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In this article, I provide a thorough review and comparison of the Amazon Echo Sub vs Sonos Sub vs Bose Sub [ Bass Module 700] subwoofers.
Two of them work with Alexa for voice control. Can you guess which ones? I will get into all of that and more in this review.
I will also compare all three speakers head to head if you want to know the main differences between the three.
Echo Sub Vs Sonos Sub Vs Bose Sub: Comparison Table
In the following table, I’ll compare each of the subwoofers side-by-side so that you can evaluate the features that are most important to you.
Last update on 12/13/2024 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Sonos Sub – Mini Review [My Pick]
A unique advantage of the Gen 3 Sonos Sub is that you don’t have to set it up in a certain way for it to be effective – you can place it upright, on its side, or even tuck it away in a corner somewhere. Its sleek black color and box design are sure to impress regardless of where you place it in your home. Best of all? You can count on hearing some of the best bass of your life without any vibrations or rattling.
If you want an even better experience, pair the Sonos Sub with Sonos One speakers and or a Sonos soundbar – such as the Playbase, Playbar, or Beam. This will give you the ultimate setup for your home-entertainment system, whether listening to music or streaming The Last Jedi (you knew it was coming).
Jonathan from Smart Home Sounds Ltd crushes it in his review of the Sonos Sub. Great job with the video, man. I think I like the black one better though.
Pros
Cons
Amazon Echo Sub – Mini Review
Compatible with most popular Echo products (Echo, Echo Studio, Dot, Plus, etc.), the Echo Sub offers a 6” woofer that allows you to enjoy 100 watts of downward-firing bass when used in conjunction with another Echo. This is the best bass experience you can get with an Echo device, and if you pair this up with two additional Echos (Amazon’s recommendation), you get amazing full stereo surround sound. Once the Sub is paired with an Echo device, all you have to do is say, “Alexa, play some music for me.” She will then play music on both devices [and other devices that are part of your multi-room music configuration. Here is my list of Alexa multi-room music commands if interested.
It is also one of the easiest devices to set up and get going, because you simply take it out of the box, plug it in, open the Alexa app, and connect wirelessly to your Echo device. With great sound quality and everything Alexa, the Echo Sub is an affordable subwoofer that will take your existing Echo setup to the next level. It is not recommended in place of a premium home theater surround sound system, though.
📚 Related: Echo Studio Vs Echo Sub
Thanks to Erin Lawrence for the usual super-helpful video review:
Pros
Cons
The Echo Sub is available from Amazon now.
Bose Bass Module 700 Mini Review
There’s a difference between simply hearing the bass and feeling it in your entire body, and Bose claims that the Bose Sub family of subwoofers enables you to do the latter. Whether you’re listening to music or watching your favorite television show, Bose Bass Module 700 lets you feel a little rumble in your soul as you experience premium bass. It’s true. In researching this article, I headed out to my local Bose store, and David the sales clerk was kind enough to give me a rousing demo.
If you pair the Boss Bass Module 700 with a soundbar, you can intensify the sound vibrations even more, and the more speakers you attach to the system, the more intense the sound becomes. This is also a compact, lightweight sound system that you can put anywhere in the room, and its neutral color and cool glass top gives it an air of elegance. For a chic look and remarkable sound, the Bose Bass Module 700 is hard to beat. Unless you are the Sonos Sub. LOL. I liked the sound quality of the Sonos paired with two Sonos One Speakers and the Sonus Beam soundbar slightly better than the Bose 700 line.
Consumer Cave does a nice job showing off the Bose Bass Module 700 alongside Bose’s full recommended surround set up.
Pros
Cons
Echo Sub vs Sonos Sub
If you want to know the main differences between the Echo Sub vs Sonos Sub, here is a summary:
Echo Sub must be placed upright where Sonos Sub’s square design allows you to place it upright or on its side. Echo Sub has a 100W Class D amplifier, and a 6” (152 mm), downward-firing woofer; Sonos has 2 Class D amplifiers, 2 noise-canceling speakers positioned face-to-face plus a built-in tweeter.
