If I am being honest, the sound quality
Is Bose good for use in a home theater system? Bose has a reputation for being a high-end brand that offers superior products. The Bose reputation and quality have ensured this company continues to grow. Due to their continued evolution of speaker and sound technology, the Bose Corporation has remained one of the best manufacturers in the home theater industry.
As a company, the Bose philosophy has helped it stand out from many of its competitors. However, not all of their products are compatible with a home theater system. So knowing what features to look for and which products give you the best value can make a big difference in your home theater set up.
Who Is Bose?
Founded in 1964, the Bose Corporation has become an industry standard when it comes to speakers, electronics and related software innovations. Their products are marketed around the world, with customers of all economical statuses and backgrounds. From home theaters and digital gaming sound to professional conferencing systems and stadium usage. Bose speakers and products have continued to lead the way for an industry that continues to thrive.
With decades of experience, knowledge, and craftsmanship, Bose is a corporation that truly believes in their mission. Providing quality sound products, their reputation has continued to grow.
Their desire to remain relevant has led the company to continually assess and improve their products to meet the needs of an ever-changing technological field. Stylish, discreet, and beautifully designed – Bose products are often mimicked, but seldom mirrored in quality.
Features That Make a Home Theater Stand Out
Per my post on all-in-one home theater systems, there are many different features that can help enhance your television’s sound quality. However, these features are also important for setups that are built on components instead of an all-in-one system. Below, I compare how Bose stacks up against the requirements of a great home theater system.
Required Components:
- Receiver/Amplifier: A receiver does just that. It receives the sound signal from your television or device. It then pushes this signal through your amplifier to your speakers. A good receiver is essential for any home theater system.
While some Bose products do have an integrated receiver, most of those are extremely high dollar setups. (I explain this more in the “Related Questions” section below.) For most Bose home theater setups, you will want a receiver that includes at least 5-channels with a power output that ranges between 75 and 200 watts per each channel.
- Subwoofer: A subwoofer helps lower-frequency sounds to remain clear. Systems that have poor bass will make these tones sound muddied and overwhelming. Bose manufactures several different subwoofers in support of their speaker, home theater, and automobile products.
- Speakers: A home theater is nothing without quality speakers. Whether you opt for an additional subwoofer or not, home theater speakers should deliver clear sound. When
set up correctly, Bose speakers help push sound throughout the entire listening area.
Designed to work with other Bose products, the superior quality of Bose’s speaker systems has helped this company stand out from the thousands of other manufacturers since the company was founded. Durable, sleek, and multi-tonal, Bose speakers put this company on the map.
- Remote Control: Many of the Bose home theater systems come with
a remote control. These remotes should provide you full control over your Bose product’s sound quality.
However, some users have noted that these remotes do not always pair well with older television models. Their technical support has appeared diligent in their help with this issue and is quick to address it.
Optional Features:
- DVD/Blu-ray: The majority of Bose products do not include a DVD or Blu-ray player. However, they are compatible with these devices. The high-end Lifestyle 650 and 600 series will integrate your players into the control system, allowing you to operate them through your Bose system remote control.
- Bluetooth Technology: Bluetooth technology is an ever-growing trend that is slowly being integrated into the Bose product line. While many of the systems and products still require wires, there are certainly Bluetooth-capable items in the Bose portfolio.
Products currently allowing Bluetooth connectivity include Bose Solo 5 TV Sound System, Soundbar 500 and the Lifestyle 650 Home Entertainment System.
- Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi is another growing trend in home theater systems. For those of us who enjoy binge-watching Netflix shows and streaming movies from Amazon Prime, Wi-Fi is now a must-have feature.
As with Bluetooth, Bose has been slowly introducing this capability into its home theater line. The Lifestyle 600, Soundbar 700, and SoundTouch 300 are a few of the products that have integrated Wi-Fi functionality.
The Benefits of Investing in a Bose Product
The Bose Corporation has a reputation for high-quality products. While new companies, like Sonos, have made waves in recent years, Bose remains one of the most highly-regarded electronics brands on the markets throughout the world.
With Bose, you invest in more than just a speaker or product. Their customer and technical service branches are quick to respond to requests for help. Because their reputation is important to them, they take proactive steps to help customers troubleshoot any technical problem that may arise. In this respect, when you invest in Bose, they invest in you too.
The Most Highly Recommended Bose Products for Your Home Theater System
With that being said, I would like to point out several of my favorite Bose products worth investing in. Keep in mind, a full Bose system will be a serious investment for any home theater, with some costing more than $4,000.
However, there are speakers and other pieces that are worth considering and more budget-friendly options that can enhance your home theater without breaking the bank.
If you are looking to invest in your home theater system, you could do a lot worse than a Bose product. From under $200 to $1,000 – the list below contains a range of my favorite Bose products for your home theater usage.
If you're not interested in purchasing Bose speakers and want to search elsewhere, then check out my recommendations for speakers!
