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Bose vs sonos: uncovering the best smart soundbar for your home theater

Rob is a seasoned home improvement writer with over 15 years of experience researching and recommending products for the home. Prior to starting Nurturing Homeaid, he wrote extensively for This Old House magazine and has been featured as a home expert on several TV and radio programs. An avid DIY-er,...

What To Know

  • The Sonos Arc SL Shadow Edition is compatible with the Sonos Sub and Sonos One SL speakers, enabling you to create a complete home theater system.
  • The choice between the Bose Smart Soundbar 700 and the Sonos Arc SL Shadow Edition ultimately depends on your individual preferences and requirements.
  • If you seek a premium and feature-rich soundbar that delivers an immersive sound experience, the Bose Smart Soundbar 700 is an excellent choice.

When it comes to elevating your home entertainment experience, a soundbar is an indispensable investment. The Bose Smart Soundbar 700 and the Sonos Arc SL Shadow Edition stand out as two exceptional options in their respective categories. However, choosing between these two audio powerhouses can be a daunting task. To help you make an informed decision, this comprehensive comparison will explore their key features, performance, and value proposition.

Design and Aesthetics

Bose Smart Soundbar 700

The Bose Smart Soundbar 700 exudes sophistication with its sleek and minimalist design. Its low-profile, black finish seamlessly blends into any décor. The soundbar features a perforated metal grille that conceals the powerful drivers, while the tempered glass top adds a touch of elegance.

Sonos Arc SL Shadow Edition

The Sonos Arc SL Shadow Edition boasts a captivating all-black aesthetic that exudes both style and stealth. Its matte black finish and rounded edges give it a modern and understated appearance. The soundbar’s curved design provides a wide soundstage, ensuring an immersive audio experience throughout your room.

Sound Quality

Bose Smart Soundbar 700

The Bose Smart Soundbar 700 delivers an exceptional soundstage with its proprietary TrueSpace technology. This innovative feature creates a virtual surround sound experience that envelops you from all sides, even without dedicated rear speakers. The soundbar’s powerful drivers produce clear and balanced audio, with deep bass and crisp highs.

Sonos Arc SL Shadow Edition

The Sonos Arc SL Shadow Edition offers an equally impressive acoustic performance. Its Dolby Atmos support enables it to deliver immersive spatial audio that transports you into the heart of the action. The soundbar’s 11 drivers, including up-firing speakers, create a wide and detailed soundstage, making it ideal for movies, music, and gaming.

Features and Connectivity

Bose Smart Soundbar 700

The Bose Smart Soundbar 700 is equipped with a comprehensive range of connectivity options. It supports Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and HDMI with ARC (Audio Return Channel). The soundbar also features built-in Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, enabling you to control it with your voice.

Sonos Arc SL Shadow Edition

The Sonos Arc SL Shadow Edition offers similar connectivity options, including Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and HDMI with eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel). However, it lacks built-in voice assistants, requiring you to use the Sonos app or a separate voice assistant device for control.

Surround Sound Capabilities

Bose Smart Soundbar 700

The Bose Smart Soundbar 700 can be expanded to create a true surround sound system by adding compatible Bose surround speakers. This allows you to enjoy a more immersive and cinematic audio experience.

Sonos Arc SL Shadow Edition

The Sonos Arc SL Shadow Edition is compatible with the Sonos Sub and Sonos One SL speakers, enabling you to create a complete home theater system. The Sonos Sub provides deep and powerful bass, while the Sonos One SL speakers can be used as rear surrounds or height channels.

Smart Features and Ecosystem

Bose Smart Soundbar 700

The Bose Smart Soundbar 700 integrates seamlessly with the Bose ecosystem. It supports the Bose Music app, which allows you to control the soundbar, access music streaming services, and adjust settings.

Sonos Arc SL Shadow Edition

The Sonos Arc SL Shadow Edition is part of the wider Sonos ecosystem, which includes a range of speakers, soundbars, and other audio components. The Sonos app provides a central hub for controlling all your Sonos devices, creating a cohesive and multi-room audio experience.

Value Proposition

Bose Smart Soundbar 700

The Bose Smart Soundbar 700 offers a premium sound experience with its advanced features and sleek design. However, it comes at a higher price point compared to the Sonos Arc SL Shadow Edition.

Sonos Arc SL Shadow Edition

The Sonos Arc SL Shadow Edition provides excellent sound quality and a robust feature set at a more affordable price. However, it lacks built-in voice assistants and requires additional components for surround sound capabilities.

The Verdict: Which Soundbar is Right for You?

The choice between the Bose Smart Soundbar 700 and the Sonos Arc SL Shadow Edition ultimately depends on your individual preferences and requirements.

If you seek a premium and feature-rich soundbar that delivers an immersive sound experience, the Bose Smart Soundbar 700 is an excellent choice. However, if you prioritize affordability, a wider ecosystem, and the flexibility to customize your surround sound system, the Sonos Arc SL Shadow Edition is the more compelling option.

Information You Need to Know

Q: Which soundbar has a better soundstage?

A: Both the Bose Smart Soundbar 700 and Sonos Arc SL Shadow Edition offer wide and detailed soundstages. However, the Bose Smart Soundbar 700’s TrueSpace technology provides a more immersive virtual surround sound experience.

Q: Can I add rear speakers to the Sonos Arc SL Shadow Edition?

A: Yes, you can add Sonos One SL speakers as rear surrounds to create a complete surround sound system with the Sonos Arc SL Shadow Edition.

Q: Which soundbar is more affordable?

A: The Sonos Arc SL Shadow Edition is generally more affordable than the Bose Smart Soundbar 700, offering a similar feature set at a lower price point.

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Rob Sanders

Rob is a seasoned home improvement writer with over 15 years of experience researching and recommending products for the home. Prior to starting Nurturing Homeaid, he wrote extensively for This Old House magazine and has been featured as a home expert on several TV and radio programs. An avid DIY-er, Rob takes pride in testing out the latest tools and gadgets to see how they can make home projects easier. When it comes to heating systems, he's evaluated over 50 different furnace and boiler models over the years. Rob founded Nurturing Homeaid with his business partner Jim in 2020 to provide homeowners with genuine product recommendations they can trust. In his free time, Rob enjoys remodeling old homes with his family and traveling to visit architectural landmarks across the country. He holds a bachelor's degree in Journalism from Syracuse University.
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