So as of late 2022 and early 2023, the Bose SoundBar 600 is my favorite mid-range sound bar to recommend because it gets loud and has a decent amount of bass on its own. It also has impressive instrument separation, and thanks to its upward-firing speakers, it has true Dolby Atmos support.
I also really like and recommend the Bose Smart SoundBar 900. However, the SoundBar 900 is a little much, but if you have a larger living room, then the 900 is a great pickup. Even though both of these soundbars already have a decent amount of bass on their own, you will be able to feel what’s happening on the screen.
Adding an external subwoofer to either soundbar will add to your immersiveness when watching a movie with these soundboards and complement their impressive instrument separation. But whether you have the Bose SoundBar 600 or 900, one of the questions you might be asking yourself is, should I go all out and get the Bose Bass module 700, or should I go with the smaller Bass Module 500?
Introduction to Bass Module 500
The Bass Module 500 is a subwoofer designed and manufactured by Bose, a company specializing in high-quality audio equipment. The Bass Module 500 is designed to work with Bose’s Soundbar 500 or Soundbar 700, which are soundbars that you can use for home theater or music listening.
The Bass Module 500 is a wireless subwoofer that connects to the soundbar via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. This subwoofer features a sleek and compact design that you can easily place in any room without too much space. The subwoofer has a powerful driver and a port that delivers deep, impactful bass for a more immersive listening experience.
You can control the Bass Module 500 through the Bose Music app, which allows users to adjust the bass level, switch between music and movie modes, and customize the sound settings.
Introduction to Bose Bass Module 700
The Bose Bass Module 700 is a wireless subwoofer designed to provide robust and impactful bass for home theater systems or music setups. It is designed to pair with the Bose Soundbar 700 or SoundTouch 300 but can also be used with other compatible sound systems.
The Bass Module 700 features a sleek, stylish design with a top glass panel and matte finish. It utilizes QuietPort technology and an advanced DSP (Digital Signal Processor) to deliver deep and immersive bass that enhances the listening experience. The subwoofer has a powerful driver and port and can deliver frequencies as low as 20Hz.
You can control the Bass Module 700 through the Bose Music app, which allows users to adjust the bass level, switch between music and movie modes, and customize the sound settings.
One unique feature of the Bass Module 700 is its ADAPTiQ audio calibration system, which measures the room’s acoustics and adjusts the sound output to provide optimal performance in any space. This feature ensures the bass is optimized for the specific environment, resulting in a more accurate and immersive sound experience.
Pricing of Bose Bass Module 700 vs. Bass Module 500
One of the first things that you’re going to want to take into consideration is price. The Bose Bass Module 500 has a retail price of up to $500, almost as much as the Bose Soundbar 600. The Bose Bass Module 700 has a retail price of $850, almost as much as the Bose Smart SoundBar 900.
Connection
Whether you’re using the Bose SoundBar 600 or 900, you can use either of these two bass modules wirelessly, as in there’s going to be no wire going from the soundboard to the bass module. So you won’t have to hide any cables underneath the carpet. You’ll only have to worry about plugging these two bass modules into power. Thankfully, you can plug in both of these bass modules via a universal AC port, and neither has an external power brick that you must worry about.
So placing either of these base modules is super easy, and when it comes to placement, here’s a pro tip. If you want to get the most bass out of either of these base modules, you either want to place them up against a wall or in a corner, or if you’re going to control your bass better, then you will want to put these base modules in the center of your room.
But if, for some reason, you want to use these bass modules with a wired connection with either of your Bose soundbar or any other soundbar for that matter, you can always use them with a wired connection. Whether using the Bose Smart SoundBar 600 or 900, you can always have two base modules connected to your soundboard and have them work together, which will help with your overall immersiveness when watching a movie in your home theater.
The only thing to remember is that you can only have two of these same bass modules working together. Unfortunately, you cannot mix and match bass modules, so you cannot have a Bose Bass Module 700 working together with a Bose Bass Module 500.
Performance Bose Bass Module 700 vs. Bass Module 500
In the sound test, we used the Bose Smart SoundBar 600, and it’s going to be playing at 75% volume and it’s going to be running my preferred EQ settings. The center channel is set to 30. The high channel is set to 40. The base is set to 50, and the treble is set to zero.
So like, I’ve mentioned in past reviews where I feature the Bose Smart Soundbar 600, it has a decent amount of bass on its own. You’ll be able to feel what’s happening on the screen, and it has an adequate amount of bass for a medium-sized living room, and it does all of this while being in a very compact package.
