Main Features
Sonos issues smart soundbars, packed with many advanced features. First of all, they have the ability to adjust the sound reproduction according to the content you are watching. Night Sound mode reduces the intensity of loud sounds and increases the volume level of quieter sounds. It’s a great feature when you need to watch a TV at low volumes (late at night, for example). TruePlay tuning technology automatically tunes the sound to the room’s acoustics.
Apple AirPlay 2 support allows you to stream audio from your iOS device’s main screen or using Siri. Sonos soundbars can also be controlled with the help of the Sonos app. It brings together many popular streaming services (SoundCloud, Spotify, etc.), so you can easily browse music, podcasts, audiobooks, etc. This app also provides you with an exclusive Sonos Radio that offers thousands of listening stations for free. You also can use the Sonos app to perform audio calibration. Models from Sono come without a remote, so you can control them only via an app or by voice.
Bose produces smart soundbars as well. They are packed with many unique and interesting features. For example, Voice4Video technology enables you to control the soundbar, TV, and satellite box with one voice command. Bose allows you to stream music from Spotify, Pandora, Deezer, etc. SimpleSync function can be used for pairing with Bose headphones, for example. For a theater-quality watching experience, some models are equipped with special Bass mode. Bose also has an analog of Sonos TrueTuning technology called ADAPTiQ that automatically optimizes soundbar’s performance to the room’s acoustic characteristics.
Bose soundbars work with Apple AirPlay 2, just like bars from Sonos. They come with a remote control but can also be controlled via the Bose Music app. It gives quick access to all the functions of the soundbar and includes an equalizer for an audio adjustment just like the Sonos app.
It’s not easy to determine a winner in this part of the Sonos vs Bose soundbar battle. The models from both brands support Apple AirPlay 2, can be controlled via an app, and automatically adjust the sound to the room’s acoustic. However, if we compare the Sonos Beam and the Bose Soundbar 700, the second model will appear to be slightly better. It comes with remote control, two built-in voice assistants, Voice4Video, and SimpleSync technologies. The model from Sonos comes without remote control and has only one inbuilt voice assistant.
Hence, the Bose Soundbar 700 is our pick here.
- Built-in Alexa and Google Assistant
- HDMI-ARC connectivity
- Bass, surround sound
- Custom 8-mic array
- Premium glass top
- TV voice control
- Bose music app
Design
Both manufacturers issue soundbars of different sizes, so you can choose the one that fits your space and the size of your TV the most. They also can offer wall-mountable options. The models from both brands are available only in white and black colors
While all bars from Bose have an elongated shape, Sonos can offer a model that works as a base for a TV, allowing you to save more space. Sonos soundbars usually have such onboard buttons: play/pause, power on/off, volume up/down, next/previous track, and one status LED light. Their bodies combine metal and plastіc components, as well as fabric mesh.
All Bose soundbars look very similar. They have a slim profile (not taller than 2.5 inches), rectangular shape with slightly rounded corners, and either matte or glossy top panel. Bose uses metal mesh instead of textile. The top panel can be made of durable tempered glass or high-quality plastic. Panels from this manufacturer also have a lightbar that indicates when the voice assistant listens, “thinks”, or speaks. Bose soundbars usually have onboard buttons to control the playback, and two buttons for Alexa (microphone off button and action button).
Bose has a more thorough approach to design. For example, the Sonos Playbar is wall-mountable and thin, but its body is mostly made of plastic. The Bose Soundbar 700 has a tempered-glass top and metal mesh.
So, the Bose Soundbar 700 has the construction of higher quality, ensuring longevity.
- Built-in Alexa and Google Assistant
- HDMI-ARC connectivity
- Bass, surround sound
- Custom 8-mic array
- Premium glass top
- TV voice control
- Bose music app
Sound
Soundbars from Sonos give out rich and detailed sound. This brand offers models that incorporate up to 11 drivers. Together, they provide crisp highs, dynamic midranges, and booming bass. With such an impressive number of drivers, you won’t necessarily need to connect any external audio components to create a full-fledged acoustic system in your home. Only those models from Sonos that are designed for large-sized TVs feature Dolby Atmos support. It simulates the 3D sound and provides a truly cinematic and immersive sound that is indispensable for games and movies.
Soundbars from Bose have custom drivers that ensure clear, lifelike audio playback. Thanks to QuietPort technology, woofers provide distortion-free bass. In order to give out a wider and more spacious sound, Bose uses PhaseGuide technology that guides the sound in multiple directions. Some models feature two angled full-range drivers that provide a more natural sound. It also has some bars with Dolby Digital and DTS support. However, Bose soundbars come with 5 drivers max.
