Short answer: the Bose DesignMax DM8SE, though neither ranks well in its class. It ranks #23 of 26 surface-mount and background music speakers by sound quality, rated 2.4/5, at $878; the Bose DesignMax DM5SE ranks #25, rated 2.2/5, and costs $897.05, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 26 surface-mount and background music speakers, so if sound quality matters, consider the JBL Control 24CT instead, ranked #1 at $350.
The case for the Bose DesignMax DM8SE: The outdoor-rated replacement for the measured Bose DesignMax DM8S, keeping its 8” woofer and center-firing coaxial 1” compression driver with 150W handling and a 52Hz to 20kHz range. The catch: No independent measurements yet, so it can’t be compared with ranked PA speakers.
Why pick the Bose DesignMax DM5SE: An IP55 surface-mount installation speaker from Bose Professional with a 5.25” coaxial driver. The catch: The response is uneven and bass is limited, for a low preference score.
Buy the Bose DesignMax DM8SE. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Bose DesignMax DM5SE and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
About the ratings: the Bose DesignMax DM8SE’s rating is estimated from measured siblings and predecessors rather than its own measurements, with a likely range of 2.1 to 2.7, so this verdict could change once it is measured.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete PA & Live Sound rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Bose DesignMax DM8SE | Bose DesignMax DM5SE | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $878.00 each Passive | $897.05 per pair Passive |
| Ranked | #23 of 26 in Surface-Mount and Background Music Speakers Estimated | #25 of 26 in Surface-Mount and Background Music Speakers |
| Weight | 22.7 lbs (10.3 kg) | 9.7 lbs (4.38 kg) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 60Hz (manufacturer specified) | 77.5Hz (measured, manufacturer data via spinorama.org) |
| Rigging | QuickHold U-bracket; 2 x M8 bracket inserts; M8 safety cable insert | QuickHold U-bracket; M8 inserts for pan and tilt bracket |
| Maximum SPL | 121dB peak (manufacturer specified) | 111dB peak (manufacturer specified) |
| Passive | Yes | Yes |
| Configuration | Passive 2-way coaxial surface-mount speaker | - |
| Drivers | 8” woofer, coaxial 1” compression driver | 5.25” coaxial driver |
| Frequency Response | 52Hz - 20kHz (manufacturer specified) | - |
| Power Handling | 150W | - |
| IP Rating | IP55 | IP55 |
| XLR Input | No | - |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| DSP | No (passive) | - |
| Amplifier Power | Passive speaker; requires external amplification | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | about 68.3Hz (measured, manufacturer data via spinorama.org) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | - | -0.41 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | - | 2.61 |
| DIY Kit | - | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More top alternatives to Bose DesignMax DM8SE:
- JBL AC15 vs Bose DesignMax DM8SE
- JBL AC25 vs Bose DesignMax DM8SE
- Bose DesignMax DM8SE vs Yamaha VXS1ML
- Bose DesignMax DM8SE vs Bose DesignMax DM6SE
- Bose DesignMax DM5SE vs Bose DesignMax DM6SE
Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Speakers In Full
Bose DesignMax DM8SE: $878.00 each Passive Estimated Amazon eBay
Older model: the Bose DesignMax DM8S (ranked higher, rated 2.4/5). See every Bose DesignMax generation.
Same family: the Bose DesignMax DM5SE (smaller model, ranked lower, rated 2.2/5) and the Bose DesignMax DM6SE (smaller model, ranked lower, rated 2.2/5).
Pros: The outdoor-rated replacement for the measured Bose DesignMax DM8S, keeping its 8” woofer and center-firing coaxial 1” compression driver with 150W handling and a 52Hz to 20kHz range. It adds IP55 weather sealing, an aluminum grille with a rust-resistant finish and a sealed cover over the input terminals.
Cons: No independent measurements yet, so it can’t be compared with ranked PA speakers. The measured DM8S it is based on had an uneven response for its price, and it needs an external amplifier.
Full Bose DesignMax DM8SE review and specifications →
| Released | Mar 2025 (1 year ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | Passive speaker; requires external amplification |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 60Hz (manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Configuration | Passive 2-way coaxial surface-mount speaker |
| DSP | No (passive) |
| Drivers | 8” woofer, coaxial 1” compression driver |
| Frequency Response | 52Hz - 20kHz (manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP55 |
| Maximum SPL | 121dB peak (manufacturer specified) |
| Passive | Yes |
| Power Handling | 150W |
| Rigging | QuickHold U-bracket; 2 x M8 bracket inserts; M8 safety cable insert |
| Weight | 22.7 lbs (10.3 kg) |
| XLR Input | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- No independent measurement review is linked for this model; it is ranked from hands-on listening and comparison against similarly priced speakers.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Bose DesignMax DM5SE: $897.05 per pair Passive Amazon eBay
Same family: the Bose DesignMax DM6SE (larger model, ranked lower, rated 2.2/5) and the Bose DesignMax DM8SE (larger model, ranked higher, estimated 2.4/5). See every Bose DesignMax generation.
Pros: An IP55 surface-mount installation speaker from Bose Professional with a 5.25” coaxial driver. Bose’s measurements show a preference score of -0.41 that reaches 2.61 with an ideal subwoofer, with 1.03 listening window deviation.
Cons: The response is uneven and bass is limited, for a low preference score. The data comes from Bose. Bass reaches 77.5Hz (-3dB) and about 68Hz (-10dB).
Full Bose DesignMax DM5SE review and specifications →
| Released | Oct 2020 (6 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | about 68.3Hz (measured, manufacturer data via spinorama.org) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 77.5Hz (measured, manufacturer data via spinorama.org) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Drivers | 5.25” coaxial driver |
| IP Rating | IP55 |
| Maximum SPL | 111dB peak (manufacturer specified) |
| Passive | Yes |
| Rigging | QuickHold U-bracket; M8 inserts for pan and tilt bracket |
| Spinorama Preference Score | -0.41 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 2.61 |
| Weight | 9.7 lbs (4.38 kg) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons