Bose launch smart speaker and soundbar trio.

We have more news coming out of IFA 2018 here in Berlin from the audio world, this time from Bose. It has unveiled a new wireless smart speaker plus two new soundbars. Known as the Bose Home Speaker and the Bose Soundbar 700 and Soundbar 500.

The new products bat above their average when it comes to size and are compatible with Amazon Alexa for now. The company says other voice assistants are on the way as is AirPlay that will keep Apple fans happy from early 2019.

 

The newly engineered Bose smart speaker and soundbars are said to hear commands very well over loud ambient noise. The technology used has been taken from their range of headphones, a good thing given their depth of knowledge surrounding noise cancelling technology. I can personally tell you that Google Home for example is basically deaf if it’s anywhere near a TV that’s on. Each speaker features eight speakers to pick up close and across the room commands.

 

“Voice-controlled speakers aren’t new, and there are plenty of great options to choose from. But we had a different vision for ours, inspired by what we could uniquely do to make the experience better,” said Doug Cunningham, category manager in the Bose Consumer Electronics Division. “All of our new smart speakers double up on functionality.  It takes just one Home Speaker 500 to deliver true stereo separation — there’s no need to pair two.  Our Soundbar 700 and 500 are thin and discreet with jaw-dropping surround sound — whether you’re streaming Spotify or watching a movie.  They combine Bluetooth and Wi-Fi for unbeatable ease of use, can be mixed and matched to play in sync or separately, and with new Alexa functionality and more VPAs on the way, they’ll only get better over time.”

The new combo of speakers can work alone or together in a multi-room system. Pre orders are underway, and stores will be stocked beginning October 11, 2018. The Home Speaker 500 will retail for $599.95. The Soundbar 500 and 700 for $799.95 and $1199.95 respectively.