Sonos Arc Vs. Bose 700: Which Soundbar is Better?

Enjoying time with friends and family listening to music or watching your favorite movies is only improved by having a good quality sound system. If you want the best sound capabilities, you’ll need a quality soundbar. Although there are many types of soundbars on the market, the Sonos Arc Soundbar and the Bose Soundbar 700 are two of the best.

Before you spend money on a soundbar and then fail to get what you expected, read my comparison guide first. Here, I will share the features of each system, along with weighing the pros and cons, as well as provide alternatives if neither soundbar is suitable for your needs.

Bottom Line Up Front:

After carefully considering each product’s details, I would have to say Sonos Arc is the clear winner between the two. This product provides an overall better experience with ease of use and connectivity. For additional information, check out our review on the best soundbars for under $200.

Let’s start with a glance at the main differences of each system.

Main Differences Between Sonos Arc Vs. Bose 700

The main differences between Sonos Arc and Bose 700 are:

  • Bose 700 takes up less space, whereas Sonos Arc is a bit larger and more noticeable.
  • Sonos Arc supports Dolby Atmos Content, whereas Bose 700 does not
  • Bose has Bluetooth connectivity, whereas Sonos does not
  • Sonos Arc has a night sound feature, whereas Bose 700 lacks this
  • Sonos Arc can adjust the sound from your smartphone, whereas Bose 700 does not.
  • Sonos Arc comes with additional speakers, whereas Bose 700 does not
  • Sonos Arc is expensive, whereas Bose 700 is a bit more affordable
  • Bose 700 uses a universal remote, whereas Sonos does not

Sonos Arc Vs. Bose 700: Features

Sound quality is always a top concern when it comes to soundbars and audio equipment. With Sonos Arc and Bose 700, you get high-quality sound with both systems. In my comparison guide, I will start with the top features of each speaker system, sharing details and extras.

Sonos Arc

The Sonos Arc has a notable advantage over the Bose 700 due to its special settings, like Night Sound Mode. The Sonos Arc has amazing sound quality as well, with 540W in power, and it has a sleek build, weighing 25lbs, which isn’t too heavy but not light. The Sonos Arc is an inch taller than the Bose 700 as well.

Bose 700

The Bose 700 has a better design weighing only 10lbs while producing 770W of power. However, it is only a stereo system, which means it falls short of other audio capabilities. When connected to other devices, however, the Bose provides much of the same capabilities. Unlike Sonos Arc, it sometimes needs additional speakers for depth of bass and high tones.

Aesthetics in Detail

While aesthetics may not be the most important aspect of a surround sound speaker, it is essential to understand the basic shape, size, and weight to grasp installation mechanics.

Sonos Arc

The Sonos Arc has techno and futuristic styles. While it is elegant in design, it will not take attention away from your true focus on entertainment. This speaker can be mounted on the wall with little difficulty or placed on top of a shelf. However, mounting on the wall will not degrade the sound. The Sonos Arc has 8 elliptical woofers, 3 silk-dome tweeters, and 11 drivers to create a quality soundstage.

Bose 700

This soundbar has a smooth finish with a tempered glass top. However, even with this sleek elegance, it does not take away from its surroundings other than reflecting a bit of light from the glass. The Bose 700 also doesn’t take up much space with a compact design and surprisingly powerful sound in a smaller structure.

Connectivity

The connectivity of your soundbar provides various ways to listen to music other than sitting right in front of the speaker. Bluetooth capabilities and connection to apps make a big difference when shopping for the right soundbar for your personal needs.

The Sonos and Bose have different connectivity aspects that make a difference according to how the system is used.

Sonos Arc

Although Sonos does not have Bluetooth, it does come with Alexa and Google voice assistant to play music or set alarms when needed. In addition, you can wirelessly connect a subwoofer or pair of rear sound speakers if needed. Sonos Arc also has modes, like Night sound and Enhanced Sound.

Bose 700

This soundbar does have Bluetooth capabilities, which enable you to transfer sounds from your smartphone or other devices and into the speaker. You can stream music from Spotify Connect or Apple Airplay. With this system, you can also connect to other Bose devices like headphones. If you want, you can add more devices like the Bose Surround Speakers 700 or the Bose Bass Module 700.

Sonos Arc Vs. Bose 700: Sound Quality and Ease of Use

What you want is a soundbar that’s easy to use with the best sound quality around. Listening to music or watching a movie isn’t as fun with muffled sound or uneven sound quality.

Sonos Arc

In addition to Sonos Arc having 8 subwoofers, 2 drivers, and 3 tweeters, it also supports Dolby Atmos, which is an advantage over Bose 700. Furthermore, Sonos Arc has a night sound feature that automatically adjusts the intensity of sound at night. This is a great sound option when trying not to disturb the neighbors. Sonos also has an app on the Google Play Store and Apple that allows you to adjust sound right from your smartphone.

Bose 700

Bose 700 can better mimic surround sound due to its Phaseguide Transducers. It supports Dolby Digital but does not support other Dolby systems, like Dolby Atmos. However, Bose 700 does have an amazing neutral sound system and uses a universal remote control. This makes it easier to operate, considering the remote can be easily replaced.

