Bose Home Speaker 500 review
The world of smart speakers is ever-expanding, and the Bose Home Speaker 500 is one of the many. Bose has a lot of smart speakers in its arsenal, and the Home Speaker 500 fills the niche of being moderately sized, but with loud audio. Is that enough stand out from the rest?
About this Bose Home Speaker 500 review: We tested the Bose Home Speaker 500 over a period of a week. It was running firmware version 16.0.6, and the Bose Music app ran version 6.1.2. SoundGuys purchased the unit for this review.
What you need to know about the Bose Home Speaker 500
Sam Smart / SoundGuys
The Home Speaker 500 has a touch panel for controls on the top of the speaker.
- Bose Home Speaker 500: $379 USD / $479 CAD / £359 / €399
The Bose Home Speaker 500 is a smart speaker that works wirelessly over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth 4.2, with support for the SBC and AAC audio codecs, and it has a 3. 5mm aux input as well. It needs to be plugged into a wall outlet to work, and requires the Bose Music app (available on iOS and Android) to use Wi-Fi features, but those Wi-Fi features also include Apple AirPlay 2 and Chromecast. There’s Alexa and Google Assistant integration, so you can choose which you want to use with it.
The Bose Home Speaker has capacitive touch controls on the top of the speaker, which allow you to adjust volume, play and pause music, turn on Bluetooth, turn the microphone on and off, and select presets. You can also control the speaker from the Bose Music app. It has an LCD display on the front, which will show what you’re listening to, and album art when you’re listening to music.
The speaker features two 2.5-inch full-range drivers, one on either side of the speaker, and Bose advertises good stereo separation.
What’s good about the Bose Home Speaker 500?
Sam Smart / SoundGuys
The Bose Home Speaker 500 sounds really good.
Arguably the most important aspects of a speaker are how loud it gets and how good it sounds. Thankfully the Bose Home Speaker 500 does well in both of those areas. The speaker gets quite loud, even when the volume is only half way up. It sounds really good, with a strong bass response and pleasant treble. When I play Anti-Hero by Taylor Swift through the speaker, the bass sounds punchy and loud while not drowning out the oscillating synth, and Swift’s voice comes through clearly throughout the whole track. The bass might be a little bit loud for some by default, but the Bose Music app lets you adjust it or treble, which I find really handy when I want to avoid irritating my neighbors.
The Bose Music app works really well for the most part. You can select your preferred voice assistant from Alexa or Google Assistant, connect a music streaming service and choose music, adjust bass and treble as mentioned, install updates, and more. It’s a simple app that helps out a lot with getting the most out of the speaker.
The speaker gets quite loud, even when the volume is only half way up.
The speaker can connect with other Bose speakers (to an extent, more on that later) to create an ecosystem in your house. This way you can use your voice assistant in multiple rooms, play music in different rooms, and enjoy your own smart home setup.
The touch controls on the Bose Home Speaker 500 are quick and responsive, and there are six buttons on the touch panel for presets, so you can quickly play your favorite playlist or song at any time.
It’s also very aesthetically pleasing. The aluminum exterior works well with a lot of different interior styles, and it blends in easily in a home. The light silver color I’m using matches a lot of my tech products in my home.
What’s not so good about the Bose Home Speaker 500?
Sam Smart / SoundGuys
I wish the buttons gave a better indication when pressed, like a sound or an LED on the touch panel.
Immediately upon setting up the Bose Music app, the speaker had an update. This update took 10 minutes to install, and made me think something was wrong. Never-ending updates are a known issue with the speaker, and can sometimes take hours or never complete at all. After downloading the update, neither the app nor the speaker show progress for how long the update will actually take to install, so you’re left to wonder when you’ll be able to use the speaker. After that, setup does take a while and the process is quite convoluted.
If you want to use the Bose Home Speaker 500 as part of an ecosystem with a Bose Soundtouch speaker, you’re out of luck. You can pair this speaker with other speakers that use the Bose Music app, but since the Soundtouch line uses the Soundtouch app, the two aren’t compatible.
This speaker, and smart speakers in general, are not for people who don’t want to compromise on data privacy.
While the buttons are responsive, I wish it had a way of letting you know you used a control. A sound, or haptic feedback, or even physical buttons would be preferable. It just feels like I’m touching a cold piece of metal and hoping it does something, and it would be nice to actually feel like I’m pressing a button. The screen shows a light strip when you press something, but that doesn’t really feel like enough of an indicator.
A concern that applies to all smart speakers is privacy. The whole point of a smart speaker with a voice assistant is that it’s listening to you for a wake word or command, and the fact that it’s always listening can be quite creepy. You can turn off the microphone, but then you won’t be able to use the voice assistant. Your commands and questions are recorded and sent to servers which helps voice assistant software improve. Your data is also collected through the Bose Music app, adding to the information companies have about you. This speaker, and smart speakers in general, are not really for people who don’t want to compromise on data privacy.
