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These are the best remotes for Bose speakers and soundbars, whether you want one remote for everything or a straight replacement for the one you lost.
The Sweetest Sounding Speakers
I love my Bose SoundLink Mini II wireless Bose speaker. Its compact size and stellar Bluetooth connectivity make it the perfect companion to pump out jams on my smartphone when I’m on the go.I also listen to it quite a bit at home as part of my Alexa multi-room music configuration. Bose itself confirms its systems use standard infrared codes that many universal remotes already carry.
And the sound is really amazing.
This got me thinking…could one of the best remotes for Bose speakers fold it into my multi-room music setup? Check and check!
Then this got me thinking further…some of you out there may be curious about which universal remotes can be used to control your Bose speakers. So, I surveyed the landscape, dug in my heels, and…
Another blog post is born!
Key Takeaways
- SofaBaton X2 is the pick when you want your Bose gear and the rest of your home theater on one remote.
- SofaBaton U3 does the same job without a hub, for a good deal less money.
- OMAIC, Tendodo and DHCHAPU are straight replacements for a lost Bose remote, and control nothing else.
Best Remotes for Bose Comparison Table
The table below compares the best remotes for Bose speakers and soundbars by role, compatibility, and buyer fit.
| Editor's Choice | Best Value Universal | Wave SoundTouch Swap | Smart Soundbar Swap | Bose Solo Swap | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Product Image | |||||
| Model | SofaBaton X2 | SofaBaton U3 | OMAIC Replacement | Tendodo Replacement | DHCHAPU Replacement |
| Best Fit | Best fit: Choose this to run Bose plus the rest of your gear from one remote. | Best fit: Choose this for universal control without paying hub prices. | Best fit: Choose this to replace a lost Wave SoundTouch remote. | Best fit: Choose this to replace a Smart Soundbar 500 or 900 remote. | Best fit: Choose this to replace a Bose Solo series remote. |
| Type | Universal hub remote | Universal LCD remote | Direct replacement | Direct replacement | Direct replacement |
| Works With | Bose models that accept an IR remote | Bose models that accept an IR remote | Bose Wave SoundTouch I to V | Bose Smart Soundbar 500 and 900 | Bose Solo 5, 10, 15 Series II |
| Screen | Colour touchscreen | 2.4-inch LCD | No screen | No screen | No screen |
| Power | Rechargeable dock | Rechargeable USB-C | CR2032, not included | Battery included | CR2032, not included |
| Main Tradeoff | Costs more than a replacement remote | No hub, so hidden gear needs line of sight | Controls nothing but the Bose unit | Controls nothing but the soundbar | Controls nothing but the Bose unit |
| Check Price |
#1 – Editor’s Choice: SofaBaton X2
Compatibility: Bose models that accept an infrared remote, plus your TV, streamer, receiver and soundbar.
The SofaBaton X2 is the one I reach for when a Bose speaker is part of a bigger setup rather than the whole story. The colour touchscreen holds your activities, the hub reaches gear tucked inside a cabinet, and the charging dock means you are not hunting for batteries. If your Bose unit shipped with its own remote, the X2 can almost certainly learn it.
It is the most expensive pick here by a distance, and that is the honest tradeoff. You are paying for the hub and the screen. If you only want to replace one lost Bose clicker, skip to the replacement remotes further down.
Pros
- Touchscreen activities replace a stack of remotes.
- Hub reaches Bose gear hidden inside cabinets.
- Works with Alexa, Google Assistant and Home Assistant.
- Charging dock keeps it ready between sessions.
Cons
- Premium price for a single-speaker problem.
- Setup takes longer than a replacement remote.
Touchscreen hub remote for a full home-theater setup.
#2 – Best Value Universal: SofaBaton U3
Compatibility: Bose models that accept an infrared remote, plus compatible infrared, Bluetooth and learnable RF gear.
The SofaBaton U3 does most of what the X2 does and costs a good deal less, because it drops the hub. You get a 2.4-inch wake-on-lift screen, a rechargeable battery over USB-C, and one-touch macros for the power-and-input dance that Bose setups usually demand.
The catch is line of sight. Without a hub, the U3 needs to see your gear, so a Bose unit buried in a cabinet is a problem the X2 solves and this one does not.
Pros
- Screen and macros at well under hub prices.
- Rechargeable, charges over USB-C.
- Learns infrared, Bluetooth and 433/315 MHz RF devices.
Cons
- No hub, so hidden equipment needs line of sight.
- Bose support depends on your model accepting infrared.
Rechargeable LCD universal remote, no hub required.
#3 – Wave SoundTouch Replacement: OMAIC
Compatibility: A REPLACEMENT remote control for BOSE Wave Soundtouch Music System I, II, III, IV, and V (1st – 5th generation).
If you are looking for a replacement for the popular Bose Wave Soundtouch line, this inexpensive remote might be just what the doctor ordered. However, it will only replace your existing Wave/Soundtouch remote, and it can’t be programmed to control anything else. The remote does have a solid range, thought of about 20-30 feet/10 meters.
No programming is required to control Wave Soundtouch, and the remote is light in your hand. Lame, the company does not include the CR2032 required battery with this remote.
