Bose® SoundLink® Bluetooth Mobile Speaker II - Leather..
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Most helpful customer reviews
665 of 697 people found the following review helpful.
Side by Side Review of Soundlink I vs Soundlink II...Amazing just got even more Amazing
By PositiveLogic
I'm tempted to do a video review of a side-by-side comparison between the SoundLink I and the Soundlink II, but, when all is said and done, it's the sound that matters and there's no way to convey that unless you yourself preview the sound difference live. That said, here's my assessment in comparing the two:
Yes, the sound is quite a bit fuller, yet better balanced with improvement on the mids and highs -- w/ crisper sound on the top end without beginning tinny, hissy or overly blaring. Another reviewer stated the treble was diminished on the SL II, but I'm hearing differently. From the big brassy sounds of 60s era Sinatra to the Edge's (from U2) guitar -- you actually get more of that nice shimmering mid-range and treble. The bass is solid and expansive without being exaggerated. There are times when it sounds and feels like I've got a dedicated floor standing subwoofer, and then I look over and I'm reminded that all that sound comes from something no bigger than a hardcover book. Some reviewers have said that they hear little or no difference between the Soundlinks I and II. So I'll add to points here:
--You will probably hear the difference in sound quality between Soundlink I and II if you play a wide variety different musical genres. I did.
--If you read the hundreds of Soundlink I reviews on Amazon, you will hear one consistent theme, the mid-range and highs on the Soundlink I sound muddy or muffled, especially compared with Big Jambox. While I hear the difference, the Soundlink I still provides me with a pleasant listening experience. If the Soundlink II did not exist, I'd be very happy with the Soundlink I. At the same time, the improvement in sound quality in the Sounndlink II will, I believe, address the concerns of those who did voice this concern.
I like the bi-fold cover, which now allows me to more easily carry the unit around the house while playing it. With the SL I, that the cover would be hanging awkwardly if you wanted to walk across the living room playing your music.
Battery indicator light now provides more information about battery status...going from green to yellow to red.
By the way, here's an important tip to anyone wanting to make an objective comparison between the Soundlink and any other portable speaker. Remember that the Soundlink has passive subwoofers that project backwards. Whether or not you are comparing it to something that does not have this feature, keep the Soundlink away from a wall, otherwise it would get that disproportionately boomy bass so that so many have complained about. I think this one little detail has inadvertently and , perhaps unfairly, negatively skewed a few Soundlink reviews. Personally, there are times when I like it close to wall because the music sounds more live that way...but it's a matter of taste.
All that being side, now that I've lived with the Soundlink for over a week, here are some further impressions:
LIKES
--Big, well balanced sound in small form factor. Like a book, it's easy to carry.
--Bluetooth pairs easily
--Versatility. You can also connect via wire
--New bifold cover allows for easier carrying while playing music
--Minimalist design. I like the fact that there is no software baggage, remove controls, computerized voices to deal with.
--Gives me a break from having to wear my iPod earbuds all the time.
DISLIKES
--Battery life not as long as others in this category
--No volume reading. While it is easy to adjust the volume, you cannot tell where the volume setting is relative to the highest and lowest settings.
--AC Adapter seems to be bigger than it needs to be.
--Distasteful, overly expensive covers.
Overall, the sound is better than some 2.1 systems with dedicated floor subwoofer I've heard. Also, while I admit I have not heard the Big Jambox, it's hard to imagine this would not turn some folks in that camp...particularly with the smaller, more portable SL form factor. When I was in my 20s, back in the component system heyday, I had Sherwood amplifier/receiver, turntable and cassette deck with...two giant speakers with 12 inch woofers. Today, I am carrying that same big sound around the house with from room to room, some times even playing the same music I used play. What a trip. Thanks Bose.
523 of 572 people found the following review helpful.
Incremental upgrade from original SoundLink offers marginal improvement in sound
By M. Erb
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2KY34JS4YCLIZ UPDATE: Jul 28, 2013 - I've just reviewed the BoseSoundlink Mini and it has surprisingly good sound, I actually prefer the sound of the Mini to the SoundLink. The SoundLink however can produce louder sound and has more bass. But you should definitely see if you can listen to the SoundLink Mini before making a decision because it is a pretty amazing sounding speaker for its size. Here is the ink to my review of the SoundLink mini... http://www.amazon.com/review/R2LM0EQRW8AWY6
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My rating is closer to 3.5 but Amazon only allows whole star values so that's why I've given it 3 stars.
