Friday, April 3, 2020

Bose Solo 5 VS Sonos Beam

If you’re craving for an immersive home theater experience, those boring TV speakers won’t cut it. A soundbar will make a huge difference in the way you experience movies, music, and TV shows.

While there are tons of soundbars out there, we’re pitting two of the most popular ones against each other: Bose Solo 5 VS Sonos Beam!

  • Dual speakers
  • Adjustable bass
  • Great dialogue mode for movies and TV shows
  • Bluetooth connection for music streaming
  • Cheaper price
  • Eight drivers
  • Alexa and Google Assistant
  • Sonos App
  • Bluetooth and WiFi
  • Compatible with Airplay 2
  • Relatively cheap
  • Almost RDD immune

Features of Both Soundbars

Here are some features of the Bose Solo 5 and Sonos Beam soundbars and how they compare. 

Audio Quality

When it comes to audio quality, there’s a striking difference between the Solo 5 and the Beam.

The Bose Solo 5 uses two drivers. The two cone speakers are located in the center portion behind the grille, and they have a slight angle so as to produce a wider soundfield.

The sound quality is pretty decent and it’s what you’d expect from a budget soundbar. It also has a superb dialogue mode for movies and TV shows. With the Bose Solo 5, you’ll experience a better sound quality when watching movies or listening to music.

As for the Sonos Beam, it uses four full-range woofers, a tweeter, plus three passive radiators for bass. In comparison to the Solo 5, this setup produces a much more impressive sound.

The tweeter and the five class-D digital amplifiers also give you a greater sound range, as your soundbar will be able to produce those high audio frequencies. As such, you’ll really experience how the media is meant to sound like.

Bass

Both the Bose Solo 5 and Sonos Beam have no dedicated subwoofer. So what kind of bass [1] can you expect?

The Solo 5 actually has a bass mode, with the bass being adjustable to the levels you prefer. So whether you want a mellower bass or a deeper rumble, you can set the levels to your preference. Even without a subwoofer, this would be enough for the casual user who wants an improved sound in movies and music.

On the other hand, the Sonos Beam soundbar has three passive radiators to produce that rich, deep bass. The bass levels are adjustable as well, and you can use the Sonos app for that.

If you pride yourself as a bass lover, the Sonos Beam would be the better choice since you can add a separate subwoofer to produce those powerful deep tones. The Solo 5 doesn’t give you that same option, since it’s really meant to stand alone.

Still, the bass of both the Solo 5 and the Beam may not pass the standards of an audiophile, largely due to the lack of a sub. But if you’re not much of a bass enthusiast, then both the Solo 5 and the Beam would work just fine.

photo of bose solo 5 in a living room

Control

Like the rest of the best soundbars in the market, the Bose Solo 5 has a remote control included in the box. You can use it to control basic settings such as volume and sound modes.

For the Sonos Beam, it’s a little different. It doesn’t have a remote. Instead, you’ll use the Sonos app to control the soundbar.

It all depends on your preference on how you want to control your gadget. Reaching out for your phone for soundbar adjustments may be easier, but it can also be a hassle for some users.

Alexa and Google Assistant

Voice control is not really a necessity when it comes to soundbars, but we can’t deny that it’s a pretty handy feature too.

Sonos Beam is compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant. It also has a five far-field microphone array which enables your voice commands to be heard clearly without you having to yell. As such, it’s easy to adjust the settings and play your media without moving an inch.

Unfortunately, the Solo 5 doesn’t have this function.

photo of a sonos beam in use

Bluetooth and Streaming

The Solo 5 and the Sonos Beam both use Bluetooth, but in a way that’s different from each other.

For the Solo 5, Bluetooth allows you to stream music from your mobile device – a handy feature that many soundbars have.

But for the Beam, it uses Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) so your phone or tablet can communicate with the soundbar during the setup. Music streaming is not supported with this kind of Bluetooth. Instead, you get to stream using the WiFi.

Peformance

Both the Bose Solo 5 and the Sonos Beam produce great sound that lets you enjoy that home theater experience. But if you want a serious upgrade, it’s best to go for the Sonos Beam.

Beam has four full range woofers, a tweeter, great bass, Alexa voice control, and WiFi. It’s all the advanced features you need in a smart soundbar. You can also add in a sub if you want earth-shattering bass.

But if you’re just looking for a budget soundbar to improve your movie experience, then the Bose Solo 5 gets the job done – and it does it better than its competitors in this price range. It has dual speakers, dialogue mode, adjustable bass, and Bluetooth connection for streaming – a feature not available in the Beam.

Conclusion: Bose Solo 5 OR Sonos Beam?

In this Sonos Beam VS Bose Solo 5 debate, everything comes down to your preference.

The Bose Solo 5 is best for the casual user who likes a solid soundbar to improve his movie and music experience. It’s a pretty straightforward gadget without the bells and whistles, but it does a great job.

On the other hand, Sonos Beam is best if you like smart features such as voice control and Wi-Fi. And if you’d like to expand your set, you can add in a speaker or a subwoofer to take it to the next level.

The post Bose Solo 5 VS Sonos Beam appeared first on The Product Analyst.



from The Product Analyst https://theproductanalyst.com/soundbar/sonos-beam-vs-bose-solo-5/

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