Review & Demo: Bose Soundlink Wireless Mobile Speaker

[yuri250333]

actually great selection of music man!!

[kathen111]

if i set an alarm on my phone will it ring in the speaker?

[StimulatedBoredom]

@kathen111 It will. However, the speaker shuts itself off to save battery life if there is nothing playing for about 30 minutes. Therefore, if you are streaming something all night while you sleep (i.e. Pandora, Spotify), the speaker will still be on when the alarm goes off.

But, if you listen to a podcast that ends after an hour, it will eventually turn itself off and the alarm will not go through the speaker.

[jikonko28]

Can you charge it using your USB or just a wall charger?

[StimulatedBoredom]

@jikonko28 Just a wall charger (included). The micro-USB connection is only for firmware updates.

[Megzamani]

Thank you

[TheFavrefan220]

Will it work with a Mytouch from t mobile

[StimulatedBoredom]

@TheFavrefan220 It will work with any Bluetooth 2.0 device. The MyTouch is a 3.0 + EDR + A2DP stereo device, so it will work perfectly fine.

[TheFavrefan220]

Is it worth it

[matylda3820]

hi, can u actually use it with connected to charger? i mean can it be charging and playing in one time? thx

[StimulatedBoredom]

@matylda3820 Yes, it works while it's plugged in / charging.

[matylda3820]

@StimulatedBoredom ty

[senorbaconhawk11]

@matylda3820 You can charge and play at the same time. If you look on the Bose website it says you can.

[patrickstubblefield]

How does the soundlink compare to sonos 5 or similar home devices? Everyone says "mid sized" room which means nothing to me. Thx ^_^

[DeKarle1992]

I turned back to my Philips fidelio DS8550.. has much more bass and room

[temeriando22]

For me cant go wrong with Bose;)

[william0377]

Lisztomania !

[thebratbratboy]

Just bought the bose soundlink speaker 3 days ago & on a scale of 1to10 i'd rate it on the following observations:a) Sound Quality in a room filled with some articles 6/10 (b) In a less cluttered room with more space for the sound to move around 7/10 (c) General Sound quality 6.5/10 (d) Looks & aesthetics 8/10) (e) ease of use 9/10 (f) Conveyable 10/10 (g) Battery Life 9.5/10 (h) ease of connectivity 9.5/10 OVER ALL RATING BASED ON VALUE FOR MONEY 6.5/10 ..Poor bass and sometimes misses clarity.

[cody283]

Is there a way to your laptop up to this AND your HDTV (using HDMI) and hear audio from BOTH at same exact time??

I'd like to put my Bose in the kitchen of my studio apt so I don't have to crank my TV's volume too loud, but I still want to hear it on the TV at the same time, too!

[StimulatedBoredom]

@cody283 There isn't an HDMI port on the Soundlink, only a micro USB for installing firmware updates. To my knowledge, it will only connect to one device at a time. If your laptop has Bluetooth, you can connect it to your laptop.

[cody283]

@StimulatedBoredom I know, I bought the item. It works with my laptop, no problem. The problem is that I want to be able to hear out of this speaker AND my TV speakers (or when they arrive, my sound system speakers) at the same exact time. That way I can hear when I'm messing around in my kitchen without blaring, and then when I walk over to my couch I can still hear. Currently, it seems I have to choose one or the other.

[topicrass]

The Speaker is a little Muddy... but setting your EQ on my iTunes and Ipod to Treble Booster really makes this little speaker Shines!! also!!! the Speaker has to break in

[senorbaconhawk11]

@topicrass Thanks for the tip!

[MXPERRY220]

Can more than one Speaker be linked up to the same device i.e. IPOD?

[sporefreak105]

Steve reich sounds awesome on this thing

[sporefreak105]

For those who ask: I own this and my sister has a beatbox. Both are fantastic. This one is a little big but produces (in my opinion) better quality sound. The beatbox is smaller and more portable, but produces good, but not as high quality sound. That isn't to say that the beatbox has poor sound, because that's just not true. It's fantastic. It all comes down to preference :)

[mrappleman6191]

would you recommend this or beatbox?

