Bose Soundtouch 300 vs Sonos Playbar [Updated for 2023]

If you’re in the market for a new soundbar, then there’s a ton of different options out there. Two of them are the Bose Soundtouch 300 and also the Sonos Playbar.

But if you’re trying to decide between the Soundtouch 300 and the Sonos Playbar, what are the differences between the two? Well, we’re going to take a look at how they differ from one another. This way, it’ll be easier for you to make a choice between the them.

Update: As of 2021, both of these soundbars have been discontinued and are no longer made by the manufacturers. Check this list of the best soundbars to find an alternative.

You can look at the Sonos Arc as a replacement for the Playbar. The Arc was released mid 2020, and although it’s more expensive than the Playbar, it’s definitely better in overall quality.

For Bose, you can look at the Solo 5 if you’re looking for something to use with your television or home theater setup Otherwise, the Smart soundbar 300 is another alternative to the Soundtouch series.

Bose Soundtouch 300 vs Sonos Playbar

These two models are compared to each other very frequently. This is likely due to their pricing, with most stores selling them at exactly the same price. They’re both at the mid-range priced point, with neither of them being cheaper, but you couldn’t call either of the the highest quality either.

They both have a variety of different connectivity options, from wireless and Bluetooth to using a basic HDMI input to connect them together. Let’s look at both of the models separately so we can decipher which one of them might prove to be better for your circumstance.

Bose Soundtouch 300

It was rumoured that the Bose Soundtouch range was going to be discontinued last year, which would be a massive negative for the product.

However, Bose actually confirmed that whilst they’re probably not bringing out any new models under the Soundtouch brand, they are still providing full support for the products they’ve sold.

The Soundtouch is one of the lower priced soundbars that Bose actually offer, with the Soundbar 500 and the 700 effectively being more expensive and better in quality overall.

However, the 300 is typically much more cost effective that the larger two alternatives. It is fairly easy to use (like most Bose speakers), and although it’s not really a high end speaker, it manages to produce a pretty good sound.

Overall, the Bose Soundtouch 300 definitely isn’t a bad soundbar, but it doesn’t compete well against other brands and especially against the Soundbar 700. Let’s look at some pros and cons of this device.

Pros

As usual with Bose, they tend to excel in areas outside of the actual quality of sound. The app that the Soundtouch uses is great, and it’s very easy to navigate.
If you want to use this soundbar with a variety of different apps and streaming methods, then the likelihood is that you can. It’s designed with the consumer in mind.
Although I’m not a massive fan of the sound quality, it’s definitely loud enough to command attention of an entire lounge or living room.

Cons

The main downside of the Soundtouch is that well.. it just doesn’t deliver the same quality of sound as the Sonos Playbar. The audio quality could definitely be a bit better.
Another annoying thing about the Soundtouch is that it takes longer to set it up with your home devices and wifi, and can take a little while to get up and running.
If it came with a subwoofer to use with it, then it might prove to be a lot better performance wise and value for money. The bass is one area where it really struggles, and its ease of use and easy streaming can’t replace that.

Sonos Playbar

Many people would agree that Sonos and other brands like it have rocked Bose and other large manufacturers a little bit in terms of their consumer speaker solutions. Most audiophiles won’t buy Bose anyway, but they’ve been the consumers number 1 brand for a lot time now.

However in recent years, this has definitely changed quite a bit in the speaker industry, with brands like Sonos becoming more and more popular. They’re definitely known for their usability, with Sonos probably being the best choice for people looking for a reasonably priced full home theater system.

Update: It seems that the Sonos Playbar and the Sonos Playbase have been discontinued by Sonos as of 2020. They’re keep providing support for the product, but they’re not manufacturing any more of these models.

The reason? I guess it’s all down to supply and demand. The product itself is actually pretty good, but there’s probably not that many people that was to pay this kind of price for a soundbar. So, it’s another one that bites the dust.

The Sonos Playbar is still one of the best wireless soundbars that you can find on the used market. I know – it’s not like the wireless soundbar market is filled with different options to choose from. But, out of the limited speakers that are available, I’d say that this is one of the better choices.

It offers great sound quality, and it’s really easy to set your soundbar up and get going. You can also set this speaker up with your Amazon Alexa too. Let’s look at the pros and cons of the Sonos Playbar.

Pros

The main plus of the Playbar is that out of these two soundbars, it has the better sound quality overall, and can deal with low frequency sounds better than the Soundtouch.
It’s very easy to add a subwoofer into the mix and provide a massive upgrade to your home audio system, with the Playbar being the main focal point.
Unlike Bose, it’s very easy to get the Playbar up and running. it doesn’t take long to get it fully integrated into your home sound system.

Cons

Although the Playbar is much easier to set up, it doesn’t have some of the functionality that the Soundtouch has – the most obvious thing is Bluetooth. This could be frustrating for those who want to quickly connect to the soundbar with their phone.
As well as not having a way to connect to the device via Bluetooth, it also doesn’t have the option for HDMI connection either, which is a bit annoying.
This isn’t in comparison to the Soundtouch, but it’s quite an expensive soundbar. You could get a full sound system for not much more.

Conclusion

In conclusion, both of these models are not bad for those looking for a wireless soundbar. They are both pretty expensive solutions to your home audio requirements, and it really depends what you’re looking for.

Out of the two, the Sonos Playbar is the better choice. It offers better sound overall, which for me is the deciding factor in this matter. The Soundtouch 300 isn’t a bad choice, but like all Bose speakers, it’s probably a little overpriced.

So for high quality sound, then the Playbar is the winner is this situation, as well as in its usability too.

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About Jon

Hey, I'm Jon. I'm an engineer by trade, so it makes sense that I'm obsessed with anything technology related! On the weekends, you can find me playing around with my computers or fixing something around the house. Feel free to leave a comment if you want to get in touch.

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