Which is better, bose or sony soundbar? Let’s talk about the better choice for your home theater experience. Sony HT-Z9F vs. Bose Soundbar 700 will be hard for me to decide. A while back, I had the Bose Soundbar 700 in my home theater as my favorite soundbar.
I have to admit, however, that as I have had the pleasure of checking out more and more soundbars (a perk of my job), I have had my head well turned. As a result, I think it will be exciting to compare the 700 to the Sony HT-Z9F, and if you have read any of my other articles about the 700, including my Bose Soundbar 300 Vs. 500 Vs. 700, Which Is Better? You might find the results here surprising.
Here are the detailed differences between Bose vs. Sony soundbar
The Price
The Sony HT-Z9F vs. Bose Soundbar contest begins in the same way I always do these things: with the price. If you are new to soundbars, it is essential to know that they are not cheap. It is surprising to hear that these soundbars are closer to a grand than 100 bucks if you are used to their 100 bucks and under-selection at Walmart.
Sony HT-Z9F:
According to my grandfather, who liked Sony, products tend to be more expensive than many other companies, but their stuff is always expensive. While I disagree with “always,” I will admit that Sony products are always more expensive. One of Sony’s premier soundbar offerings, the Sony HT-Z9F is one of their most popular soundbars. Since I came home from school in 1987 and saw my dad set up our new Sony stereo, I have been a fan of its Sony quality. Amazon has it listed for $898, which I think is a pretty good deal. I looked around on eBay, and it seemed similarly priced, but I found it for a few hundred dollars less.
Bose Soundbar 700:
Before the Bose Soundbar 900 was released, I would have considered the $799.99 price of the Bose Soundbar 700 was more than fair, considering how high-quality it is. This was Bose’s flagship soundbar for a while, and it was on par with what other companies such as Sony and Sonos were charging for their top-of-the-line soundbars.
Looking at the old Edward Bay, I found some great deals available. I found many of these in the 500 to 650 dollar range, which is a significant discount. With the 900 coming out, many sellers are trying to get rid of this while it still commands a decent price. Even though 650 bucks isn’t cheap, it’s still much cheaper than 800 bucks!
The Verdict:
The Sony HT-Z9F has more bang for your buck than the Bose Soundbar 700. The Bose Soundbar 700 is a great speaker, but it has surpassed the Bose Smart Soundbar 900, only $100 more! I think the Sony won because it comes with a subwoofer and supports Dolby Atmos. Before the 900 came out, this would have been a much closer contest, but right now, I think the 700 needs a price drop of a couple of hundred bucks.
The Design
In this round of our Sony HT-Z9F vs. Bose Soundbar 700 fight, I am excited to write because these are two soundbars I am genuinely in love with when it comes to design. The Bose Soundbar is so sexy I considered leaving my wife for it, but I have never seen a Sony product that I didn’t love!
Sony HT-Z9F:
I have to say that Sony has some great videos showing this off. I particularly like this Sony HT-Z9F Dolby Atmos® Soundbar | Product Overview video by the Sony Support channel. The video shows off this soundbar in terms of its appearance and some of its outstanding features. This is a rather large soundbar with dimensions of 44.5 x 23.7 x 9.5 inches.
There is no doubt that the Sony HT-Z9F was designed to be placed under a large TV, perhaps at least a 55-inch screen. This soundbar would look great with a 65-inch TV like the Sony A80J. It feels excellent and high-quality when you hold this soundbar when you hold it. It is mainly made of this thick and strong plastic. As the metal grill is magnetically attached, you can easily remove it if you need to protect the speakers.
One of the most eye-catching features is the LCD which shows what source is connected to the soundbar. On the back of the soundbar are all the connectors you’ll need to connect it to your TV. There are two HDMI ports provided by Sony, which can be handy. Optical cables can be used to connect your HDMI out if you prefer. Additionally, there is an Ethernet and USB port for updating or fixing the device.
We also need to look closely at the subwoofer with the Sony HT-Z9F. With dimensions of 7.4″ x 15″ x 15.1″, the subwoofer is a decent size. The best way to think of it is that it’s about the size of a small PC. Unlike the soundbar, the subwoofer has a sturdy black body. Although I like the more plasticky look of the opening, it is a magnet for dust and fingerprints if you have children.
