The Bose Smart Speaker 500 is part of Bose’s ambitious foray into the world of smart speakers. Known for its premium audio products, Bose aims to combine its legendary sound quality with the convenience of innovative technology. The result is a high-performance speaker that fills your room with immersive sound and offers advanced features like voice assistant integration, multi-room audio, and a sleek, modern design.
In this review, we’ll take an in-depth look at the Bose Smart Speaker 500, covering everything from its design and audio performance to its intelligent capabilities and overall value. By the end of this article, you’ll understand what makes this speaker stand out and whether it’s the right choice for your home.
In this Bose Smart Speaker 500 Review, we’ll take a look at:
Design and Build Quality
The first thing that strikes you about the Bose Smart Speaker 500 is its sleek and premium design. Bose has a reputation for creating products that look as good as they sound, and this speaker is no exception.
Elegant and Modern Design
The Bose Smart Speaker 500 boasts a modern design that is stylish and functional. It features an anodized aluminum body with a seamless finish, giving it a sleek and durable appearance. The speaker is available in two color options: Triple Black and Luxe Silver, allowing it to blend seamlessly into any room decor. The compact size makes it easy to place the speaker on a bookshelf, countertop, or nightstand, while its curved edges and minimalistic design ensure that it doesn’t overpower the room aesthetically.
Full-Color LCD Display
One of the standout features of the Bose Smart Speaker 500 is its full-color LCD on the front. This display shows album art, track information, and the current audio source, adding a visual element to your listening experience. The screen is bright and easy to read, even across the room. Unlike other smart speakers, the Bose Smart Speaker 500’s display is not touchscreen; however, it provides helpful visual feedback without being overly distracting.
Intuitive Touch Controls
In addition to voice control, the Bose Smart Speaker 500 features touch-sensitive controls on the top of the speaker. These controls allow you to adjust the volume, play or pause music, skip tracks, and activate voice assistants with a simple tap. The touch controls are responsive and well-designed, making it easy to control the speaker even when you don’t want to use your voice.
Audio Performance
As with all Bose products, sound quality is where the Bose Smart Speaker 500 truly shines. This speaker is designed to deliver a wide soundstage and room-filling audio that immerses you in your music, podcasts, or other audio content.
Room-Filling Sound
The Bose Smart Speaker 500 is equipped with two custom drivers that face in opposite directions. This unique design allows the speaker to reflect sound off the walls, creating a broad and immersive soundstage. Unlike traditional mono or stereo speakers, the Bose Smart Speaker 500 produces a more expansive audio experience, making it feel like the sound is coming from multiple directions. Whether you’re listening to music, watching a movie, or hosting a party, this speaker fills the room with rich, detailed sound.
Clear and Balanced Audio
Bose has a long history of engineering speakers that deliver clear and balanced audio, and the Bose Smart Speaker 500 is no exception. The speaker’s sound profile is well-balanced, with crisp highs, detailed mids, and deep bass that doesn’t overpower the other frequencies. Whether listening to classical music, rock, hip-hop, or podcasts, the Bose Smart Speaker 500 ensures that every note and word is heard clearly and precisely.
Adjustable EQ Settings
For those who like to customize their listening experience, the Bose Smart Speaker 500 offers adjustable EQ settings through the Bose Music app. This feature lets you tweak the bass, treble, and midrange frequencies to suit your preferences. Whether you prefer a bass-heavy sound or a more neutral profile, the adjustable EQ controls your music’s sound.
No Distortion at High Volumes
One of the most impressive aspects of the Bose Smart Speaker 500 is its ability to maintain audio clarity even at high volumes. Many speakers tend to distort or lose quality when the volume is cranked up, but the Bose Smart Speaker 500 delivers clean, distortion-free sound, regardless of how loud you play your music. This makes it an excellent choice for parties, gatherings, or simply enjoying your favorite tracks at full blast.
Intelligent Features and Voice Assistant Integration
In addition to its superior audio performance, the Bose Smart Speaker 500 is packed with intelligent features that make it a versatile addition to any home.
Dual Voice Assistant Support
The Bose Smart Speaker 500 supports Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, allowing you to choose your preferred voice assistant. With voice control, you can easily ask the speaker to play music, check the weather, set reminders, control smart home devices, and much more. The speaker’s eight-microphone array ensures it can hear your voice commands clearly, even when music is playing at a high volume.
Multi-Room Audio
The Bose Smart Speaker 500 is part of the Bose smart home family, which means it can be paired with other Bose smart speakers and soundbars for multi-room audio. Using the Bose Music app, you can group multiple speakers and play the same music in every room or different songs in different rooms. This feature is perfect for those who want to create a seamless audio experience throughout their home.
Apple AirPlay 2 and Spotify Connect
For Apple users, the Bose Smart Speaker 500 supports Apple AirPlay 2, allowing you to stream music directly from your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. This integration makes it easy to play your favorite songs from Apple Music, YouTube, or any other app that supports AirPlay. Additionally, the speaker is compatible with Spotify Connect, enabling you to control your music directly from the Spotify app on your smartphone or tablet.
Bose Music App
The Bose Smart Speaker 500 can be controlled through the Bose Music app, which provides a user-friendly interface for managing all of the speaker’s features. The app allows you to browse music, adjust settings, create presets, and group speakers for multi-room audio. It also lets you personalize your listening experience with adjustable EQ settings and access to your favorite streaming services. The app’s intuitive design makes navigating and customizing your speaker’s performance easy.
Privacy Controls
Bose has included thoughtful privacy controls with the Bose Smart Speaker 500. You can easily disable the microphones by pressing the mic-off button on the speaker’s top. This feature ensures that the speaker is not listening to your conversations when you don’t want it to. The Bose Music app also allows you to manage your privacy settings, giving you control over how your data is used.