Sonos Arc Vs. Bose 700: Price

While there isn’t a massive difference in price, the Sonos Arc costs a bit more than the Bose 700. This could be because the Sonos Arc can connect with Dolby Atmos and provides special modes like Night Sounds and Enhanced Dialogue. Sonos Arc also has additional speaker options included to enhance sound.

Pros and Cons

Sonos Arc

Pros

  • Supports Dolby Atmos
  • Has Enhanced Dialogue and Night Sounds special modes
  • Has moderate ambient type sound
  • It has a smart, sleek design
  • Doesn’t need additional speakers to provide high-quality sound
  • It has more drivers than its competition

Cons

  • It does not have Bluetooth capabilities
  • For TruePlay, there is no Android pairing option

Bose 700

Pros

  • It has a compact design
  • Can use a universal remote
  • It does not have surround sound, but it can mimic the experience effectively
  • It has a feature for simple sync

Cons

  • The base is lacking in richness
  • It does not support Dolby Atmos

What are some alternatives?

Bose Soundbar 500

This simpler version of the Bose 700 provides the same attributes but at a lower price. The Bose Soundbar 500 also has the same Bluetooth capabilities and can integrate Spotify music services. With this system, you can wirelessly stream whenever you want.

This soundbar is a slim constructed system that will not get in the way of your movie watching or music listening experience. Additional speakers can be added to this soundbar as well to enhance sound quality even more. You can also add a base or rear surround speakers.

The Bose Soundbar 500 can also be paired with noise-canceling headphones by using SimpleSync Technology. In addition, this system supports Dolby Digital, HDMI, DTS, and Video Source Compatibility. You can also enjoy Audible through Bose Soundbar 500.

Sonos Beam

Another alternative to Sonos Arc and Bose 700 is the Sonos Beam soundbar. This system delivers quality sound and bass in a compact structure. This product is simplistic, as you can control the soundbar with three buttons located on the top.

The Sonos Beam has two woofers for the center channel and one for the right and left sides. It also has a tweeter for mid and high-range sounds. Like the Sonos Arc, this product also has a night mode that automatically turns sound lower to eliminate disturbances. You can use TruePlay to calibrate the sound when setting up the speakers.

However, the Sonos Beam is kind of limited when it comes to connectivity. It has one Ethernet port, 1 HDMI ARC, and Optical Audio. On the other hand, the Sonos Beam does have Alexa and Google request capabilities which allow you to do various things with just the sound of your voice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: How many speakers can you connect to the Bose 700?

Answer: Although the Bose 700 is a good-quality standalone speaker system, you can connect other speakers for immersive rear sound. You can connect 2 speakers for bass boost, but only if they are also Bose products. However, you cannot connect another soundbar to this one.

Question: Can the Bose 700 play music from my smartphone?

Answer: Yes, you can play music from your phone on the Bose 700 soundbar. Both iOs and Android have the capabilities to work with Bose systems when using Bluetooth under your home wifi. Music from almost any device can connect with the Bose 700 soundbar with the Bluetooth system.

Question: Do you have to connect Sonos Arc to the television?

Answer: Arc, Amp, and Beam all require connection to television by HDMI ARC port to use Amazon, CEC, Google Talk, or Alexa. If your television does not have an HDMI ARC port, you cannot use the Arc, Beam, or Amp soundbars.

Question: Can Sonos Arc connect wirelessly to your television?

Answer: This product is designed to connect wirelessly to your home Sonos system. It also accepts audio from your television or A/V receiver via the HDMI Audio Return Channel.

Question: Do you need a subwoofer for the Sonos Arc?

Answer: While a subwoofer creates an additional powerful depth of sound, with the Sonos Arc, it is not necessary. The options available with the Sonos Arc are high-quality, producing amazing sounds without additional speakers.

Question: Does the Bose 700 soundbar need a subwoofer?

Answer: Although Bose 700 produces quality sound, you can purchase an additional subwoofer to amplify the sound. However, the Bose 700 is a standalone soundbar that generally includes ample sound power. This option is purely your choice.

Question: Will the Sonos system work if the Wifi is down?

Answer: You might be surprised to find out that while you cannot connect to Wifi, you can still play locally stored content like music. You can also utilize AirPlay. You can also use Sonos Arc with HDMI connections or Digital Optical.

Verdict: Choose Sonos Arc for a Truly Innovative Experience

My pick between Sonos Arc vs. Bose 700 is the Sonos Arc. This product offers the right connectivity options and ease of use that Bose cannot provide. Even though Sonos Arc doesn’t have Bluetooth options, it can supplement this with Apple Airplay and your home wifi option.

Sonos Arc supports Dolby Atmos, which has an incredible sound and allows the addition of other devices, like headphones and special sound modes like Night Sound. Although Sonos Arc costs more than the Bose 700, it is well worth the price. With all the extra features and the probability of upgrades in the future, Sonos is simply the better choice between the two, in my opinion.

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