[SnazzyFellow]

Name of the first song played???

[StimulatedBoredom]

@SnazzyFellow "A-Punk" by Vampire Weekend.

[mrboy9786]

also for the blackberry

[TheMikeRoy]

Got one today. Love it. Sound is really great and I love being able to move it from room to room and take to a friends house. The pairing for multiple devices is a little bit of a pain but not bad.

[StimulatedBoredom]

@TheMikeRoy Glad you like it. Are you referring to the process of simply pairing devices, or just when you are trying to change devices? I found that when I switch between my (for example) cell phone and iPad, it's easier to turn off Bluetooth on the phone, turn off the Soundlink and turn it back on and it immediately finds the iPad.

[TheMikeRoy]

@StimulatedBoredom Yeah I did what you said and its not too bad. I really love the thing though, it's amazing. A friend came over today and he thought the sound was coming from my TV surround sound system, which is bose also, and when he saw the little box he was like holy cow that thing is loud. . My only real complaint is that I wish it had a remote so you could turn it on across the room when you want, but Im lazy

[mblank911]

FSU! And great review!

[StimulatedBoredom]

@mblank911 Go Noles!

[nevioth]

Yay Silversun Pickups!

[mtberkeley]

Hi -- does soundlink comes with power adapter that can take any voltage of electricity. I live outside the US and thinking about buying one but in Singapore the power is 230 vs. US 120V....thanks...

[StimulatedBoredom]

@mtberkeley Unfortunately it does not come with any adapter and you'll probably have to buy a power converter.

[coolman11ify]

in the bedroom ahaaaaa!

[STRUCK37]

haha every song is in my itunes what are the chances haha

[StimulatedBoredom]

@STRUCK37 Just means that you have good taste in music :)

[ejsab72]

in my pocket? dude really?

[Tizianagzag]

"in the bedroom WAA"

[MrHSlover69]

I still don't know if I'm gonna buy these bose speakers, or the Bose souddock portable. I wanna to know if it's not too difficult to connect devices to these speakers, and if the bleutooth doesn't blow all the battery away from your phone ... I got an iPhone 4 and I would really like to have these ones because they're very portable, but on the other side, I like when I can recharge my iPhone while connected to my speakers, so therefore I'll need the sounddock ones. Anyway, thank's for answering

[StimulatedBoredom]

@MrHSlover69 It isn't difficult at all to connect to multiple devices. The Soundlink will remember up to 6 devices, so you can connect your cell phone, iPad, iTouch etc.

As to your other concern about docking / charging, you are correct that a docking station (Sounddock) helps to charge the device while you are playing, but you can always just plug in your cell phone while playing through the Soundlink. The Soundlink is for people that want more portability, whereas the Sounddock limits that.

[MrHSlover69]

@StimulatedBoredom Today I went to the store to try the Soundlink out, and I was really impressed by its soundquality! The bass is pretty awesome, I compared this one to the Sounddock one and I personally liked the sound of this one more, even thought it's much cheaper and much smaller. My decision is made, I ordered mine for next week. Just hoping there won't be problems with the bleutooth system but I don't think Bose will disapoint me!

[StimulatedBoredom]

@MrHSlover69 I think you'll be very happy, pairing devices via Bluetooth is a snap. :) Plus, I think you'll like the added convenience of being able to easily take these speakers with you wherever you go and not being tethered by a power cord all of the time.

[boogiesob]

...in the bedroom aaahaaaa :))) great review! thanks!

[StimulatedBoredom]

@boogiesob Thanks! 

[TheLillianYoung]

Just got mine today. Your review is very articulate and thorough. Thanks for sharing. Oh, and I also have those Bose speakers on your desk. Amazing. Not to mention my Bose home sound system. Yeah. A bit biased I am, but Bose rocks.

[NotSoAvgJoe7]

meh gusta!!!