Connectivity and Compatibility
The Bose Smart Speaker 500 offers a wide range of connectivity options, making it easy to integrate into your existing audio setup or smart home ecosystem.
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Connectivity
The Bose Smart Speaker 500 connects to your home Wi-Fi network, allowing you to stream music from your favorite services without needing a smartphone or other device. The speaker also supports Bluetooth, allowing you to play audio from any Bluetooth-enabled device, such as a smartphone, tablet, or laptop. This dual connectivity ensures you can enjoy your music no matter where it’s stored.
AUX Input
In addition to wireless connectivity, the Bose Smart Speaker 500 includes a 3.5mm AUX input, allowing you to connect wired audio sources. This feature is handy for connecting older devices, such as a CD player, turntable, or MP3 player, to the speaker. The AUX input provides a reliable connection for high-quality audio playback.
Compatibility with Bose Products
The Bose Smart Speaker 500 is compatible with other Bose products, including soundbars, home theater systems, and portable speakers. This compatibility allows you to create a fully integrated audio system that delivers consistent performance across all your Bose devices. Whether expanding your home audio setup or adding a new speaker to your system, the Bose Smart Speaker 500 offers seamless integration with the rest of the ecosystem.
Comparison with Competitors
The Bose Smart Speaker 500 faces competition from other high-end smart speakers, including the Sonos One, Amazon Echo Studio, and Apple HomePod. Here’s how it compares:
Sonos One
The Sonos One is known for its excellent sound quality and deep integration with Alexa and Google Assistant. While the Sonos One offers similar intelligent features, the Bose Smart Speaker 500 stands out with its wider soundstage, full-color display, and customizable EQ settings. The Bose speaker also offers superior build quality and a more premium design, making it a better fit for those who prioritize aesthetics.
Amazon Echo Studio
The Amazon Echo Studio is designed for audiophiles, supporting Dolby Atmos and 3D audio. While the Echo Studio delivers impressive sound, the Bose Smart Speaker 500 offers a more balanced and natural audio profile, making it suitable for a broader range of music genres. Additionally, the Bose speaker’s design and build quality are more refined, making it a better choice for users who value performance and style.
Apple HomePod
The Apple HomePod is an excellent choice for users deeply embedded in the Apple ecosystem, offering seamless integration with Siri and Apple services. However, the Bose Smart Speaker 500 provides more flexibility with its support for both Alexa and Google Assistant and compatibility with a broader range of devices and services. The Bose speaker’s sound quality is also more customizable, thanks to its adjustable EQ settings, making it a better option for those who want to tailor their audio experience.
Pricing and Availability
The Bose Smart Speaker 500 is priced as a premium product, reflecting its high-quality audio performance, intelligent features, and elegant design. It is available for purchase directly from Bose, as well as from major retailers and online stores. While it may be more expensive than some competitors, the Bose Smart Speaker 500 offers excellent value for those who demand the best in sound quality and smart home integration.
Conclusion
The Bose Smart Speaker 500 is an outstanding choice for anyone looking to upgrade their home audio experience with a smart speaker offering superior sound quality and advanced features. Whether you’re an audiophile, a smart home enthusiast, or simply someone who appreciates good design, the Bose Smart Speaker 500 delivers on all fronts. Its wide soundstage, transparent and balanced audio, and versatile smart features make it a top contender in the smart speaker market.
Summary of Bose Smart Speaker 500 Features
Feature | Description |
Design and Build Quality | Sleek, modern design with a full-color LCD and intuitive touch controls. |
Audio Performance | Room-filling sound with clear and balanced audio, adjustable EQ settings, and no distortion at high volumes. |
Smart Features | Dual voice assistant support with Alexa and Google Assistant, multi-room audio, and Apple AirPlay 2. |
Connectivity | Supports Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, AUX input, and seamless integration with other Bose products. |
Comparison | Outperforms competitors like Sonos One, Amazon Echo Studio, and Apple HomePod in design and audio versatility. |
Pricing and Availability | Competitively priced, available through Bose and major retailers. |
The Bose Smart Speaker 500 is a top-tier smart speaker that offers exceptional value for anyone looking to enhance their home audio experience. Whether you’re streaming music, controlling your smart home, or enjoying high-quality sound, the Bose Smart Speaker 500 is an investment that pays off in spades.
Bose Smart Speaker 500 FAQ
How does the Bose Smart Speaker 500 compare to other smart speakers regarding sound quality?
The Bose Smart Speaker 500 stands out for its wide soundstage and clear, balanced audio. Unlike many other smart speakers, which often focus on bass-heavy sound, the Bose Smart Speaker 500 offers a well-rounded sound profile with crisp highs, detailed mids, and deep bass that doesn’t overwhelm. The speaker’s two custom drivers face opposite directions, allowing sound to reflect off walls and create an immersive audio experience that fills the room. This makes it an excellent choice for users who value high-quality sound across all music genres.
Can I use the Bose Smart Speaker 500 with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant?
Yes, the Bose Smart Speaker 500 supports both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, allowing you to choose your preferred voice assistant. You can easily switch between the two, depending on your needs. Both voice assistants will enable you to control music, manage smart home devices, set reminders, check the weather, and more. The speaker’s eight-microphone array ensures it can hear your voice commands clearly, even when music is playing at high volumes.
Does the Bose Smart Speaker 500 support multi-room audio?
Yes, the Bose Smart Speaker 500 supports multi-room audio through the Bose Music app. You can pair it with other Bose smart speakers and soundbars to create a seamless audio experience throughout your home. The app allows you to group multiple speakers and control them from a single interface, letting you play the same music in every room or different tracks in different rooms. This feature is perfect for users who want a consistent audio experience across multiple rooms.