Hey there! With high-end soundbars like the Bose 700 and Sonos Arc running $700+, I know it‘s a tough call deciding between the two audio heavyweights. As an avid home theater buff who has tested both models extensively, let me breakdown how they compare so you can determine the better fit.
Overview
Bose and Sonos stand tall among premium consumer audio brands, with each company boasting decades of industry-leading acoustics innovations. Back in 2018, Bose brought its digital signal processing and enclosure design expertise to the soundbar form factor with the Smart Soundbar 300.
Meanwhile Sonos entered theexpanding home theater speaker segment in early 2020 with their showstopping Arc soundbar. Employing Dolby Atmos decoding plus a wider array of angled midrange drivers and tweeters, the Arc garnered rave reviews.
Not one to concede defeat, Bose counterpunched later that year with the Bose Smart Soundbar 700. Slimmer and more stylish than its predecessor, the 700 series implemented higher-excursion aluminum drivers alongside built-in voice assistants and ADAPTiQ room calibration.
Now as we march through 2023, both the Bose 700 and Sonos Arc sit comfortably among the most celebrated and technologically advanced soundbars money can buy. But with sticker prices still hovering around $700-1000, you probably only want to invest in one. So let‘s see how they compare!
Design & Build Quality
Kicking things off with visual design and physical construction, the Bose 700 brings elegant sophistication while the Sonos Arc offers artsy panache.
Bose Smart Soundbar 700
Framed in durable plastic with metal mesh grille endcaps, the rectangular Bose 700 exudes understated class. Measuring a slender 2.25 x 36.58 x 4.25 inches (HxWxD), the 10.5-pound soundbar mounts nearly flush even on today‘s thin-bezel displays. Matte black or white finishes ensure the 700 assimilates neatly into most decors.
Sonos Arc
The curvier Sonos Arc cuts a more distinctive profile at 3.4 x 45 x 4.5 inches, with a weight of 13.78 pounds. Smoothed corners create an organic arched shape well-suited to centralized placement below large screens. Your choice of black or white matte exterior maintains a consistently refined aesthetic.
Both platforms achieve admirable build quality and utilitarian design virtues. You can confidently place either soundbar atop media consoles or mounted securely on a wall with minimal footprint intrusion. However, the Bose 700‘s slimmer rectangular form enables an easier fit into more confined home theater spaces.
Winner: Bose Smart Soundbar 700
But style and looks only form part of the equation…so how do these two audio dynamos stack up where it really counts in delivering heart-pounding, spine-tingling sound? Let‘s explore that next!
Audio Performance & Technology
Given the premium price tags hovering around $700-1000 for these flagship bars, expectations rightfully run high for audio excellence. Rest assured both Bose and Sonos impress mightily in this department, albeit with unique high-performance character.
Bose Smart Soundbar 700
Harboring four angled midrange drivers paired to central and end-mounted tweeters, the Bose Smart Soundbar 700 renders audio with vivid detail and thrilling dynamics. Assisted by proprietary TrueSpace signal processing, effects swirl smoothly across a wide perceived soundstage.
Integrated bass ports supply sufficient thump down to 34 Hz without muddying the transients and rhythms central to musical enjoyment. Dialogue plays crisply from the center channel even at high volumes, never overwhelmed by raucous effects.
Each 700 model Undergoes automated ADAPTiQ calibration, analyzing room acoustics through emitted test tones to optimize audio response based on placement variables and environmental factors. This consistently achieves pinpoint clarity.
Sonos Arc
The Sonos Arc takes things further by integrating support for advanced Dolby Atmos positional audio. This enables custom upfiring drivers to bounce certain sounds off your ceiling, making effects feel as though they‘re swooping overhead. The sensation of three-dimensional space proves utterly enthralling.
Flanking the upward drivers, five woofers work in concert with four tweeters – two more than the Bose 700. This expanded sonic range reveals the subtlest musical nuances and surround channel directionality. Voices sound almost holographic in their lifelike presence.