Before determining the winner of this Sonos vs Bose sound quality comparison, I’d like to say that the bars from both manufacturers can handle all types of content: movies, audiobooks, a wide range of music genres, etc. However, considering the fact that the Bose Soundbar 700 has 5 drivers and the Sonos Playbar incorporates 9 drivers, it’s natural that the last one provides more powerful, more volumetric, and fuller sound.
That is why the Sonos Playbar is a better option in terms of sound reproduction quality.
- Speech enhancement
- Optical audio input
- Wall mountable
- Easily connect
- Night mode
- Software
- 35.5 x 5.6 x 3.4 inches and 11.9 pounds
Channels
Both manufacturers produce models with a maximum of 3 channels. Let’s compare the Sonos Playbar and the Bose Soundbar 700 that both have 3 channels. Since Sonos bars usually contain many drivers and can work as all-in-one-solution, I consider the Bose Soundbar 700 as a better model for people who want to pair soundbar and speakers.
- Built-in Alexa and Google Assistant
- HDMI-ARC connectivity
- Bass, surround sound
- Custom 8-mic array
- Premium glass top
- TV voice control
- Bose music app
Voice Enhancement
All Sonos soundbars have a special Speech Enhancement mode that emphasizes the sound of the human voice. Plus, Night Sound mode ensures clear dialogs at low volume levels. The Sonos app also has TV Dialog settings where you can manually adjust the reproduction of dialogs. Almost all soundbars from Bose feature center speaker to provide clearly audible voices. Some models are endowed with Dialog mode that elevates vocals and makes voices clearer.
As you can see, Sonos has more features for voice enhancement. So, while the Bose Soundbar 700 only features a center speaker, the Sonos Beam has two modes for voice enhancement, as well as TV Dialog settings. This way, the Sonos Beam is a better solution in this part of the Sonos soundbar vs Bose soundbar battle.
- HDMI ARC audio Input
- Speech enhancement
- High definition sound
- Apple AirPlay 2
- Simple setup
- Alexa built-in
- Easy control
Connectivity
The Sonos soundbar vs Bose connectivity options comparison shows the most similarities between the brands. Both of them can’t provide a very wide set of wired connectivity possibilities. Both manufacturers offer HDMI-ARC input that transmits audio signals without quality loss. Soundbars from Sono use Wi-Fi instead of Bluetooth for wireless connection. They can be connected to any broadcast-capable router with 802.11b/g, 2.4 GHz. Unlike Sono soundbars, models from Bose are equipped with both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
Sonos Beam has an Ethernet port, HDMI ARC, and Wi-Fi support. The Bose TV Speaker contains HDMI, optical in and AUX-in, and both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Thus, the Bose TV Speaker has richer connectivity possibilities.
- Wide, natural sound
- Enhanced dialogue
- Remote control
- Wall mountable
- Simple setup
- Bluetooth
- 4 x 23.4 x 2.2 inches and 6.6 pounds
Voice Control
Both of the reviewed brands provide their soundbars with voice control. However, while Sonos offers only Alexa, Bose provides inbuilt Google Assistant as well. In addition, it features a noise-rejecting mic system, so the soundbar will recognize your commands on long distances and in noisy conditions.
The Bose Soundbar 700 has built-in Alexa and Google Assistant while the Sonos Beam has only Alexa. From this perspective, the Bose Soundbar 700 wins since it incorporates two voice assistants.
- Built-in Alexa and Google Assistant
- HDMI-ARC connectivity
- Bass, surround sound
- Custom 8-mic array
- Premium glass top
- TV voice control
- Bose music app
Price
None of the compared brands can offer budget-friendly solutions. However, Sonos soundbars are more expensive. You can buy the cheapest model from Bose for around $300 while Sonos asks about $400 for its most budget-friendly soundbar.
The Sonos Beam and the Bose TV Speaker are the cheapest models from both brands, but the second one is more affordable so it wins in the Bose vs Sonos soundbar price comparison.
- Wide, natural sound
- Enhanced dialogue
- Remote control
- Wall mountable
- Simple setup
- Bluetooth
- 4 x 23.4 x 2.2 inches and 6.6 pounds
Bose vs Sonos: Conclusion
Even Sonos vs. Bose review can’t give you a clear answer to the question of which brand is undoubtedly better. They both offer models with 3 channels, use Dolby Atmos for surround sound, have many useful features, integrated voice assistants, etc.
Sonos provides better sound quality and has more features for voice enhancement. Bose issues soundbars with more durable build quality, two voice assistants, and offers more budget-friendly models.
