- Anthony
When it comes to enhancing the audio experience of your home entertainment setup, a soundbar can be an excellent investment.
Two popular options in the market are the Bose Soundbar 500 and Bose Soundbar 300. Both soundbars boast impressive sound quality, sleek design, and user-friendly features.
However, there are notable differences between the two that can make one a better fit for your specific needs.
So, let’s dive into the details and compare the Bose Soundbar 500 vs 300 to see which one suits your needs best.
Contents
Bose Soundbar 300 Vs 500: Which Is Better And Why?
| # | Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
| Bose TV Speaker - Soundbar for... | 9,009 Reviews |
$279.00 | View on Amazon |
| 2 |
| Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Dolby... | 1,898 Reviews |
$899.00
$749.00 | View on Amazon |
| 3 |
| Bose Smart Soundbar 600 with... | 496 Reviews |
$499.00 | View on Amazon |
| 4 |
| Bose Solo 5 TV Soundbar Sound... | $199.00 $168.88 | View on Amazon | |
| 5 |
| Bose Solo Soundbar Series II -... | 85 Reviews |
$187.77
$148.19 | View on Amazon |
| 6 |
| Bose Smart Soundbar 900 with... | 174 Reviews | $1,598.00 | View on Amazon |
| 7 |
| BOSE Solo 5 TV Soundbar Sound... | 718 Reviews |
$195.49 | View on Amazon |
| 8 |
| Bose Smart Soundbar 600, Black... | 31 Reviews | $1,397.00 | View on Amazon |
| 9 |
| Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Dolby... | 15 Reviews | $639.49 | View on Amazon |
| 10 |
| Bose Smart Soundbar 300,... | 2,497 Reviews | $449.00 $391.64 | View on Amazon |
Bose has two options for those looking for an excellent soundbar to pair with their TV – the Soundbar 300 and the Soundbar 500. The 300 is smaller, easier to install, and less expensive but offers lower quality sound.
While the 500 offers the better sound quality, it is much more challenging to install and costs almost twice as much. Bose soundbars are available in 300 and 500 models.
But which one is right for you? There are some differences between Bose Soundbar 300 Vs 500, so compare the features below to determine which one is best for you.
The Price
No matter what kind of product you are buying, 99/100 price is the first thing your eyes will be drawn to. That is why we review products at every end of the pricing spectrum.
For example, if we stick with soundbars, we have The Best Soundbars Under $200.
We understand better than anyone that everyone’s budget is different. Neither of the two we are looking at today is what we could call cheap; however, we still have to look at the average asking price for each.
Bose Smart Soundbar 300
We will start with the Bose 300, which, as I write this, tends to go for around the $399.99 price mark. I know this seems a lot, but you are getting a great deal of bang for your buck with this.
Bose wanted to make as high-end a soundbar as possible but at the same time tried their best to keep the price as low as they could, and I think they nailed that here. It is worth noting that if you look on eBay, you can find these closer to the 300 buck’s mark.
Bose Smart Soundbar 500
Here we have the bigger brother, the Bose 500, which is a top soundbar. When this launched, it was the most expensive soundbar from Bose, costing over 500 bucks.
Once Bose launched the Bose Smart Soundbar 700, this one had its price slashed, and at the higher end, you are looking at just under the 500 bucks mark. If you shop around on eBay and do not mind getting a refurbished one, you can find this for anywhere from 300 to 450 bucks.
The Verdict
Hmm, it is tough to say which one of these offer you the best value for your money. I say this is not a cop-out but because Bose has moved on from these soundbars, so finding one of these new from a place like Amazon is not all that easy.
In terms of pure value for money, I do think that I would have to give a slight nod to the 300.
The Design
Next up, we are taking a good look at just how cool and stylish each of these soundbars is. At the same time, sound is always going to be the most critical aspect of a soundbar.
The fact of the matter is that most people will have their soundbar out on display, so you want it to look sharp too.
Bose Smart Soundbar 300
We will start with the Bose Soundbar 300. This is an excellent and compact soundbar coming in at 2.21″ H x 26.58″ W x 4.02″. This has that Bose look.
It is mainly made of black plastic with the front and wrapping around the side of the soundbar having a very cool metal black grille that keeps the speakers hidden and looks very cool.
What I think is great about the design of the Bose Smart Soundbar 300 is that it has such a small footprint that it will be great for smaller TV units.
If you have a smaller TV, let’s say, 32-inches, for example, the chance of that being on a super-wide unit is pretty slim, so that you will need a more compact soundbar, and that is where this thing comes into play.