For tailored tuning, Sonos TruePlay calibration uses your mobile device‘s microphone to map the room‘s acoustic profile. Wave it around while tones play from the Arc to dial in ideal frequency correction.
Quantifiable Audio Specs
| Bose Smart Soundbar 700 | Sonos Arc | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Amplifier Power | 240 watts | N/A |
| Frequency Response | 34Hz – 17kHz | 40Hz – 20kHz |
| Drivers | 4 midrange, 3 tweeters | 5 midrange, 4 tweeters, 2 upfiring |
| Wireless Protocols | WiFi, Bluetooth | Sonosnett WiFi |
| Dolby Atmos 3D Audio | No | Yes |
| Room Correction | ADAPTiQ automated | TruePlay manual sweeps |
| Max SPL | 102 dB | Unknown |
| Voice Assistants | Alexa + Google Assistant | Alexa + Google Assistant |
Glancing at the numbers shows close driver counts but Sonos carving extra bass extension. The Arc‘s Dolby Atmos support stands as the other differentiator yielding engrossing spatial realism. Both platforms implement effective room correction to maximize clarity.
In practice, these contrasting theoretical capabilities produce equivalently superb listening experiences. The Sonos Arc casts a slightly wider dynamic range, but satisfaction ultimately depends more on your specific audio priorities.
Winner: Tie
Now let‘s move higher up the technology stack to streaming platforms, smart integrations and control options.
Connectivity & Smart Features
Modern wireless connectivity plays a huge role in ease of use for home audio components. Comparing what the Bose Smart Soundbar 700 and Sonos Arc offer reveals some key differences.
Bose Smart Soundbar 700
Bose smartly opted to include both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth in the Soundbar 700. It joins networks on speedy dual-band 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac to enable integrated Spotify, Pandora, Amazon Music, Deezer and SiriusXM streaming access.
Multi-point Bluetooth 5.0 facilitates one-touch connections from any phone, tablet or laptop for shared listening. This flexibility mirrors Bose‘s intent for the 700 series to serve entertainment hub roles.
On the integrated voice assistant front, the Bose 700 grants access to either Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Whichever you activate during setup awaits voice commands for managing music playback, looking up information, or controlling smart devices.
Sonos Arc
The Sonos Arc takes a more exclusive path by solely utilizing Sonos‘ proprietary mesh network over Wi-Fi. This ensures low-latency audio streaming to other Sonos components throughout your home. But no native Bluetooth restricts mobile device connections absent a separate Sonos bridge accessory.
Voice assistant duties again fall to either Alexa or Google Assistant for basic search and smart home tasks. But hands-free iPhone owners gain an extra perk via native AirPlay 2 support for direct wireless audio beaming from Apple devices.
For controls, Sonos expects owners to use their phone or the soundbar‘s touch keys. Bose includes a handy universal remote control to skip constantly grabbing another device.
Winner: Bose Smart Soundbar 700
I give Bose the edge for the 700‘s wireless flexibility and handy bundled remote. But the Sonos Arc counterpunches strongly as part of a whole-home audio ecosystem.
Ecosystem Integration & Expandability
Centering your home theater around a capable soundbar makes the initial outlay easier to justify. But what happens when you catch surround sound upgraditis and want more thundering audio power? Let‘s examine how well the Bose Smart Soundbar 700 and Sonos Arc accommodate expansion ambitions.
Bose Smart Soundbar 700
Serving as a standalone player, the Bose Smart Soundbar 700 excels courtesy of its vertical form. Yet it still makes room for bass boosting or rear channel upgrades via additional Bose family components.
The matching Wireless Bass Module 700 bolts on seamlessly through the proprietary ADAPTiQ Link for earth-shaking lows. Surround speaker duties get assigned to the compact Wireless Surround Speakers or floorstanding Rear Speakers 700 for enveloping 5.1 audio.
Everything integrates through the polished Bose Music smartphone app for comprehensive control and EQ adjustment. Grouped components share the main soundbar‘s voice assistant and streaming service access too.
