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  1. Table of Contents
  2. Top
  3. Main Differences
  4. Design
    1. Style - Bar
    2. Style - Subwoofer
    3. Style - Satellites
    4. Dimensions - Bar
    5. Dimensions - Subwoofer
    6. Dimensions - Satellites
    7. Mounting
    8. Build Quality
    9. In The Box
  5. Sound
    1. Stereo Frequency Response
    2. Stereo Frequency Response With Preliminary Calibration
    3. Stereo Soundstage
    4. Stereo Dynamics
    5. Stereo Total Harmonic Distortion
    6. Center
    7. Surround 5.1
    8. Height (Atmos)
    9. Sound Enhancement Features
  6. Connectivity
    1. Inputs/Outputs - Bar
    2. Audio Format Support: ARC/eARC
    3. Audio Format Support: HDMI In
    4. Audio Format Support: Optical
    5. Latency
    6. Video Passthrough To TV
    7. Wireless Playback
  7. Additional Features
    1. Interface
    2. Bar Controls
    3. Remote
    4. Voice Assistants Support
  8. Comments

Bose Solo 5 vs Polk Audio Signa S2

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

Bose Solo 5
Polk Audio Signa S2

Tested using Methodology v1.2

Updated Apr 09, 2024 02:19 PM

Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v1.1

Updated May 09, 2025 01:09 PM

Amazon.com
Bose Solo 5 Picture
Polk Audio Signa S2 Picture

Variants

  • Solo 5 (Black)
  • Signa S2 (Black)
  • Signa S2D (Black)

Our Verdict

Bose Solo 5

Polk Audio Signa S2

The Polk Audio Signa S2 is a better soundbar than the Bose Solo 5. The Polk has a better overall sound, and its dedicated wireless subwoofer provides more bass. It can get noticeably louder and supports audio formats over ARC. However, the Bose feels more premium and is shorter, which makes it a better option if you're looking for a compact soundbar.

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Main Differences for
Mixed Usage

Threshold 

0.10

Mixed Usage 

6.2
6.6

Audio Format Support: ARC/eARC 
 

0.0
6.1

Auto-Volume/Night Mode 
 

No
Yes

Stereo Soundstage 
 

6.0
7.0

Full Comparison

Design

Style - Bar  

Style photo - bar  

Bose Solo 5 Style photo - bar
Polk Audio Signa S2 Style photo - bar
Show Text 

Style - Subwoofer  

Style photo - sub  

Bose Solo 5 Style photo - sub
Polk Audio Signa S2 Style photo - sub

Sub Wireless 
 

No
Yes

Enclosure 
 

No Subwoofer
Ported
Show Text 

Style - Satellites  

Style photo - satellites  

Bose Solo 5 Style photo - satellites
Polk Audio Signa S2 Style photo - satellites

Satellite Wireless 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Dimensions - Bar  

Dimensions photo - bar  

Bose Solo 5 Dimensions photo - bar
Polk Audio Signa S2 Dimensions photo - bar

Width  

21.7" (55.0 cm)
35.4" (89.9 cm)

Height  

2.6" (6.7 cm)
2.0" (5.0 cm)

Depth  

3.2" (8.1 cm)
3.1" (7.9 cm)
Show Text 

Dimensions - Subwoofer  

Dimensions photo - sub  

Bose Solo 5 Dimensions photo - sub
Polk Audio Signa S2 Dimensions photo - sub

Width  

N/A
6.7" (17.1 cm)

Height  

N/A
13.7" (34.9 cm)

Depth  

N/A
12.3" (31.3 cm)
Show Text 

Dimensions - Satellites  

Dimensions photo - satellites  

Bose Solo 5 Dimensions photo - satellites
Polk Audio Signa S2 Dimensions photo - satellites

Width  

N/A
N/A

Height  

N/A
N/A

Depth  

N/A
N/A
Show Text 

Mounting 
 

Bar Mounting Holes  

Bose Solo 5 Bar Mounting Holes
Polk Audio Signa S2 Bar Mounting Holes

Satellite Mounting Holes  

Bose Solo 5 Satellite Mounting Holes
Polk Audio Signa S2 Satellite Mounting Holes

