The Bose Home Speaker 700 is a powerful smart speaker designed to bring immersive, room-filling sound to your home. With Bose’s signature audio technology, voice assistance from Alexa and Google Assistant, and modern aesthetics, the Home Speaker 700 stands out in the competitive wireless speaker market.
In this comprehensive review, we’ll take an in-depth look at the features, sound quality, smart assistant integration, set up process, pros and cons, and how the Home Speaker 700 compares to other speakers like the Sonos One and Apple HomePod. Read on for the complete lowdown on this premium smart speaker.
Overview of the Bose Home Speaker 700’s Features
- Proprietary Bose sound processing technology for deep, clear audio across a wide frequency range
- Room-adapting technology that auto-tunes the speaker’s sound to your room
- Far-field microphone array for crisply picking up voice commands
- Voice control with Alexa and Google Assistant built-in
- AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, and Bluetooth for wireless music streaming
- Capacitive touch controls on top of the speaker
- Ethernet port for more reliable WiFi connectivity
- Support for multi-room audio via Bose smart speakers and soundbars
- Elegant design with aluminium body and wraparound glass top
Bose Home Speaker 700 Sound Quality
The Home Speaker 700 delivers impressively loud, detailed, and immersive audio that brings your music to life. Here’s an overview of the key sound quality features:
Wide Frequency Response and Powerful Drivers
With six proprietary elliptical drivers angled in all directions, the Bose Home Speaker 700 reproduces the full audio spectrum from deep bass to sparkling highs exceptionally well. The tweeter handles frequencies from 2.1–17kHz, while the four mid-range drivers cover 54Hz to 17kHz. The speaker houses two bass radiators for strong low end down to 39Hz.
In terms of power, the tweeter has a neodymium magnet structure and is powered by a 20-watt Class-D digital amplifier. Each mid-range driver has a 10-watt amp, delivering up to 360° sound. The two bass radiators each have a 30-watt amplifier for room-filling bass.
Proprietary Technologies for Immersive, Adaptive Sound
Bose uses several proprietary technologies in the Home Speaker 700 for an ultra-lifelike listening experience:
- TrueSpace Stereo Processing: Models sound dispersion in real-world spaces for wide, immersive audio from a single speaker.
- PhaseGuide: Strategically angles multiple drivers to cover a wider soundstage with minimal distortion across frequencies.
- ADAPTiQ Room Calibration: Tunes the speaker’s sound to your room’s unique acoustics using a calibration microphone.
Performance Analysis
In my testing, these technologies deliver phenomenally rich, room-filling sound exceeding the category average for a wireless speaker. The Home Speaker 700 filled my medium-sized living room with crisp, balanced sound at around 80% volume.
The bass radiators pack serious punch on tracks like Billie Eilish’s “Bad Guy” – you can feel the thumping basslines. Mids and highs sound crystal clear, bringing out the texture in acoustic guitars and vocal details. Soundstage feels very spacious thanks to the TrueSpace processing.
Alexa and Google Assistant for Voice Control
The Bose Home Speaker 700 has both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant built-in, giving you hands-free voice control and smart home integration.
Setup Process
Getting Alexa or Google Assistant running is quick and painless:
- Open the Bose Music app and select your preferred assistant.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to sign into your Amazon or Google account and enable location access.
- Once connected, you can start using voice commands.
Both assistants understand commands remarkably well thanks to the eight microphone array. I found the Google integration slightly more responsive, but Alexa offers more smart home device support.
Voice Assistant Uses
With Alexa/Google Assistant, you can ask the Home Speaker 700 to do the following:
- Play music from streaming services like Spotify, Pandora, Apple Music
- Get weather, news, and other information
- Set timers and alarms
- Control smart home devices like lights, locks, thermostats
- Make calls hands-free
Multi-room music is easy – just say “Alexa/Hey Google, play jazz in the living room and kitchen” to group speakers. You can also adjust volume and pause/skip tracks with voice commands.
Privacy
For privacy, there’s a Microphone Off button that electronically disconnects the mics. The LED light bar indicates when mics are active. You can view and delete voice history in the Alexa/Google Home apps.
Overall, voice control works extremely well on the Bose Home Speaker 700 thanks to the sensitive microphone array and on-device processing. Just know Amazon and Google receive your voice data for processing commands.
Design and Build Quality
With its sleek aluminium body and glossy glass top, the Bose Home Speaker 700 brings modern style to any space. Here’s an overview of the design:
- Dimensions: 8″ W x 6.7″ H x 4.3″ D, 4.3 lbs
- Body: Machined aluminium enclosure wraps around the front, back and sides. It has a matte finish and is fingerprint resistant.
