The Bose Solo Soundbar Series II is a perfect option for anyone who wants to put together a sleek system for their room. This smart soundbar offers the latest wireless technology, compatibility with a full range of devices, and performance-enhancing features.
The Sonos Beam is a compact, versatile speaker that provides a powerful sound filling a room. The Beam does not require a separate subwoofer, and it has a voice to pair it with your other Sonos speakers.
Both companies produce high-quality soundbars, with a focus on the home theater experience. Here we’ll compare the Bose Solo Soundbar Series II vs Sonos Beam to see which one is the best.
Contents
Bose Solo Soundbar Series II Vs Sonos Beam: Compare
The Price
It is essential to get the most bang for your buck, which is why we first look at the cost of these soundbars. Some soundbars are pretty expensive, such as those on our Top Soundbars Under 600 list. These soundbars are fantastic, but you can get them for less than 500 dollars.
Bose Solo Series II
The Bose Solo Series II, which is quite a while old, is currently unavailable for purchase on Amazon. These are still available on eBay, but they’ve refurbished models, and the price is insane at $119.00.
They professionally restored a Bose soundbar for close to 100 dollars! This soundbar was initially priced at 180 dollars, so this $60 savings is fantastic.
I was able to find some brand-new and best soundbars on Amazon for less than 150 dollars, so it might be worth shopping around.
Sonos Beam
The Sonos Beam’s RRP is $399.99 as of the time I am writing this article. This price is not unfair, and it can be purchased directly from Sonos at this price.
Amazon can be a bit strange as the Sonos Beam price fluctuates on a seemingly weekly basis. It has been sold for less than the RRP and sometimes slightly more.
It is worth doing some research and shopping around. This is because you can find it on eBay for as low as 300 dollars from some sellers. If you’re willing to purchase a used one, you can even get it for less!
The verdict: If you compare the Sonos Beam’s price of $399.99 to the Bose Solo Series II refurbished unit priced at $119, the Sonos Beam will be at the lower end. This is a considerable price difference.
Although I don’t think the Bose is too expensive, they are excellent value for money. However, this is a huge price difference that is hard to ignore.
The Design
Bose and Sonos both have a distinct style for all their products. The soundbar’s design is crucial. While you may be buying a soundbar to improve audio quality, creating the soundbar is just as important. Every soundbar owner I know has one on display.
Bose Solo Series II
Bose has managed to maintain a very uniform look with their soundbars. The Bose Solo Series II is an excellent example of the Bose design aesthetic. This Bose standard Bose product is a plastic body with a metal grille.
It looks great! The grille wraps around to the front, giving it that movie theater look I love. It measures 2.8″ x 21.6″ x 3.4″, which is a little smaller than the Sonos Beam.
This Bose Solo Series II Small Product Big Sound will give you a better idea about its dimensions and appearance.
This soundbar has a unique feature that can be used with almost any type of TV. This SAMSUNG 65 inch Class Crystal UHD Series – 4K Ultra HDR Smart TV is not where I would want it to be.
The soundbar’s small size would allow it to fit between the legs of a TV. This is what my parents have, and they love it. Bose does a great job of making soundbars wall-mountable. This is possible because they are small and light.
The Bose Solo Series II soundbar is quite old. It is impressive to see what they have around the back. A modern soundbar will come with an HDMI port and possibly an optical port if it is lucky.
This is not true. However, there is one drawback. There are three ports: a visual, an AUX, and a coaxial. You can also use the USB port to update and other stuff. This soundbar does not have an HDMI port, which is a significant drawback. This soundbar system could be too expensive if it doesn’t have an HDMI port.
Sonos Beam
The Sonos Beam is a beautiful soundbar. You can get it in black or white.
Although I have not had the opportunity to see the white version, you can check out this Sonos Beam Unboxing for a better idea. This compact soundbar measures only 25.6 inches x 2.5 inches x 4.0 inches. The first thing that grabs my attention is how curvy this soundbar is.