It looks very stylish, as all Bose soundbars do. I have a hard time imagining that anyone would have a problem having this out on display in their living room or home theatre.
On the back of the soundbar, we have your various connections. You can use HDMI Arc or optical with this. There is also a port for a subwoofer, and there is a micro-USB port in case you ever need to do any update.
Bose Smart Soundbar 500
Next up, we have the bigger brother, the Bose Soundbar 500. The vital statists of this bad boy are 31.5” x 1.75” x 4”. At 31 inches long, it is a fair bit longer than the 300, so that is something to keep in mind.
You will need a TV unit that can handle this unless you plan on wall mounting it, of course. I think the fact that Bose gives all of their soundbars a similar kind of look is fantastic.
The design is sleek and calm, so it will fit in any home theatre room or nicely under the TV. Just like the 300, most of this is made of black plastic. You then have that cool-looking metal grill that covers the front and wraps around the side of the soundbar.
I think that the fact this is longer gives that grill a much more special kind of look. Of course, if that is a good or bad thing is all down to personal preference.
As far as the connectivity goes, you have the same as the 300 in the HDMI Arc and Optical along with the subwoofer port and the micro-USB. This does also have the advantage of having an ethernet port too.
The Verdict
Truth be told, these look pretty much the same. I would wager that your average Joe will not tell these apart just from a different picture where the side does not side them, and you can see the size difference.
Both of these look cool, but I think the larger size of the 500 makes it a bit more eye-catching.
In some of our other soundbar reviews, you will notice that these all look radically different. Bose, though, likes to keep their things in a similar style, and I like that.
The Sound
Now we are getting into the real nitty-gritty in our Bose Smart Soundbar 300 vs 500 contest. The whole idea of having a soundbar is to have better sound than your TV speakers, and right off the bat, I can tell you that both of these offers that and more!
Bose Smart Soundbar 300
I think that as far as a 3.1 soundbar setup goes, the Bose Smart Soundbar 300 is one of the best on the market for power and value for money. A movie that my wife and I both love is The Greatest Showman, and that was the first movie we tested with this.
We sat with this right in front of us (well, a few feet away, but you know what I mean), and I had my socks well and truly knocked off. The whole sound that this provided was fantastic and very rich, natural, and complete.
If you want a stereo setup with a soundbar, you cannot go wrong with this. Even though it doesn’t have a subwoofer built in, the bass is better than you’d think. And if you’re really worried about it, you can always add a subwoofer.
Even if you are watching something that is pretty action intense like Hobbs & Shaw, you will be very impressed with the power of the sound that you are hearing through this soundbar.
Of course, if you are a music lover, you may want to know how this handles music. I connected this via Bluetooth to my phone and listened to some music from Spotify and was very impressed. I found that the music was great and indeed 100 times better than the speakers on my phone.
Bose Smart Soundbar 500
Hmm, this did follow up from the 300, and I have to say that I feel that the larger size of the Bose Smart Soundbar 500 gave it a slight edge in the sound department for me.
My sister got me the back to the Future: Ultimate 4K trilogy for my birthday, and that did the honors with this soundbar. Let me tell you, The Power of Love well and truly rocked my living room when blasting out of this.
I had this turned pretty damn loud, too, and there was no distortion of any kind. It is the same setup as the 300, with the left, right, and center speaker giving you a 3.1 sound setup.
Many soundbars say that they can offer your surround sound, and I have found that to be a bit of a gimmick. However, the Bose Smart Soundbar 500 does better than the 300 fills the room with sound, so you get a much more simulated surround sound kind of thing without having an actual surround sound setup.
My son and I watched Independence Day Resurgence (nowhere near as good as the first, by the way), and I was very impressed with how dynamic the sound was.
As far as music goes, I had a lot of fun with this. However, it is my wife I have to pass this to as she was rearranging her Disney ornaments we have in the living room (do not ask), and she ended up listening to Spotify on her phone for well over an hour through this soundbar, and she said it was great.
The Verdict
The Bose Smart Soundbar 300 does stand toe to toe with the larger, more powerful 500 very well. I can even see why some people may like the sound that the smaller unit produces better.
However, I have to say that I think the Bose Soundbar 500 does offer a better sound. The way the sound can fill the room was something that I found awe-inspiring.
The Remote Control
Next up, we are going to take a look at what the remotes for these soundbars offer. Even though the soundbars look similar, they come with two very different remote controls.