The Bose SoundLink Bluetooth Mobile Speaker II is an incremental and evolutionary, not revolutionary, upgrade from the previous SoundLink speaker. You'll notice a ever so slightly tweaked sound profile that Bose claims extends the bass response while also improving the clarity and definition of the mid and high frequencies.
In my A/B comparison tests between the original SoundLink and SoundLink II, the aural differences were modest. Bottom line here is that if you have an original SoundLink you needn't worry about upgrading since the sound difference is minor. The only other significant difference between the two is the SoundLink II has a different cover which is of a bi-fold design. This results in a smaller footprint at the expense of stability.
If you are sold on the Bose SoundLink and are trying to decide between the two, I'd get the original SoundLink if the price is less than the SoundLink II. You certainly won't be giving up anything significant in the sound department and other than the bi-fold cover, the SoundLink II is practically the same speaker. There has been no improvement in battery life and both utilize the same 1700mAh battery. Cosmetically the two units appear identical with the only visible difference being the new bi-fold cover.
I have previously reviewed the SoundLink speaker and viewed that speaker as a decent sounding speaker with good build quality. The SoundLink II is virtually identical so my previous comments still stand. It is a substantial, solid feeling speaker that exudes quality. That quality comes at a fairly steep price however and with the plethora of bluetooth speakers entering the market, there are many competing speakers that also offer good sound at reasonable price points and with more features.
Operation of the SoundLink II is fairly straightforward. The speaker has the ability to remember pairing with up to 6 different devices. You may also connect a wired device via the AUX input on the back of the speaker.
Pairing is fairly simple although in my attempts to pair with my iPhone 4 and a MacBook Pro notebook computer, the pairing failed in my first two attempts with both devices. I have no explanation for that suffice to say that I eventually did get the unit to pair with both, but it wasn't foolproof in the first two attempts. The SoundLink will always first attempt to reconnect with the most recently paired device and if that device is not available will search for the any other device that it has been previously paired with.
When I received the Bose SoundLink II I knew that it did not include a remote or additional features. It is a bare-bones bluetooth speaker. But many other bluetooth spekars include useful additional features such as a remote, speakerphone capability and USB charging capability. If you plan on using this speaker in a vehicle, having speakerphone capability is a big plus. Some competing products such as the EcoXbt Grace Digital ECOXGEAR ECOXBT Rugged and Waterproof Wireless Bluetooth Speaker (Black) or the Jambox Jawbone BIG JAMBOX Wireless Bluetooth Speaker - Graphite Hex - Retail Packaging, include these useful extra features. I'm not saying either of those other speakers are comparable sounding, I'm just saying that there are lots of bluetooth speakers out there in the marketplace and many offer additional features at less cost.
Battery life is unchanged from the previous SoundLink and provides a maximum of 8 hours using the same 1700mAh battery, but you'll rarely see that kind of life especially if you listen at higher volumes. Typically you can expect more like 4-5 hours of sound at louder listening levels. Bose offers an optional car charger, Bose® SoundDock Portable® and SoundLink® car charger that will allow you to simultaneously charge the SoundLink as you listen to it but as far as I know there is no USB charging option which is a pretty big disappointment for me.
The speaker cover is user replaceable but the bi-fold design may or may not be an improvement depending on your use of the speaker. In the house where it will typically be on a shelf or table, the reduced footprint of the speaker may be a benefit. However for outside use, or in a car or boat, the reduced footprint results in significantly reduced stability and the speaker is prone to tipping over backwards if bumped or as a result of sudden movement or change in attitude.
As this speaker utilizes a passive, rear facing speaker, optimal sound is realized only when the rear firing speaker has a reflective surface such as a wall behind it. Thus if using the speaker outdoors, unless it is against a wall of some sort, bass reproduction will be reduced. And another consideration of this type of speaker is that it is not intended to be put in an enclosed space such as a cubby hold in a desk or something as that will adversely affect the sound.
Overall, the Bose SoundLink II is a well-built, solid speaker. If you like the "Bose sound" you will probably like this speaker. There is great competition in the bluetooth wireless speaker arena however and it is worthwhile checking out other speakers as you may find lesser priced speakers with more features that offer very good sound and certainly more accurate, unbiased sound. Bose still does not offer as many features as other comparably priced bluetooth speakers. For the premium price Bose is charging for this speaker, I expect more.