Bose Soundbar 700:
Looking at the Bose Soundbar 700, it’s hard not to fall in love immediately! This is one of the best soundbars on the market right now, and the style is so great that Bose copied it for the Bose Smart Soundbar 900. The guy did an excellent job showing off the soundbar from all angles in this Bose 700 Smart SoundBar Unboxing and Testing.
Although it’s a decent size at 38.5″ x 2.25″ x 4.25″, that does mean it’s a bit shorter than the Sony HT-Z9F, which may be helpful depending on the size of your TV.
It is a massive understatement to say that the Bose Soundbar 700 is a premium product. The soundbar instantly captivates your attention upon entering a room and being within its presence. There is also a white version of this soundbar. However, I am reviewing only the black version because I have used it. It is made of strong black plastic, precisely what you would expect. A stylish metal grill protects the speakers, but the top of the soundbar stands out. Rather than being made from plastic, the top has a glass cover, which looks stunning. I am speaking from personal experience here because while it looks fantastic, it is a magnet for fingerprints and dust.
The soundbar has both an HDMI and optical port, so we can easily connect this to your TV. If we stroll around the back of the soundbar, we can see what we can play around with. In addition to an Ethernet and USB port, there is also a port for a subwoofer. You should use the Bose Bass Module 500 or the more expensive Bose Bass Module 700, both excellent subwoofers.
The Verdict:
Since I have been doing so many VS-style articles, I can honestly say this is one of the most complicated categories to write. This is a soundbar that looks great, and I would happily have either one in my living room or home theater, but I have to give this one to the Bose Soundbar 700 as I think the glass top just adds that little bit of personality and style that makes it more eye-catching than what Sony offers.
The Sound
It seems to me that this Sony HT-Z9F vs. Bose Soundbar 700 contest is a little unfair. I will give my honest opinion on these and go with how I feel since one of these has Dolby Atmos while the other doesn’t. It makes things a bit tricky, but I’m just going to give my honest opinion on them!
Sony HT-Z9F:
As soon as you have experienced Dolby Atmos, you will never want to go back to a soundbar without it. As a result, the Sony HT-Z9F is a 3.1 system; therefore, its Dolby Atmos effect is not as good as it could be. When I tested it out, I was very, very impressed with it because it’s not bad at all I was very impressed with it. Black Panther’s insane chanting in Avengers: Endgame gave me chills when it was pumped through during the final battle. It happened quite a lot when I tested this thing out that certain scenes could give you that cinema sound.
See how Sony went above and beyond in their aim to get this as close to cinema sound as possible in this Developing Sony Z9F Soundbar with Dolby and Sony Pictures video. Is there a soundbar I’ve tested that offers a better Dolby Atmos effect? While yes, I have, I still think this is fantastic, and if you are looking for Dolby Atmos, you won’t be disappointed.
My favorite thing to do is watch movies, but I am also a huge TV show fan, and the Sony HT-Z9F is excellent for TV shows with a lot of dialogue, as it offers some of the best voice quality I have seen from a soundbar.
Among the best fantasy/horror/sci-fi/action/comedy and every other genre you can think of shows I’ve ever seen is Supernatural. It has it all. In any case, I am very impressed by the ability to provide crystal clear vocal clarity without interfering with other types of sound.
It is surprising how good the Sony HT-Z9F subwoofer is. The subwoofer does add a lot of bass and rumble, but there are better subwoofers out there. I had a lot of fun with this and didn’t notice any distortion when I turned it up. The Crazies/Pandorum Blu-ray double pack impressed me, and I watched the movie with the subwoofer turned up all the way. In my opinion, the subwoofer they provide here gives this an edge over its competitors.
Bose Soundbar 700:
Regarding soundbars, I would put the Bose Soundbar 700 at the top regarding non-Dolby Atmos models.
The Bass Module 700 is also paired with this, which I like. Having watched so many movies through this, I do not know where to begin, but one I watched recently is Bill & Ted: Face The Music for the third time as I am still trying to decide what I think of it. As a showcase, this was great as there was plenty of talking and music, which this thing excels at.