Bose Home Speaker 500 specs
Sam Smart / SoundGuys
The Bose Home Speaker 500 looks really nice, and blends in well with most home environments.
It’s a good idea to know what you’re getting into when you’re buying a smart speaker, so here’s some of the most important things to know about the Bose Home Speaker 500.
Bose Home Speaker 500 | |
---|---|
Size |
203 mm x 170 mm x 109 mm |
Weight |
2.15 kg |
Channels |
Stereo |
Audio specs |
Two full-range drivers |
Audio inputs |
3.5mm |
Wireless audio connection |
Bluetooth 4.2 |
Streaming services |
Amazon Music |
App |
Bose Music app (iOS/Android) |
Controls |
Touch |
Price |
$379 USD |
Bose Home Speaker 500 review: Should you buy it?
Sam Smart / SoundGuys
The Bose Home Speaker 500 is a solid smart speaker with great sound, it’s just really pricey.
Overall, the Bose Home Speaker 500 works really well and sounds great, making it a solid choice for anyone looking for a high quality smart speaker. The biggest caveat is just how expensive it is, coming in at $379 USD. I would recommend this speaker to anyone with a lot of money who wants a loud smart speaker in their house. I wouldn’t recommend this for the majority of people, for whom the $379 USD price tag may be too expensive. There are much cheaper alternatives that could suit those with lower budgets, and this speaker isn’t the be-all and end-all of smart speakers. I also wouldn’t recommend this speaker, or any smart speaker for that matter, to people who don’t want to compromise on their data privacy.
If you want a cheaper option with Google Assistant integration and good sound, the Google Nest Audio is a great option. You can even pair two together to get stereo sound, or put multiple in different rooms to create a home ecosystem. You can pick up the Google Nest Audio for $99. 99 at Best Buy.
Another speaker with a lot of similar features to the Bose Home Speaker 500 is the Sonos One (Gen 2). It has Alexa and Google Assistant integration, streaming service integration, and in-app EQ in the Sonos app. It’s more affordable than the Home Speaker 500, though still pricey. You can buy it for $199 at Amazon.
Bose Home Speaker 500
Bose Home Speaker 500
Loud sound • Good design • Helpful app
The Bose Home Speaker 500 brings room-filling sound to your smart home setup.
If you want an aesthetically pleasing smart speaker to bring you great sound and voice assistant support, the Bose Home Speaker 500 is a solid choice.
See price at Amazon
See price at Bose
See price at Best Buy
Frequently asked questions
No, the Bose Home Speaker 500 is not water-resistant in any way, so you definitely shouldn’t use it in a humid environment.
No, the Bose Home Speaker 500 does not have Bluetooth multipoint.
Bose Home Speaker 500 Review
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The Bose Home Speaker 500 is a premium smart speaker that boasts exceptional audio quality and an array of impressive features. In this blog post, I will provide an in-depth analysis covering its design, audio quality, features, and smart home integration.
As smart speakers become increasingly popular, it’s essential to ensure that the device you’re purchasing provides an exceptional experience that meets your expectations. With the Bose Home Speaker 500, you can expect a sleek, stylish design, an immersive audio experience, and smart home integration that simplifies your daily routine.
PROS:
- Exceptional sound quality with a detailed and immersive soundstage
- Sleek design with a front-facing color screen for easy navigation
- Voice control capabilities with support for Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant
- Versatile connectivity options including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Apple AirPlay 2, and Spotify Connect
- Six preset buttons for quick access to your favorite radio stations, playlists, or albums
- Compatibility with the Bose Music app for advanced control and multi-room audio
- Easy setup and user-friendly interface
CONS:
- Relatively expensive compared to other smart speakers on the market
- Some users may find the design to be too minimalistic or not aesthetically pleasing
- Limited EQ adjustments compared to other high-end smart speakers
- May not be the best option for users who are heavily invested in ecosystems other than Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant
Design and Build Quality
The Bose Home Speaker 500 boasts a sleek and modern design that complements any home decor. It measures 8 x 6.7 x 4.3 inches and weighs just over 4 pounds, making it compact enough to fit on a bookshelf or a bedside table. The speaker features a seamless anodized aluminum body that’s both durable and stylish.
One of the most impressive design elements is the front-facing color screen. This screen displays album artwork, track information, and other relevant details while playing music. The screen is easy to read from across the room, and the touch controls located on the top of the speaker provide quick access to volume, playback, and other features.