However, adding more bass to the 600 will complement its impressive instrument separation. The same thing goes for the 900, and that’s where the bass modules come in. However, I must point out one essential thing about both bass modules. Bose generally leans towards a more neutral or slightly vocals-focused EQ.
So even if you connect these bass modules to your soundbar with their stock EQs, they’ll still sound very tamed. If you were to go into your Soundbar’s EQ setting and if you were to increase the bass of the sound, then the subwoofer itself will also increase its bass, but it will only increase its bass accordingly to help keep that neutral sound signature if that makes any sense.
You will need more than that thunderous space you’re looking for. You’re going to have to go back into your EQ settings, and you’re going to want to raise the bass on the subwoofer itself. When you go in and you increase the bass on the subwoofer, you start to get that thunderous and wall-shaking bass that you expect from your subwoofer, and that’s why in the sound test, we were using the bass modules with their bass set to 50.
Otherwise, it would’ve been much harder to hear the difference between the Bose Bass Module 500 and 700. Both of these bass modules will provide booming bass, and you’ll be able to feel what’s happening on the screen much easier. The much larger Bose Bass Module 700 will put out more bass than the Bose Bass Module 500.
Having the bass on a Bose Bass Module 500 set to 100 is like having the Bose Bass Module 700 set to 30. With the 700, it will have no problem filling a large living room or fully furnished basement with a bass. Obviously, it will shake the walls in your house much more than the 500. Whereas with the 500, it’s better suited for a medium-sized living room or a large bedroom.
If you have a larger living room, the 500 will sound a little soft, especially if you have a larger tv. But also, the 500 is better suited for a medium-sized living room or your bedroom just cause of its sheer size.
Design Bose Bass Module 700 vs. Bass Module 500
The Bose Bass Module 500 has a height of 9.5 inches and a base of 10 by 10 inches; it only weighs 11 pounds. The Bose Bass Module 700 has a height of almost 13 inches, a base of 12 by 12 inches, and weighs 30 pounds. The 500 will likely be easier to place and hide than the 700.
The only aesthetic difference between these two bass modules that are worth mentioning besides size is just that the 700 does have a glass top on it that makes it look more premium, and it’s going to match your Bose SoundBar 900 and its glass top. But besides that, both soundboards have a primarily plastic body, and they both do an excellent job of not reflecting any light and are very inconspicuous. Both bass modules are relatively small, but the 500 is noticeably smaller than the 700.
Conclusion on Bose Bass Module 700 vs. Bass Module 500
If you want to add some bass to your Bose Smart SoundBar 600 or 900, then Bose Base Modules 700 or 500 are simple solutions. As mentioned above, the Bose Bass Module 500 will adequately fill a medium-sized living room or bedroom.
However, if you want more bass or a larger living room, go for the Bose Bass Module 700. Regardless of either of these base modules, if you’re going to get the most out of them, you have to place them up against a wall or in a corner and go into their app and directly raise the bass on these subwoofers.
Frequently Asked Questions on Bose Bass Module 700/500
Can the 900 soundbar power two subwoofers at once?
Absolutely, provided that they share the same bass module.
Can I set this down anywhere? How far from my soundbar can I position this?
You can place it anywhere within 30 feet of the soundbar. Well, it’s wireless, but you’ll need to plug it into a wall outlet to get electricity.
Do I need a smart TV?
You don’t need a smart TV, but you do need a soundbar that supports it. SoundTouch 300, Soundbar 500, and Soundbar 700 are all supported.
If you don’t have Wi-Fi, can you still use this base module with the 700 soundbars?
Unfortunately, it requires a connection with a mobile app and cannot be used without Wi-Fi.
Does this still have RCA inputs, or is the only input a tiny headphone type?
There is only a 3.5mm input and the possibility to connect wirelessly if you have a compatible Bose sound bar. There is no RCA input.
Can I use the 700 without a sound bar to connect it straight to the TV?
You cannot use this speaker alone; the Soundbar 700 is necessary for it to work correctly.
Can I connect four speakers for surround sound?
The soundbar will control the front three channels (Front, Front-Left, and Front-Right), while the Surround Speakers will control the rear two channels (Rear-Left and Rear-Right). Therefore you cannot connect four surround speakers here.
Are the hardware components for the bass module 700 and Accoustimas 300 precisely the same?
The hardware for the Bass Module 700 and Acoustimass 300 is the same. They are cross-compatible and may be used with any Soundbar system and even a few lifestyle systems.
What additional possible connections are there?
You can use the Bose Music app to establish a wireless connection between the Bass Module 700 and the Soundbar 500 or Soundbar 700. You can use a 3.5mm audio cable instead, as there is no wireless way to link the Bass Module 700 and the Bose TV Speaker together.
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