Bose offers a modest catalog of soundbars. However, most of the models sell for at least $400. If you’re on a budget, the Bose Solo Soundbar Series II and Bose TV Speaker are more accessible price-wise. As expected, the company cuts corners with these 2.0 soundbars. For one, they lack the smart features found on the Bose Soundbar 500 and 700.
But if you’re simply looking for an affordable upgrade to your TV’s speakers, these models should do the trick. Which one should you buy? Below, we compare the two to find out.
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Bose Solo Soundbar Series II vs Bose TV Speaker Comparison Chart
Design
Bose’s TV Speaker has a thinner profile than the Solo Soundbar Series II.
Although considered budget models, the Bose Solo Soundbar Series II and Bose TV Speaker look premium. Both feature rectangular forms with rounded corners and stretch over 20 inches. The TV Speaker is the longer soundbar of the two, measuring just over two inches in thickness. By contrast, the Solo Soundbar II is almost three inches tall.
You won’t find any buttons on these soundbars. Instead, they’re operated by a sleek-looking remote control. The remote features depressed buttons that correspond to the key features of the Solo Soundbar and TV Speaker.
Exterior-wise, both devices come with a smooth plastic top while their front and sides are wrapped with a metal grille. Most of the nitty-gritty of the speakers, like their inputs, are located at the right back. Meanwhile, the center top sports the small Bose logo.
This rectangular form and buttonless design give the Solo Soundbar II and TV Speaker a minimalist overall appearance. As such, they should look great in any home theater setup. Both devices should also fit right under a TV. Otherwise, you can mount it flush to the wall. Just keep in mind only the Solo Soundbar II includes wall brackets out of the box.
Sound Performance
The Bose TV Speaker includes a center tweeter and HDMI port, giving it the edge over the Solo Soundbar Series II when it comes to sound performance.
Bose’s Solo Soundbar Series II and TV Speaker are standard 2.0 soundbars — meaning they lack a subwoofer. Instead, they have two full-range drivers that deliver wide angled, spatial sound. The overall sound profile is balanced, with clear vocals and an average stereo soundstage. If you’ve settled for your TV’s speakers for a while, these soundbars will offer a noticeable enhancement in sound.
Where the Bose TV Speaker wins is in the addition of a tweeter. This helps boost the audio output while also delivering a more pronounced bass. With the Solo Soundbar II, the absence of a center driver means the left and right speakers compensate. As a result, it has a more downplayed audio as it tries to produce a center sound.
Unfortunately, you can’t add an external subwoofer to the Solo Soundbar II to further enhance low-bass reproduction. The device is sold as a standalone unit. On the TV Speaker, you have the option to connect a wired bass module like the Bose Bass Module 500 or Bose Bass Module 700.
You can, however, make bass adjustments on the Solo Soundbar II. Like the Bose TV Speaker, it has a bass button on its remote to boost bass performance. Both soundbars also have a Dialogue Mode that elevates vocals without increasing volume. They also support Dolby Digital but convert the sound to stereo.
Features
The Bose TV Speaker has better compatibility than the Bose Solo Soundbar Series II.
Bose’s Solo Soundbar Series II and TV Speaker offer basic features. As described in the Sound Performance section, both soundbars have a bass boost and dialogue mode. LED lights on the front tell you when these features are enabled.
Unlike the Bose Smart Soundbar series, the Solo Soundbar II and TV speakers lack Alexa and Google Assistant. You also cannot customize the EQ on these two devices, and they don’t pair with a Bose mobile app.
However, you can connect the Solo Soundbar II and TV Speaker to your mobile devices. The soundbars come with Bluetooth with a similar 30-foot range. Even near max distance, pair phones stay connected to the speakers, with no loss or delay in the audio.
Compatibility
Like most Bose soundbars, the Solo Soundbar II and TV Speaker are easy to set up. The soundbars use a single connection to your TV via an included optical audio cable. If your source doesn’t have an optical port, you can connect using the auxiliary input instead.
Bose’s Solo Soundbar II also comes with a coaxial port as an alternative to the optical port. On the Bose TV Speaker, you get an HDMI input instead. Aside from providing better sound quality, the HDMI port allows users to control the soundbar using your TV’s remote control. It also certifies the TV Speaker to work with any Roku TV.
While the Solo Soundbar II doesn’t connect to Bose’s subwoofer modules, it still works with other Bose products. Similar to the Bose TV Speaker, the Solo Soundbar II is compatible with any Bose Home Speaker products.
Verdict
Bose’s TV Speaker is a better purchase than the Bose Solo Soundbar Series II.
Between the Bose Solo Soundbar Series II and the Bose TV Speaker, the latter is a better 2.0 soundbar. Although both have the same features, the addition of a central tweeter gives the TV Speaker an advantage in overall sound performance. It also comes with an HDMI ARC input, allowing it to play higher-quality audio and giving it Roku TV compatibility.
FAQs
In addition to two full-range drivers, the Bose TV Speaker comes with a central tweeter. This gives it a more pronounced sound profile compared to the downplayed audio you get from the Solo Soundbar Series II. Bose’s TV Speaker also has an HDMI input, allowing for higher-quality sound performance and Roku TV compatibility.
No. Bose’s TV Speaker only comes in black.
Yes. The Bose Solo Soundbar Series II comes with Bluetooth for such connections.
The Bose TV Speaker comes with a one-year limited warranty.