Pros
- Replacement remote functions much like the original remote.
- Controls for Radio/CD and Aux mode.
- Six presents for your favorite channels/music.
- The ability to set Play mode as well as alarms.
- Small, squarish remote with dimensions of 3.85 x 2.15 x 0.2 inches.
Cons
- Can only control Bose devices specified here.
- NOT compatible with acoustic wave music system.
- Requires CR2025 Battery (sold separately)
- Limited warranty.
Replaces the remote for Bose Wave SoundTouch I through V.
#4 – Bose Smart Soundbars: Tendodo Remote
If you’re looking for a replacement remote control for your Bose Smart Soundbar 300, 500, or 900, then these two durable options from Tendodo could be just the thing. Tendodo claims that their replacement remotes are super easy to use, and the company puts each remote through quality testing before shipment to make sure they are fully functional.
Just remove the battery plastic spacer, and you’re good to go! Plus, the company’s 180-day service guarantee means that you can shop with confidence. Like the previous option, this will only control your soundbar, though, nothing else, which is a huge difference between this and the universal options I recommend above.
Pros
- Replaces lost or broken remote for Smart Soundbar, 300, 500, or 900.
- Includes the required CR2032 battery.
- No setup is required should work out of the box with these three popular soundbar models.
Cons
- Limited, 180 day service guarantee.
- Controls only Bose Smart soundbars and nothing else.
- Adds yet another remote to your already growing pile.
#5 – Bose Solo Replacement: DHCHAPU Remote
Compatibility: Compatible with Bose Solo 5 TV Sound System model:418775 and solo soundbar II
Compatible with Bose solo 15 Series II Sound System,845194,, Compatible with Bose Solo 10 Series II Sound System 740928-1120,845194-1100, 838309-1100, Compatible with Bose TV speaker model:431974.
Next on my list of the best remotes for Bose is this replacement remote from a company with a funny-sounding name, DHCHAPU. While the company proclaims this to be a universal remote, the only thing universal about it is that Bose does not make it, but it will work to control the speakers in the compatibility list above.
This includes Solo 5, 10, and 15 series II soundbars and one Bose TV speaker model.
While the remote is inexpensive and well-rated, my biggest gripe with it (all of the replacement options, really) is that it won’t let you consolidate other remotes into just one. A SofaBaton X2 or U3 would get you there, but if you want to replace a lost or broken Bose remote, this should work just fine.
Pros
- It’s super affordable.
- Very simple interface with just the basic audio controls.
- Customers have reported that as a replacement, it works well.
Cons
- Controls compatible Bose models listed above only.
- You will still have separate remotes for controlling your home theater audio and other home theater components.
- CR2032 battery is not included. Why these companies don’t include sub-$2-dollar batteries with these products is a mystery to me.
Replaces the remote for Bose Solo 5, 10 and 15 Series II.
Best Remotes for Bose FAQs
Common questions about controlling Bose speakers and soundbars follow.
1. Can you use a universal remote with Bose?
Yes, if your speaker accepts infrared. Bose systems use standard Bose infrared codes that many universal remotes already carry. which is why the best remotes for Bose work on models like Solo, SoundTouch, SoundLink and the Smart Soundbar range. If your Bose unit never shipped with a remote of its own, a universal remote has nothing to talk to.
2. Can I replace my existing Bose remote?
Usually, depending on the model. Third-party replacements are sold for the Wave SoundTouch line, the Smart Soundbar 500 and 900, and the Solo series, and all three appear further up this page. They behave like the original clicker and control nothing else, which is exactly what you want if replacing a lost remote is the whole job.
3. Which Bose models work with a universal remote?
Any Bose model that responds to infrared. That covers Solo, SoundLink Mini, SoundTouch, SoundLink Micro, Companion 2, Home Speaker 500 and many soundbar and surround setups. Bose publishes codes for universal remotes, so the practical test is simple: if the speaker came with a remote, a universal remote can learn it.
4. Should I buy a universal remote or a replacement remote for Bose?
Buy a replacement if the Bose unit is the only thing you control and you simply lost the original. Buy a universal remote if a TV, streamer or receiver sits alongside it. The best remotes for Bose split cleanly along that line, and paying hub prices to replace one clicker is money wasted.
5. Do replacement Bose remotes come with a battery?
Not always, and it catches people out. The OMAIC and DHCHAPU replacements both need a CR2032 that is not in the box, while the Tendodo soundbar remote does include one. Worth adding a battery to the order rather than discovering it when the remote arrives.
Best Remotes for Bose Verdict
The best remotes for Bose come down to one question: are you replacing a lost clicker, or tidying up a room full of them?
- Choose SofaBaton X2 if the Bose gear sits inside a larger home-theater setup.
- Choose SofaBaton U3 if you want that same consolidation without paying for a hub.
- Choose OMAIC, Tendodo or DHCHAPU if you just want the original remote back.
If you are weighing the two universal picks against each other, my SofaBaton comparison goes deeper on where the hub earns its money.
Featured image credit: Photo by Osvaldo Castillo on Unsplash.