Bose soundbar 500 vs 600


Bose soundbar 500 vs 600 comparison shows they are quite similar. They have similar size and features but in terms of performance the Bose 600 is better. While the difference is not night and day, the Bose 600 excels in music and movies due to additional Atmos drivers.

Bose 500 is not bad either. With music, the bar delivers a melodious performance where instrumental sounds are perfectly produced. You will love it for its clarity and precision in sound.


Our Verdict:

The Bose 500 vs 600 comparison shows, they are similar in many perspectives but there are differences as well. Bose 600 is an Atmos soundbar which is great for music and movies. It tries to create a multidimensional sound around the user that is engaging. As a standalone bar, Bose 500 delivers rich and well-defined sound. With the addition of subwoofer and surround speakers, the sound improves beyond our expectations. They are similar in terms of connectivity, streaming and multiroom facilities.

Pros
  • Futureproof with rears and sub
  • Remote and voice support
  • Voice4Video feature to control TV
  • Sleek and slim design
  • Rich and detailed sound
Cons
  • Expensive for a 3.0 bar
Pros
  • impressive height effects with up-firing drivers
  • loud enough for large spaces
  • powerful surrounds
  • deep and tight bass
  • has both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
  • sleek and slim bar
Cons
  • only 1 HDMI port
Where to Buy
Ali-Expess
Wallmart

Advance Comparison

Model

Bose Soundbar 500

Bose Smart Soundbar 600

Brand Name

Bose

Bose

Rating
Mixed Usage
7.1
0
SOUND QUALITY
7.1
BASS ACCURACY :
7.2
AUDIO & VIDEO LATENCY:
8.4
AUDIO ENHANCEMENT FEATURES:
4.6
BUILD QUALITY :
8
GENERAL
Number of Channel
3.0 Channel
Placement Type
Table-top , Wall-mountable
Connectivity Type
Both (Wired & Wireless)
Subwoofer Feature
Without Subwoofer
Rear Speaker
N/A
Central Channel Speaker
Yes
Audio Enhancement Features
Yes
HDMI input/output
N/A
Analog Audio In 3.5mm (Aux)
N/A
Loudness
Moderate ( ± 80db)
Warranty
12 months Months
Connectivity:
Digital Optical Audio Input ( Toslink )
1 Optical Audio Input
HDMI ARC
1 (shared)
HDMI Out
None
Full HDMI In
None
Analog Audio In 3.5mm (Aux)
None
RCA Ports
No
USB Port
None
Ethernet Jack
Yes
Audio Quality ( Tested )
Dialogue & Vocal Accuracy
Frequency deviation from target is less than standard error (3.4 dB ); which means soundbar is very good to reproduce dialog and instrumental music
Bass Accuracy ( for music, film scores, movies, and games)
Soundbar 's Low-Frequency-Extension is more than 35 Hz. Which means It can reproduce the deep thump and rumble in the low-bass accurately.
3- Dimensional Sound Accuracy ( Sound Stage)
soundstage has good focus overall but but some sound tracks seem to be bit more diffused and lack separation.
Total Harmonic Distortion ( Center Channel )
It has dedicated center channel speaker and Total Harmonic Distortion of center channel @80dB is less than standard value(>0.7). So soundbar produce more clear and accurate audio of the dialogue in movies.
Surround Sound Imaging ( Rear Channel )
No dedicated or alternative channel for surround content. So it downmixes surround content to stereo.
Streo Dynamics ( Loudness ):
Dynamic Range Compression @ Standard Volume (80 dB) is more than standard deviation (<2 dB).
Audio & Video Latency
Here no visible latency via ARC (50 ms) and Optical (46 ms) but visuals difference may found via Full HDMI Input (N/A).
Audio Enhancement Features:
Digital Room Correction:
Yes
Auto Volume Adjustment/ Night Mode:
N/A
Equilizer Options:
None
Bass Adjustment ( Thump & Punch of sound)
Yes
Treble Adjustent ( Brightness and Clarity od Audio)
Yes
Surround Level Adjustment:
N/A
Virtual Surround Effect:
N/A
Supported Audio Format ( HDMI ARC)
eARC Standard
Yes
Dolby Atmos
N/A
Dolby Digital
Yes
Dolby Digital Plus
N/A
DTS
N/A
DTS: X
N/A
Dolby True HD ( eARC only )
N/A
DTS- HD MA (eARC only)
N/A
5.1 PCM ( eARC only )
N/A
Supported Audio Format (Full HDMI In' port ):
Dolby Atmos :
N/A
DTS:X :
N/A
Dolby Digital :
N/A
Dolby Digital Plus:
N/A
DTS :
N/A
Dolby TrueHD :
N/A
DTS-HD MA :
N/A
5.1 PCM
N/A
Audio Format Support ( Optical Port ):
Dolby Digital :
Yes
DTS :
N/A
Build Material
Enclosure
No Subwoofer
Finish
The bar is mostly made of good quality plastic. The metal grill at the front and the sides, its feels like robust.
Color
Black
Soundbar Width
31.5" (80.0 cm)
Soundbar Height
1.7" (4.3 cm)
Soundbar Depth
4.0" (10.2 cm)
Subwoofer Width
None
Subwoofer Depth
None
Drivers Specs
Tweeter Size and Type :
none
Midrange Size & Types:
none
Woofer Size & Type :
none
Subwoofer Driver
none
Other
Where to Buy
Ali-Expess
Wallmart