Bose Smart Soundbar 300
I was surprised at just how small the remote control for the remote for the Bose Smart Soundbar 300 was. This is a rather basic remote, but it more than gets the job done. It is similar in size and style to an Amazon Fire Stick remote.
It can be used with Alexa and Google Assistant, which is excellent, and there is a pretty neat app that you can download to your phone, which gives you even more features.
Still, to be honest, it is a bit annoying you have to download an app to use some of the features, such as dialogue enhancement.
Bose Smart Soundbar 500
The Bose Smart Soundbar 500 has an excellent remote control. This is way more feature-packed. It gives you direct access to a few different presets and, in general, offers far more control over the sound that the soundbar produces.
It is also compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant. It can also be used with the accompanying Bose app, which gives you even more cool features to get the best out of your soundbar.
If you are curious about how to control a soundbar with a TV remote, check our guide https://hookeaudio.com/how-to-control-soundbar-with-tv-remote/
The Verdict
This is probably the most specific category for me to rate! The Bose Smart Soundbar 500 has a much better remote. It gives you more direct control over your soundbar.
You could probably live without the Bose app if you have the 500. If you have the 300, I do not see you ever using the actual remote over the app as it gives you such limited control.
What Is In The Box?
Want to know precisely what you can expect in the box when you purchase either of these soundbars? Well, here is where you will find that out.
Bose Smart Soundbar 300
As well as the actual soundbar. You get your remote and power cable as you would expect. They do also give you an optical cable, but they do not throw in an HDMI cable! Come on, Bose, that is pretty tight, if I am being honest.
Bose Smart Soundbar 500
In addition to your soundbar and power cable inside the box, you can find your remote control, but as well as an optical cable, they also give you an HDMI cable too! This comes with more, however.
You also get a satellite brick and the accompanying cable. You also get a Bose ADAPTiQ headset that can help you calibrate the soundbar to fit your room better.
The Verdict
You are getting more bang for your buck with the 500; it is crazy that they did not throw in an HDMI cable with the 300, in my opinion. Just make sure if you are buying a refurbished unit that it is coming with all the goodies.
Tips for Using Your Bose Soundbar 300, 500
Avoid exposing the soundbar to extreme temperatures, as this can damage the device.
Position your soundbar in a safe and secure place out of reach of children. It’s not a toy that your kids can play with.
Use the bose surround speakers to get powerful audio. They also match the soundbar’s features so well.
When connecting to your phone or tablet, make sure you have used the proper drive or outlet. Ensure that the bose soundbar can connect with your specific device.
When receiving your purchase, ensure that the soundbar is working correctly by double-checking its functionalities; otherwise, you can return it immediately for replacement- if it’s defective.
Read the instructional manual that comes with the bose soundbar before attempting to use it.
Buy only from reputable companies, such as Bose, to guarantee that the product is genuine, durable, and reliable.
Read more:
- Best LG Soundbars In 2023
- Best Vizio Soundbars
- Best Soundbar Under 300
- Best Budget Dolby Atmos Soundbar 2023: Top Brands Review
FAQs
Is Bose 500 worth the money?
Bose knows a thing or two and crafting excellent sound, and the Bose Soundbar 500 is a fine example. With a choice of voice assistants, it’s bright and one of the most straightforward TV speakers around — and worthy of sitting among the best soundbars.
Does Bose soundbar 300 need a subwoofer?
The Bose Smart 300 soundbar doesn’t have a subwoofer in this setup. However, you can purchase the Bose Bass Module 500 separately, which is a small subwoofer that connects wirelessly to the bar.
However, you can purchase Bose Surround Speakers separately, which wirelessly connect to the bar.
Is the Bose 500 speaker wireless?
Bose Home Speaker 500The Bose Home Speaker 500 delivers wireless audio via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, along with Amazon Alexa voice assistance, but is somewhat overpriced for the sound quality it delivers.
Conclusion
The Bose Soundbar 500 is suitable for those looking for a better, more immersive audio experience. The 300 is easier to install but offers inferior sound quality. For those looking for high-quality sound with an easy installation, the Bose Soundbar 500 is the best option.
In my opinion, Hooke Audio recommends that you save money by choosing the cheaper Soundbar 300 model over the more expensive Soundbar 500 model. However, if you want the best soundbar available and do not mind a more complex installation process, go with the 500 models.
But which one is right for you? There are some differences between Bose Soundbar 300 Vs 500, so compare the features below to determine which one is best for you.
Last update on 2023-09-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