[Nabster1336]

What are the song names .

[Nabster1336]

What songdid you use?

[tehchosenyoutubr]

Question: does this speaker fit in a pocket, and can the cover be optional? (I'm thinking the cover would add some bulkyness to it)

[StimulatedBoredom]

@tehchosenyoutubr Too big to fit into a pocket, unless maybe a wide coat pocket. The cover can be removed, however the cover acts as a stand and I do not think the speaker would sit upright without it (as the base of the speaker is not flat.

[tehchosenyoutubr]

@gavdaly06 The wowee lacks midrange though. All it is, is a lot of lows, and slightly hyped highs, but there is no mid detail to it.

[TheBigOD1]

Can you listen to the radio from this device?

[StimulatedBoredom]

@TheBigOD1 No, it doesn't pick up terrestrial (AM/FM) signals, however you can use any number of radio apps that will allow you to listen to the radio (i.e. iheartradio, TuneIn Radio, NPR etc).

Basically any radio station that can stream through your cell phone, laptop or tablet device (that doesn't require an antennae) will work, as it stream from an internet feed.

For instance, I listen to local & national radio stations through the iheartradio app on the Soundlink.

[gjjadffhgjadfhguiud]

yeeesss, phoenix! good taste

[xenonre]

hello ) please tell me what output in watt per chanel ?

[bucketlist69]

In the bedroom, Aah aaahh!!!!

[asiandragon76]

why not make the base like the portable one? i heard alot people complain the base not good as the portable i have the portable i better keep my

[dallase1]

You can't judge the quality of sound from a audio device from a recording of the device via a mic plus the quality of the speakers the listener is listening to this video limits the quality of the sound.

[StimulatedBoredom]

@dallase1 I recommend that people wear good headphones (if they don't have a good computer speaker system), in order to hear the sound better (picks up bass etc better). Listening through laptop speakers etc, does not do it justice.

As far as the mic I used, it is a studio condenser mic on a boom with a pop filter...therefore beyond going to people's home's and doing a live demo, the true sound quality is a lot better than some cheap tabletop mic.

[tamvo89]

@dallase1 just checked it out at Target =.= sounds amazing. lol..=) wanna wait til blackfriday to c if they drop the price.

[iljorgeruiz]

Dude I have the same Bose Companion 5 and the crystal earth on your desk! I am a huge fan of Bose too! What a coincidence!

[ASemih90]

what is better the companion or the mobile one i have a macbook pro 13" and like bass but i don´t know which is best...is the mobile thing good enough with the bass and as a home-speaker for a laptop?

[StimulatedBoredom]

@ASemih90 Depends on what Companion system you are referring to, but likely the Companion is going to sound better overall, as it is a more robust (larger) system and intended to stay put (not portable), as well as comes with a sub-woofer / Acoustimass module. I have the Companion 5 too.

Seeing how your laptop is portable and so is the Soundlink (and wireless), I think you would be very happy with it, the bass reflex is VERY impressive for something without a sub-woofer like the Companion.

[ASemih90]

@StimulatedBoredom thank you for answering so its good enough to use it even home? because it would be very cool i dont like these big systems got one from logitech(of course no comparison to bose companion) but i asked myself if this little thing can replace them :) it is even better looking

[StimulatedBoredom]

@ASemih90 Yes, I think it is good for the home, as it does a great job of filling a room with sound. You will get "bigger" sound if you went with a bigger system (of course), but the downside is the loss of portability and the higher cost. This unit goes where ever you need it, without having to worry about wires and plugs.

I just grab it and take it with me into the kitchen, living room, on the bedside table, in the bathroom while getting ready, outside while doing yard work etc.

[Noursbear]

Good and nice flowing demonstration. I already own a USB Bose soundlink at a home and I was just about to purchase a second one for a very small holiday appartment but now from this demo it seems this device would be more than adequate since we can't play loud there anyway and for half of the price of the USB one, I think this demo has showed me that this is more than adequate and I can travel with it if need be (holidays etc)

[teekanne15]

someone comapred it to the Harman Kardon Go + Play II ?!? wich is actually an exelent device, but the long time it take to charge and the high weight is sometimes ...annoying

[railwaystationmaster]

Excellent review giving an in depth analysis of the product and its capabilities many thanks great job !

