Bose Smart Speaker 500 Review
If you're looking for a multi-effects processor that packs more than one microphone into its tiny body, the Bose Multifocal Mic is perfect for you. In this Bose Smart Speaker review, you'll learn about the company's latest creation – the Bose Multifocal Speaker 500.
Inside the Bose Smart Speaker 500, there are two custom drivers which point in different directions to bounce sound back and forth between speakers. The end result: a soundstage bigger than most any single-driver, powerful enough to cover any room with an amazing stereo sound.
Design and Build Quality
The Bose Smart Speaker 500 impresses with its design and build quality, offering a seamless blend into any living space. Here are the key features:
- Sleek and Modern Design: The speaker boasts a compact cylindrical shape, measuring 8 inches in height and 6.7 inches in width. This design ensures that it can fit effortlessly in both small and large rooms.
- Anodized Aluminum Enclosure: The speaker is encased in a seamless anodized aluminum enclosure, which not only enhances its aesthetics but also provides excellent durability. This sturdy construction ensures that the speaker can withstand everyday use without losing its appeal.
- Touch-Sensitive Controls: The top panel of the Bose Smart Speaker 500 features touch-sensitive controls, allowing easy access to essential functions. With just a tap, users can control playback, adjust volume, and manage other settings conveniently.
By combining a sleek and modern design with a durable anodized aluminum enclosure and intuitive touch-sensitive controls, the Bose Smart Speaker 500 ensures an excellent user experience while seamlessly blending into any home decor.
Sound Quality:
When it comes to audio quality, the Bose Smart Speaker 500 truly excels, living up to Bose's reputation for excellence. Here are the key reasons why this smart speaker delivers an exceptional audio experience:
- Two Custom Drivers: The Smart Speaker 500 is equipped with two custom drivers that are strategically positioned to point in opposite directions. This design choice creates a wide soundstage, allowing the speaker to fill the room with rich and immersive sound.
- Crisp and Detailed Audio: With its carefully engineered drivers, the Smart Speaker 500 delivers crisp and detailed audio reproduction. Whether you're listening to your favorite music, podcasts, or watching movies, you can expect a high level of clarity and precision.
- Wide Soundstage: The opposite-facing drivers in the speaker create a sense of spaciousness and depth in the audio. This wide soundstage enhances your listening experience, making you feel like you're in the middle of a live performance or surrounded by your favorite music.
- Bose's Digital Signal Processing (DSP) Technology: To further enhance the audio quality, Bose has incorporated its proprietary digital signal processing (DSP) technology into the Smart Speaker 500. This technology optimizes the sound output based on different genres and audio sources, resulting in a balanced and dynamic listening experience across a wide range of content.
- Immersive Listening Experience: Whether you're enjoying music, podcasts, or movies, the Smart Speaker 500 ensures an immersive listening experience. The combination of its custom drivers, wide soundstage, and DSP technology creates a sense of being fully enveloped in the audio, enhancing your overall enjoyment.
Voice Control and Smart Features:
The Bose Smart Speaker 500 is powered by Amazon Alexa, one of the leading voice assistants in the market. With built-in far-field microphones, the speaker can pick up voice commands from across the room, even when music is playing at high volume. You can ask Alexa to play your favorite songs, control other smart devices, set reminders, check the weather, and much more. The voice recognition is accurate and responsive, making it a breeze to interact with the speaker.
Connectivity Options:
The Bose Smart Speaker 500 offers a variety of connectivity options to cater to different user preferences. It features built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Apple AirPlay 2 compatibility. This allows you to stream music wirelessly from your favorite music services or directly from your smartphone, tablet, or computer. The inclusion of Apple AirPlay 2 expands the speaker's versatility by enabling multi-room audio and integration with other AirPlay-enabled devices.
Setup and User Experience:
Setting up the Bose Smart Speaker 500 is a straightforward process that can be completed in a matter of minutes. After unboxing the speaker, you simply need to download the Bose Music app, available for both iOS and Android devices. The app provides step-by-step instructions to connect the speaker to your home Wi-Fi network and customize settings according to your preferences. The user interface of the app is intuitive and user-friendly, allowing easy control over various aspects of the speaker.
Pros and Cons:
To provide a comprehensive overview, here are the main pros and cons of the Bose Smart Speaker 500:
Pros:
- Exceptional audio quality with a wide soundstage
- Sleek and durable design
- Voice control with Amazon Alexa for convenient hands-free operation
- Wide range of connectivity options, including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Apple AirPlay 2
- Intuitive and user-friendly Bose Music app
Cons:
- Limited smart home integration compared to some competitors
- Higher price point compared to other smart speakers on the market
Smart Home Integration:
The Bose Smart Speaker 500 offers limited smart home integration compared to some of its competitors. While it supports popular voice assistants like Amazon Alexa, it may not have the same level of compatibility with certain smart home devices and platforms.
It is essential to check the compatibility of your existing smart home devices before making a purchase decision. However, Bose continues to update its software and firmware, adding support for more smart home devices over time.
Multi-Room Audio and Stereo Pairing:
One notable feature of the Bose Smart Speaker 500 is its ability to create a multi-room audio setup and stereo pairing. Using the Bose Music app, you can connect multiple Bose speakers throughout your home and synchronize them to play music simultaneously.
This allows you to create a cohesive audio experience that fills every room with your favorite tunes. Additionally, you can pair two Bose Smart Speaker 500 units in stereo mode, enhancing the soundstage and creating a more immersive listening experience.
Customer Reviews and Feedback:
It's important to consider customer reviews and feedback when evaluating any product, including the Bose Smart Speaker 500. By exploring the experiences of existing users, you can gain insights into real-world performance and identify any potential issues or limitations.
Check out reputable online retailers, review websites, and forums to gather a diverse range of opinions. It's worth noting that individual experiences may vary, so it's essential to balance both positive and negative feedback to make an informed decision.
Conclusion
The 500 series gives you a lot of options. It's an excellent value for the money spent. If you want to have the most professional sound experience, you need to get the big guns. That's where the innovative new Bose smart speaker 500 comes in. Connect your home theater system to the wall-to-wall stereo sound of the Bose smart speaker 500 to enjoy your tunes across the room.