Sonos Arc
Given its broader ecosystem footprint, Sonos holds an advantage by interlinking the Arc with their comprehensive wireless speaker family. Pairing two Sonos One SLs as satellite surrounds takes just a few taps in the controller app. Even moving audio around multiple rooms grows effortless.
The platform ties together neatly as more pieces get added down the road. Controlling loudness, queueing songs and grouping all happens intuitively whether you‘re airplaying from an iPhone, asking Alexa to cue playlists, or tweaking equalization.
Third parties like Amplofi also offer wallet-friendlier wireless surround additions. But native Sonos cohesion generally proves simpler.
Winner: Sonos Arc
For those hooked on building a whole house audio network, I give Sonos the nod. Multi-zone coordination just feels more tightly integrated across their product portfolio.
But the Bose 700 puts up an excellent fight too with its focused lineup. Now let‘s wrap up with pricing and availability.
Pricing & Availability
As flagship models positioned squarely in the premium bracket, neither the Bose Smart Soundbar 700 or Sonos Arc aim for mass market affordability. But sale prices fluctuate enough to merit tracking.
Bose Smart Soundbar 700
The Bose Smart Soundbar 700 entered the scene back in September 2019 for a hearty $799 MSRP including its universal remote. By 2023, street pricing now sits closer to $699 for just the soundbar itself.
Factor in occasional promotions directly from Bose or at retailers like Amazon and Best Buy, and you can likely snag one sub-$600 if patient. The black version sees the most frequent deals.
Supply volume keeps adequate pace with demand, so inventory rarely runs short on the 700. White finishes bounce in and out of stock more sporadically though when components get scarce.
Sonos Arc
Priced $100 higher initially at a $899 MSRP lacking a bundled remote, the Sonos Arc still asks $799 standalone four years after its mid-2020 debut. The all-black variant enjoys modest discounts closer to $700 at times on Amazon.
Resale value also appears slightly higher long-term for the Arc versus the Bose 700 based on used market listing rates. This possibly stems from scarcer supply following COVID-related China production issues. Finding open-box deals proves moderately rare as well.
New launches ofhigher-end Sonos speakers like the $599 Five also threaten to siphon off Arc manufacturing. Nonetheless, healthy enough stock flows to meet demand apart from temporary shortages.
Winner: Bose Smart Soundbar 700
Factoring together everyday pricing and periodic discount availability, the Bose 700 prevails as the more affordable option – even when the Arc occasionally sees steeper percentage sales. Resale value and backorder risks also favor Bose presently.
My Final Call
So now that we‘ve traversed their industrial design, acoustic mastery, wireless connectivity, smart integrations, ecosystem expansion potential, and affordability, which elite soundbar reigns supreme: the Bose Smart Soundbar 700 or Sonos Arc?
In my evaluation, when their minor shortcomings and marginal spec advantages get set aside, the pair of audio luminaries ultimately shine nearly equal in satisfying premium niches. Those craving style get treated to the 700’s elegant minimalism. Immersive cinematic bliss bountifully flows forth from the Arc.
Yet a couple small but meaningful perks nudge my recommendation to….the Bose Smart Soundbar 700!
Slightly narrower dimensions increase placement flexibility without sonic sacrifice. Having both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth onboard along with Alexa + Google Assistant also caters conveniently to iOS or Android households.
Tossing in an uncommonly capable universal remote at no extra charge enhances the value proposition as well. ADAPTiQ room correction further optimizes clarity for quirky home theater spaces. And subtly lower pricing with higher availability makes the overall package a savvier investment.
But rest assured I promise you’ll achieve audio nirvana regardless of whichever model you end up choosing. When these two category titans reach such impressive performance plateaus, home theater enthusiasts bask in sonic bliss either way.
I hope this detailed Bose vs Sonos breakdown gives you the insights needed to pick the perfect soundbar for your personal entertainment sanctuary. Let me know if any other questions pop up along your shopping journey!
