Sonos Play5 Vs Bose SoundTouch 30 – Which One Is The Better Choice?

When you take into consideration the compatibility and ease of use, the Sonos Play5 is the better choice for a wireless multi-room sound system. That is not to say, however, that the Bose SoundTouch 30 does not have great qualities that make it just as good. At the end of the day, the better system is determined by what factors you choose to take into consideration.

Wireless Multi-Room Sound Systems has taken the simple experience of listening to music, to a whole new level. Thanks to their ability to wirelessly connect multiple speakers spread throughout your house, you can now fill every corner of your home with beautiful music. You can even listen to a podcast in one room while playing music in another room simultaneously, and that’s not all. With this setup, you can turn your house into a smart home by employing Virtual assistants like Alexa or Siri that are supported in a multi-room sound system. The list of benefits is endless, and can all be controlled at the tap of an app.

If you are thinking of getting a multi-room sound system for your home, there are many brands to choose from. Among the well-known brands are Sonos and Bose. Both brands have quality speakers under their belts, like, Sonos’ Play5 and Bose’s SoundTouch 30. If you were to choose one, however, which would it be?

Picking the best speakers for your multi-room sound system mostly depends on what your needs are forgetting one in the first place. There are, however, some standard factors that can help you compare and decide. While cost and sound quality are obvious factors, others include compatibility with music streaming services, audio files, and virtual assistants, as well as the ease of installation and use. With these factors in mind let’s take a deeper look at what the two speakers have to offer.

Sonos Play5

Sonos Play: 5 - Ultimate Wireless Smart Speaker - Black
  • Our biggest and best-sounding speaker featuring six amplifiers with six dedicated speaker drivers. Fill...
  • Play different songs in different rooms at the same time. Or, pump one song in perfect sync, throughout...

Sonos as a brand is popular for its elegant designs, ease of use, compatibility, and great sound quality. The Sonos Play5 is no exception to this. Its modern design fits perfectly into the aesthetic of your home, and the process of setting it up is as simple as can be. Just tap the Sonos app to add the speaker and the sync button at the back of your speakers and you’re all set.

In terms of sound, Play5’s performance is impeccable. The speaker comes with six identical Class D amplifiers built-in giving it 3 times the horsepower of its predecessors. Pair that with the three tweeters and a mid-wooferstrategically placed. This set up results in powerful sound quality with a wider range, that fills up the largest room, while still maintaining crisp clarity within mid-range. In addition to that, Sonos has an audio optimization software known as TruePlay, that tweak sound according to the characteristics of a room. Unfortunately, this software is not yet functional in Android devices, so only Apple users can benefit.

As for compatibility, Sonos’s wide range of accessible streaming services is perhaps what has kept it at the top. Through the Sonos app, you can stream music from all major streaming services and even smaller alternatives, directly to your Play5 speaker. It also supports the main virtual assistants, that is, Amazon’s Alexa, Apple’s Siri, and Google Assistant. So whether you are an apple or android user, you can seamlessly work with Sonos Play5 to turn your home into a smart speaker home.

In terms of audio, Sonos Play5 supports a vast number of audio formats like codec, Mp3, Mp4, etc. It does not however support high-resolution sound. This is a small drawback, but no technology is 100% perfect.

Pros

  • Beautiful and elegant design
  • Powerful sound quality
  • Excellent dynamic range
  • Good wireless mesh network
  • Can connect with other Sonos and non-Sonos speakers.

Cons

  • Does not support hi-resolution audio
  • Slightly bass biased
  • Priced on the higher end
  • Does not support Bluetooth

View Price on Amazon

Bose SoundTouch 30

Bose SoundTouch 30 wireless speaker, works with Alexa - Black
  • Works with Alexa for voice control (Alexa device sold separately) ; Audio Formats :AAC, Apple Lossless,...
  • The most powerful wireless speaker from Bose; Wave guide technology provides enough power to fill the...

Bose SoundTouch 30, is Bose’s best performing speakers and a part of a complete set of a multi-room sound system. Like all of Bose’s designs, SoundTouch 30 is simple and understated. The setting up process is also simple and straightforward, thanks to SoundTouch App that controls everything about the speaker, as well a voice controls through the help of Alexa.

When it comes to sound, Bose SoundTouch 30, delivers a richer louder sound that can fill a room at 50% volume. This is through the Waveguide technology Bose uses, paired with amplifiers and subwoofer. Although like Sonos Play5, the SoundTouch 30 also delivers a significant amount of bass, it does not let overpower the rest of the sound, giving it an overall clarity. Unfortunately, though at higher volumes the sound quality begins to crumble, hence, SoundTouch 30 works best under low volumes of 25%.

Unlike Sonos, however, Bose is not as compatible when it comes to virtual assistants. The Bose SoundTouch 30 like most Bose, supports Alexa. As for streaming services, SoundTouch 30 has access to many, and like Sonos Play5, it does support hi-resolution audio.

Pros

  • Great sound
  • Well-balanced bass
  • Room-filling sound

Cons

  • Breaks-down at high volume
  • Heavy and large
  • Doesn’t support hi-resolution sound
  • No Airplay

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Features Speakers
Sonos Play5 Bose SoundTouch 30
Virtual Assistant Support Alexa, Siri, Google Assistant Alexa
Streaming Services Amazon Music, AirPlay2, Tidal, Pandora Amazon Music, Tidal, Pandora
Sound Quality Superior Good
User-friendly application Yes Yes
Wi-Fi Yes Yes
Bluetooth No Yes

Final Verdict

Both speakers have their benefits and shortcomings. However, considering the number of boxes ticked by Sonos Play5 in terms of design, compatibility, sound quality, and easy use, Sonos Play5 seems to be the better option. Still, that depends largely on what you are looking for in a speaker.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1.    Can a Bose speaker connect to a Sonos Speaker?

Yes, the two can be connected as long as the Bose speaker has its amplifier.

2.    Is Bose SoundTouch 30 discontinued?

No, products in the SoundTouch series are still available and being sold. Check Amazon for options.

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