Bose 650 Review, A Bose Lifestyle 650 Home Entertainment System

Contents

Bose 650 Performance Ratings
  • Sound quality
  • Connectivity
  • Design and build
  • Performance
4.6

Summary

Lifestyle 650 Home Entertainment System offers stellar audio quality. The sound was neutral and punchy, just what you would expect from an expensive system like this.

Bose is synonymous with great sound systems and headphones. Since its foundation in 1964, Bose has dominated the audio industry with sheer quality and excellence. In 2016, Bose launched their Lifestyle 650 home entertainment system.

Back then, it was praised by both the audiophiles and reviewers out there. Now five years after its launch, let’s find out how well this system can perform compared to the established players on the market.

Bose Lifestyle 650 Home Entertainment System Specs

Bose Lifestyle 650 Home Entertainment System
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Dimension and Weight

  • Console (15.98” W x 2.56” L x 10.16” H) (8.8 lbs.)
  • Four satellite speakers (1.84” W x 1.84” L 5.77” H) (0.78 lbs.)
  • One center channel speaker (21.34” W x 1.90” L x 1.90” H) (2.66 lbs.)
  • Acoustimass wireless bass module (12” W x 12” L x 15” H) (30 lbs.)

Supported Audio Formats 

  • Dolby Digital
  • Dolby Digital Plus
  • Dolby TrueHD
  • DTS
  • Multichannel PCM

Video Source Compatibility

  • Support for six 4K/60 video sources (HDMI 2.0/HDCP 2.2)

Front Ports

  • 1x HDMI™ output
  • 5x HDMI inputs
  • 2x optical digital audio connections
  • 2x coaxial digital audio connections
  • 2x analog L/R audio inputs
  • 1x 3.5 mm connection for the Acoustimass module
  • 1x data port
  • 1x IR repeater port
  • 1x Ethernet port for SoundTouch and software updates via a network
  • 1x USB connection for software updates only

Rear Ports

  • 1x HDMI input
  • 1x 3.5 mm jack for ADAPTiQ system and headphones

Things I like about the product

  • Like any other good sound system, Lifestyle 650 too offers stellar audio quality. The sound was neutral and punchy, just what you would expect from an expensive system like this.
  • The calibration and setup process was easy enough. At first, I thought a sound system with lots of pieces like this would take a lot of time to calibrate. But surprisingly, the setup was relatively easy, and with Bose’s ADAPTiQ technology, the system calibrates itself according to the room size and environment.
  • Apart from the sound quality, the look alone is enough to elevate the ambiance of your media room. The system comes in black and white color, and the design looks pretty simple yet elegant.
  • As the name suggests, OmniJewel, the four satellite speakers, truly performs like the jewel of this setup. Each of these speakers has two drivers that create a 360-degree immersive audio experience.
  • Connectivity is another strong suit of this audio system. There are tons of ports at the front and back that support different types of audio formats. You can connect wirelessly too via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

Things I don’t like about the product

  • As a 5.1 system, it’s not the best choice if your primary focus is music. The vast majority of songs are tuned for coaxial 2.1 setups, so they won’t be able to take advantage of the Bose Lifestyle 650.
  • The remote and its functionality is not particularly good. Additionally, users also complained about the lack of universal remote compatibility (From other manufacturers).
  • For a music system launched five years ago, the price should be reduced. A slight price cut can make this system an easy recommendation.

Bose 650 Overview

What are the speakers like physically?

As stated in the specification, this system consists of seven individual pieces, four OmniJewel speakers, one console, one central speaker, and a bass module. These pieces are built into solid glass and aluminum cabinets that both look and feel premium. In addition, the console and bass module has a glossy glass finish at the top, giving it a more premium feel.

Related: Bose soundbar 500 VS 700

How are these speakers used? 

For optimal performance, you should use the sound system with a TV, preferably one that can handle high-end audio formats. Everything you need to set up the system initially is included inside the packaging.

You can use the remote to control the system and go back and forth from TV to video. Additionally, with Bose’s SoundTouch app and Alexa-enabled devices, you can browse all popular music streaming services and start your playlist through voice control.

Bose 650 Features and performances

Sound quality 

As I mentioned already, the sound quality is fantastic, and I got an authentic surround sound experience with this sound system. The secret to this amazing sound quality might be hidden in the unique design of the OmniJewel speakers.

Inside each of these speakers, two drivers are facing each other vertically. Between them is an acoustic film that deflects the sound and delivers the perfect omnidirectional sound. The central speaker is responsible for creating the 3D high-fidelity sound production we see in this surround sound system. Overall, a clean treble, balanced mid with a punchy bass will leave you wanting more.

Related: Treble vs bass

Connectivity

This home entertainment system offers all the modern connection methods available. There is a wide array of inputs and outputs that supports the highest quality audio and video formats. Starting from 4K HDR-supported HDMIs to 3.5 mm audio jack and optical audio input, everything is present to make the user experience more convenient.

Moving on to the wireless section, you get the network and Bluetooth pairing. As the system supports NFC, pairing is just a matter of seconds. The remote, however, is the only drawback of the whole connectivity section. Bose should work on making it more user-friendly.

Related: Budget Home Theater System

Design and build 

Right out of the box, this flagship media system will give you a premium vibe. The satellite speakers are considerably small, which looks great without compromising the sound quality. Every piece of this sound system features a durable aluminum cabin, while the console and the bass module have an impact-resistant glass top. Most of the ports are at the back, giving the console a more distinct look.

Performance 

In the end, everything comes down to the overall performance. The design, audio quality, and connectivity all go hand to hand with this sound system, resulting in a heavenly surround performance. The design of the OmniJewel speakers mostly does the magic. In conjunction with the central speaker, this speaker performs evenly at the furthest corner of the room.

Related: Sonos arc vs Bose 700

Product Alternatives 

The sound system market is a competitive one with different offerings from well-known brands. In this part, I’ll shortly introduce you to options that are somewhat similar to the Bose Lifestyle 650 so that you can compare and make the best decision yourself.

Onkyo HT-S7800 Home Theater Package

We are looking at a similar 5.1 speaker setup that offers similar audio quality at a lower price. Additionally, it has the same 4K compatibility, wireless options, and a giant bass module focused on producing the punchiest bass. However, in terms of aesthetics, brand value, and small features like NFC and various input, Onkyo HT-S7800 seems to fall behind.

Enclave CineHome PRO Home Theater Sound System

Enclave might not be a name as famous as Bose, but this 5.1 home theatre system managed to impress me with its sheer value for the money. The sound quality is terrific, with a good amount of details and several connectivity options. Unfortunately, there is no Blu-ray TrueHD or DTS support, but you have to keep in mind that it costs thousands of dollars less than the Bose Lifestyle 650.

Final Verdict

As I previously mentioned, Bose is arguably one of the best audio brands in the market. However, when it comes to the home entertainment system, it’s a totally different ball game, and it seems like Bose Lifestyle 650 has lived up to its name as per my testing.

There are some minor drawbacks, but the audio quality and compatibility options can give tough competition to other alternatives. If it’s the high-quality sound you are after, then Bose Lifestyle 650 will definitely satisfy your needs. 

1 thought on “Bose 650 Review, A Bose Lifestyle 650 Home Entertainment System”

  1. Hi John,

    This system was release long ago. What alternatives are there for wireless connectivity ? Installing in existing room. No options for wired connection. Onkyo offers wired as of now.

    Can any soundbar replace this?

    Bose hasn’t given any discount as you said! Pretty sad 🙁

    Reply

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