Ultimately, everyone has differing expectations and opinions of what constitues a "good sounding" speaker. You owe it to yourself to listen for yourself before deciding and ideally being able to do some A/B listening tests. It's not easy to describe the sound of a speaker and everyone has preferences in what sounds good to their ears.
PROS:
-Compact yet full-sounding
-Nice size for travel
-Solid feel and seemingly well-built
CONS
-No USB charging (a feature available in many other bluetooth speakers)
-No remote (a feature available in other bluetooth speakers)
-No Built-in Speakerphone (a feature available in other bluetooth speakers)
238 of 259 people found the following review helpful.
Fantastic rechargeable portable bluetooth audio system
By RST
In my experience with this rechargeable speaker, I think the majority of those interested in a portable self powered Bluetooth speaker will be thoroughly satisfied if not impressed with the SoundLink II.
Expectations
I came into this speaker expecting about the same performance of other speakers this size and shape, and I couldn't have been more wrong in my expectations. From the beginning I knew this unit was different-- it's heavy, relatively speaking, for a speaker it's size in the way that many Bose speakers are. Only once you fire it up will this customary heavy feel make sense. I'd kept my eye close on the Jawbone JAMBOX Wireless Bluetooth Speaker - Black Diamond - Retail Packaging but ended up with this one.
First Impressions
From opening the box, the unit is heavier than expected, but also thinner than expected from the picture (I'll be adding some of my own pictures). Charging took about 2.5 hours, and it is usable while charging. I did open the manual for about 5 seconds for Bluetooth pairing instructions and of course it was simple-- press & hold the Bluetooth button to pair. The device is svelte, stylish, minimalist and sounds great. My parents even thought it sounded better than their less-than-year-old Wave® Music System III - Graphite Gray. It's clear that the design was well thought out-- a durable but thin magnetic speaker cover folds under and back as a stand-- very similar to how the iPad Smart Cover works.
Sound
This speaker's ability to produce mids and lows is jaw-dropping for its tiny size-- in a way that makes you want to feel, touch and flip the thing around to see where the bass is coming from. You don't even feel the normal vibration of bass which makes it even more shocking. I actually had a grin on my face the first time I started testing out the unit because of the shock of how great the sound range is. The volume isn't tremendous but the sound could easily fill a room and host a room of party goers and provide all background music-- you might even want to turn it down a bit.
My thoughts on Bose
I'm not new to Bose-- I have had the Bose Companion 5 Multimedia Speaker System - Graphite/Silverfor my PC, I have had Bose in my vehicles before and now, and use their middle channel speaker on my home theater system. This one, however, outperforms its class more than any of the others. I don't buy Bose because of the name, but because of specific situations where I think the sound or utility is superior.
Operation
Operation is simple-- press power, volume up, volume down and mute, auxiliary if you don't use Bluetooth. There is no LCD or screen, just a few small very useful lights on the front-- bluetooth active, battery status, etc. Simple, understated useful lights.
Where to use
This would be perfect for a beach party if you are the careful type and wouldn't fill it with sand. A picnic, yard party, office desk, or if you travel in sales and want to provide an impressive audio presentation with a visual and don't want to carry wires & a speaker system are all things where this would have great application. Today I used it while visiting my grandma in the retirement community to provide some relaxing background music as she was having a rough day. The uses for this device are endless. this would be a perfect device for a traveling massage therapist! I never thought I'd be so enthusiastic about a Bluetooth speaker. It's that good.
Drawbacks
So far I've only discovered two drawbacks. First, the power adapter is a bit oblong as far as the wall brick is concerned. I found myself unplugging it accidentally a few times just in the first couple hours I was using it. This one small inconvenience is why I rated the speaker 4 stars instead of 5.
Second-- the unit is heavy! Maybe worth it if that weight is what makes the sound so great and battery life good but-- you'll be shocked when you pick up this brick.
Overall conclusions
I'm still exploring battery life but so far every other aspect of the speaker has been great. It is a premium product with a premium price. I don't think you'll be disappointed. If you have any particular questions I'm always happy to answer those in the comments below.
Update: I see a few "unhelpful" votes here, which is pretty uncommon. If you find my thoughts unhelpful, please post a note in the discussion to help me improve and meet your expectations.
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