Bose Introduction of More Elegant than Extravagant SoundLink Home Speaker in New Model
Upgrading its Bluetooth speaker line, Bose introduced two new devices: the recently released SoundLink Home and the second generation of the SoundLink Flex, hit the shelves last week. As the moniker suggests, the SoundLink Home is the stationary counterpart of the portable SoundLink Flex. It's intended to reside on your bookshelf, delivering Bose's renowned premium audio throughout your room. Priced at $219, the SoundLink Home comes in Light Silver and Cool Grey colorways in the U.S.; an additional Warm Wood option is available in China.
Regarding the battery life, the latest Bose speaker promises a relatively modest nine-hour runtime on a full charge, which is reduced to two and a half hours at maximum volume. This battery duration pales in comparison to Sony's recent Ult Field 1, which ensures a 12-hour battery life for $129. The battery longevity issue becomes more pressing when the SoundLink Home is used in the confines of a home. Sony's offering, despite being an outdoor speaker, manages a longer-lasting battery, and Bose investors would not appreciate being tethered to a socket even within their own homes. The SoundLink Home takes four hours to charge, which may test your patience.
Ult Field 1 offers 12 hours for $129. Sony’s offering is an outdoor speaker where a long-lasting battery life becomes extra crucial, but if I’m investing over $200, I wouldn’t want to be tethered to a socket even within the confines of my house. The SoundLink Home also takes four hours to fully recharge, which I’m unsure if I have the patience for.
The new SoundLink Home proves more impressive in terms of connectivity. It supports multipoint connectivity for up to two devices and includes a wired connection option via Type-C. Furthermore, this speaker enables stereo mode when paired with another SoundLink Home speaker, creating a left and right stereo channel. Unfortunately, the new SoundLink Home misses out on a party mode (usually included in speakers with stereo mode), which enables both speakers to play the same audio instead of assigned left and right channels.
JBL Go 4 and Click 5. The two speakers act as a left and right stereo channel in this setup. Sadly, it lacks a party mode (usually present on speakers with stereo mode), which would allow the two connected speakers to play from the same source instead of assigned L and R channels.
Despite not being compatible with the Bose Connect app for real-time EQ settings and lacking dust and water resistance, the SoundLink Home is a solid home speaker option. However, those seeking a portable speaker with water, dust, shock, and rust resistance, longer battery life, party mode, stereo mode, and adjustable EQ through the Bose app might prefer the new $149 2nd-Gen SoundLink Flex. The Flex 2 offers additional features like PositionIQ tech, which adjusts audio based on the speaker's position, at a more modest price.
If you're looking for an outdoor speaker with robust durability and extended battery life, complete with features like party mode, EQ adjustability, and stereo mode, the 2nd-Gen SoundLink Flex is your best bet. Despite its clunkier design, the SoundLink Flex Gen 2 is well-equipped for its designated purpose.
- The tech industry continually looks towards the future, and companies like Bose are pushing the boundaries of technology with their latest Bluetooth speakers.
- I hope to see more advancements in battery life in future Bose speakers, so they can compete with offerings like the Sony Ult Field 1 that boasts a longer battery duration.
- You can choose between the Light Silver and Cool Grey colorways for the SoundLink Home, or opt for the Warm Wood option if you're in China.
- If you're interested in a portable speaker that offers a long-lasting battery, party mode, and dust and water resistance, you might want to consider the 300W 2nd-Gen SoundLink Flex, which retails at $149.
