The Bose Soundlink Max appears like an unassuming speaker, however it delivers in all the proper areas.
Jack Wallen/ZDNET
ZDNET’s key takeaways
- The Bose Soundlink Max is on sale at Amazon and Bose for $299.
- This unassuming Bluetooth speaker delivers the high-quality sound that Bose is understood for, with the battery life to maintain the celebration going all evening.
- The common value could be a turn-off, given you may get completely succesful audio system for much less. However the sale value makes it much more accessible.
Many years in the past, once I was working for an audio set up firm, we used to have a saying: “No highs, no lows; it should be Bose.” Remember that we had been coping with audio system that price tens of 1000’s of {dollars}, so the concept of something consumer-grade was laughable.
Quick-forward to at present, and it nonetheless holds true that Bose makes audio system, headphones, and earbuds which can be able to producing wealthy, elegant sound with broad soundstages, punchy bass, and crisp highs. Such is the case with the Soundlink Max.
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When listening to the Soundlink Max, I am very a lot reminded of the unique Soundlink, a terrific speaker from a few decade in the past that I all the time felt was probably the greatest I would ever used. This new iteration is even higher, as it could push the amount to new heights with out the slightest little bit of distortion.
Though the sound won’t fulfill the ears of a discerning audiophile, its massive bass and highly effective quantity are actually a crowd-pleaser. Let’s get into it.
Bose Soundlink Max tech specs
- Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.4
- Weight: 4.9 lbs
- Dimensions: 4.73 x 10.42 x 4.13 inches
- Battery: As much as 20 hours
- Ports: USB-C, 3.5mm in
- Colours: Black, blue
- Buttons: Media controls alongside the highest
- Water and mud resistance: IP67
- Value: $299 on Amazon
The very first thing I seen on this speaker was the everyday Bose processing, which makes the sound appear a bit ethereal. This pairs very effectively with audio from fashionable genres that usually do not demand an excessive amount of from the {hardware} and is because of how Bose processes mid-range sounds for a stereo impact. Sadly, it could translate into imprecise mid-range sounds which can be barely off-color. I’ve skilled that with virtually each Bose speaker I’ve bought or examined.
It is not a nasty factor; it is only a Bose factor.
I additionally could not assist however discover this speaker’s lack of options. It permits two units to attach concurrently, has a three-band EQ (accessible from the minimal cell app — Android/iOS), and features a play/pause button. That is it.
This is the factor: a top quality transportable speaker would not want a deluge of options. I need the system to sound nice, have loads of battery life, and be easy to make use of. The Bose Soundlink Max simply checks all of these bins.
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Once I began testing this speaker, I modified up my regular testing technique. Being acquainted with the Bose sound, I made a decision to throw two completely different albums at it to see the way it fared. The primary was “Large Generator” by Sure. This album was recorded and mastered at a time that completely suited the Bose sound, and it sounded higher than I anticipated. The mids had been excellent for Jon Anderson’s refrain, the guitars had been completely crunchy, and the soundstage was surprisingly broad.
Subsequent, I opted for a style that is not fairly suited to the Bose sound: classical. I used to be greatly surprised by how George Frideric Handel’s “Wassermusik” sounded. It was wealthy, vigorous, and in no way misplaced. After all, no celebration is full with no Baroque masterpiece.
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So far as the bass is worried, the Soundlink Max does a terrific job to round 65Hz. Under that, the bass rolls off a bit, so you are not going to really feel the kick drum as you would possibly with a much bigger speaker. Given the scale of this system, nevertheless, it holds its personal on the low finish.
ZDNET’s shopping for recommendation
If you happen to’re a fan of the Bose sound and need a transportable speaker that may fill a room (after which some), the Soundlink Max is the apparent alternative. If you happen to’re iffy on the Bose sound, or choose to have extra EQ choices than three bands, then it’s best to take a look at the Anker Soundcore Motion X500, which sells for round $170.
In the end, followers of the Bose sound will take pleasure in this speaker, and provided that it is constructed like a tank, you will not have to fret about it at a crowded celebration.
