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Audiophile’s paradise: sonos arc vs bose 700, a comparison of the titans

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 features a curved soundbar with rounded edges, while the Bose 700 has a more rectangular shape with a perforated metal grille.
  • The Sonos Arc’s larger drivers and wider soundstage provide a more expansive and immersive experience, while the Bose 700 offers a more focused and intimate sound.
  • However, if you value a more focused sound, angled side-firing drivers, and a sleek and compact design, the Bose 700 is a compelling option.

The soundbar market has witnessed a fierce rivalry between two industry giants: Sonos and Bose. Their flagship models, the Sonos Arc and Bose 700, represent the pinnacle of soundbar technology, offering immersive audio experiences for home entertainment enthusiasts. In this comprehensive comparison, we’ll delve into the key features, performance, and user experience of these two exceptional soundbars, helping you make an informed decision for your home audio setup.

Design and Aesthetics

The Sonos Arc and Bose 700 boast sleek and stylish designs that complement any modern living space. The Sonos Arc features a curved soundbar with rounded edges, while the Bose 700 has a more rectangular shape with a perforated metal grille. Both soundbars come with sleek wall-mount brackets, allowing for seamless integration into your home décor.

Sound Quality: The Heart of the Experience

Immersive Soundstage

The Sonos Arc utilizes a 5.1.2 channel configuration, featuring five forward-firing drivers, two upward-firing drivers for Dolby Atmos support, and two side-firing drivers for a wider soundstage. The Bose 700 also employs a 5.1.2 channel setup, but its side-firing drivers are angled slightly upwards to enhance the perceived height of the soundstage.

Clarity and Detail

Both soundbars deliver exceptional clarity and detail, reproducing soundtracks with precision and nuance. The Sonos Arc’s larger drivers and wider soundstage provide a more expansive and immersive experience, while the Bose 700 offers a more focused and intimate sound.

Bass Response

The Sonos Arc boasts a dedicated subwoofer channel, ensuring deep and powerful bass response. The Bose 700 relies on its built-in woofers, which deliver a solid bass performance but may not match the intensity of the Arc’s dedicated subwoofer.

Features and Functionality

Smart Home Integration

The Sonos Arc integrates seamlessly with the Sonos ecosystem, allowing you to control it using the Sonos app or via voice commands with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple Siri. The Bose 700 also supports voice control but only with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.

Connectivity

Both soundbars offer a wide range of connectivity options, including HDMI ARC, optical, and Bluetooth. The Sonos Arc also supports Apple AirPlay 2, allowing for wireless streaming from iOS devices.

Room Correction

The Sonos Arc features Trueplay room correction technology, which analyzes your room’s acoustics and adjusts the soundbar’s output accordingly. The Bose 700 lacks automatic room correction, but it does offer a manual bass adjustment feature to fine-tune the sound.

User Experience

Setup and Installation

Both soundbars come with user-friendly setup instructions and can be installed quickly and easily. The Sonos Arc‘s curved design and included wall-mount bracket make it a breeze to position and secure.

Remote Controls

The Sonos Arc’s remote is simple and intuitive, providing easy access to volume, playback, and sound mode controls. The Bose 700’s remote offers a more comprehensive range of controls, including a dedicated bass adjustment button.

User Interface

The Sonos app provides a seamless user interface for controlling the Arc, accessing music services, and adjusting settings. The Bose Music app is well-designed but may not offer the same level of customization as the Sonos app.

In a nutshell: The Final Verdict

Choosing between the Sonos Arc and Bose 700 ultimately depends on your individual preferences and needs. If you prioritize an immersive soundstage, deep bass response, and seamless smart home integration, the Sonos Arc is the clear choice. However, if you value a more focused sound, angled side-firing drivers, and a sleek and compact design, the Bose 700 is a compelling option.

What You Need to Learn

Which soundbar is better for large rooms?

The Sonos Arc‘s wider soundstage and dedicated subwoofer make it the better choice for larger rooms.

Which soundbar has better voice control support?

The Sonos Arc supports voice control with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple Siri, while the Bose 700 only supports Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.

Which soundbar is easier to set up?

Both soundbars offer user-friendly setup instructions and can be installed quickly and easily. The Sonos Arc‘s curved design and included wall-mount bracket may provide a slight advantage in terms of ease of installation.

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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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