Big Brand Showdown: Sonos vs. Bose Winner Takes All

The Sonos vs. Bose debate has been raging in the audiophile community for years. People argue endlessly over who makes the best gear.

In addition to arguing over who makes the best headphones, people also ask who makes the best home audio equipment. Headphones are fabulous, but they are not very useful if you want multiple people to hear them. Home audio systems and wireless speakers have their application in lieu of the private nature of headphones.

Let us take a closer look at one of these two brands to offer inside the home.

Most Important Points Of Comparison Between These Brands

When comparing two different brands, you need to compare them based on standardized factors. This allows for the most objective analysis possible.

In our analysis here, we have chosen four different categories and compared them.

Overall Quality

Overall quality is our assessment of all of the other factors averages together. Another way to think of it is as if this represented our general impression of the product.

Sonos:

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Sonos may not be as well-known as Bose, but they have made quality home audio products for years. They are known for producing equipment that gives some of the best audio quality available in the industry.

These products also easily network together so you can create your surround sound system. There are few things more satisfying than a fully-immersive, home theater experience. Sonos is a mainstay in this department.

Bose:

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Bose is known for producing high-quality products. There is no denying it. However, for the price, it is not necessarily the guaranteed best quality that you can get. But you do get what you pay for because the sound quality that comes from even their smallest form factor home speakers can absolutely “wow” you.

We believe in many cases, Sonos may present a better value per dollar spent but Bose is still a quality purchase.

Sound Design

We could go into the technical terms such as bit rate and compression, but that’s a deep dive for another time. Sound design is our impression of what each brand exemplifies as manifested features of their audio output.

Sonos:

Clarity is the word that first comes to mind when we think of this brand. They focus on creating the highest fidelity experience possible with their equipment.

That is why they are some of the most popular choices on the market today for audiophiles. The crystal clear highs, enjoyable and fulfilling mids, and the necessary lows are all romanticized by most Sonos gear. Full frequency response winning all day.

Bose:

Bose seems to have focused on two distinct aspects for the last several years. They create many products that have fantastic noise cancellation properties.

They also have many products that feature a robust bass response.

Perhaps though…you could say they’ve mastered most of the remaining segments of quality assessment. After all, it seems the younger generation is steering toward music with “feel;” the distinct, deep lows, and resonance one would feel at a club or concert.

Connectivity And Smart Features

Today, smart homes are becoming more common than traditional homes.

It is not unusual for people to shop, specifically, for a home audio system to control their house with their Smart Assistant. All accessible by using their voice.

Sonos:

This brand seems to have been better about implementing Smart Assistant technology.

They also feature great wireless connectivity options. However, they typically use optical cables for audio because of the bit rate.

Bose:

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Bose has made it easy for people to connect a Bluetooth device to their speaker systems. This connectivity is what you are after, if you’re like me, so Bose is normally a no-brainer purchase. The fewer wires we have to mess with – the more convenient. 

It’s funny though, I often find that I’ll lean toward wired setups for gaming, streaming music, and movies simply because I trust an Ethernet connection more. But I can’t knock a solid Bluetooth product where I can freely roam while watching and listening!

To each their own, friends.

Price

Your budget will be the most significant factor that determines what product you select. If you cannot afford something, it does not matter how nice it is; you will not get it. But take heart: both of these brands are worth the time served while saving up to purchase them. Cash, preferably. If you can avoid paying interest on consumer products, do so.  

You’re going to be looking to invest anywhere from $600 to $5000 easily for a good setup. Depending on your needs and the quantity of components, prices are all over the place.

Sonos:

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This brand produces some of the best audio equipment available on the market today. However, they are known for having some of the highest price tags in the industry also.

In comparison to Bose sound products, they are more affordable. People on a budget will be able to afford a system made by this company more easily.

Bose:

Bose may not be the most affordable on the market, but they are incredibly consistent.

If you do not mind spending a little bit more as long as you are given a guarantee on the quality of your purchasing product, you will love this brand. I know I’m definitely a Bose fan.

Keep in mind you don’t have to be super brand specific in your whole home approach. Of course it helps with compatibility when you purchase products of the same manufacturer or brand. But if you’re like me, you’ll gravitate toward different brands for their different relative strengths.

It’s just the way it works out.

These days, you can find accessories and hubs that will help everything play nicely together. In our IoT Age, we don’t have to pay as much mind on keeping every component under the same brand umbrella. But with Bose and Sonos – you can’t go wrong. Happy listening!

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