Bose is a leader in the sound industry. From epic headphones to floor-vibrating speakers, Bose knows how to get the best quality sound out of all its products.
When it comes to epic-sounding subwoofers, Bose has a couple of great choices to choose from. Although limited in quantity (as there are only two options), they make up for the ability to turn your home audio setup into a next-level place to enjoy movies and music.
With two great options to choose from, our top pick is the Bose Bass Module 700 Subwoofer. The 700 is a professional-level subwoofer that will turn low-frequency sounds into a heart-thumping bass. Unlike other subwoofers, the Bose Bass Module 700 brings cinematic levels of bass into your home and will give you a wonderful depth of sound. That’s why the Bose Bass Module 700 Subwoofer is our top pick.
If you’re not looking for a professional-level subwoofer, your other choice from Bose is the Bass Module 500 Subwoofer. Another great choice if you’re just getting into your serious sound quality and at a much cheaper price than the 700.
If you’re still unsure which is best for you then carry on reading and we’ll go into detail on the two subwoofers from Bose. All of which are brilliant but in their own different ways.
Let’s get into it and find out which you should be buying for your home. But first, what is a subwoofer and do you need one for your home?
Best Bose Subwoofer 2024
What Is A Subwoofer?
A subwoofer is like a speaker, but it is there to deliver the lower-frequency sounds you get when watching shows or listening to music. Usually frequencies of about 20-200 Hz which a standard speaker is unable to reproduce on its own.
Low-frequency sounds such as a deep bass guitar when listening to music, or an explosion effect in a movie can now be picked up more clearly with the help of a subwoofer.
The subwoofer adds an overall depth to your audio system, with deep bass sounds reproduced crisply and with excellent clarity.
Do I Need A Subwoofer?
Although a standard speaker setup can still pick up bass sounds for a variety of different elements, the subwoofer will do a lot of the heavy lifting as it’s designed for those lower frequencies, reducing the stress on the other speakers.
With a subwoofer in your audio system, the sounds are way more compelling. You get to feel the sound rather than just hear it. It gives you the vibrations from a movie explosion like you’re actually a part of it.
Stereo imaging becomes a lot more accurate and the sound dispersion becomes wider. The subwoofer adds and becomes an all-encompassing sound, which is far more vibrant and immersive.
Where To Place A Subwoofer?
Where you place a subwoofer is ultimately up to personal preference. It very much can depend on the size of the room which you are using for your sound system.
If it’s a home theatre then you’re likely going to have more room than perhaps a living room, which will of course be affected by furniture and the décor.
The perfect spot is going to be somewhere that is relatively near to the speakers so as to get a good connection if it’s wireless. You’ll also want it fairly central so that wherever you are in the room, you’ll get the best possible sound dispersion.
Things To Consider When Choosing A Subwoofer
You might have only just heard about a subwoofer and may still be considering whether it is the right choice for you. So what are the things that you should think about before buying a subwoofer?
Budget
Like with all big purchase decisions, it’s important to decide on a price you’re happy to spend before you decide to start looking at options. With so many great choices on the market, it can be easy to get lost in the sea of choices.
With prices ranging from $50 to up to $1000, you can get lots of quality subwoofers for the price you’re happy with.
Power
Choosing a subwoofer that has a certain level of power is important for your home. Subwoofers can range from 100-1000 watts, so choosing one that isn’t too loud or too powerful might be a good choice for your setup.
The higher the wattage, the more powerful the subwoofer. A subwoofer with high wattage can really shake up a room and you will really feel the vibrations pass through.
Do you have neighbors that won’t appreciate hearing the thumping sounds of a heavy bass coming from your living room? Power is definitely something to think about before you pull the trigger.
Room Size
Getting the right acoustics for your home theatre is a must if you want to have the best possible experience. Ultimately, the room you choose to have your subwoofer will have a key impact on the performance you get from it.
Now, before you go taking down walls or moving house, it’s important to understand that you can find a subwoofer that works for your specific room.
Perhaps you don’t want to see lots of wires as your room is a little smaller – a wireless subwoofer could be the best choice.
Or maybe you’ve got a home theatre room which is large and spacious. You’ll probably want a couple of powerful subwoofers for that epic bass sound.
Either way, it’s always good to have a look at your room first and begin to get an understanding of what would work best before making a choice.
Bose Bass Module 500 Subwoofer
The Bose Bass Module 500 is a super sleek subwoofer with a compact design that’s easy to use. With 10 inches in the cube and weighing less than 11 pounds, it makes an excellent fit for small living rooms.
With its dimensions of 10 x 10 x 9.5 inches, the Bose Bass Module 500 has a simple yet modernized design that fits perfectly even in a narrower space.
The slightly glossy finish crafted with high-end material makes it an efficient option to consider for bar or mounting floor types.
The top is made up of premium quality solid black plastic with a matte finish that doesn’t show fingerprints or dust easily. The style is pretty modernized and trendy, with the weight being only 11 pounds. It’s therefore a product that’s travel friendly and convenient to carry.
A power switch and a 3.5 mm jack are on the back, which means users are able to connect the subwoofers with sound bars or surround speakers.
The Bass Module 500 lets you enjoy low and high-frequency extension by producing deep rumbles and thumbs. As a result, you can enjoy a wonderful range of sounds in almost every music genre. In addition, the sound profile is usually balanced, and trebles are okay if the punchy bass focus is considered.
