Bose Home Speaker 500: Smart Bluetooth Speaker with Alexa Voice Control Built-in, Black

StevenUnited States

Very Happy with this Purchase - Excellent Streaming Speaker

For the past few years, I've been listening to music on Amazon Echo speakers, which I had synced in various rooms throughout my house. Because I had been listening to music more and more, when my family and I decided to move, I wanted to upgrade my speakers. I originally was set on getting a pair of the KEF LSX. Though I've never heard them, after all my research, I am sure they are amazing speakers. I also wanted to get some other less expensive speakers (at least compared to the LSX) for other parts of the house that I could sync to (using Air Play 2). I tested out a lot of options in this price range (and even a bit more expensive, like the Sonos Play 5). When we were in the process of moving, I decided on and ordered a Home Speaker 500. After using it for a day, I was so impressed by this speaker that I decided to forego the KEF LSX and just use the Bose throughout the house, so I ordered two more. So, for about the price of on set of LSX, I now have awesome speakers throughout my house. I'm sure I sacrificed sound quality by not getting the LSX (and I definitely sacrificed getting stereo sound on a wide soundstage), but, honestly, I love the sound of the Home Speaker 500, so I don't think I need anything that is 'audiophile' grade. What I Love Most: -The sound is full and rich. I don't know how to describe it otherwise, but everything I listen to sounds fantastic. -The speakers can also get really loud without any discernible distortion. I haven't pushed them to their full volume as they are quite loud enough even at 50% or 60%, and the sound really does fill the room (and the next room!). -The look & overall build quality. They are really handsome speakers with a substantial size without being too bulky. I also appreciate the aluminum finish much more than I expected I would. The aluminum also gives the speaker a really nice heft to it. Nothing about this speaker feels or looks cheap to me (which is partly why it's not a cheap speaker, obviously). -The screen. I have read reviews that criticize the screen as not useful and not in line with the current aesthetic for speakers. But, honestly, I listen to a lot of playlists on Spotify, and it's nice to be able to see what's playing. And, even when I'm playing stuff I know, I like seeing the album art. -EQ adjustments in the Bose app. You can change treble and bass on a pretty wide range (-100 to 100, with 0 being default). When we first moved in, we didn't have any rugs down, so the sound was way too bright. A small adjustment in the EQ made a huge difference. Now that we have some rugs down, I've adjusted the EQ again back towards the default, and they continue to sound great. Even though these speakers don't self-tune like some of the other speakers in this class (Sonos, Apple, and Google all do to some extent), the tuning you can do as a user I think will make these speakers work for you in any space. And, the speaker does have a host of microphones, so self-tuning is always something Bose could add in the future. (Minor) Complaints -The way groups work is a little different than with Amazon's Echo ecosystem. Instead of creating groups ahead of time, you have to go into the Bose app to create groups ad hoc. So, you can't ask Alexa to play music on a particular group of these Bose speakers. Instead, you have to get music started on one speaker and then create the group you want in the Bose app. Once it's set up and is playing continuously, any music command given to Alexa continues to play on that group. If you stop playing music, the group eventually dissolves. The positive to this is that you can also edit groups (add and remove speakers) on the fly without really interrupting the music. With the Echo ecosystem, I don't think this was possible (except possibly if you were using Spotify Connect with your Echo groups). -The app and software can be a bit buggy. It always does what I want it to -- eventually. And it doesn't take long to do what I want it to do. But it also doesn't always work the first time (such as creating or editing a group). Also, album art sometimes disappears, replaced by a generic, white musical note. I will say that the more I have used my speakers, the less buggy the system tends to be. Maybe I'm just becoming more proficient at navigating the software's quirks, or maybe Bose is making some updates to the speakers that I am not aware of. -Bose used two side-firing drivers in this speaker, which is supposed to give a wider soundstage for stereo sound. I don't really hear much stereo in these speakers, even with songs that have a lot of it (such as "Such Great Heights" by The Postal Service). That said, the side-firing speakers do create a more room-filling sound as Bose claims. And, really, similar to the Echo, the sound quality doesn't change a lot no matter where you are in relationship to the speaker (though the little stereo you might get straight on gets lost completely if you are not more or less straight on to the front or back of the speaker). All in all, I absolutely recommend this speaker. It's a bit on the pricier side compared to some of the other speakers it gets compared to (but not all), but, for what I was looking for, I'm really quite satisfied.

PCTexasUnited States

I have tried Sonos, Marshall, Sony and Bose and Bose WINS!