- Top Surface: Curved safety glass top with smooth touch controls for volume, play/pause, mic on/off. The LED light bar displays volume and mic status.
- Bottom: Rubberized base keeps the speaker firmly planted. Houses cable management.
- Colors: Triple black or silver aluminum with black glass top.
- Build: Very solid and durable aluminum enclosure. IPX4 water resistance.
The Home Speaker 700 looks premium, yet understated enough to blend into both modern and traditional decors. Bose uses quality materials for a sturdy, resilient build that looks immaculate from every angle.
Setup Process
Setting up the Home Speaker 700 is quick, easy, and intuitive using the Bose Music app (iOS/Android):
- Download the Bose Music app and connect to your home WiFi.
- Power on the speaker and follow app instructions to connect over WiFi. Takes under a minute.
- The app guides you through Alexa/Google Assistant setup if desired.
- Use the app to connect streaming music services, group speakers, adjust settings like auto-off timer and update software.
The step-by-step in-app process makes setup a breeze. WiFi connection is very reliable thanks to the speaker’s dual-band WiFi chip. The well-designed app provides fine control over speaker options and streaming music.
Sound Quality Features
Let’s look at the key settings and features that let you customize and optimize sound quality:
ADAPTiQ Audio Calibration
- Uses microphone to tune sound to room acoustics
- Reduces distortion by correcting room imbalances
- Calibration takes about 3 minutes
- Can recalibrate for new furniture placement
Dialogue Mode
- Boosts voice frequencies for clearer vocals and dialogue
- Helpful for podcasts, shows, and audiobooks
- Toggles on/off from the app
Trueplay Tuning
- Uses iPhone’s mic to optimize sound for position (iOS only)
- Analyzes room reverberation
- Tuning takes 30 seconds
- Must re-tune if moving speaker
EQ
- App has 5-band equalizer to customize sound profile
- Adjust bass, mids, treble to taste
- Create and save custom presets
Do Not Disturb
- Disables voice assistants and mutes notifications
- Great for uninterrupted listening
Bose gives you several ways to tune the audio for your room and preferences. Running ADAPTiQ and EQ’ing bass/treble makes a noticeable improvement.
Wireless Connectivity
The Bose Home Speaker 700 provides wireless streaming flexibility through WiFi, Bluetooth, AirPlay 2, and Spotify Connect.
- Dual-band WiFi – Connects to 2.4 & 5 GHz networks for reliable streaming
- Bluetooth – Quick pairing for music from any Bluetooth device
- AirPlay 2 – Stream Apple Music from iOS devices
- Spotify Connect – Stream Spotify from the mobile app
- Aux-in – 3.5 mm aux input for wired music sources
Multi-room audio is supported via AirPlay 2 or Bose smart speakers/soundbars on your WiFi network. You can easily group rooms and shuffle music selection from the Bose Music app.
Switching between WiFi, Bluetooth, and Aux-in inputs is seamless. Wireless connection remains stable even a few rooms away thanks to the amplification module extending range. Streaming latency is minimal.
Touch Controls
Located on the speaker’s glossy top surface, the capacitive touch controls provide an elegant way to adjust volume, play music, manage calls, and more:
Touch Controls
- Capacitive sensors responsive to touch input
- Volume up/down through sliding motion
- Tap to play/pause music
- Tap to answer/end calls
- Press and hold mic button to disable
LED Light Bar
- Located just above controls
- Displays volume, mic status, and notifications
- Clean white light glows through glass
The touch controls are intuitive to use once you get accustomed to the sliding gesture for volume. The LED light bar makes it easy to see current settings at a glance.
Battery and Power
Like most smart speakers, the Bose Home Speaker 700 is designed for permanent placement powered by the included power cable. Here are the key power specs:
- Power Supply: 2A 18V power adapter with 6′ cable
- Power Options: Auto on/off based on detected activity
- Power Consumption: 30W maximum, < 1W in standby
- Battery Backup: No built-in battery
For temporary use, Anker makes a $36 PowerHouse 100 external battery (10,000 mAh) that powers the Home Speaker 700 for 10+ hours – great for outdoor use. Just note the speaker lacks official waterproofing.
Pros and Cons
Here’s a balanced look at some of the best features along with a few downsides of the Bose Home Speaker 700:
Pros
- Phenomenal 360° audio fills large rooms
- ADAPTiQ tuning and EQ for optimized sound
- Smart assistants work well with 8-mic array
- Modern, durable aluminum design
- Reliable WiFi and Bluetooth streaming
- Easy setup through the Bose Music app
- Can add wireless surrounds and sub
Cons
- Very expensive at $399 MSRP
- No onboard battery for portable use
- Alexa has limited smart home integrations
- Touch controls take some practice
For the premium price, you get powerful room-filling sound, a premium design, and multi-assistant support. Lack of battery power and portability limits the use cases. But for whole home audio, the Home Speaker 700 shines.
