Bose has made its greatest push but for a spot on our information to the finest Bluetooth audio system by launching the brand new SoundLink Max – a strong, fashionable new wi-fi speaker that appears very best for blasting out a soundtrack to big-group barbecues or picnics.
The SoundLink Max is Bose’s largest Bluetooth speaker to this point, weighing in at just below 5lbs / 2.27kg and measuring 10.2 inches / 26cm vast. That is nonetheless a good bit smaller than the likes of the Tribit Stormbox Blast, however Bose’s rival is extra fashionable, and equally constructed for the outside with its IP67 ranking bringing resistance to water, mud and shocks.
As you’d count on from the high-end audio model, it additionally guarantees to ship a weighty however well-rounded sound, due to its mixture of three transducers and two custom-designed passive radiators for bass. Apparently, the SoundLink Max’s specs additionally embody Snapdragon Sound and aptX Adaptive, which suggests it might probably help hi-res lossless audio and dynamically scale your music’s bit-rate.
One other bonus from the Max’s beefy design is that it guarantees a powerful battery lifetime of 20 hours, which ought to final lengthy sufficient for many out of doors shindigs. In case your smartphone’s low on cost, you too can plug it into the speaker’s USB-C port for a fast top-up.
Speaking of telephones, Bose’s new Bluetooth speaker additionally helps Google‘s Quick Pair commonplace to let these with Android telephones pair their gadgets shortly. If you happen to’re a bit extra old-school, there’s additionally an aux enter for hooking it as much as an MP3 or CD participant.
Like Bang & Olufsen’s, Bose’s audio system are usually in the direction of the pricer finish, and that is once more the case right here. You can purchase the SoundLink Max for £399 / $499 / AU$765 when pre-orders open on Could 14. We’re hoping to let if it is worthy of that price ticket quickly by means of a full evaluation.
A brand new premium contender?
There is no doubt the SoundLink Max is on the weightier finish of what we might think about a ‘transportable’ speaker, so its enchantment could nicely depend upon the place you sometimes take heed to al fresco tunes (and the way far you will want to hold it).
However on paper, it feels like a promising new contender in case you want extra energy than the typical Bluetooth speaker. TechRadar’s Audio Editor Becky Scarrott says: “It is very fascinating to see Snapdragon Sound and aptX Adaptive on the spec sheet, since Snapdragon Sound helps high-resolution lossless audio as much as 24-bit/96kHz audio – and aptX Adaptive (the codec that is in a position to routinely adapt as much as lossless high quality) means in case you’re a paid-up member of one of many finest music streaming companies, you must be capable of hear your playlists at their most detailed.”
The SoundLink Max’s price ticket could possibly be a prohibiting issue for a lot of, provided that the present primary choose in our information to the finest Bluetooth audio system is the Sonos Roam, which prices $179 / £179 / AU$299 and packs some highly effective sound for its measurement.
However there may definitely be a spot for it as a premium choice in our information, with Becky including: “It is a little bit expensive, however once more, Bose merchandise not often enter the funds area. I can not wait to listen to the way it sounds”.
