Looking for a smart speaker that delivers impressive sound quality and hands-free voice control? We’ve been testing out the Bose Home Speaker 500, and we’re impressed with what we’ve found.
This sleek black speaker boasts two custom drivers that project sound in opposite directions, creating a wide soundstage that fills any room. And with built-in Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, you can enjoy millions of songs, playlists, and Internet radio stations without lifting a finger.
But what really sets the Bose Home Speaker 500 apart is its eight-microphone array, which picks up your voice from any direction, even when the music is blasting. And thanks to Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Apple AirPlay 2 compatibility, you can stream your favorite tunes from your phone, tablet, or music service with ease.
Bottom Line
Overall, we highly recommend the Bose Home Speaker 500 for anyone looking for a high-quality smart speaker that delivers exceptional sound and voice control. With its impressive features and intuitive controls, it’s a top pick for any music lover. So why wait? Click here to purchase the Bose Home Speaker 500 and elevate your listening experience today!
Bose Home Speaker 500 Overview
We recently had the opportunity to experience the Bose Home Speaker 500, and we were impressed with its powerful sound and smart features. The speaker boasts two custom drivers that point in opposite directions, creating a soundstage wider than any other smart speaker. It also features built-in voice assistants like Alexa and the Google Assistant, which allow for hands-free control of millions of songs, Internet radio stations, playlists, and more.
The eight-microphone array ensures superior voice pickup, even when the music is playing loud. The speaker can be controlled using voice commands, the Bose Music app, or the six one-touch presets on top of the speaker. With Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Apple AirPlay 2 compatibility, you can play your favorite music services or anything from your phone or tablet. The color LCD display shows you what’s playing, including current song, station, playlist info, album art, and more.
Overall, the Bose Home Speaker 500 is a great addition to any home. Its sound performance, built-in Alexa, and connectivity options make it a versatile and convenient smart speaker.
Sound Performance
When it comes to sound performance, we were blown away by the Bose Home Speaker 500. The audio quality is simply outstanding, with crystal clear highs and deep, rich bass. We were particularly impressed by how well the speaker fills a room with sound, making it perfect for parties or gatherings.
One thing to note is that the speaker’s performance is heavily dependent on the quality of the audio source. We found that streaming from services like Spotify or Apple Music provided the best results, while lower quality sources like YouTube or Pandora sounded a bit muddier.
Overall, we highly recommend the Bose Home Speaker 500 for anyone looking for a high-quality, powerful speaker that delivers exceptional sound performance.
Built-in Alexa
We were impressed with the built-in Alexa feature of the Bose Home Speaker 500. With Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant built into this smart speaker, we were able to control the speaker with our voice and enjoy hands-free voice control. The noise-rejecting mic system listens in every direction for our voice, making it easy to control the speaker from anywhere in the room.
We were able to easily connect our device to this home speaker to stream our favorite music and more via a Bluetooth connection, our home Wi-Fi network, Apple AirPlay 2, or Spotify Connect. The Bose Music app made setup simple with detailed prompts.
We appreciated the three different ways to manage what we hear: our voice, the Bose Music app, or 6 one-touch presets on top of the speaker. With Alexa only, we were able to make or take calls from this smart speaker to Bose smart products, Amazon Echo products, and anyone in our contacts list. The hands-free, phone-free, and free of charge feature was a bonus.
Overall, the built-in Alexa feature of the Bose Home Speaker 500 made it easy to control and enjoy our music with a simple voice command.
Connectivity
We were impressed with the Bose Home Speaker 500’s connectivity options. The speaker can connect to your devices using Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, which allows for seamless streaming of your favorite tunes. We found that connecting to Wi-Fi was easy and the setup process was straightforward.
The built-in Alexa voice control feature was also a plus. We were able to use voice commands to play music, set alarms, and even control our smart home devices. The speaker also supports Apple AirPlay 2, which allows for easy streaming from Apple devices.
Overall, we found the connectivity options to be reliable and convenient. The ability to connect using multiple methods and the built-in Alexa feature make the Bose Home Speaker 500 a versatile and user-friendly choice for any home.
Control
Controlling the Bose Home Speaker 500 is a breeze, with three different ways to manage what you hear. We can use our voice, the Bose Music app or the six one-touch presets on top of the speaker. We were impressed with the voice control feature, which is powered by Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. The noise-rejecting mic system listens in every direction for our voice, so we can easily change the volume, skip tracks, or even ask for the weather without having to get up from our seat.
We also appreciate the convenience of the Bose Music app, which provides simple setup with detailed prompts. We can use the app to browse popular music services like Spotify and Amazon Music, or to manage our speaker settings. The six preset buttons on top of the speaker are also a handy feature, allowing us to quickly access our favorite playlists or radio stations without having to fiddle with our phone or the app.
