How to Set Up a Bose Solo 5 Sound System

Authored by: Support.com Tech Pro Team

1. Introduction

This guide will walk you through the basics of setting up your Bose Solo 5 soundbar.

Bose Solo 5


 

2. Unpack & Place

  1. Verify you have all the parts for your soundbar.Soundbar
Soundbar
  1. Power Supply
Power supply and cable
  1. Optical Cable
Optical cable
  1. Remote
Remote
  1. Place your soundbar in a central location near your television.
Diagram of soundbar underneath television

3. Connect Cables

  1. Connect the included Optical audio cable to your TV's Audio Out connector.
Diagram of audio out on back of television
  1. Connect the other end of the Optical audio cable to the back of the soundbar.
Diagram of plugging optical cable to soundbar
  1. Connect the power supply to the back of the soundbar, the connect the power cable to the power supply, then to the wall outlet.
Diagram of connecting soundbar to power

4. Power On

  1. Turn off the speakers on your television.
  2. This will vary from television to television. Check your television's user manual for details.
  3. Push the Power button on your soundbar remote to turn it on.
  4. The Status indicator on the sound bar will turn on.
Diagram showing status light on soundbar

  1.  

5. Setup Universal Remote

  1. Turn on the device you'd like to control with the Bose remote. For example, your television.
  2. Look in the Universal Remote Device Codes book included with your soundbar, and find your device.
  3. Push and hold the button you'd like to program on your Bose remote. All 6 will light up, then the one you held will glow.
Diagram of remote device buttons
  1. Enter the code from the Universal Remote Device Codes book.
  2. Press the Volume Up + button to confirm your entry.
Volume and channel section of remote with Volume up highlighted.
  1. Try pressing Menu, Guide, Left, and Right to verify it programmed properly.
Navigation section on remote.

  1. If it works, push Exit to save your settings.
  2. If it does not work, push Volume Up + an try testing again. Repeat this process till your device responds correctly. This can take 30 or more tries.

6. Pair Bluetooth

  1. Push and hold the Bluetooth button on your soundbar remote.
Diagram of remote inputs with bluetooth highlighted.
  1. The Bluetooth indicator on your soundbar will blink.
Diagram of soundbar with indicators highlighted.

7. Pair Bluetooth Devices

Some Bluetooth accessories are configured with a PIN or a passkey that is often listed in its manual. Check your Bluetooth accessory manual for the correct PIN or passkey.

Depending on what device (Smartphone or Tablet) and which generation you have, the menu theme and options might look slightly different on your screen. However, the steps should be similar to all Android devices and generations.

Use one of the following connection methods:

  • Method 1 - The Drop Down Menu
  • Method 2 - Settings

Drop down menu

  1. Swipe down from the top of the device screen if it's a phone or up from the bottom of the device screen if it's a tablet to access the menu.
  2. Locate the Bluetooth icon.
Bluetooth icon.
  1. Press and hold the Bluetooth icon.
  2. Swipe the switch to your right to set the Bluetooth accessory in pairing/discovery mode.
  3. A list of nearby devices and previously paired devices will be shown.
  4. In the list of Available Devices, choose the Bluetooth accessory you wish to pair with.
Android bluetooth menu showing the bluetooth switch in the on position and a list of bluetooth devices currently in range.


  1. If you are prompted for a passkey, put it in. If there is no passkey, then your Bluetooth accessory should be paired now.

Android menu settings

  1. Locate and tap the Apps Menu.
Android apps icon.
  1. Locate and tap the Settings icon.
Android Settings icon.
  1. Select the Bluetooth. You may need to select Connections first.
  2. Swipe the switch to your right to set the Bluetooth accessory in pairing/discovery mode.
  3. A list of nearby devices and previously paired devices will be shown.
  4. In the list of Available Devices, choose the Bluetooth accessory you wish to pair with.
Android bluetooth menu showing the bluetooth switch in the on position and a list of bluetooth devices currently in range.
  1. If you are prompted for a passkey, put it in. If there is no passkey, then your Bluetooth accessory should be paired now.

8. Connect Bluetooth

Some Bluetooth accessories are configured with a PIN or a passkey that is often listed in its information manual. Check your Bluetooth accessory documentation for the correct PIN or passkey.

From any iOS device (iPod, iPad, iPhone):

  1. Open Settings
Settings app icon.
  1. Then Bluetooth.
Settings menu with Bluetooth highlighted.
  1. Set the Bluetooth accessory in pairing/discovery mode.
  2. Wait for your iOS device to display the detected Bluetooth accessory.
Bluetooth settings page.
  1. Select the Bluetooth accessory to pair it with the iOS device.
  2. If there is a passkey, put it in.
  3. If there is no passkey then your Bluetooth accessory should be paired now.