Mountable Bar 
 

Yes
Yes

Bar Brackets Included 
 

No
No

Mountable Satellites 
 

No
No

Satellite Brackets Included 
 

No
No

Build Quality 
 

7.5
7.0

Build quality photo  

Bose Solo 5 Build quality photo
Polk Audio Signa S2 Build quality photo
Show Text 

In The Box 
 

In The Box photo   

Bose Solo 5 In The Box photo
Polk Audio Signa S2 In The Box photo
Show Text 
Sound

Stereo Frequency Response 
 

7.2
7.2

Stereo Setup  

Bose Solo 5 Stereo Setup
Polk Audio Signa S2 Stereo Setup

Raw Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Frequency Response Small  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Tested Preset 
 

No Preset
Music

Slope 
 

-0.31
-0.44

Std. Err. 
 

2.57 dB
3.26 dB

Channels 
 

2.0
2.1

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

56.6 Hz
49.0 Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

19.9 kHz
17.2 kHz
Show Text 

Stereo Frequency Response With Preliminary Calibration 
 

7.3
7.2

Frequency Response Calibrated  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Suggested Preset 
 

No Preset
Music

Suggested Bass Setting 
 

-2
0

Suggested Treble Setting 
 

N/A
N/A

Slope 
 

-0.25
-0.44

Std. Err. 
 

2.31 dB
3.26 dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

57.4 Hz
49.0 Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

19.9 kHz
17.2 kHz

Stereo Soundstage 
 

6.0
7.0

Crosstalk  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Crosstalk Error 
 

3.23 dB
2.45 dB
Show Text 

Stereo Dynamics 
 

7.0
7.5

Dynamic Range Compression  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

87.4 dB SPL
95.6 dB SPL

DRC @ Max Volume 
 

1.86 dB
2.66 dB
Show Text 

Stereo Total Harmonic Distortion 
 

7.4
6.3

THD  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.64
0.58

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

1.06
10.19
Show Text 

Center 
 

6.7
5.8

Center Setup  

Bose Solo 5 Center Setup
Polk Audio Signa S2 Center Setup

Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Phantom
Phantom

Slope 
 

-0.43
-1.44

Std. Err. 
 

2.59 dB
5.48 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

87.2 dB SPL
93.6 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.56
0.55

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

1.06
3.22
Show Text 

Surround 5.1 
 

3.0
3.3

Surround Setup  

Bose Solo 5 Surround Setup
Polk Audio Signa S2 Surround Setup

Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Stereo (Downmix)
Stereo (Downmix)

Slope 
 

-0.59
-1.47

Std. Err. 
 

5.86 dB
5.51 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

86.0 dB SPL
91.2 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.63
0.72

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

1.00
2.04

7.1 Rears 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Height (Atmos) 
 

0.0
0.0

Height Setup  

Bose Solo 5 Height Setup
Polk Audio Signa S2 Height Setup

H Frequency Response  

Bose Solo 5 H Frequency Response
Polk Audio Signa S2 H Frequency Response

Localization 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

Slope 
 

N/A
N/A

Std. Err. 
 

N/A
N/A

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

N/A
N/A

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

N/A
N/A

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

N/A
N/A
Show Text 

Sound Enhancement Features 
 

2.1
4.5

Room Correction 
 

No
No

Dialogue Enhancement 
 

Yes
Yes

Auto-Volume/Night Mode 
 

No
Yes

Subwoofer Level Adjustment 
 

No
No

Bass Adjustment 
 

Yes
Yes

Treble Adjustment 
 

No
No

EQ 
 

No
Presets

Surround Level Adjustment 
 

No
No

Rear Level Adjustment 
 

No
No

Height Level Adjustment 
 

No
No

Virtual Surround 
 

No
No
Show Text 
Connectivity

Inputs/Outputs - Bar 
 

Physical Connections Bar Photo 1  

Bose Solo 5 Physical Connections Bar Photo 1
Polk Audio Signa S2 Physical Connections Bar Photo 1

