Bose SoundLink Color Bluetooth Speaker (Black)

CUSTOMER REVIEW



Vine Customer Review of Free Product (What's this?)


With all the Bluetooth personal-size speakers on the market these days, it can be challenging to figure out which one will best meet your needs. Because of its portability and oversize sound, this little unit has all of the positives of the "boom boxes" some of us remember from our youth, with the added benefit of smaller dimensions and freedom from C batteries.

Here's a targeted assessment of how the Bose has been performing.

SOUND: This unit puts out a rich, clean, clear sound. Bass is present without being overwhelming; higher notes don't get tinny. When evaluating any speakers, I listen for how well they handle guitar and a cappella, because fuzziness and other issues will stand out. This little unit did not muddy the purity of the unaccompanied human voice. It also stood up to the subtle complexities of guitar -- in ballads, rock, and the music I love best, Hawaiian slack-key.

PORTABILITY. The unit is small enough to tuck into a day pack or oversize purse. The internal battery holds a charge of up to 8 hours' playing time, which means you don't need to bring the provided power adapter (but if you do, it's in two compact parts, a USB cable and a slimline wall adapter with fold-flat prongs). The unit will simultaneously recharge and perform as a speaker. I was able to recharge a drained battery while playing music in about 70 minutes.

EASE OF USE. Initial setup takes just a few minutes, and can be done while you are recharging the battery. The spoken instructions are easy to follow. Then it's a matter of getting your Bluetooth-enabled devices to recognize the speaker. Once this recognition process is complete, whenever the speaker is on, it will verbally identify any synched device that comes within range. And this is not a generic identification - the SoundLink uses the name you've assigned to each device. Toggling between devices is simple, too, just a matter of using the "pause" and "play" controls on your devices.

APPEARANCE/DURABILITY: The case is smooth, with rounded corners. The one-piece top panel and two narrow vertical panels on the sides of the case are rubberized, with some flexibility. Control functions are printed on the surface of the top panel, and are pressure-sensitive, so there are no moving parts exposed. The narrow strips on the sides of the case give you a surer grip when lifting or moving the unit. The SoundLink and power supply are both well-machined. Overall, the unit seems sturdy and capable of withstanding daily use, including frequent movement and plugging and unplugging.