Bose Soundlink Home Review: A Speaker That’s All About Looks

Sometimes it’s okay to bargain a speaker mostly for nan aesthetic. And from nan infinitesimal it was first announced, Bose’s $219 SoundLink Home stood retired from nan battalion (and Bose’s ain different efforts) pinch a mid-modern style that bears mini resemblance to astir competitors. It’s nan benignant of gadget that group are apt to announcement and remark on. No 1 says a relationship astir boring, ho-hum cylindrical speakers.

But this thing, pinch its cloth lodging wrapped successful a brushed aluminum band, feels for illustration vintage Bose. The institution doesn’t ever show this overmuch attraction to point successful creation and materials, truthful I’m encouraged by nan Home’s unsocial vibe.

If you’ve utilized aliases heard Bose’s SoundLink Flex, past you’ve already sewage a bully knowing of what nan Home speaker will sound for illustration successful your surviving room. Their tuning is alternatively similar. Like nan Flex, nan Home outputs mixed-down mono audio. I’ll ever return stereo speakers erstwhile fixed nan choice, but mono is communal for nan portable speaker people — though Bose is pushing it pinch nan worth coming — and peculiarly astatine this size. 

With that successful mind, nan SoundLink Home sounds alternatively elaborate and clear. Vocals are crisp. Acoustic instruments personification a touch of warmth. And moreover if you dial nan measurement up to extremes, there’s mini distortion. That’s partially because this speaker is nary bass champ; nan SoundLink Max wipes nan level pinch it successful that regard, but is bulkier and astir doubly nan price. The Home only supports your modular AAC and SBC Bluetooth codecs, whereas nan Flex (second-gen) and Max immoderate propulsion successful aptX Adaptive compatibility for devices that relationship it.

The constituent is, you’re going to personification to really for illustration nan Home’s out-of-the-box sound, because there’s nary changing it. In different departure from different Bose speakers, nan SoundLink Home lacks immoderate benignant of mobile companion app. As a result, you’re incapable to customize its EQ astatine all. That’s a disappointing omission that would beryllium easier to forgive from a cheaper speaker, but not this one. You tin astatine slightest brace 2 units together to create a stereo pair. If you’re consenting to driblet nan money connected that, you’ll beryllium rewarded pinch noticeably richer sound. 

Another important constituent to beryllium alert of pinch nan SoundLink Home is that there’s nary h2o guidance to speak of. The aforesaid goes for particulate resistance. This is not meant to beryllium a poolside aliases outdoor speaker. It’s correct location successful nan name, I suppose. You’ll want to put nan speaker location safe (and dry). A covered patio is astir arsenic acold arsenic you’ll want to return it. Bose doesn’t moreover impulse taking it into nan bathroom. The ruggedized Flex is simply a amended premier for those who petition a roadworthy warrior that tin withstand nan elements. Durability is 1 area wherever nan Home falls short of Ultimate Ears, JBL, Soundcore, and different brands that personification Bluetooth speakers astatine akin prices.

So acold I’ve discussed a batch of what’s missing, but 1 advantage complete nan SoundLink Flex is that nan Home supports USB-C audio in. And you tin return advantage of that astatine nan aforesaid clip that you’re paired complete Bluetooth. So you could theoretically comprehend to wired audio from your laptop while utilizing nan speaker for telephone calls aliases interacting pinch Siri aliases Google Assistant. (You tin clasp down nan multi-function fastener up apical to activate your phone’s sound assistant.) Calls and different Bluetooth activity will override nan USB-C connection.

That USB-C larboard is connected nan speaker’s adjacent side, which makes immoderate cables look a spot inelegant erstwhile they’re plugged in. Bose astatine slightest includes a 90-degree USB-C cablegram to support it arsenic subtle arsenic possible. Battery life is rated astatine up to 9 hours of playback, and my tests personification shown that number to beryllium mostly accurate. If you’re listening astatine aliases supra 70 percent volume, expect to suffer a mates hours. It’s not awesome endurance, but for a speaker that’ll only beryllium stepping astir your house, it’s sufficient. It takes betwixt 3 and 4 hours to afloat recharge nan speaker complete USB-C, which seems alternatively agelong for nan passable artillery life you’re getting.

There’s really not overmuch different to surface pinch nan SoundLink Home. It bets a afloat batch connected looks and consciousness and clears nan barroom connected sound worth without immoderate glaring tonal weaknesses. The absence of immoderate EQ settings will inevitably disappoint those of you who for illustration to tinker, and I deliberation immoderate $200-plus Bluetooth speaker should personification immoderate measurement of weatherproofing. But Bose went successful a different guidance pinch nan SoundLink Home. If you’re looking to bargain (or gift) a speaker that’s disconnected nan beaten path, I wouldn’t work you for choosing this one.

Photography by Chris Welch / The Verge