Bose SoundTouch 10 vs. 20

A comparison between the Bose SoundTouch 10 vs. 20 essentially boils down to deciding between the old and the new. The Bose SoundTouch 20 has a number of additional features when compared to the previous model, but is the speaker truly an improvement across the board?

Let’s take a look at what makes each speaker special so you can make a purchase that works perfectly for you.


Bose SoundTouch 10 vs. 20 — Differences

Difference #1: Mono/Stereo Output – The SoundTouch 10 transmits audio in a mono format, while the SoundTouch 20 uses stereo. This difference doesn’t necessarily mean one is better than the other, although the multiple channels used by stereo sound are actually giving a more dynamic sound.

Also worthy of note is the ability to pair two SoundTouch 10 speakers together — allowing each to play a single channel as part of a complete stereo sound system experience.

Difference #2: Stereo Pair Option – As mentioned above, you can pair two SoundTouch 10 speakers together to create L/R rare channels for full stereo sound. The SoundTouch 20 doesn’t offer this option. So, if you have two SoundTouch 20 speakers, each of them will play stereo. There’s no option to set them up as a stereo pair for L/R rare channels.

Difference #3: Sound Quality – There are actually not too many differences between the SoundTouch 10 and 20 in terms of audio quality, as both feature simple drivers and speakers that lack some of the rich sound you’d enjoy from options with dedicated tweeters, mid woofers, and amplifiers.

With that said, the SoundTouch 20 has two speakers instead of one, allowing for a louder maximum volume and stereo output.

Difference #4: Ethernet Port – While streaming audio over WiFi is a major benefit of most smart speakers, it’s always nice to have a backup option in case the connection is spotty.

The SoundTouch 20 has an Ethernet port for a hardwired connection to your router, while the SoundTouch 10 is lacking this feature.

Difference #5: OLED Screen – As the SoundTouch 20 is more of an upscale model when compared to the 10, it features a detailed OLED screen with information on the song, artist, station, and current connectivity status.

The SoundTouch 10 gives information through 4 LEDs on the front of the product, so you’ll be missing some utility there.

Difference #6: Design – While the SoundTouch 10 may be missing some key features when compared to the 20, it does come in a much more compact size — weighing in at 3 pounds rather than the 7 that we see with its big brother.

Both speakers are available in white and black, which should allow you to find a design that will fit in seamlessly with your home decor.


Bose SoundTouch 10 vs. 20 — Comparison Chart

  Bose SoundTouch 10 Bose SoundTouch 20
Mono Output Yes No
Stereo Output No Yes
Stereo Pair w/ Other Speaker Yes No
Drivers/Speakers 1 2
Audio line-in Yes Yes
Connect to TV Via AUX Cord Via AUX Cord
Has its Own Remote Yes Yes
Voice Control over Amazon Alexa Yes Yes
Voice Control Over Siri No No
Voice Control Over Google Assistant Via line-in port Via line-in port
Amazon Alexa Built-In No No
Set Up Over WiFi Yes Yes
Humidity Resistant No No
WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, 2.4 and 5Ghz 802.11 b/g/n, 2.4 and 5Ghz
Bluetooth Yes Yes
Ethernet Port No 1
On-Device Control Button Control Button Control
One App Control Yes Yes
IR Control Yes Yes
Wall Mount Available Available
Extend to 5.1 No No
Size Small Medium
Dimensions 8.34 x 5.56 x 3.43″
(212 x 141 x 87 mm)
7.4 x 12.4 x 4.1″
(188 x 315 x 104 mm)
Weight 2.89 lbs (1.31 kg) 7.0 lb (3.18 kg)
Product finish White/Black White/Black

Bose SoundTouch 10 vs. 20 — Things in Common

Bose SoundTouch 10

Audio line-in – In situations where it isn’t possible to stream audio over WiFi, both the SoundTouch 10 and 20 have the option to play music through an audio line-in. In addition to giving you more ways to hear your favorite songs, this audio line-in allows for more utility through services like Google Assistant — a feature which we’ll discuss in more detail below.