When I first heard the Bose Soundbar 700, I was blown away by the vocal clarity it provided. Despite not being a Dolby Atmos soundbar, this one manages to fill the room with sound. I currently have this Bose Soundbar 700 in my home theatre, and I find it fantastic.
However, I must admit that even though I love my soundbar, it is a game changer for bringing my favorite movies like Predator to life. I recommend buying the Bose Smart Soundbar 900 for a price like this. While you may not think you need Dolby Atmos, I believe it is now a must when spending this kind of money, and it will become a more common feature in soundbars in the future.
The Verdict:
Although I have generally picked the Bose Soundbar 700 for almost every battle I have taken part in, now that I have experienced Dolby Atmos, I can’t help but be sold on it. If the Bose Smart Soundbar 900 had been discussed versus the Sony HT-Z9F, I believe we would have had a different outcome. However, overall, I have to say that the Sony HT-Z9F wins. Besides Dolby Atmos, the subwoofer included also gives you that extra bass.
The Remote Control
This one is incredibly close as we continue to fight the Sony HT-Z9F vs. Bose Soundbar 700. I have looked at many Bose and Sony products and their excellent remote controls. Even the Bose TV Speaker has a great remote control. Anyway, let us take a look at two great remote controls.
Sony HT-Z9F:
Sony has always impressed me with its quality, despite the initial build quality of Sony PlayStation’s release in 1995! Sony’s HT-Z9F remote control is awe-inspiring. Controlling the subwoofer and the soundbar is entirely at your fingertips.
In addition to tinkering yourself, you can also use presets if you just want to change the style of sound with a button press. Likewise, the remote feels excellent when held and is an imposing piece of technology.
Bose Soundbar 700:
My favorite thing about the Bose Soundbar 700 is the remote control. There are no words to describe how excellent this remote control is! When a specific setting is selected on the remote, only the buttons related to that setting will be highlighted. There are little lights on the remote, and these are cool. I’ve never heard of this feature before and find it very cool. Alternatively, you can control the soundbar with Google Assistant or Alexa or use the Bose app. As for me, none of that stuff compares to this great remote control.
The Verdict:
I feel that both of these remote controls offer precisely what you need. You can’t imagine how much I want to call this a tie! The way they light up is very excellent and unique, and I like things like this a lot. I’m giving this one to the Bose Soundbar 700 because it gives you complete control of your soundbar.
What Is In The Box?
When I write these articles, I always have this category, and this Sony HT-Z9F vs. Bose Soundbar 900 is no exception. A grand is a lot of money, so you need to know what you’re getting for it. The following is a list of what you can expect to get in the boxes for both.
Sony HT-Z9F:
You will find your soundbar, remote, and power cable in the box for the Sony HT-Z9F. The subwoofer also comes in its compartment, which means that the guy delivering it will probably be pretty mad, just like mine was. There are also instructions and mountain brackets so that you can hang them. An HDMI cable is included, but no optical cable, so if you plan to connect it to your TV using that method, you’ll need one.
Bose Soundbar 700:
You get a Bose Soundbar 700, an HDMI cable, and an optical cable in the box. They even give you a Bose ADAPTiQ headphone, which is odd.
A cleaning cloth is also included so you can take care of that sexy glass top the soundbar has. I sold mine on eBay because I never used it.
The Verdict:
I’m aware that these rounds aren’t tied, but they are the same in terms of what they’re offering. The Bose Soundbar 700, however, has to take this one because it’s not in a box quite as massive as the Sony HT-Z9F, and it comes with that strange headset and a little cleaning cloth.
Conclusion: Which is better, the Sony or Bose Soundbar?
Both of these soundbars would be great for you. My favorite speaker is the Bose Soundbar 700. It was the best soundbar I ever bought for a long time. I still use it as my main soundbar as I write this. This is a fantastic soundbar, and I don’t see any soundbar in this price range that does not have Dolby Atmos.
I think Dolby Atmos is a must in this price range. Dolby Atmos is already in the Bose Smart Soundbar 900, the follow-up! Spend the extra 100 bucks and get the Bose Soundbar 900 instead of the Soundbar 700. As far as this particular contest is concerned, I have to say Sony’s HT-Z9F is better. You get Dolby Atmos in addition to a subwoofer for a cinematic sound experience!