Budget Option – Bose Solo 5 TV Sound System
- Connector Type: Lightning
- Included Components: Bose Solo 5 TV sound system
- Universal remote control
- Power Cord
- Optical digital audio cable
- Coaxial digital audio cable
Marketed below $300, Bose Solo 5 Soundbar (on Amazon) comes highly recommended!
Potential buyers should note that a soundbar is not the same as a surround sound system. (It provides sound from a single line of integrated speakers instead of sound from around the room.) However, this soundbar packs quite a punch!
When compared to your standard television, the sound quality of the Bose Solo 5
Easy to connect to your television, this soundbar requires little time to set up and start using. With no subwoofer attached, the Solo 5 is best for small to medium-sized rooms. (On the more expensive side, the Bose Soundbar 500 and 700 series offer even better performance.)
Recommended Option – Bose SoundTouch 300 Soundbar
If you are looking for a mid-range investment, a popular choice is the Bose SoundTouch 300 Soundbar (on Amazon). The thin profile soundbar system offers beautiful sound quality without taking up much room. It is probably one of the best soundbars on the market today.
Bluetooth and Wi-Fi enabled, the SoundTouch 300 does not require a receiver. Less expensive than the Soundbar 700, this soundbar is Alexa-enabled and works very well as a standalone speaker.
Best yet, it can be connected to other Bose products, such as surround sound speakers and a subwoofer, to help give your room the full theater effect. Easy to set up and pair with your media devices, the SoundTouch 300 is ready to use right out of the box!
We mentioned Sonos earlier. Bose and Sonos have been big competitors since Sonos broke into the marketplace not too long ago. The Bose SoundTouch 300 Soundbar and the Sonos Playbar are the exact same retail prices, but like the difference between the 300 and the 700 (as we explained here), they exist and are worth paying attention to. Their wireless pairing sub-woofers are also the exact same retail prices. This just goes to show how competitive the high-quality audio market can get. Check out my in-depth article comparing the Bose SoundTouch 300 and Sonos Playbar. Both products are absolutely amazing and would be a great addition to any home entertainment system.
Budget Set of Speakers – Bose 161 Speakers
If you are looking for surround sound, the Bose 161 Speaker System (on Amazon) is a great option. At under $200 for a set of two, these curved speakers are designed to deliver sound throughout the room. They pair well with several other Bose products, including the VCS-10 center channel speaker and any of the direct/reflecting products from the company.
You can also pair multiple sets together for larger rooms. Small and compact, these speakers can be wall-mounted, placed on shelves, or in other discreet locations throughout the room. Buyers should note that these are wired speakers; Bluetooth technology is not included with these speakers.
Recommended Subwoofer – Bose Acoustimass 300 Wireless Bass Module
If you have invested in Bose speakers already, the Bose Acoustimass 300 (on Amazon) is a great way to help enhance your television’s deep tones. This compact subwoofer may be small in size but delivers a powerfully clear rage of low notes.
This subwoofer is a hefty investment only serious audiophiles may be interested in. (Buyers should note that they engineer their products to work together. This subwoofer is best used in combination with the SoundTouch 300.)
Recommended 5.1 Surround Sound System – Bose Acoustimass 10 Series V
The Bose Acoustimass 10 Series V (on Amazon) is the cheapest 5.1 surround sound system offered by this electronics giant. It is still an expensive investment, however, the superior sound quality of a full Bose home theater system may be worth the hefty price tag for those who are serious about their audio capabilities at home.
Designed for larger rooms, the Acoustimass 10 Series V includes four cube speakers, a horizontal front speaker, and a large subwoofer to help carry sound throughout the room. Though the speakers may seem smaller than others they still pack quite a punch for size. Slim profiles, deep bass sound, and rich tones help put this system ahead of many modern competitors.
Related Questions
Will Bose Products Work with Other Brands for a Complete Home Theater System?
Bose products are intended to be used with each other. While some technical gurus may be able to piece a full home theater system together using various brands’ products, most of us should not try to do so with their products. That being said, many purchasers have said their Bose products are great as is, without pairing with other brands’ products.
Do I Need a Receiver/Amplifier for My Bose Speakers?
A receiver/amplifier is essential to any home theater system. The higher-end Bose SoundBar 500 and 700 series are fully integrated and will not require an additional receiver/amplifier. However, the Acoustimass 10 Series V, standalone speakers, and subwoofer would. In short, the need for a receiver/amplifier depends largely on what your setup is composed of.
Do Bose Products Have a Lifetime Warranty?
The Bose Corporation does a great job of providing technical support for their products. This may lead some to believe that they would also offer a lifetime warranty. However, this is not quite true. Different products come with varying warranty lengths. In addition to this, their products are warrantied only from the date of purchase by the first, or original, owner. This means that if you buy a Bose speaker secondhand, the company will not continue to warranty the product.
Does Bose Work with Alexa?
Amazon’s Alexa has become a popular device with its own merits. Because of this popularity, they have included this feature in several of their newer products. For example, the SoundTouch 300 and Lifestyle 6 are both Alexa-enabled devices.