[XPattiXxx]

Can i use it for iPod Touch, too?

[StimulatedBoredom]

@XPattiXxx Yes, you can use any Bluetooth enabled device. I'm not sure if the older Touch has BT (if this is not the case, you can always use the included AUX cable), but I know any Touch bought in the last few years is BT enabled, and therefore can be easily paired wirelessly with the Soundlink.

[urboio]

in the bedroom AAAH! LOL

[perlewitzaudio]

How does it compare to the SoundFreaq SoundPlatform bluetooth iPod dock?

[StimulatedBoredom]

@perlewitzaudio I'm sorry, I have not been able to do a comparison with that particular device, but judging from the look of it, the Soundlink is a better option if you want true portability, as the SoundFreaq appears to be quite bulkier and contains a dock (which I was looking to avoid).

[perlewitzaudio]

@StimulatedBoredom Ok, that's fine. I was just wondering because I have the Soundfreaq, and it's got a really deep, powerful, and beefy sound to it. It's actually able to shake my whole bedroom, but wasn't sure how powerful it was compared to the Bose system. Thanks you for your response though! :)

[k999rrl]

does this sound better or B&W zeppelin?

[StimulatedBoredom]

@k999rrl I'm sorry, I have not been able to do a comparison with that particular device. However, the Zeppelin is a cool looking device, but I have read that a lot of people have had issues with pairing it correctly...but reviews for it are solid. I do like the look of it, but one of the reasons I got the Soundlink was for how portable it was (can fit in a backpack, can be easily carried from room to room etc). The Zeppelin would be too bulky for my needs, but good if staying in one place.

[AirsoftSniper727]

does this sound better or the companion 5s?

[StimulatedBoredom]

@AirsoftSniper727 The Companion 5 sounds better, since it also comes with the Acoustimass sub-woofer and is a more substantial system.

However, they are totally different systems, since the Soundlink is awesome if you want portability and the Companion 5 is perfect as computer speakers that stay in one place (since they require you to plug them into your computer and are not meant to be portable, whereas the Soundlink is Bluetooth enabled and meant to be easy to carry around).

[kigen818]

What is the name of the first song played?

[StimulatedBoredom]

@kigen818 "A-Punk" by Vampire Weekend. Great tune :)

[bonds911]

it looks very nice,,, it was about time bose released something new,,, i think the last portable soundock was released back in 2008 lol

[thutness]

yeah i have this and its great, until i erased it off my phone and reset the memory on the device, and now it won't reconnect do you have any suggestions?

[StimulatedBoredom]

@thutness You should only have to reconnect the same way you did when you first unboxed it. Try hitting the BT button for 3 seconds to send the Soundlink into connection mode (make sure BT is turned on your phone first), then open up your wireless settings on your phone and put it in discover mode...the Soundlink should pop right up. If you need a code, the default is "0000"

Let me know if this fixes the issue!

[darkamotions66]

I'm thinking of uploading my own review as I have this unit and the bluetooth sounds great playing off my iphone but when playing from my macbook pro (also via bluetooth) theres frequently a slight distortion, especially on some vocals. This is only when connected via bluetooth as with the aux cable it sounds great :) I tried disabling wifi but the sound still seems distorted at points. Any idea why that could be?

[StimulatedBoredom]

@darkamotions66 Only thing I can think of is that you're getting a weird BT signal or that the volume on the MacBook might be turned up too high (drop to around 80%) and is causing distortion. If you are getting static, that is the BT. If you are getting distortion, could be the volume or sound settings on your laptop.

Try erasing the Soundlink's memory (hold BT button for 10 seconds) and re-pair your devices. Also, static can arise if devices are too close when paired, not common, but happens.