Bose: Smart Speakers
- Sonos vs. Bose: Home Cinemas
- Sonos vs. Bose: FAQ
- Sonos vs. Bose: Final Verdict
Sonos vs. Bose: What are the Key Differences?
Variety of Soundbar
The first notable difference between Sonos and Bose is the variety of soundbars each company offers. While Sonos currently focuses on full-range wireless speakers, Bose has everything an audiophile or movie buff needs under one roof.
In addition to home speakers, Bose produces noise-canceling microphones, automobile sound systems, loudspeaker systems, and other professional audio products. Sonos, on the other hand, focuses mainly on regular home speakers and portable smart speakers.
wireless headphones
Connectivity
These two soundbar brands differ significantly in this category. To begin with, Bose offers very effective Bluetooth speakers. You can easily stream audio from another Bluetooth-enabled device, such as a smartphone, to your Bose speaker.
On the other hand, most Sonos soundbars are not Bluetooth enabled. The only Bluetooth-enabled speakers from this brand are the smart ones, such as Roam SL, Roam, and Move.
Instead, Sonos operates via wifi to stream music from your device. All you need is a wifi connection and a Sonos app on your phone. Of Course, you will have to set up a power connection for each speaker.
Where Sonos outshine Bose in this category is its ability to connect multiple speakers. You can connect speakers in your parlor, basement, and bedroom and control them from one place using a smartphone. Bose soundbar Bluetooth connectivity only operates one set at a time.
Sound Quality
Sonos and Bose’s soundbars sound much similar. However, we noted a slight difference in their bass and clarity. Bose soundbars produce stronger bass with significant surround effects ideal for movies. Sonos soundbars also produce bass but with a clearer mid-range.
We particularly loved Sonos speech enhancement features that make them produce a sound similar to human voice and speech. This makes them great for watching documentaries or dialogue-heavy movies.
Also, Sonos speakers have two-band equalizers which control the treble and base independently. The best part is that you can control the output of each Sonos speaker independently for a more immersive experience.
Bose speakers use a configuration called Dialogue Mode, almost equivalent to Sonos’ speech enhancement. However, this setting only applies to TV speakers and not all devices like Sonos speakers.
Design
These soundbars look similar, with somewhat minor differences in terms of design. They both have a sleek design that naturally blends into modern TVs.
The only difference we could notice is the shape of their edges. Most Sonos soundbars come with curved edges that make your room look more organic than the harder edges of Bose soundbars. It depends on what you think will offer a better feeling of having an audio system on display.
Sonos soundbar sleek design
Control
The most apparent difference between these two soundbars is Sonos’ lack of a remote. Bose comes with a universal remote that you can use to control your TV as well.
Though Sonos lacks a remote, you can configure your TV remote to control it. You don’t have to add another remote to your devices.
For voice control, these two soundbar brands are compatible with major platforms, including Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and Siri. However, we noticed most Bose have Alexa capabilities built in them while only six models of Sonos have this feature.
This is a great feature to consider if you want to control your audio system via Alexa voice command and don’t have an Alexa device in your home. Instead of installing, you buy one with built-in Alexa.
Sonos vs. Bose: Smart Speakers
Sonos offers more options when it comes to smart speakers than Bose. Most of their smart speakers are Bluetooth enabled and can connect to Wi-Fi for easy streaming. Sonos One remains the majority favorite smart speaker from this brand.
All Bose smart speakers are Bluetooth enabled and come with an integrated Alexa voice assistant. The most popular one among consumers is the Bose Smart Speaker 500.
There is a lot to like about Bose portable smart speakers. Bose Smart Speaker 500, launched in 2018, has received a lot of reputation among users. The speaker comes with a fully integrated Alexa voice assistant that allows voice control of Tunein, Spotify, Amazon Music, and more.
Sonos vs. Bose: Home Cinemas
Sonos focuses on home speaker production and offers you many options for home theater than Bose. Their immersive sets with Arc, featuring a pair of One SL speakers, Sonos Arc, and Sub, are some of their premium speakers that can make a great home theater.
Bose speakers deliver outstanding home theater systems too. Their Premium Home Theatre features different packages, including Bose surround Speaker 700, Bose Bass Module 700, and Bose Smart Soundbar 900.
Sonos vs. Bose: FAQ
Is Bose Still the Best Sound System?
Bose is still one of the best soundbars you can find today. The speakers offer ultimate sound quality and design. Their speakers are Bluetooth-enabled and come with voice-control capabilities.
Is Sonos Soundbar Better than the Bose Soundbar?
Sonos and Bose offer outstanding soundbars regarding sound quality, voice control, and connectivity, among other factors you may consider when choosing a speaker. However, Sonos specifically focuses on home speakers, and most of them are better than Bose.
Sonos vs. Bose: Which Bluetooth Speaker is Better
Bose offers a wide range of Bluetooth speakers to choose from, so you have many options in terms of design and budget. But when it comes to Bluetooth speaker quality, the few Bluetooth speakers that Sonos offer are as good as those of Bose.
Sonos vs. Bose: Final Verdict
Sonos and Bose have proven their capabilities with innovative products that provide amazing audio experiences. At the same time, one wins in one aspect, and the other wins in another. It all depends on what you are looking for in a home speaker.
Consider Bose if you will need other audio devices other than speakers alone. But if you can trust a brand that focuses on home speaker productions, Sonos is the go-for brand.