Echo Sub vs Bose Sub
Here are the main differences when comparing Echo Sub vs Bose Sub:
Where Echo Sub has a fabric outer wrapper, the Bose Bass Module 700 has a glass top and ships with two “force-cancelling” drivers that deliver powerful bass without vibration. The Echo Sub has a 100W Class D amplifier and one 6” woofer, where Bose has an integrated amplifier (active amplification).
Sonos Sub vs Bose Sub
Finally, here are the key differences between the Sonos Sub vs Bose Sub:
Sonos Sub has a cube-shaped design with a hole in the center and the speaker can be placed either upright or on its side; where the Bose speaker must be placed upright. Sonos Sub has 2 Class D digital amplifiers, plus 2 force-canceling speakers and a built-in tweeter versus Bose Sub’s integrated audio amplifier.
Echo Sub vs Sonos Sub and Bose Sub: Apple and Oranges?
Keep in mind that the Echo Sub, which is much less expensive than the other two devices, must be connected to another compatible Echo product (Amazon recommends the Echo Plus) to work properly.
While some have had success, it is not intended to be hooked up to your TV or soundbar, and it will not work with other third-party speakers (including Sonos and Bose).
The Echo Sub also doesn’t support ad-hoc or peer-to-peer WiFi networks, nor the WiFi 6 (802.11 ax) system.
However, if you want a great-sounding setup for music that will take Alexa to the next level, the Echo Sub is worth a look.
The Verdict
All three of these systems are designed to provide you with a premium quality listening experience.
They all offer advanced features and up-to-date software and wireless capabilities to make the systems not only great to listen to but also easy to operate and to control.
If you simply want to know the best subwoofer for the money, Sonos Sub [links to Amazon] wins for the reasons stated above.
However, if your main goal is to build a premium surround sound experience for your home theater setup, it’s a toss-up between Sonos and Bose. Sonos edges out Bose for the added features highlighted in the table above in my opinion.
I felt the sound quality was slightly better, in the demos I was given by a Best Buy and Bose salesperson. However, if you already have a Bose soundbar or Bose speakers the Bose Bass Module 700 is probably the best way to go.
If you simply want to enjoy a more premium audio experience with Alexa, then the Echo Sub is worth a look. I have the Sub hooked up as part of my multi-room music configuration and the bass boost is a great compliment to my Echo Show, two Echo, and three Echo Dots I have in the setup.
Sonos continues to lead the way in terms of a premium audio experience and the Sonos Sub really completes the equation. I love the fact that you can position the Sonos Sub in any way without a degradation in performance.
The sound is just killer with two Sonos One speakers and virtually any Sonos soundbar. While I haven’t made the jump to Sonos just yet from my old-school Samsung soundbar and subwoofer setup, this purchase is on my list for the new year. I plan to make a YouTube video as soon as I have this in my crib.
Echo Sub vs Sonos Sub vs Bose Sub: Your Turn
So what do you think about my comparison of the Echo Sub vs Sonos Sub vs Bose Sub?
Are you looking to upgrade your home theater setup or do you simply want to add more bass to your Alexa speakers?
Both of these will let you do just that, although I do realize that the Sonos and Bose options are a considerable investment for many.
Please leave me a comment below and let me know your thoughts. It would be great to hear from you!
Related Posts
If you liked this post comparing Echo Sub vs Sonos Sub vs Bose Sub, you might also like some of these articles:
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- 5 Best Alexa Outdoor Speakers [#5 is Waterproof]
- 5 Ways You Can Dramatically Improve Alexa Sound Quality
- How To Troubleshoot Alexa Multi-Room Music
- Echo Studio vs Echo Plus Comparison: Alexa’s Got Beats!
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Tim Brennan, a tech blogger and host of the @TecTimmy YouTube channel, writes about smart homes at oneSmartcrib, home theaters at UniversalRemoteReviews, and AI in writing at Writeinteractive. He holds a Journalism degree from Northeastern University and has covered technology for three decades. He lives on the ocean in Nahant, Massachusetts.
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