What an epic battle this Bose Bass Module 700 and Sonos Sub Gen 3 is going to be. The Bose Bass Module 700 is currently the best subwoofer that Bose has to offer. In my home theatre, I have this paired with my Bose Smart Soundbar 900 and I freaking love it. It is going head to head with its main rival the Sonos Sub Gen 3 which is designed to go with the amazing Sonos Arc. Before I really get into this, I have to say that there is no loser in this battle we have today. These are two of my favorite subwoofers that are on the market now and no matter which one you get; you are going to be very happy with the bass that your home is rocking with.
The Price
Just like we always do, this Bose Bass Module 700 and Sonos Sub Gen 3 is going to start off by looking at how much you can expect to pay for one of these subwoofers. These are two very premium products so you can expect to pay a premium price for them. It is near enough going to double the cost of your soundbar.
Bose Bass Module 700:
The usual price (from what I understand) for the Bose Bass Module 700 is $700 to $800 which I think is a very fair price for a subwoofer of this kind of quality. The quality of this is second to none and I do not see the price being an issue here at all. I will say that on Amazon, it does seem to sell out quite often, as of me writing this a 3rd party seller is trying to get $750 for it. On eBay, you can find these for their RRP if you are lucky, but more often than not it is people trying to get more for it.
Sonos Sub Gen 3:
The asking price of the Sonos Sub Gen 3 is very comparable to what is being asked for the Bose Bass Module 700. You are looking at around $750 which is the current price it is going for on Walmart. However, on Amazon, this thing sells out quite regularly, just like the Sonos Arc does. There are some on there as I write this from 3rd party sellers, but they are insanely priced with the black version being $830 and the white version being $950! Do not pay this! On eBay, there are a few reasonable sellers offering this for close to its RRP. I would advise getting it from Walmart or just waiting for Amazon to get more in stock.
The Verdict:
The asking price for both of these is very similar, but I do think I have to give this one to the Bose Bass Module 700 if I have to pick a winner… which I do. This round should probably be a tie, to be honest with you, but I just feel that you are getting a bit more bang for your buck with the Bass Module 700.
The Design
I cannot think of the last time I was this excited to do a design round in one of these AND articles. This Bose Bass Module 700 and Sonos Sub Gen 3 design round is going to be a lot of fun as these are the two coolest looking subwoofers on the market in my opinion, but they have very different styles.
Bose Base Module 700:
I love and I mean love the design of the Bose Bass Module 700. No matter if you are pairing it with the Bose Smart Soundbar 900 or the Bose Smart Soundbar 700 it fits in perfectly. The Bose Bass Module 700 has a rather boxy design to it which I think is pretty cool. The base that it sits on is great as it not only allows the subwoofer to do what it needs to do, it can look like it is floating depending on where you have it. Like the Bose Smart Soundbar 700 and 900, the Base Module 700 has this very sleek and stylish look glass top which really does give this a very premium kind of look that I think sets it apart from all the other subwoofers that are on the market right now.
The Bose Bass Module 700 is a pretty decent size as it comes in at 11.6” X 11.6” X “12.9. You certainly notice it, but it is not so large that it takes up the whole room. It has a very hefty and high-quality feel to it and if you look at this $799 Bose Bass Module Unboxing and Testing video you can get a better understanding of why I love the design so much.
While this is a wireless soundbar, it does also have a standard jack on the back which is how I have it connected to my Bose Smart Soundbar 900. There is a white version of the Bose Bass Module 700, but the version I have is black and I really could not be any happier with the way that it looks in my home theatre. Using the Bose App for the controls is nice and easy too!
Sonos Sub Gen 3:
I think that the design of the Sonos Sub Gen 3 is one of the most interesting things about it. This is designed with being paired with the Sonos Arc in mind. It is available in both black and white like the Arc and it comes in at 15.3 x 15.8 x 6.2 inches so it is a bit bigger overall than the Bose Bass Module 700. This has a very interesting design, it looks like a bit letter O and I do like the way it is open in the middle, it gives this some real personality and I am sure it would look awesome in a home theatre or a living room. It has a very nice weight to it and the build quality is very premium. As soon as you take this out of the box, you know you are holding a very high-quality product.
