Buying guide for best bose speakers
If you're looking for high-end speakers, you want a brand you can trust. Debussy or Daft Punk, Nina Simone or Nirvana – whatever your jam, you'll get excellent sound quality from Bose speakers.
Bose offers a huge range of speakers, however, so picking the right ones for you can seem overwhelming. We at BestReviews are here to help steer you in the direction of your perfect speakers.
Ready to rock 'n' roll? Read on for our full guide to Bose speakers.
Why choose Bose?
Out of all the speaker manufacturers you could buy from, what makes Bose stand out from the crowd?
Bose has been producing speakers since the 1960s, so they have decades of experience crafting quality audio systems.
You can find a wide range of Bose speakers out there, so no matter what you're after, Bose will likely have a solution.
Bose has done extensive research on sound quality. Speakers are crafted with this research in mind.
Well-made and durable, Bose speakers should stand the test of time.
Bose portable speakers are among the highest-rated in their class. We compare different models to find the best the company offers.
Bose is a trusted brand in audio equipment, so our team evaluates a range of its products to find the best speakers the company offers based on style, intended use, and more.
Portable speakers are valued for their wireless portability, so we look for Bose portable speakers that hold a charge the longest.
Bose manufactures several types of speakers for home use. We examine each style to make sure our readers find the right speakers for their living space.
Our team researches Bose speaker sound quality to determine which types and models pack the most audio punch.
Many Bose speakers are Bluetooth-enabled for wireless connectivity to music and other media. We highlight models that are capable of easily connecting through Bluetooth.
When researching the best Bose speakers, our goal is to find the models with the best combination of power and audio clarity.
Some smart Bose home speakers come complete with voice-enabled controls through Alexa, Siri, or Google Assistant. We make note of this important information in our research.
We appreciate Bose speakers that can be controlled by a smartphone app for added convenience.
We scrutinize the top Bose speakers to find the best value for customers who want solid audio quality on a budget.
Types of Bose speakers
Portable speakers
Bose portable speakers are small, battery-operated models that connect wirelessly to a smart device.
Portable speakers can play music you have stored on your device or can stream music from subscription services if you have WiFi or data available.
Some Bose portable speakers allow you link two together for stereo sound.
While portable Bose speakers are great for on-the-go use, they don't have the volume or sound quality of full-size models.
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Stereo speakers
Bose stereo speakers are standalone speakers designed to be added to a component stereo system.
You can find a wide range of Bose stereo speakers, from bookshelf speakers to in-ceiling speakers.
Though there are some top-quality Bose stereo speakers available, they're more complex to set up than all-in-one options.
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Multi-room speakers
Multi-room speakers are designed to connect to one another wirelessly. Place one in each room, and you can play the same music everywhere; you don't have to stop listening as you move from room to room. Or, use them independently of one another, playing different songs in different rooms at the same time.
Easily control your multi-room speakers via an app on your smartphone or tablet.
You can choose to either play music saved on your smart device or use the streaming service of your choice, such as Pandora or Spotify. However, you can't play CDs on these speakers.
All Bose SoundTouch speakers are compatible with Alexa.
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Wave systems
Bose Wave systems are all-in-one speakers that include a built-in CD player and AM/FM radio.
Choose between the basic Wave system and the SoundLink Wave system, which is WiFi and Bluetooth compatible so that you can stream music and listen to songs straight from your smart device. You can also play CDs and listen to the radio.
If you want to be able to play CDs, but you don't want to deal with a complex stereo system, the Wave is for you.
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Home theater speakers
Though music sounds great through Bose home theater speakers, they are primarily designed to bring cinema-quality sound to your living room, so you can immerse yourself in your favorite movies and TV shows.
You can buy Bose home theater systems and place multiple speakers at different spots around the room, as well as compact soundbars, which give you excellent sound from a single long speaker.
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For consistent results, all speakers in a system should have the same impedance, so bear that in mind if you’re replacing a single speaker. The majority of speakers have an impedance of eight ohms, but this can vary.
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Considerations for selecting Bose speakers
Technical specifications
You actually won't find much in the way of technical specifications – such as frequency range – for Bose speakers. According to Bose, that's because the unique design of their speakers means that the sound quality can't be captured by a simple comparison of technical specs.
In fact, through years of research, Bose's founder discovered that speakers rarely measure up to their listed specifications and, when they do, "better" specs often don't equal better sound quality.
The lack of specs can be frustrating to some buyers, but there may be something to it. Instead, the folks at Bose urge you to listen to their speakers and discover whether they sound good to you. This is an issue when buying online, but Bose does offer a generous return policy.
Size
You can find quite large Bose speakers as well as extremely compact ones. Find out the size of your chosen speakers, and make sure they'll fit wherever you decide to place them. There's no point spending hundreds of dollars on new speakers to add to your stereo system only to find out they won't fit on your entertainment center next to the amplifier and other components. Check the product specifications to find the exact dimensions of any speakers you're considering.
Control type
How do you want to control your speakers? If you're buying stereo speakers, they'll connect to a component stereo system from which you'll control the volume, etc. However, if you're buying wireless or multi-room speakers, you'll generally control them via an app, with few controls on the speakers themselves. This is great for the tech-savvy, but if you don't know your Android from your Alexa, it could prove challenging.
Did you know?
Some Bose speakers connect to your smart device. You can then stream music directly from your favorite subscription services, such as Spotify or Amazon Music. The Bose SoundTouch app is available for both Android and Apple devices, though not for Windows phones and tablets.
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Tips
Think about what you want from your Bose speakers. Different speakers are good for different tasks. For instance, if you want a compact speaker for on-the-go use, opt for a portable model. If you want an integrated CD player, however, consider a Wave system.
Decide where you're going to place your Bose speakers. Not only will you need to make sure they would fit the space, but you'll need to make sure this is a good spot for delivering audio to the room.
Consider whether your chosen speaker will blend with your home decor. While it shouldn't be the most important factor, if you've spent time and effort getting your house to look just the way you want it, you don't want to choose a speaker that sticks out like a sore thumb. Thankfully, most Bose speakers are sleek and stylish.
Make sure there's a good return policy. If you haven't listened to your chosen Bose speaker before buying, you might set it up and realize you don't like how it sounds. Just in case, make sure you buy it from somewhere with a solid return policy.
FAQ
Q. Are Bose speakers difficult to set up?
A. Some Bose speakers are easier to set up than others. How easy you find it will depend on the type of speaker you choose and your level of technical knowhow. A component stereo system is probably the most difficult thing to set up, especially if you're not sure what you're doing. But many Bose speakers simply plug in and play. As long as you thoroughly read the manual before attempting setup, you shouldn't have any problems.
Q. What's the sound quality like on Bose speakers?
A. Sound quality is, to some degree, subjective. Some people will buy nothing but Bose speakers, whereas others don't rate them highly. For the most part, Bose speakers are considered to offer excellent sound quality. Fans of Bose speakers rave about their realistic, true-to-life sound with its rich quality. If you're looking for speakers in the lower end of the high-end range, Bose is definitely a great option.
Q. How long is the battery life on Bose portable speakers?
A. If you're opting for a portable speaker, battery life is an important factor. The battery life of Bose portable speakers varies depending on which model you choose. The most compact models can last for six hours between charges, whereas larger speakers have more impressive battery lives of up to 16 hours.