Physical Connections Bar Photo 2  

Bose Solo 5 Physical Connections Bar Photo 2
Polk Audio Signa S2 Physical Connections Bar Photo 2

Optical Audio In 
 

1
1

HDMI ARC 
 

1

HDMI Out 
 

No
No

HDMI 2.1 Class Bandwidth 
 

No

Full HDMI In 
 

No
No

Analog Audio In 3.5mm (Aux) 
 

1
1

RCA In 
 

No
No

USB for Files 
 

No
No

Ethernet 
 

No
No

Subwoofer Output 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Audio Format Support: ARC/eARC 
 

0.0
6.1

Dolby Atmos 
 

Not Supported
No

Dolby Digital 
 

Not Supported
Yes

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

Not Supported
No

Dolby TrueHD 
 

Not Supported
No

DTS 
 

Not Supported
No

DTS:X 
 

Not Supported
No

eARC 
 

No

DTS-HD MA 
 

Not Supported
No

PCM Channels 
 

Not Supported

5.1 PCM (eARC only) 
 

No
Show Text 

Audio Format Support: HDMI In 
 

0.0
0.0

Dolby Atmos 
 

Not Supported
No

Dolby Digital 
 

Not Supported
No

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

Not Supported
No

Dolby TrueHD 
 

Not Supported
No

DTS 
 

Not Supported
No

DTS:X 
 

Not Supported
No

DTS-HD MA 
 

Not Supported
No

PCM Channels 
 

Not Supported

5.1 PCM 
 

No
Show Text 

Audio Format Support: Optical 
 

6.5
6.0

Dolby Digital 
 

Supported
Yes

DTS 
 

Not Supported
No

PCM Channels 
 

2.0
Show Text 

Latency 
 

8.8
7.3

Latency Video  

ARC 
 

N/A
83 ms

Optical 
 

-35 ms
75 ms

Full HDMI In 
 

N/A
N/A

Video Passthrough To TV 
 

0.0
0.0

1080p Max Refresh Rate 
 

Not Supported

1080p @ 4:4:4 Max Refresh Rate 
 

Not Supported

4k Max Refresh Rate 
 

Not Supported

4k @ 120Hz @ 10-Bit 
 

Not Supported

4k @ 4:4:4 Max Refresh Rate 
 

Not Supported

8k Max Refresh Rate 
 

Not Supported

HDR10 Passthrough 
 

No
No

HDR10+ Passthrough 
 

No

Dolby Vision Passthrough 
 

No

HDMI Forum VRR Passthrough 
 

No

4k @ 60 Hz Passthrough 
 

No

FreeSync Passthrough 
 

No

G-SYNC Passthrough 
 

No

ALLM Passthrough 
 

No

4k @ 60 Hz @ 10 bit Passthrough 
 

No

4k @ 60 Hz @ 4:4:4 Passthrough 
 

No
Show Text 

Wireless Playback 
 

6.0
6.0

Bluetooth 
 

Yes
Yes

Wi-Fi Playback 
 

No
No

Chromecast built-in 
 

No
No

Apple AirPlay 
 

No
No

Spotify Connect 
 

No
No
Show Text 
Additional Features

Interface 
 

Interface photo  

Bose Solo 5 Interface photo
Polk Audio Signa S2 Interface photo

Display 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Bar Controls 
 

Controls photo  

Bose Solo 5 Controls photo
Polk Audio Signa S2 Controls photo
Show Text 

Remote  

Remote photo  

Bose Solo 5 Remote photo
Polk Audio Signa S2 Remote photo
Show Text 

Voice Assistants Support 
 

Amazon Alexa 
 

No
No

Google Assistant 
 

No
No

Apple Siri 
 

No
No

Microphone Mute 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Bose Solo 5

Polk Audio Signa S2

Comments

  1. Comparison

Bose Solo 5 vs Polk Audio Signa S2: Main Discussion

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