This model has two buttons, one of which is used to connect the device to a soundbar. The other is the microphone button that disables the voice assistant function when turned off.
The subwoofers also feature led lights. These are located above the input slot and light up whenever the subwoofer is connected.
The Bose Bass Module 500 can be connected through wireless wifi to Bose soundbars or with the Bose music app. All you need to do is plug the subwoofer into an AC outlet and use the Bose Music app to add it to a soundbar. In addition, the user can connect the subwoofer to the soundbar using an optimal ⅛ inch cable, or even by using the Bluetooth of your phone.
Pros
- Available at a much cheaper price than the Module 700.
- The compact design and less weight make the device perfect to be taken on traveling trips.
- Weighs less than 11 pounds.
- Semi-matte finish doesn’t show dust, scratches, or fingerprints.
- A durable device that can last for decades – if maintained properly
Cons
- Can’t be operated from any universal remote. Instead, the user needs to get the specific controller.
- Does not offer all the functionalities that the 700 does.
Our Verdict
“If you’re new to the game and are after a great introductory subwoofer, the Bose Bass Module 500 could be perfect for you. It’s a great start and has just about everything you need for rich sound across the board. It has a couple limitations, but for around $400 you can get a device that works well and looks cool in your home.”
Bose Bass Module 700 Subwoofer
The Bose Bass Module 700 is a super-enhanced subwoofer that allows the user to pair the subwoofer with Bose Soundbar 300, 500, 700, and even 900.
The model has a sophisticated design with a high-quality tempered glass top. It also uses a nominal voltage of 120 volts and a power supply to assure maximum performance. Overall, module 700 enhances the profound audio effects, granting you a crazily good cinematic experience to feel within the comfort of your home.
A larger size, the 700 has much more of a boxy look so isn’t ideal for compact spaces. Nevertheless, the base is smaller which makes the subwoofer seem to be floating in the air.
One significant perk you enjoy with this subwoofer is the variety of color options, offering a white or black design to help fit your room aesthetic. If you’re looking to match up your subwoofer with your soundbar, Module 700 comes in black and arctic white which matches the white Bose soundbar 700.
Same as the Bass Module 500, you can connect the 700 with Bose soundbars via wireless wifi which makes it super easy to get set up.
The remote control for 700 tends to be universal. That means you can control all of your household devices with this single remote control.
The quietport technology allows the user to simultaneously hear different sounds from different places, which works by dropping the port turbulence and keeping the distortions minimal.
The Bose Bass Module 700 comes with just two buttons. These include the action button which allows you to activate the voice assistant and the other button can be used to turn the mic off.
Pros
- Offers a wide variety of additional features that module 500 hasn’t got
- Can be operated through universal remote control
- Modern look enhances the visual appeal
Cons
- The glossy finish shows all the fingerprints, scratches, and dust particles.
- The big size makes it difficult to carry or move
- Almost double the price of the 500
Our Verdict
“The Bass Module 700 is a great option for your home audio setup. It’s all you need for a professional sound system and is 100% worth the money in my opinion. That price is a great one, however it’s the best of the two choices by a long way. The colour options are cool and the wireless setup is very useful if you don’t fancy all the usual wires. Having the universal remote control is an awesome feature for convenience and the power capacity is a great amount for basically all your bass sound needs. If you’re looking for a premium level subwoofer – the Bass Module 700 is an amazing choice.”
Similarities Between Bose Bass Module 500 and Bose Bass Module 700
- Both options have the same wireless range of about 30 feet or 9 meters.
- Both allow the user to obtain any dedicated application that they can download from the apple store or play store (depending upon the mobile operating system they use)
- Both get a fast wifi and Bluetooth connection. Hence, the user can use any of their favorite features to play audio.
- Both modules have a 1-year warranty for the user’s peace of mind
- Both are completely compatible with Bose speakers and soundbars.
- Both subwoofers have just 2 buttons. One of them is to mute the mic, whereas the other can be used to activate the virtual assistant.
Differences Between Bose Bass Module 500 and Bose Bass Module 700
- The 700 lets the user connect the module through HDMI and digital optical cables. Whereas, the 500 only allows the connection through HDMI Cable.
- The 700 is almost double the price of the 500.
- The sound quality delivered by the 700 is much higher and enhanced than the 500. Plus, the 500 module shows some light distortion that may seem annoying to many
- Users enjoy Dolby Digital and DTS features with the 700, unlike the Bose Bass Module 500.
Final Thoughts
Bose has two really great options for a subwoofer, which is clear to see.
Comparing both options, our priorities were sound quality, available features, and how these stacked up against each price point.
With that said, our top pick is the Bose Bass Module 700 Subwoofer. The 700 is a professional-level subwoofer that will turn low-frequency sounds into a heart-thumping bass. Unlike other subwoofers, the Bose Bass Module 700 brings cinematic levels of bass into your home and will give you a wonderful depth of sound.
Yes it is rather expensive, but if you’re serious about getting the best possible sound then you can’t look past the Bose Bass Module 700 Subwoofer.
If you’re still not sure if a Bose subwoofer is for you, then check out some more subwoofer reviews such as the best Sony subwoofer.