When it comes to build quality, it is one of the most well-crafted smart speakers on the market. The anodized aluminum body feels sturdy and durable, and the speaker grill on the front is made from a high-quality material that’s built to last. The touch controls on the top of the speaker are responsive and easy to use, and the power cable is thick and robust.
Sound Quality
When it comes to sound quality, it is a true standout. The speaker features two custom drivers that deliver clear, powerful sound that fills the room. The bass is deep and punchy, while the midrange is warm and well-defined. The treble is crisp and detailed, without ever sounding harsh or sibilant.
The Bose Home Speaker 500 also features Bose’s proprietary technology, including the Bose DSP (digital signal processing) and a phase guide array. These technologies work together to create a wide and immersive soundstage that fills the room with sound. The speaker is capable of delivering excellent performance across a wide range of music genres, from rock and hip hop to jazz and classical.
In terms of volume, it can get surprisingly loud without losing clarity or balance. Even at high volumes, the speaker maintains excellent sound quality with no distortion or muddiness.
Connectivity and Features
The Bose Home Speaker 500 offers a variety of connectivity options and features that make it a versatile and user-friendly smart speaker. The speaker supports Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, allowing you to stream music from your phone, tablet, or computer with ease.
One of the most notable features it is voice control capabilities. The speaker is compatible with both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, allowing you to control your smart home devices, ask questions, and play music using voice commands. The voice control feature is highly accurate and responsive, making it a convenient way to interact with the speaker.
It also features six preset buttons located on the top of the speaker. These buttons allow you to quickly access your favorite radio stations, playlists, or albums without needing to use your phone or voice commands. Additionally, the speaker is compatible with the Bose Music app, which allows you to control the speaker, set up multi-room audio, and access additional features like EQ adjustments and sleep timers.
The Bose Home Speaker 500 also features Apple AirPlay 2 compatibility, allowing you to easily stream audio from your Apple device. The speaker also supports Spotify Connect, allowing you to stream music directly from the Spotify app.
Competitors Comparison
The smart speaker market is highly competitive, and the Bose Home Speaker 500 faces stiff competition from other premium smart speakers. Here are some of the main competitors to the Bose Home Speaker 500 and how they compare:
- Sonos One – The Sonos One is a similarly priced smart speaker that offers excellent sound quality and versatile connectivity options. It supports Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, as well as Apple AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, and more. The Sonos One also offers multi-room audio capabilities, making it a great choice for larger homes. While the Sonos One offers comparable sound quality to the Bose Home Speaker 500, some users may prefer the Bose speaker’s sleeker design and front-facing color screen.
- Amazon Echo Studio – The Amazon Echo Studio is a high-end smart speaker that offers impressive sound quality, with five speakers and a built-in subwoofer.
The speaker also supports Dolby Atmos and 3D audio, making it an excellent choice for movie and game enthusiasts. The Echo Studio also supports Amazon Alexa, making it a great choice for users who are heavily invested in the Alexa ecosystem. However, the Echo Studio lacks a front-facing screen like the Bose Home Speaker 500, and some users may prefer the Bose speaker’s more elegant design.
- Google Home Max – The Google Home Max is a high-end smart speaker that offers powerful sound quality and a sleek, minimalist design. It supports Google Assistant and offers multi-room audio capabilities, making it a great choice for users who prefer Google’s ecosystem. While the Google Home Max offers excellent sound quality, some users may prefer the Bose Home Speaker 500’s more immersive and detailed soundstage.
Conclusion
Overall, the Bose Home Speaker 500 is an exceptional smart speaker that offers excellent sound quality, versatile connectivity options, and convenient voice control capabilities. Its sleek design and front-facing color screen make it an elegant addition to any home, while its compatibility with popular apps and platforms makes it a flexible and user-friendly choice.
While it still faces stiff competition from other premium smart speakers, it holds its own with its exceptional sound quality and user-friendly features. Whether you’re looking to stream music, control your smart home devices, or enjoy immersive audio during movies and games, the Bose Home Speaker 500 delivers an outstanding audio experience that’s sure to impress.
Overall, if you’re looking for a high-quality smart speaker that offers excellent sound quality, versatile connectivity, and user-friendly features, the Bose Home Speaker 500 is an excellent choice that’s well worth considering.
Bose Home Speaker 500 Review
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90 002 bose speakers
bose speaker 300 vs 500: difference and comparison
Music is what everyone likes to listen to. People have different preferences for audio equipment. Bose is one of the leading companies in the selection of audio equipment. However, Bose is the latest entry into the home speaker market.
IT quiz
Test your knowledge on technology-related topics
1 / 10
What is artificial intelligence?
Artificial intelligence is a field that aims to make people more intelligent.
