Sonos Beam review
May 06, 2019
In many ways, Sоnоs is Apple in audiо. Its acоustics and sоftware are easy and cоnvenient tо use due tо the attentiоn paid during their creatiоn. The cоmpany has develоped its оwn wirele...
Read MoreSonos Beam vs Bose Soundbar 700 – Affordable or Full-Packed Gadget?
Features
The main aim is to compare Sonos Beam vs Bose Soundbar 700 in order to see whether the low-cost Sonos Beam is able to provide the quality of listening and whether the Bose Soundbar 700 is worth overpaying for its extras.
Sonos Beam’s 3-channel construction helps disperse the sound in the best way when bouncing it off the walls. HDMI CEC control allows switching a TV off using voice. Besides, it has a Night mode to reduce sound (but still regulate it in the same range) when it’s necessary.
The most Sonos Beam’s remarkable feature is two voice controls to choose from – Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant versus Bose Soundbar 700’s Amazon Alexa only. However, Bose’s Alexa has been upgraded and features eight custom mics to accept voice commands even in a noisy environment. The Sonos Beam’s Alexa has a 5-array mic that is not so powerful but still doesn’t require full silence to heat the user.
The Bose Soundbar 700 comes with the app allows managing all your music sources, including Internet radio stations, streaming platforms, etc.
Design
When comparing Bose Soundbar 700 vs Sonos Beam, the latter is noticeably more compact. The Sonos Beam is wall-mounted and wrapped in a cloth grille. It comes with either a black or white cabinet. Touch-control buttons are on the top and have LED sensors to indicate the soundar’s status. All the ports are located on the back panel.
The top of the Bose Soundbar 700 is tempered glass and the other sides of the unit are covered with metal grille. It looks modern but collects dust easily that’s why the manufacturers included a microfiber cleaning cloth in the package. It’s very long and fits 50 or 55-inch TV more than smaller models.
Sonos Beam Pros & Cons
Pros
- The availability of Apple AirPlay 2.
- Deep and weighty bass.
Cons
- This unit provides a good soundstage but in the small room only.
- No wall bracket in the box (by the way, they’re quite expensive).
- It’s impossible to toggle between Alexa and Google Assistant immediately.
Bose Soundbar 700 Pros & Cons
Pros
- Good voice clarity when watching TV.
- The built-in speaker can handle the full range of music very well – from hip-hop to classical.
- The opportunity to connect the soundbar either via the optical or the HDMI ARC connection.
Cons
- To pair the soundbar with the mobile device it’s necessary to connect it directly to the Ethernet port (note that a Cat5e cable is not included). It’s impossible to hook it up wirelessly to a router.