Product Selection
When examining product selection, Sonos structures its lineup around a streamlined, cohesive ecosystem that caters to clearly defined tiers of home theater needs. From the entry-level Ray, designed for compact spaces and secondary screens without HDMI eARC, to the mid-range Beam (Gen 2) with virtualized Dolby Atmos, up to the flagship Arc featuring dedicated up-firing transducers, the portfolio is deliberately curated. Sonos avoids redundancy, ensuring that each model occupies a distinct price bracket and physical footprint, while prioritizing modularity by allowing users to seamlessly integrate the Sub, Sub Mini, or standard architectural speakers as surrounds via proprietary wireless protocols.
Bose adopts a comparable tiered strategy with its Smart Ultra Soundbar, Smart Soundbar 600, and TV Speaker, but places a heavier emphasis on standalone versatility and legacy integration. While Bose’s catalog appears slightly more fragmented due to alternating naming conventions and parallel releases across product generations, it provides consumers with targeted acoustic solutions, including specialized dialogue-enhancing speakers for non-surround setups. However, where Sonos excels in effortless ecosystem expansion and cross-product compatibility across generations, Bose offers broader connectivity choices directly on the hardware, such as auxiliary inputs alongside optical and eARC connections, catering to a wider variety of source components.
Design/Look
Sonos adheres to a distinct, monolithic Scandinavian design language characterized by seamless plastic acoustic grilles, gentle radiused edges, and a choice between ultra-matte black and white finishes. The absence of visible seams and the integration of precision-drilled micro-perforations give soundbars like the Arc and Beam Gen 2 an understated, furniture-grade elegance that blends effortlessly into modern living spaces. Sonos deliberately avoids distracting front-facing LED screens, opting instead for discreet status lights and capacitive touch controls on the top panel, maintaining visual tranquility even when the unit is operating in a darkened room.
Bose leans into an industrial-luxe aesthetic that balances high-end materials with high-tech flair. Flagship models like the Smart Ultra Soundbar utilize polished, impact-resistant tempered glass top plates paired with wraparound metal grilles, creating a reflective, premium appearance that often looks more opulent than Sonos's all-matte enclosures. The trade-off is practical: the glass surfaces of Bose units are notorious dust and fingerprint magnets that can produce distracting glare under bright television panels. Nonetheless, Bose’s lower physical profiles across comparable driver sizes make their enclosures slightly more adaptable for placement directly beneath low-clearance televisions without obscuring the bottom edge of the display panel.
Affordability
Neither Sonos nor Bose targets the budget segment, but their cost structures and long-term value propositions diverge noticeably. Sonos maintains strict retail price discipline, with hardware commanding premium pricing that seldom drops significantly outside of major holiday promotional windows. The upfront cost for an entry-level Sonos Ray is relatively approachable, but building out a full multi-channel surround system becomes exceptionally costly once you factor in dedicated surround speakers and the high price tag of the Sonos Sub or Sub Mini, neither of which supports direct physical inputs from third-party subwoofers.
Bose operates within a similar premium pricing tier at the top end, but often presents a marginally more cost-effective point of entry, particularly during seasonal promotions and through certified refurbished programs. Standalone Bose soundbars tend to deliver slightly fuller low-frequency response out of the box, meaning budget-conscious buyers can defer purchasing an external Bass Module longer than they might with a Sonos setup. However, both manufacturers enforce proprietary protocols for modular expansions, meaning that fully expanding either brand into a complete 5.1.2 configuration requires a substantial capital investment that places them squarely in the luxury consumer audio category.
Sound Quality
Sonos is renowned for its neutral, balanced acoustic signature and remarkable spatial processing. The flagship Arc and the Beam Gen 2 utilize precisely angled drivers and sophisticated psychoacoustic DSP to project expansive soundstages with convincing height and width cues for Dolby Atmos content. Midrange clarity is a standout characteristic, rendering movie dialogue with exceptional realism and natural vocal timbre without causing ear fatigue. Furthermore, Sonos's Trueplay tuning software leverages iOS microphones to calibrate the soundbar to the room's unique boundary reflections, smoothing out standing waves and acoustic anomalies to deliver an exceptionally cohesive frequency curve.
Bose approaches sound quality with a proprietary tuning methodology focused on high dynamic energy, pronounced bass presence, and ultra-crisp vocal articulation. Leveraging PhaseGuide technology and upward-firing dipole transducers, Bose soundbars excel at throwing sound to room boundaries, creating a sense of lateral separation that can surpass Sonos in irregularly shaped spaces. The mid-bass punch is characteristically forward, providing satisfying cinematic impact even without a companion subwoofer, and the dedicated A.I. Dialogue Mode actively adjusts vocal frequencies to cut through complex action sequences. However, while Bose's ADAPTiQ calibration achieves similar room correction, the high-frequency response can sometimes lean slightly bright and aggressive compared to the more organic, reference-style tuning favored by Sonos.