Comes with Remote – Although perhaps the most convenient way to control the SoundTouch 10 and 20 is through the Bose app, both speakers can be controlled through a dedicated remote. This useful feature allows you to stay in charge of your tunes even when you don’t have access to your phone.

Voice Control over Amazon Alexa – These two smart speakers can be controlled through Amazon Alexa. You’ll need an Amazon device like the Echo or Echo Dot, but once those are set up you can control your Bose speakers with simple voice commands — perfect for those situations where you need to change up the music and don’t have your phone or remote handy.

Voice Control Over Google Assistant – As mentioned above, both devices can be controlled with Google Assistant. However, this functionality isn’t enabled by default. You’ll need an auxiliary cable to connect your Google Home to your SoundTouch 10 or 20, but once you do you can use Google Assistant to control your audio and adjust settings at will.

Set Up Over WiFi – Both the SoundTouch 10 and 20 are easy to set up over WiFi. With support for 2.4 and 5Ghz dual band 802.11 b/g/n connections, it should only take a couple of minutes from the time you open the box to when you can get the music playing through the dedicated Bose app.

Bluetooth Streaming – One useful feature common to both the SoundTouch 10 and 20 is the ability to stream your music over Bluetooth. This is a major perk for the speaker as it allows you to mirror audio to the device even from services that the SoundTouch 10 or 20 do not support. Being able to send audio from the YouTube app to be streamed through your smart speaker is a helpful addition that might not have been possible with a standard WiFi connection.

On-Device Control – In addition to the dedicated remote and smartphone app, you can adjust settings like volume and play/pause the audio through buttons on the devices themselves. While we don’t often find ourselves without a smartphone in hand, many will definitely get use out of the on- device control at least at some point in the future.

SoundTouch App – The SoundTouch app gives you access to music from Bose steaming partners in one convenient place. Browse popular music services and internet radio stations to find the perfect song, or play music that you’ve downloaded onto your phone through the SoundTouch 10 and 20 through one convenient locale.

While the streaming partners may not be as extensive as with a speaker like the Sonos PLAY:5, the speakers hit all the major bases with access to partners like Pandora, Spotify, Deezer, Amazon, iTunes and more. Check out the streaming partners page to see if your favorites are supported by SoundTouch.

Sonos Play: 5 - Ultimate Wireless Smart Speaker - Black
1,272 Reviews

Flexible Mount Options – Both the SoundTouch 10 and 20 offer flexible mounting options, allowing you the ability to place your speakers wherever it’s most convenient to fill your home with crisp, clear sound.



Bose SoundTouch 10 and 20 Integration

Bose SoundTouch 20

Both the SoundTouch 10 and 20 work with SmartThings — allowing for easy integration into a smart home setup. When it comes to expanding your home audio system, you can start with a single SoundTouch speaker and expand as needed whenever you please. The speakers will work together to play the same music in every room, but can also be controlled individually to play different tracks in different locations.


Bose SoundTouch 10 and 20 Accessories

Bose Soundtouch 10 Desk Stand Accessory

Having multiple options for installation can go a long way toward making it easier to integrate the Bose SoundTouch 10 and 20 into your home. The SoundTouch 10 wall and stand mount give additional flexibility and allow you to save shelf space, and the SoundTouch 20 wall mount gets the speaker up off the table and positioned perfectly to provide you with an enhanced sound that fills the room.

You should also consider buying an Echo Dot for voice control, as you may soon find that it’s difficult to live without the ability to control your music with simple commands.


Bose SoundTouch 10 vs. 20 — Our Thoughts

Bose SoundTouch 20

While both the Bose SoundTouch 10 and the SoundTouch 20 provide top-notch audio to your home, we do feel that the latter is the better product. With louder sound, a useful OLED screen, and an Ethernet port, it manages to pull ahead in nearly every category.

We do recommend, however, shopping around for other smart speaker alternatives as well to ensure you get the best bang for your buck. Consider the Sonos PLAY:1, for example, for rich and dynamic audio and support for nearly every streaming service.

Check out our Sonos PLAY:1 vs. Bose SoundTouch 10 comparison for an in-depth look at the pros and cons of these quality smart speakers.


Last update on 2024-03-28 at 08:08 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Leave a Comment