Bose launches Alexa-powered Home Speaker 500 and two soundbars

Audio equipment pioneer Bose has launched a new wireless smart speaker, the Bose Home Speaker 500, and two new smart soundbars, the Bose Soundbar 700 and Soundbar 500. 

The company says that each device deliver a “size-defying performance with superior voice pickup and the power of Amazon Alexa now, other voice assistants to follow, and AirPlay 2 for simple streaming from Apple devices added in early 2019.” The Bose smart speaker and new soundbars use the proprietary mic technology found in Bose headsets and headphones. With Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Alexa built in, they can work together together as a multi-room system. 

The Home Speaker 500 is priced at £399.95 and the Soundbar 500 and 700 will be available for £499.95 and £799.95, respectively. The speakers will be sold at Bose retail stores, Bose.co.uk, and all authorised Bose dealers from October. Bose Soundbar 500 “Voice-controlled speakers aren’t new, and there are plenty of great options to choose from. But we had a different vision for ours, inspired by what we could uniquely do to make the experience better. 

All of our new smart speakers double up on functionality. It takes just one Home Speaker 500 to deliver true stereo separation — there’s no need to pair two. Our Soundbar 700 and 500 are thin and discreet with jaw-dropping surround sound — whether you’re streaming Spotify, or watching a movie. 

They combine Bluetooth and Wi-Fi for unbeatable ease of use, can be mixed and matched to play in sync or separately, and with new Alexa functionality and more VPAs on the way, they’ll only get better over time,” Doug Cunningham, category manager in the Bose Consumer Electronics Division, said in a statement. Bose Home Speaker 500 Bose claims that the Home Speaker 500 has the widest soundstage of any smart speaker available today. Wrapped in anodised aluminium, the speaker uses two custom drivers pointed in opposite directions resulting in a surround sound. 

The smart speaker comes with touch controls which are located on the top of it. The new Bose Home Speaker and Soundbars use advanced Bose mic technology and feature a custom-designed eight-microphone array precisely positioned for accurate near-field and far-field voice pickup in different situations. Bose Soundbar 700 Bose Soundbar 700 and Soundbar 500 The Bose Soundbar 700 has curved lines, a wraparound metal grille and a tempered glass top. It features Bose PhaseGuides, Bose DSP, custom low-profile transducers, and QuietPort technology to deliver depth to the sound which is being played on it. 

The Soundbar 500 is smaller and thinner than the Soundbar 700 and features a matte finish. Both new soundbars use proprietary ADAPTiQ — a technology by Bose to acoustically adjust to their surroundings, and HDMI Audio Return Channel (ARC) for compatibility with future technology. They also can be wall-mounted or expanded with a wireless bass module and rear speakers for a full 5.1 experience.