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Bose Solo Soundbar Series II Review

Kenn Muguna Avatar
Updated Dec 14, 2023 8:21 PM

True Score

75
75
1

Experts

83
184

Consumers

Product Awards

GR Certified

Customer Favorite

Expert Rankings

This Bose Solo Soundbar will work best for users who don’t mind basic yet well-performing audio reproduction at a pocket-friendly price. However, it doesn’t have great wireless connectivity or many ports, and its surround sound performance is below par.

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Table of Contents

Product Snapshot

Overview

The Bose Solo Soundbar Series II is an entry-level speaker that was first launched in 2021. It has a 2.0 channel setup for a soundstage that is slightly wider than the bar itself.

The speaker ships with a Digital Optical Cable, and supports Bluetooth connectivity. It also includes a remote for convenient operation and supports the Dolby Digital surround sound format.

Like many of the best speakers, it has a dialogue enhancement feature to ensure clear vocals. Its lack of WiFi, Chromecast, and AirPlay support makes it miss out on our list of the best soundbars, and while it doesn’t quite live up to the best Sonos soundbar, its build quality is great.

In terms of wired inputs, the Series II has an AUX port, a Coaxial port, and an Optical Audio In, but unfortunately, it doesn’t have any HDMI ports.

Consensus

our Verdict

The Bose Solo Soundbar Series II has a well-balanced sound profile and accurately produces vocals for listening to dialogue-focused TV shows, but its soundstage isn’t wide enough for complete immersion when gaming or watching movies.

Also, its missing support for Dolby Atmos or Dolby Digital isn’t enough to deliver an immersive listening experience. Check out our Bose Soundbar 500 review if you can’t do without Atmos.

Still, the audio quality is clear even at high volumes, and its ultra-low 5ms optical latency is great for in-sync content.

If you want bass, check out our Bose Smart Soundbar 900 with Speakers + Bass Module review. Unfortunately, connectivity is also limited to Bluetooth, and port selection is poor, with only an Optical In port and a 3.5mm AUX.

ReasonS to Buy

  • Accurate vocals for dialogue-focussed content
  • Compact size for easy placement
  • Easy to set up
  • Decent surround sound performance
  • Clear audio at max volume

Reason to Avoid

  • No Dolby Atmos support
  • No support for Wi-Fi connectivity

Bose Solo Soundbar Series II Specs

Bluetooth EnabledBluetooth EnabledYes
DepthDepth3.4"
Dialogue Enhancement FeatureDialogue Enhancement FeatureYes
Energy Star CertifiedEnergy Star CertifiedNo
HDMI ARCHDMI ARCYes
HeightHeight2.8"
Number of Audio ChannelsNumber of Audio Channels2.0
SubwooferSubwooferBuild-in
Surround Sound SupportedSurround Sound SupportedDolby Digital
Voice AssistantVoice AssistantNo
Wall MountableWall MountableYes
WeightWeight3.7 lbs, 5.9 lbs
WidthWidth21.6"
Wireless ConnectivityWireless ConnectivityBluetooth
Wireless Subwoofer ConnectivityWireless Subwoofer ConnectivityYes
Works WithWorks WithBluetooth, Remote Control

All Specs

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Product Comparison

Bose Solo Soundbar Series II Review

True Score

75
78
NR
82

Ranking

#

102

/

151

#

62

/

151

#

/

#

18

/

151

Market Context

The Bose Solo Soundbar Series II is an entry-level speaker that was first launched in 2021. It has a 2.0 channel setup for a soundstage…

The Bose Solo Soundbar Series II is an entry-level speaker that was first launched in 2021. It has a 2.0 channel setup for a soundstage that is slightly wider than the bar itself.

The speaker ships with a Digital Optical Cable, and supports Bluetooth connectivity. It also includes a remote for convenient operation and supports the Dolby Digital surround sound format.

Like many of the best speakers, it has a dialogue enhancement feature to ensure clear vocals. Its lack of WiFi, Chromecast, and AirPlay support makes it miss out on our list of the best soundbars, and while it doesn’t quite live up to the best Sonos soundbar, its build quality is great.

In terms of wired inputs, the Series II has an AUX port, a Coaxial port, and an Optical Audio In, but unfortunately, it doesn’t have any HDMI ports.

The Bose Solo Soundbar Series II has a small compact design that might appeal to buyers who are limited in terms of space. It is…

The Bose Solo Soundbar Series II has a small compact design that might appeal to buyers who are limited in terms of space. It is pretty similar in design to the Bose TV Speaker, but the Bose Speaker has a HDMI ARC port while the Bose Solo Soundbar Series II does not. The Bose TV Speaker also supports the Dolby Digital surround format while the Bose Solo Soundbar Series II does not. Feel free to check out our Bose TV Speaker review to see what to expect.

The Bose Solo Soundbar Series II comes with a locked remote while the Bose Solo 5 comes with a universal remote. The Bose Solo Soundbar Series II has a room correction feature and a treble adjustment feature while the Sonos Beam does not, but the Sonos…

The Bose Solo Soundbar Series II has a room correction feature and a treble adjustment feature while the Sonos Beam does not, but the Sonos Beam supports DTS audio format while the Bose Solo Soundbar Series II does not. In terms of connectivity, the Bose Solo Soundbar Series II supports Bluetooth connectivity but the Sonos Beam does not, but the Sonos Beam supports Wi-Fi connectivity while the Bose Solo Soundbar Series II does not.

Bluetooth Enabled

Yes

Yes

No

Depth

3.4"

4.02"

3.9"

Dialogue Enhancement Feature

Yes

Yes

Yes

Energy Star Certified

No

No

No

HDMI ARC

Yes

Yes

Yes

Height

2.8"

2.21"

2.7"

Number of Audio Channels

2.0

3

3

Subwoofer

Build-in

Optional (sold separately)

No

Dig Deeper

Bose Tv Speaker Review →

Sonos Beam Review →

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Score Card

E

Expert Score

75

*.75

We place a 75% weighted value on Expert Test Scores

C

Customer Score

83

*.25

We place a 25% weighted value on Customer Scores

True Score

75

Any product with a True Score above 70 is a Mixed Reviews

Expert Scores

  • Rtings
    101.4

    Category Trust Rating

    67
    The Bose Solo Soundbar Series II is okay for mixed usage. It’s a simple 2.0… Read More

    By:

    John Panoryios

Customer Scores