Bose’s Soundbar 600 and 700 represent the brand’s mid-range and top-of-the-line compact soundbar offerings. With Bose’s excellent audio engineering, both models provide a major audio upgrade over your TV’s built-in speakers.
But should you opt for the 600 or 700 model? Here is an in-depth look at how these two premium Bose soundbars compare.
A Brief Comparison Table
| Feature | Bose Soundbar 600 | Bose Soundbar 700 |
| Dimensions | 2.2″ x 3.4″ x 4″ | 2.3″ x 4″ x 4″ |
| Speaker Drivers | 4 | 8 |
| Subwoofer | No | Yes |
| Dolby Atmos | No | Yes |
| HDMI Inputs | 1 | 1 |
| HDMI ARC | Yes | eARC |
| Built-in Voice Assistant | No | Alexa and Google Assistant |
| Surround Speakers Expandable | No | Yes |
Overview of the Bose Soundbar 600
As the mid-range model in Bose’s soundbar lineup, the 600 delivers clear audio and convenient connectivity in a compact soundbar. Voice audio has been specifically optimized for dialogue clarity.
Key features of the Soundbar 600:
- Slim, sophisticated design made to fit under TVs.
- Proprietary phase guides send audio throughout the room
- 4 full-range drivers provide detailed sound beyond a TV’s capabilities
- Bluetooth and HDMI-ARC connectivity
- ADAPTiQ audio calibration tunes sound to room acoustics
- Remote control allows easy adjustments
- Metal grille wraps around three sides for striking aesthetic
With premium styling and Bose’s audio engineering providing wide, detailed sound, the Soundbar 600 makes an excellent audio upgrade for living rooms and bedrooms.
Overview of the Bose Soundbar 700
As Bose’s top soundbar model, the Soundbar 700 includes additional drivers, Dolby Atmos support, built-in voice assistance, and expandability for truly cinematic sound.
Key details about the Soundbar 700:
- Sleek aluminum design with tempered glass top
- 8 proprietary transducer drivers including angled side speakers
- Adds a wireless bass module for impactful low-end
- Dolby Atmos and Dolby Digital processing for immersive audio
- Built-in Alexa and Google Assistant support
- HDMI-eARC connectivity plus WiFi and Bluetooth
- Expandable to add rear surround speakers for 5.1 surround sound
- ADAPTiQ tuning optimizes audio for your unique room
With Dolby Atmos 3D audio capabilities and potential for surround sound, the Soundbar 700 delivers theater-like audio performance for home entertainment setups.
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Key Differences Between the 600 and 700
When it comes to soundbars, two of their prominent offerings are the Bose Soundbar 700 and the Bose Soundbar 600.
Both of these soundbars promise to deliver that signature Bose sound, but they also come with distinct features and differences that cater to different preferences and needs.
In this comprehensive comparison, we’ll delve into the details of these two soundbars, highlighting their design, audio performance, features, and pricing.
- Design and Build Quality
The Bose Soundbar 700 boasts a design that exudes premium craftsmanship. It features a sleek and elegant appearance with a metal and glass construction. This choice of materials not only enhances its aesthetics but also contributes to its sturdiness and durability.
The metal grille on the front adds to its modern and high-end look, making it a stylish addition to any home entertainment setup. The Soundbar 700 is designed to seamlessly blend with your living room decor, making it a statement piece.
In contrast, the Bose Soundbar 600 has a more modest design when compared to its sibling, the Soundbar 700. The 600 model features a plastic construction, which is still of good quality but lacks the premium feel of metal and glass.
While it may not have the same level of sophistication in its design, it is a more budget-friendly option for those who prioritize audio performance over aesthetics.
- Audio Performance
The audio performance of the Bose Soundbar 700 is where it truly shines. This soundbar is equipped with a total of 8 drivers, including side-firing transducers. These drivers work together to create a wider and more enveloping soundstage.
The side-firing transducers enhance the spatial audio experience, allowing you to feel fully immersed in your movies or music. This wider soundstage is ideal for those who want a more cinematic audio experience in their home.
Another significant advantage of the Soundbar 700 is its inclusion of a wireless subwoofer. This subwoofer adds thunderous bass to your audio setup, delivering deep and impactful low-end frequencies.
It ensures that you not only hear but also feel the rumble of explosions and the depth of music. This is a notable feature for audiophiles and movie enthusiasts who crave that extra bass punch.
Additionally, the Soundbar 700 supports Dolby Atmos, a cutting-edge audio technology that provides immersive 3D audio.