Comparatives Review


Build quality:

Bose soundbar 500 and 600 are available in standard black color. They are available in similar size, but the Bose 500 is slightly wider. These bars are suitable for 55 to 65” TVs. They are made of plastic and covered with metal grille. Overall, the build quality is sturdy and feels long lasting.

Audio performance:

Comparing Bose soundbar 500 vs 600, the 600 has a 3.0.2 channel configuration whereas the Bose 500 is a 3.0 channel bar. Bose 500 has ADAPTiQ feature that analyzes the room acoustics and ensure optimized sound performance. If you add subwoofer and surrounds to it, then you need to perform the calibration again. The bar has front left, right and center channel drivers. While playing movies, we feel the need of an additional oomph.

During music playback, the bar shows a great performance. Explosions and movie effects are produced with accuracy making watching experience enjoyable. It has crisp and clear highs, decent mids and detailed lows. With DSP, the soundbar produces precise sound without any distortion. However, users noted that they heard a change in bass.

Bose 600 soundbar has Truespace technology with which it adds height effects to non-Atmos files. It works with QuietPort and PhaseGuide features as well. The first one ensures cleaner bass while the second feature creates a broader and wider sound space around the user. It has two side-firing drivers, a center channel and 2 upward-firing drivers.Overhead effects are quite impactful, and they are noticeable when you hear a helicopter ride or rain falling in movie scenes.

This sense of height is missing in the Bose 500. Surround sound is engaging and immersive compared to the Bose 500. The bar has a balanced sound profile. It can get a bit louder than the Bose 500 bar. However, they are suitable for small to medium-sized rooms. Both these soundbars have a broad soundfield that feels wider than the bar. With discrete center channel, the voices are clear and accurate. So, watching TV shows or dialogue-heavy movies are enjoyable.

Features:

Streaming through internet radio and online music streaming services are available in both soundbar models. Popular services like Deezer, Tidal, Spotify, TuneIn are available.

Multiroom system:

Bose 500 and 600 models support multiroom audio system. They can be a part of Bose ecosystem where you can build up to 4 zones. Here you can stream contents from Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.

Connectivity:

Bose 500 bar has HDMI ARC, optical port and Ethernet port. Bose 600 has HDMI eARC, optical port and Bass port. They support both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity.

Multiple device pairing:   

Expanding Bose 500 and 600 soundbars is quite easy. They are compatible with Bose Bass Module 500 or 700, Bose surround speakers or Bose 700 surround speakers.

Control options:

The soundbars have touch sensitive controls including mic and Action button. There is a sleek and slim remote control that has basic options like play/pause, volume up/down, Bluetooth, etc. With HDMI CRC support, HDMI supported devices can be controlled like TV and gaming console. If you want a universal remote, then Bose offers you that as well, but you need to purchase it separately.

Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant are available to control Bose soundbar 500. While Alexa is available for Bose 600, if you want to use Google Assistant you will need 3rd party devices. Voice4Video feature is found in both that uses Amazon Alexa to control the TV, bar and other devices. With Bose Music app you can stream contents, set favorite playlist, set bass and treble, perform setup, etc.

Cost:

Comparing Bose 500 vs 600, the 600 model is a bit costlier. The difference is not much but if you want to save some bucks, then the Bose 500 is for you.

FAQ:

What is the best alternative to Bose soundbar 500?

Sonos Beam Gen 2 is a great alternative to Bose soundbar 500. It has a 5.0 channel configuration with powerful surrounds and soundstage. Unlike the Bose 500, it supports Dolby Atmos, so overheads are present and prominent.

How to adjust bass and treble levels in Bose 600 soundbar?

Use the Bose Music app to adjust these. You can also adjust the height level.

Where to Buy
Ali-Expess
Wallmart

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