The Sonos Sub Gen 3 is a fully wireless sub, apart from the power port, there is no other port on here. You connect it to your Sonos Arc (or even your Sonos Beam) with the press of a button and you control its functions of it via the Sonos App just like you do the Sonos Arc. While I am a massive fan of the way this thing looks, it looks more like some kind of artistic sculpture than it does a subwoofer! I do think that it does not gel with the Sonos Arc as well as the Bose Bass Module 700 does the 700 or the 900. I am not saying that is a bad thing and I am sure some people will prefer it.
The Verdict:
I really do love the style of both of these soundbars, but I think I have to say that I do prefer the style of the Bose Bass Module 700 more. The Sonos Sub Gen 3 looks awesome it really does, but as much as I love the design of it, it does not match the style of the Sonos Arc as much as the Bose Bass Module does its companying soundbar. Also, the Sonos Sub does have to be used with a Sonos Soundbar so that is a design feature I am not super impressed with.
The Sound
We have to end this Bose Bass Module 700 and Sonos Sub Gen 3 battle by looking at the way they enhance the sound of your soundbar. These really do kick things up several notches and this is going to be around that is very, very close as they both add a great deal to your movie watching experience.
Bose Bass Module 700:
To say that the Bose Bass Module 700 rocks is a massive understatement. On its own, the Bose Smart Soundbar 900 (or even the 700) is already offering you a movie theatre type experience. However, once you have experienced this along with your soundbar, I really do not think that there is any way you can go back. Just last night I watched The Batman on 4K and the extra bass and rumble that the Bose Bass Module 700 added to my home theatre is just so good. As I said, this is the setup I actually have and I am in no hurry or need to change it. This along with a Dolby Atmos capable soundbar like the 900 is something you really have to experience for yourself to understand how good it is.
A huge reason for the power is that 10-inch driver that really pushes this thing. I am aware of how cheesy this sounds, but it really does give you cinema style bass. If you have this in a smaller room, I really do think that it is going to rock your room. So much so that you may not want to have it all the way up! I never noticed any kind of distortion with this even when I have it cranked up due to the Quiet Port technology that Bose uses. While I think that a Bose Soundbar on its own is great, if you do get to use one of these there really is no going back to having a soundbar without a subwoofer, it really is a game changer. I watched The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull from the 4K Indiana Jones 4-Movie Collection a movie I do not love, but got into it more because of the sound!
Sonos Sub Gen 3:
I have said many times here on the site that the Sonos Arc is one of the best Dolby Atmos soundbars you can get. It already offers a powerful sound with more bass than I feel people give it credit for. However, when paired up with the Sonos Sub Gen 3, you really are getting something special. Have a look at this Sonos Sub Gen3 Review: The Ultimate Addition to Any Sonos System! and you can get an idea of why it is such a great addition to your Sonos Arc.
The level of bass that the Sonos Sub Gen 3 provides you is amazing, we watched, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 which is currently my son’s favorite movie and it was truly something amazing, it was very, very close to what it sounded like in the theatre.
It certainly added plenty of rumble and power to everything that we tried out with it, but the movie that really blew me away was Mad Max: Fury Road. I think those who are looking to get that movie theatre level bass at home will not be disappointed by what the Sonos Sub Gen 3 is offering them! I cranked it up pretty damn loud and just like the Bose Bass Module, it managed to hold its never and offer crystal clear bass. Now, this might be my biased ears talking here, but as great and powerful as this is, I do think it is just a hair less powerful than the Bose. Now, most people I would wager will not notice a difference between the two to be honest with you so it could just be me!
The Verdict:
I will be honest and say that there is very, very little in it between these two subwoofers. They are both great in their own way and the level of bass they give you is very even. I do though have to give this to the Bose Bass Module 700, that is the one I have, and even though I got the chance to test out the Sonos Sub Gen 3 and I was very impressed, I was never once tempted to think about changing my home theatre setup. However, I can see why some people would prefer the Sonos Sub Gen 3 if they had used that one first.
Which Is The Better Subwoofer?
We bring this Bose Bass Module 700 and Sonos Sub Gen 3 contest to a close and it has been so much fun. These are two of the very best when it comes to a subwoofer. They will well and truly kick things up a notch no matter if you are using the Bose Smart Soundbar 900 or the Sonos Arc. However, I do have to pick a winner and I know I am biased but I have to say that out of the two I do prefer the Bose Bass Module 700. I like how you do not have to use it exclusively with a Bose soundbar, but I also prefer the overall design that it has as I think it fits in more with the soundbar it is designed to go with. The Sonos Sub Gen 3 really is great and if you have a Sonos soundbar, you are not going to be disappointed, but for me, the Bose Bass Module 700 takes this.