Artificial intelligence is a field whose goal is to improve security
Artificial intelligence is a field whose goal is to develop intelligent machines.
Artificial intelligence is a field whose purpose is data mining
2 / 10
What is base octal?
2
10
8
16
3 / 10
Who founded Microsoft?
Bill Gates and Paul Allen
Bill Gates and Steve Jobs
Bill Gates and George W. Bush
Steve Jobs
4 / 10
Which file extension “.BAK” usually refers to?
Backup file
Audio file
Animation/movie file
MS Encarta document
5 / 10
Output printed by a computer through a paper printer is called
Virtu Hard copy
Hard copy
Electronic copy
None one of the above
6 / 10
The goal of machine learning is to
recognize a person’s face
think of an algorithm and complete task
let machines learn on their own using provided data
trained on massive amounts of data
7 / 10
Everyone knows what a robot is, but what is a “cobot”?
Online assistant that helps college students
The robot is available in bright colors
Robot, which works with people to help them in the work of
8 /10
Save the file from the Internet to the desktop is called
,
Loading
003
Loading
transferring
Storage
9 / 10
Which of the following is defined as an attempt to steal, spy on, damage, or destroy computer systems, networks, or related information?
Cyber attack
Computer security
Cryptography
Digital hacking
10 / 10
Which of the following semiconductors is mainly used to create electronic circuits?
silicon
germanium
selenium
tin plating
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With the launch of the Home Speaker 300 and 500, the company has become a leader among others. The two home speakers have different features and specifications. Understanding their features is essential before purchasing any of them.
Key Findings
- The Bose Speaker 300 and 500 are two high quality Bluetooth speakers that differ in size, price and sound performance.
- While the Bose 300 is a more compact and affordable option with decent sound quality, the Bose 500 offers more power and a superior soundstage.
- Both speakers feature voice assistants, Wi-Fi connectivity and multi-room audio, making them suitable for music lovers looking for premium sound.
Bose speaker 300 vs 500
The difference between the Bose Home Speaker 300 and the Bose Home Speaker 500 lies in design, sound quality, performance and smart assistants. Bose Speaker 300 – 120-watt speaker with six microphones and voice assistants; on the other hand, it has a power input with an AUX input. Bose Speaker 500 is a 156W speaker with eight microphones and voice assistants; it also has power and AUX inputs.
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Comparison chart
Comparison parameter | Bose 300 home speaker system | 90 484 Bose 500 home speaker system |
---|---|---|
Dimensions and weight | Bose Speaker 300 dimensions are 4.02 l, 5.59W and 6.34 inches tall and weight is 2.1 pounds. | The Bose Speaker 500 is larger than the Bose 300. Its dimensions in inches are 4.31L, 6.68W. and 8.01 tall, and weight about 5 lbs. |
Material used in construction | The Bose 300 Home Speaker is made of anodized aluminum with a touch sensitive grille at the top where all the controls are located. | The Bose 500 Home Speaker is made from seamless aluminum grille with touch top control panels. |
Microphones and voice assistance | The Bose 300 home speaker has a six microphone array with a voice sensor built into the top of the speaker; Alexa and Google voice assistant are included in the speaker. |
Bose Speaker 500 has an eight-mic array with voice pickup built into the top, Alexa and Google Assistants are enabled in the speaker. |
Communication and input | Bose speaker 300 connects using Bluetooth version 4.2 with a range of up to 30 feet or 9meters. Speaker 300 has power and AUX inputs. | This speaker also has the same Bluetooth with the same 30ft range. The Speaker 500 also has power and AUX inputs. |
Other features | Speaker 300 can produce a maximum of 120W; it doesn’t have a battery. So it must be connected; it is available in triple black and luxury silver. | Speaker 500 can deliver up to 156 W; it’s also battery-free, uses the Bose music app, and is available in triple black and luxury silver. |
What is Bose 300?
The Bose Home Speaker is a small speaker with amazing bass and lifelong sound quality.
It turns on with voice assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant where you can do whatever it wants with just a voice command. In addition to music, you can listen to weather reports and news headlines.
It comes with six microphones for enhanced sound quality. It doesn’t have enough battery to use it; it needs to be connected. It can be connected using Bluetooth.
The Bose 300 is available in a lower price range and in two colors: Triple Black and Luxury Silver.
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9 0472 What is Bose 500?
The Bose Speaker 500 is a speaker with an LCD screen for displaying information. It has stereo sound with acoustic characteristics. It is also included with the same voice assistants.
It comes with eight microphones for enhanced sound quality. There is also no battery; need to connect it to use it. It can be connected using bluetooth.
The Bose 500 is available in a slightly higher price range and in two colors: Triple Black and Luxury Silver.
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