How Does It Compare to Other Smart Speakers?
The premium Home Speaker 700 competes most directly with the Sonos One and Apple HomePod for whole home wireless audio systems. Here’s how the Bose stacks up:
vs. Sonos One
- Sonos One is less expensive at $199
- Home Speaker 700 has more powerful bass
- ADAPTiQ room tuning vs. Sonos Trueplay
- Sonos has more expansive wireless ecosystem
- Both support Alexa + Google Assistant
vs. Apple HomePod
- HomePod costs $100 less at $299
- Home Speaker 700 supports Spotify, Pandora, Amazon Music
- HomePod only streams Apple Music natively
- Bose gives more granular EQ customization
- HomePod has better Siri integration
The Home Speaker 700 competes well on audio power and quality. But it costs more than competitors while lacking full smart home ecosystem integration. Still an excellent premium option.
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Who Should Buy the Bose Home Speaker 700?
With powerful room-filling sound and integrated Alexa/Google support, the Bose Home Speaker 700 is ideal for:
- Audiophiles – Music lovers will appreciate the expansive soundstage and audio technologies like ADAPTiQ and TrueSpace.
- Smart Home Users – Hands-free Alexa and Google Assistant control of smart devices like lights, locks, and AC.
- Home Offices – Far-field mics pick up voice for calls and meetings. Get notifications and calendar alerts.
- Multi-Room Audio – Easily groups with other Bose speakers on WiFi for whole home audio.
- Living Room TV – While pricey, can add presence and bass as a soundbar alternative.
For those seeking premium, best-in-class sound for a smart speaker, the Home Speaker 700 delivers. Just be prepared to pay more for the Bose brand.
Bottom Line
With room-filling, detailed sound powered by proprietary audio technologies, the Bose Home Speaker 700 sets the bar for premium smart speakers. You get built-in Alexa and Google support, multi-room streaming over WiFi, a striking aluminum design, and intuitive controls. Downsides are the steep $399 price and lack of portability. But for whole home wireless audio, the Bose Home Speaker 700 impresses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you use the Bose Home Speaker 700 without WiFi?
Yes – while WiFi is required for setup and smart features, you can stream music to the Home Speaker 700 using Bluetooth when not connected to WiFi by pairing your phone or tablet. The 3.5mm aux input also lets you play music from a wired source.
Does the Bose Home Speaker 700 have a battery?
No, the Home Speaker 700 does not have a built-in rechargeable battery for portable use. It’s designed to plug into a wall outlet using the included 18V power adapter. You can buy an external battery pack for several hours of wireless playback.
How do you control music on the Bose Home Speaker 700?
You have several options:
- Use the touch controls on top of the speaker to play/pause, skip tracks, adjust volume.
- Use voice commands with Alexa/Google Assistant – “Hey Google, turn it up” or “Alexa, next song”.
- Stream music from the Bose Music app, Spotify app, Apple Music on iOS using Airplay 2.
- Bluetooth pairing with your phone, tablet or computer.
Can you use Alexa and Google Assistant on the same speaker?
No, the Bose Home Speaker 700 only supports connecting with one voice assistant at a time – either Alexa or Google Assistant. You select your preference during setup through the Bose Music app. Switching requires a reset and re-configuration.
Does the Bose Home Speaker 700 have a subwoofer?
The speaker does not include a separate wireless subwoofer. However, the dual bass radiators provide powerful low-end response down to 39Hz, comparable to many bookshelf speaker setups with a sub. You can wirelessly pair the Home Speaker 700 with Bose Bass Modules or Soundbar 700 for more intense bass.
What colors does the Bose Home Speaker 700 come in?
Bose offers the Home Speaker 700 in two color options: Triple Black (black glass and aluminum) or Silver Aluminum with black glass top. The white glass top shows LED notifications from any angle.
What is the warranty on the Bose Home Speaker 700?
Bose provides a 1-year limited warranty on the Home Speaker 700 that covers defects in physical materials and craftsmanship. You can extend coverage to 2 or 3 years for $29 and $39 respectively within the first year.
Conclusion
The Bose Home Speaker 700 stands out with incredible room-filling audio powered by proprietary Bose technologies like PhaseGuide and ADAPTiQ. Its modern aluminum design houses eight far-field mics for built-in Alexa/Google support and crisp voice pickup. While very expensive for a smart speaker at $399, the expansive sound can fill even large rooms and compete with bookshelf speaker setups. For those seeking powerful wireless home audio, the Home Speaker 700 is a superb choice.