I was specifically looking for a smart speaker with Google and Alexa built in. I tried the Sonos - One (Gen 2) and I really do prefer that sound over this Bose 500 . The Sonos was not as loud as the Bose but delivered a clearer, crisper sound with sharp clear Bass. Where the Bose 500 was more mid range and deeper Bass. Both units produced great sounds. The only issue I had with Sonos is that it does not have Bluetooth. That was a deal breaker, otherwise I would have chosen it over Bose. The next unit I tried was the Marshall - Uxbridge Smart Speaker and it is a great unit and great sound, but not very much Bass. The smart capabilities are great but however, it is lacking a deep punch in sound. I tried the Sony XB402M Smart Speaker and simply put-Don't waste your money on it. It is a great little unit for what it does but does not compare in sound quality to Bose or Sonos and falls short in bass by an immeasurable amount. I then tried this Bose 500-I was amazed at how great it sounds. It has Bluetooth and Google and Alexa integration that is wonderful. Yet, like most other 3rd party smart speakers, you don't get 100pct of the smart capabilities but the only one I found is asking Alexa to connect to my phone. It won't do that on the Bose and only tested it on Sonos and Sonos lacked even more abilities than the Bose. When using Google as the smart assistant, there was no issue with asking it connect to my phone. In overall sound, the two top choices are the Sonos and Bose. Until Sonos updates to Bluetooth, I would pass it up and choose the Bose. Also, there are no issues of it connecting to Wi-Fi as people report. A lot of tech issues are a result of people not knowing what to do. They may be on an unstable wifi and having spotty connection issues, etc. So many variables to consider. Don't buy into those negative reviews on connections for this Bose unit, It is more likely their user error.

C. FullerUnited States

Yes to this! No to Apple HomePod 2 or Sonia Move

I belabored over this purchase so I want to share what I learned. First of all, I started out looking for a Home solution that used a Voice Assistant (like Alexa or Siri) and something that would primarily be stationary and utilize my home’s Wi-Fi to play music, control lights, and replace the speakers I had my turntable connected to (for an optimized smaller overall footprint). First I was SO PUMPED for the timing of Apple’s HomePod 2 with better price and fancier flashing lights. Then I realized all of its limitations. Limitations that are actual standard on the Bose Smart Speaker 500. Not available on Apple HomePod 2, but available on the Bose 500: - Bluetooth capable - Aux input (for my turntable) - Ability to adjust treble and bass - Alexa assistant - SiriusXM streaming - Radio station programmable presets - streaming services like Spotify, Deezer, Pandora, Amazon Music Because more than a couple of these greatly improve the application, I went with the Bose 500 and I am so happy I did. The sound is so Bose; beautifully balanced and well executed. Sure it doesn’t have an indoor temperature readout, room mapping abilities or the mesmerizing color changing screen like Apple’s HomePod 2, but it has a pretty badass little display that shows artist/album details, or the station if you’re playing radio over internet. I can play my favorite stations from the cities I visit the most, right here at home. Incredible! And best of all is the QUALITY Bose sound and incredible sound output at high volumes. To me there is a clear choice! It’s all about the Bose Smart Speaker 500. BTW I also own the Sonos Move which competes with these speakers, the Bose sound quality is so much crisper and cleaner in my opinion.

JimUnited States

Great speaker

I bit the bullet at this major price for this speaker. I wanted a Bluetooth speaker that could fill the room with good sound. My only complaint about this speaker is the price. As others have said the sound is full, has depth & while not stereo, if in front of it almost seems like it. Contrary to the instructions I did not start with their app. I already have it for my Soundbar 700, and just wanted to use as an ordinary Bluetooth speaker. No problem there, press the Bluetooth button on it and saw it on my Samsung Galaxy Bluetooth list. Hit Pair and it connected immediately. When I played my Apple music it identified the song and artist. This plugs in, no battery to charge, yay! Also just a plug, no bulky transformer to try and find a place to plug in. And no on/off switch surprised me. Guess since ac powered don't need one. Then I opened the Bose app and of course it wanted to add it in with my soundbar. Didn't work until the 3rd try. Then about a15 minute download to the latest ware. Then you had to click on the app in your Bluetooth list to make it work. It has a few features like adjust the tone etc. Not of interest to me as fine as it is for my environment. In order to just do it as a regular Bluetooth speaker had to close the app and re-pair it to my phone directly. I will listen to my Apple music and some streaming online music sources all directly without needing the Bose app. Once you get over the sticker shock likely you will love it. I have a few other somewhat expensive Bluetooth speakers and this one blows them all away. Have had some issues with my Bose soundbar, hopefully this won't have any.