The Sonos Beam and the Bose Soundbar 500 are entry-level soundbars from two of the top-rated speaker brands today. While may not be the cheapest, they are still among the most affordable in Sonos’ and Bose’s line of premium soundbars. We deep dive into their quality and features to help you decide which soundbar will be the better addition to your home.
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Sonos Beam vs Bose Soundbar 500 Comparison Chart
Model | ||
 | ![]() | ![]() |
Price | Check Price at Amazon | Check Price at Walmart |
Wall Mountable | Yes (mount is sold separately) | Yes (mount is sold separately) |
Dimensions (W x H x D) | 25.6″Â x 2.6″ x 4.0″ | 31.5″ x 1.7″ x 4.0″ |
Weight | 6.2 lbs | 7 lbs |
Speakers | 5 | 1 |
Microphones | 5 | 8 |
Audio Decoder | Dolby Digital 5.1 ch, PCM Stereo | Dolby Digital 3.0 ch expandable to 5.1 ch |
Built-in Voice Assistant | Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant | Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant |
Apple AirPlay 2 | Yes | Yes |
Remote Control | No | Yes |
App | Sonos | Bose Music |
Wi-Fi | Yes | Yes |
Bluetooth | No | Yes |
ADAPTiQ Headset | No | Yes |
Audio Input | Optical (through an adapter for the HDMI ARC) | Optical, HDMI ARC |
HDMI Port | 1 | 1 |
USB input | No | Yes |
Year of Release | 2018 | 2018 |
Colors | Black, White | Black |
Design
Both the

While both the
They both have touch-capacitive controls found at their top panels. As the
Setup and Control
Both the

Setting up these soundbars is effortless and smooth. Simply connect the soundbar to your TV through their HDMI cable and you can start setting up and configuring settings through the Sonos app for the Beam and the Bose Music app for the
Despite being entry-level soundbars, the
Since they both have Wi-Fi connectivity, you can easily stream music straight from your device. What the Beam is missing though is Bluetooth connection and remote control, features which the
Features
Both soundbars allow limited EQ customization; the

Apart from the built-in Alexa and Google Assistant, another noteworthy feature of both the
Bose kicks it up a notch with its trademark ADAPTiQ calibration system. Your purchase of a Soundbar 500 comes with an ADAPTiQ headset. When using your new soundbar for the first time, put the headset on and sit in your five favorite spots when watching TV. Your
Sound Quality
Both soundbars deliver a crisp, clear, dynamic sound, but the

Soundbars deliver audio quality that the built-in speakers on slim TVs today just can’t. They elevate the viewing and gaming experience to match the stunning picture of 4K TVs today. Once you’ve tried a soundbar, it’s hard to go back to watching TV or playing video games without it.
The
Where the Beam sounds the best is when you’re listening to music or watching dialogue-heavy content. When it comes to sound effects that require deeper bass such as booms and explosions, you may find the Beam wanting. With that said, it still offers incredible sound for its price. For a more immersive full surround sound, you can pair the Beam with rear speakers and a sub, but this can be costly.
The
Verdict
The
If you are after multi-room audio, the Sonos Beam is the clear soundbar of choice as the Sonos is hard to beat in this department. Setting up your soundbar with other speakers in your house is effortless, thanks to Sonos’ user-friendly interface. Even if you’re just looking to improve viewing experience in one room, the
While the