With Dolby Atmos, sound is not limited to traditional channels; it can move freely in a three-dimensional space, creating a more lifelike and immersive audio experience. This feature is a game-changer for those who want to take their home theater setup to the next level.
The Bose Soundbar 600, while still offering impressive audio quality, does not reach the same heights as the Soundbar 700. It relies solely on its internal drivers for audio reproduction, without the added benefit of side-firing transducers or a wireless subwoofer.
This means that while it can deliver clear and balanced sound, it may not provide the same level of depth and immersion as the Soundbar 700.
Moreover, the Soundbar 600 lacks support for Dolby Atmos. This means that it cannot provide the same level of 3D audio immersion as its higher-end counterpart.
However, for many users, especially those who are not audiophiles or home theater enthusiasts, the audio quality of the Soundbar 600 may still be more than sufficient for their needs.
- Voice Control
One of the standout features of the Bose Soundbar 700 is its built-in voice control capabilities. It comes with support for both Alexa and Google Assistant, allowing you to control the soundbar and other compatible smart devices using voice commands.
This hands-free convenience can be a significant plus for those who want to integrate their soundbar into a smart home ecosystem or simply enjoy the convenience of voice control for basic functions like adjusting volume or playing music.
In contrast, the Soundbar 600 does not offer built-in voice control. This means that you would need to use a separate voice-controlled device, such as an Amazon Echo or Google Home, if you want to have voice control functionality in your setup.
While this is not a deal-breaker for many users, it does add an extra layer of complexity to the setup process.
- Expandability
The Bose Soundbar 700 is designed with expandability in mind. It can be seamlessly integrated with Bose’s wireless surround speakers to create a true 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound setup.
This allows you to further enhance your home theater experience by placing speakers behind you for a more immersive audio experience.
The ability to expand the system makes the Soundbar 700 an excellent choice for those who want a flexible and customizable audio setup.
On the other hand, the Soundbar 600 is a standalone soundbar and does not offer the same level of expandability as the Soundbar 700.
While it can still deliver a satisfying audio experience on its own, you won’t have the option to add wireless surround speakers for a full surround sound setup. This limitation may not be a concern for users who are primarily looking for a straightforward soundbar solution.
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- Connectivity
The Soundbar 700 features HDMI-eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel), which enables higher bandwidth audio transmission. This is a crucial feature for users who want to take full advantage of advanced audio formats and ensure the highest audio quality possible when connected to a compatible TV.
HDMI-eARC allows for lossless audio transmission, ensuring that you get the best audio experience from your content.
The Soundbar 600, while still offering HDMI connectivity, comes with HDMI-ARC (Audio Return Channel), which has a lower bandwidth compared to HDMI-eARC.
While this may not be a significant drawback for most users, it may limit the soundbar’s ability to fully support certain advanced audio formats and configurations. However, for the average user, HDMI-ARC should suffice for typical home theater setups.
- Pricing
As expected, the pricing of the Bose Soundbar 700 is notably higher than that of the Bose Soundbar 600. The Soundbar 700’s premium design, advanced audio features, voice control capabilities, and expandability come at a higher price point.
However, the specific prices can vary depending on promotions, discounts, and region, so it’s essential to check the current pricing when making a decision.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The 700 is the better model overall, with its Dolby Atmos support, built-in subwoofer, and surround sound expandability allowing an immersive home theater experience. But the 600 still provides excellent sound quality at a lower price point.
No, only the Soundbar 700 includes Dolby Atmos 3D audio capabilities. The 600 reproduces standard Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound.
If you want true surround sound or cutting-edge Dolby Atmos in your home theater, then yes, the upgrades on the 700 are worth the higher cost. For smaller spaces like bedrooms, the 600 should suffice.
No, despite having “600” in the name, the Soundbar 600 is not a true dedicated 5.1 system. It uses psychoacoustic processing to create an immersive audio effect from its compact soundbar. Only the 700 model can be upgraded to 5.1 surround.
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Final Thoughts
Bose’s Soundbar 700 rightfully holds the brand’s premium status, with up-to-date Dolby Atmos support and theater-like audio performance. But the mid-range 600 still reproduces Bose’s detailed, room-filling sound at a more affordable price point.
Consider stepping up to the fully-featured 700 if you want true immersive surround sound. However, even on its own, the 600 makes for an outstanding audio upgrade over lackluster TV speakers. Let your budget and room size needs determine which Bose soundbar is right for you.