Overall, we found the control options for the Bose Home Speaker 500 to be intuitive and user-friendly. Whether we want to use our voice, the app, or the preset buttons, we can easily manage what we hear and enjoy high-quality sound from a single speaker.
Pros and Cons
When it comes to the Bose Home Speaker 500, there are definitely some pros and cons to consider before making a purchase. Here are our thoughts on the positive and negative aspects of this smart speaker:
Pros
- Impressive sound quality: The Bose Home Speaker 500 delivers wall-to-wall stereo sound that is sure to impress. Even when listening at high volumes, the sound remains clear and rich.
- Built-in Alexa and Google Assistant: Having both Alexa and Google Assistant built into the speaker means that you can choose your preferred voice assistant and enjoy hands-free control of your music and smart home devices.
- Multiple connectivity options: Whether you prefer to connect via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Apple AirPlay 2, or Spotify Connect, the Bose Home Speaker 500 has you covered.
- Easy to control: With three different ways to manage what you hear (voice, Bose Music app, or one-touch presets), controlling your music has never been easier.
- Hands-free calling: If you use Alexa, you can make and take calls directly from the speaker, which is a convenient feature.
- SimpleSync technology: If you have other compatible Bose products, you can use SimpleSync to pair them together for a seamless multi-room listening experience.
Cons
- Expensive: At a higher price point than some other smart speakers on the market, the Bose Home Speaker 500 may not be the best choice for those on a tight budget.
- Alexa integration can be finicky: While having Alexa built into the speaker is a great feature, some users have reported that the integration can be a bit glitchy at times.
- Limited voice assistant options: While having both Alexa and Google Assistant is a plus, some users may prefer other voice assistants that are not available on this speaker.
Overall, the Bose Home Speaker 500 is a solid choice for those who value sound quality and easy control of their music. While it may not be the most budget-friendly option out there, it offers a range of connectivity options and the convenience of built-in voice assistants.
Customer Reviews
We scoured customer reviews of the Bose Home Speaker 500 and found that users were generally impressed with its sound quality and ability to fill a room. Many reviewers noted that the bass was particularly strong and that the speaker produced clear, crisp audio.
However, some users found the Alexa voice control to be finicky and difficult to use. Others mentioned that the speaker was pricey compared to other options on the market.
Overall, the Bose Home Speaker 500 seems to be a solid choice for those looking for high-quality audio in a sleek package. While the Alexa integration may not be perfect, the speaker’s sound quality more than makes up for any shortcomings.
Conclusion
Overall, we were impressed with the Bose Home Speaker 500. The sound quality is exceptional and the ability to control it with voice commands is convenient. We appreciated the custom-designed eight-microphone array for superior voice pickup, which allowed us to control the speaker even when the music was playing loudly. The compatibility with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Apple airplay 2 made it easy to play our favorite music services, like Spotify, Apple Music, or anything from our phone or tablet. The color LCD display was also a nice touch, showing us what was playing and providing album art.
While the price point may be a bit steep for some, we believe that the quality of the Bose Home Speaker 500 justifies the cost. We highly recommend this speaker to anyone looking for a high-quality smart speaker with exceptional sound quality.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions about the Bose Home Speaker 500:
When was the Bose Home Speaker 500 released?
The Bose Home Speaker 500 was released in August 2018.
What is the battery life of the Bose Home Speaker 500?
The Bose Home Speaker 500 is a plug-in speaker and does not have a battery. It needs to be plugged into an outlet to function.
How does the Bose Home Speaker 500 compare to the Bose Home Speaker 300?
The Bose Home Speaker 500 is larger and more powerful than the Bose Home Speaker 300. It has a wider soundstage and better voice pickup due to its eight-microphone array. The Bose Home Speaker 500 also has a color LCD display and more connectivity options, including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Apple AirPlay 2.
What is the setup process for the Bose Home Speaker 500?
Setting up the Bose Home Speaker 500 is easy and straightforward. You can use the Bose Music app for step-by-step instructions and prompts. You can also use voice commands to set up the speaker using Alexa or Google Assistant.
What is the price of the Bose Home Speaker 500?
The Bose Home Speaker 500 is priced at $299. This is in line with other high-end smart speakers in the market.
What are the specs of the Bose Home Speaker 500?
The Bose Home Speaker 500 has the following specifications:
- Special Feature: Wireless, Built-in Alexa
- Connectivity Technology: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi
- Speaker Type: Multimedia
- Model Name: Home Speaker 500
- Brand: Bose
Overall, the Bose Home Speaker 500 is a powerful and versatile smart speaker that offers impressive sound quality and a wide range of features. Whether you’re looking to stream music, control your smart home devices, or make hands-free calls, the Bose Home Speaker 500 has got you covered.