Most of the Sonos Beam’s components are made from robust and sturdy plastic. Sonos offers a fabric grille that looks better than any metal or plastic one. While you might be concerned about dust and kids breaking it, I think it’s a significant effect.
This is a beautiful piece that you can proudly display. A smart soundbar such as this would look fantastic with a 55-inch Toshiba 55C350KU C350Series LED 4K UHD.
Its smaller dimensions mean that it can fit between the feet of larger TVs (50 inches and more) and still look great. It is also compact enough to look great in front of smaller TVs.
You may be surprised at how sleek, and modern the Sonos Beam appears from the front. You can see the back of the Sonos Beam when you ask it to turn and give you a little wiggle.
The power port is there as you’d expect. You will also find an HDMI port but no optical port. This isn’t as important as it sounds, as Sonos offers a special HDMI-to-optical cable.
The verdict: Both from a design and aesthetic standpoint, I prefer the Bose Solo Series II. The grille wraps around the soundbar’s body, and I love it.
The lack of an HDMI port on this model is a problem. I am aware that it is old and replaced with the Bose TV speaker, which does have one. But, this is not the same as today’s Sonos Beam, so that I will give it a try.
The Sound
We are now at the most critical part of our epic Bose Solo Series II battle with Sonos Beam, the sound. The rise in thin TVs has made it necessary and desirable to have a soundbar. Although more recent TVs have better speakers, they still lack soundbars.
Bose Solo Series II
Although I am sorry if I sound like a broken record, the Bose Solo Series II has been discontinued, and Bose only offers refurbished units. This is a reminder that the Bose Solo Series II was a fantastic speaker in its day, and the audio quality is still excellent. The Bose TV Speakers are better. I have to admit.
This is a significant upgrade to the speakers on your TV. It would also be great to watch a movie such as Predator, which has a unique 4K version.
This movie has lots of action and ambient sound. It will make a massive difference in the quality of what your TV speakers offer.
Although I did mention that Bose has made better soundbars, you’ll see that many people are very impressed by the Bose Solo Series II sound quality.
This soundbar does provide some vocal clarity, and it’s very affordable at just 100 dollars. Even if it were $179.99 to buy a new one, the sound quality you get is still excellent.
Bluetooth connectivity is one area where the Bose Solo Series II has the Sonos Beam beat. This feature is essential to my wife.
It is impossible to have a great soundbar in the large room, home theatre, or any other area of our home without it. Bose has Bluetooth, which allows you to stream your favorite music directly from your smartphone or tablet. It sounds great!
Sonos Beam
Sonos delivers on surround sound quality. I have used the Sonos beam many times and have never been disappointed. I was highly complimentary of the Sonos Beam, and my opinion hasn’t changed.
Although there are more expensive soundbars available, the Sonos Beam is still a great choice. It packs more punch than most people realize. The standard configuration includes a front and side speaker, which are right at your face.
The surround sound quality is better when you’re sitting straight up. My son and I just bought the 4K version Of How To Train Your Dragon. It is a great movie and series. The surround sound quality through the Sonos Beam was terrific.
This Sonos Beam Sound Test was exciting. It is a great sound test. It produces incredible surround sound. What is even more impressive is its ability to excel at mid-range stuff, which is almost a given.
I was impressed by the vocal clarity, dialogue mode, and how the bass maintained a bit of kick even at higher volumes. It is amazing how great this thing sounds right out of the box.
The Sonos Beam is an excellent choice for movies, TV shows, and sporting events. You’ll be able to see the rest of my reviews and articles about the Sonos Beam. Bluetooth connectivity is missing from this device.
Although it may not be a significant issue for some, I think of 400 dollars, Sonos could have added Bluetooth connectivity.
The verdict
Bose Solo Series II offers excellent value and is a perfect way for you to get better sound for movies and TV. The Sonos Beam is the clear winner.
