Boult Audio BassBox X500 Review: A bass lover’s delight

Rating: 3.5/5

Soundbars have emerged as a popular solution for enhancing the audio experience of modern televisions. These sleek, compact devices offer a significant upgrade over built-in TV speakers, delivering richer sound, deeper bass and clearer dialogue. New-gen soundbars come in various configurations, including those with dedicated subwoofers for enhanced bass response and models that support immersive audio formats like Dolby Atmos for a more cinematic experience.

Boult Audio, a brand known for its budget-friendly audio gear, recently entered into a more premium soundbar segment with the BassBox X500 which is available at Rs 14,999. The soundbar -- which aims to offer a compelling combination of affordability and performance -- promises to deliver a thumping bass and immersive audio experience.

With a bunch of other local players coming with the same concept, the BassBox X500 faces the challenge of delivering true home theatre quality without a hefty price tag and standing out in the crowded market. Can it succeed? Let's find out.

Boult Audio BassBox X500 design

The Boult Audio BassBox X500 makes a subtle yet stylish statement with its design. The soundbar has a boxy, rectangular design with minimum flashy elements. Both the main soundbar and the satellite speakers get a metal mesh that curves around the edges, providing a distinct look.

The top is flat with a glossy finish -- which was a pain point for us because it attracted dust and cloth fibres which are easily visible, no matter how much you clean. There is minimal branding on the soundbar with “BOULT” written on the left corner and “Dolby Audio” written on the right. The “BOULT” branding is also on the top of satellite speakers and the hefty, solid subwoofer.

The soundbar also gets physical controls -- power, play/pause, Bluetooth and volume rocker -- on the top. There are soft LED lights on the front panel that provide a subtle indication of volume levels and input modes, adding a touch of visual interest without being distracting.

Beyond its sleek appearance, the BassBox X500 boasts a bass reflex subwoofer that provides a solid, reassuring heft that speaks to its solid build quality. Unlike traditional design, the woofer driver is placed on the bottom of the cabinet, providing a cleaner look to the setup.

The remote control is basic but functional, allowing us to adjust the bass, and volume levels and quickly select preset EQ modes -- Music, Movies and News. It gets all the necessary controls.

Overall, the combination of matte finish grille and glossy top allows the setup to blend seamlessly into any modern entertainment setup. Its compact dimensions make it easy to position under a television or mount on a wall. In addition, a bunch of connectivity options, including Bluetooth v5.3, AUX, USB, Optical, and HDMI (ARC) inputs make it compatible with a range of devices.

Boult Audio BassBox X500 performance

Boult Audio says that the Bassbox X500 Soundbar offers a 500W RMS output for a rich, dynamic audio reproduction through its Dolby Audio technology. The speaker has a 5.1-channel setup to provide a cinematic experience. The speakers deliver crystal-clear audio with its 16-bit StereoEngine and bit core. The sound is crunchy with decently pronounced mids and vocals, adding a satisfying warmth and fullness to the overall sound.

The elephant in the room is the subwoofer. The Boult Audio BassBox X500 truly lives up to its name, delivering a powerful and immersive bass experience that will delight bass enthusiasts. Boult has clearly prioritised the bass response in this soundbar, creating a sound signature that emphasises deep, room-shaking lows.

This focus on bass truly shines when watching action-packed movies and even listening to songs. Explosions rumble with satisfying intensity, car chases feel more gut-wrenching, and every thump adds a layer of excitement to the viewing experience.

During our screening of “Interstellar”, “Oppenheimer” and “Avengers: Infinity War”, the BassBox X500 kept pace with the film’s galactic sequences, explosions and action sequences, respectively -- delivering powerful sound effects.

The subwoofer, in particular, handled the demanding low-frequency effects with ease, adding an astral dimension to the film's thrilling docking scene in Interstellar, resonating with the high-octane soundtrack. Similarly, in “Oppenheimer”, the detonation scene felt charismatic and Thor’s entry scene in Avengers: Infinity War provided a cinematic experience.

Coming to music performance, while the Boult Audio BassBox X500 excels in delivering a powerful bass experience, music lovers with diverse tastes should be aware of its sonic characteristics. In easier terms, if your playlist leans heavily towards bass-driven genres like hip-hop, psytrance, trap, EDM and Bollywood dance, this soundbar will impress.

For example, Alien turned Human by Astrix and Rumble by Skrillex truly brought out the punch of the bass. However, the BassBox X500's emphasis on low-end frequencies can sometimes be a drawback for genres that require a more nuanced approach. Acoustic tracks or downtempo songs, for instance, may lack the delicate details and crispness that audiophiles crave.

While vocals generally remain clear, they can occasionally get lost in the mix when the bass kicks in. Take for example Anahata by Suduaya or Gayatri Mantra by Neuroq, the bass at times overpowered the nuanced sounds, essentially killing the dynamics of the track. Similarly, the “clock ticking” sound in Interstellar and the axe sound when Thor enters Wakanda are a bit watered down.

This doesn't mean the BassBox X500 is unsuitable for music and movies, but it does require some manual adjustment. By tweaking the bass settings, we were able to achieve a more balanced sound profile that better suited our desired preferences.

Verdict

The Boult Audio BassBox X500 soundbar delivers a powerful and immersive audio experience that's sure to please bass enthusiasts, especially at its competitive price point of Rs 14,999. Its sleek design and multiple connectivity options make it a versatile option for a home theatre setup. The soundbar's strength lies in its deep, room-shaking bass response, which truly shines during action-packed movies and bass-heavy music.

However, the emphasis on bass can sometimes overshadow the mid-range and high frequencies, impacting the clarity of dialogue and finer audio details in movies as well as music that require more nuance. Despite this slight imbalance, the BassBox X500 offers a compelling audio experience for its price, making it a strong contender in the budget-friendly soundbar market. If you prioritise a cinematic audio experience with impactful bass, the Boult Audio BassBox X500 is worth considering.


GN Awards 2025: Vote for your favorite Gadgets