Hardware

Published on July 4th, 2024 | by Brent Thomas

Bose SoundLink Max Portable Speaker Review

Intro

The Bose SoundLink Max is a portable Bluetooth boombox style speaker that packs a massive punch for its size and has incredible sound quality. It has great portability and is well suited for extended loud outdoor use, even in wet and muddy conditions.

What’s in the box

• Bose SoundLink Max Portable Speaker
• USB-C Cable (C to C)
• Instruction booklet

Official Specs

Design

The speaker feels very sturdy with solid build quality and the silicone outer shell is a great touch that feels like it adds durability. The carry strap aids portability and being able to charge via USB-C out is a handy addition to the water resistance for taking the speaker outside. Great for showing my neighbours some new tunes! Water resistance and dust proof rating IP67 are very handy to not need to worry about using outdoors in the elements. Nice feature is that the speaker will let you know via voice feedback the battery percentage and if the unit is too wet to charge safely. It is surprisingly nice to have a carry handle as well.

Connectivity/ APP/features

The Bose App pairs easily with the speaker and has pretty standard EQ features such as Bass Booster/ Bass Reducer and Treble Booster/ Treble Reducer. With most other portable speakers I am inclined to crank the low bass and high treble. But with the Bose Soundlink Max the stock EQ settings are perfect. I would have loved the ability to turn on the speaker via Bluetooth like other speakers allow, but this is only a minor gripe that you need to physically turn on the speaker before use. I set up the shortcut button to take me straight to Spotify on my phone, a nice touch. The battery appears to last the 20 hours as advertised, as after 4 hours of continuous use the battery was still sitting at 80%. Of course, the battery life will reduce if you charge your phone, but even if you used the speaker for 10 hours continuously, there would still be 50% of the battery left over to charge your phone if needed without powerpoint access.

Sound Quality

The speaker goes incredibly loud and projects well in outdoor environments, including easily accommodating the loud noise of a group of people at a party.  To emphasise how crisp and clear the treble sounds at high volumes is hard to get across in a written review! I have to repeat how great the bass is too, it is as if the sound of the speaker that comes out is quadruple the size of the actual unit. Almost like there is a subwoofer in the room when in use. I tested a range of music genres from heavy metal, progressive rock, synthwave, EDM and even podcasts- all genres sounding incredible at stock EQ settings via Spotify.

Verdict

The Bose SoundLink Max Portable Speaker. It is a very expensive speaker but absolutely worth the price. This will replace all my other portable speakers at home and is a must use for outdoor entertainment and parties. Highly recommended!

Score 4.9/5

Pros

Incredible sound quality with deep bass and clear highs

Crisp even at high volumes

Sturdy build quality and tough enough for wet/ dusty outdoor use

Cons

Is expensive

Would love to be able to turn on remotely via Bluetooth

About the Author

Brent Thomas Brent loves the competitive aspect aspect of video games whether its first person shooters, esports games or improving runs in roguelikes and soulslikes. Outside of tech he can be found training for running events and watching Formula 1.

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