The Sonos Beam has a much better sound quality and overall sound experience. The Solo is solid. However, Bose has created soundbars similar to it, which render this one obsolete, if I’m being honest.
The Remote Control
A reasonable remote control is a must-have for me. It is a remote control that does far more than I can imagine.
This LG 55UP8000PUA Amazona Built-in 55″ 4K Smart UHD TV was purchased not too long ago. The TV is excellent, but the remote control is pathetic. This is why I made sure that the remote control section of our Bose Solo Series II Vs. Sonos Beam was included.
Bose Solo Series II
Bose gives you a remote control every time. While the remote they offer is essential, their Fire TV Stick style remote only has a few buttons. It’s straightforward to use and provides all the information you need. Bose has a fantastic app that you can use.
However, if you don’t want to spend close to 100 dollars, I would guess that you don’t need that much control over your sound. The primary remote should provide enough.
Sonos Beam
This Unboxing Sonos Beam video, and many others like it, will all show one thing in common. Not one of them comes with remote control. Sonos has eliminated the controller from their higher-end soundbar, the Sonos Arc.
Its 800 dollars price tag doesn’t include a remote. This soundbar can be set up to work with your TV remote. But, what you need is an app that gives you great control over the soundbar system. Although it is an excellent app, I would have preferred a basic remote.
Although you don’t need voice control for soundbars, it is a valuable feature that can be used to make calls.
The Sonos Beam works with Alexa or Google Assistant. The Sonos Beam also features a five-far-field microphone array that allows voice commands to be heard clearly without shouting. You can adjust the settings and even play your media from your couch.
The verdict: This category is easy in our Bose Solo Series II battle with Sonos Beam to choose a winner. The Solo Series II is the winner here, as the Beam doesn’t have a remote. It is simple, but I believe the remote Bose provides enough control to do the job. The design is similar to the Amazon Fire TV Stick.
What’s in the Box?
You need to understand precisely what you’re getting when you spend as high as $400 on an item. We will be looking at what both boxes contain.
Bose Solo Series II
I have found that Bose doesn’t always give me an HDMI cable, which has been a problem with some other articles. This isn’t a problem as the HDMI connection is not available.
Bose will give you everything you need to get out of the box. You get the soundbar, the power cable, and your remote control. You also get a wall bracket, which is great for wall mounting.
Sonos Beam
The best thing about Sonos and their Sonos Beam is that you get everything in the Sonos Beam box. The box contains the soundbar as well as the power cable. You also get an HDMI wire and an HDMI to optical cables.
These are useful if you want to connect the soundbar to your TV using an optical cable. If you have any questions, a CD can be used to help you set up the soundbar.
The verdict: This is a tie. Both boxes provide everything you need to connect your soundbar to the TV. Although the Bose Solos Series II has an extra bracket, it does not have an HDMI port. Yes, these soundbars are great. I’m happy shaking them and calling it a draw.
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FAQs
1. Is the Sonos Beam compatible with WiFi?
It works with WiFi.
2. Is Airplay 2 compatible with Sonos Beam?
Yes, Sonos Beam supports Apple Airplay 2.
3. Bluetooth compatibility with My Bose Solo 5
It supports Bluetooth.
Conclusion
The Bose Solo Soundbar Series II is an excellent sound bar that offers high-quality audio, wireless technology, and an integrated subwoofer. It’s perfect for those who want a sleek, powerful soundbar to enhance their home theater moment.
The Sonos Beam is the best option for anyone who wants a compact speaker that’s easy to use and delivers excellent performance in their home.
So, which soundbar is the best? Well, that’s a tricky question to answer. Both of these soundbars are fantastic, and they offer more than enough features to make them worth considering.
If you have any questions about the Sonos Beam vs. Bose Solo Sound bar Series II review, please leave a comment below. Hooke Audio will be happy to answer any questions you may have and help you out in your search for the best soundbar for your home theater setup.
