Bose - SoundLink Home

I've commented on the state of Bose's product offerings before, but for now, their wireless speaker range *continues* to be confusing.. even **WITH** new products. Bose just today announced the SoundLink Home. It appears to be a SoundLink Flex 2 that you do **NOT** intend to take outside your house. Let's look at a few points: * It is **not** weather **nor** water resistant, and Bose even cautions using it in your bathroom * It **cannot** be setup using the Bose app - therefore, setup depends solely on your device's Settings app * It is **more** expensive than the new SoundLink Flex 2, but has **less** features (no weather resistance, no PositionIQ, etc..) * It has **less** battery life (9 hours on the Home vs 12 hours on the Flex 2) * It **cannot** be linked to other SoundLink Flex/Max/Revolve products, only other SoundLink Home speakers of the same range - and if so, it only supports Stereo Mode (no Party Mode) * This product sadly has **no Wi-Fi** built in - major bummer for me personally, because I've been hoping for a Portable Smart Speaker replacement Let's look at some upsides: * the design is very sleek and modern - way nicer than the Flex, or I'd even argue, the Revolve line * Bluetooth 5.3 with MultiPoint * the USB-C Port can act as a Line-In (something the Flex 2 does not offer) * I'm hoping it sounds just as good, if not slightly better, than the Flex 2 AT LEAST (which is gonna be tough, since this speaker seems to be slightly smaller) So yeah, not really sure who this speaker is for...since clearly the better deal is the new Flex 2... but if anything, I'm glad Bose is trying SOMETHING new, even if this may miss the mark... Links for your reference: Bose site: [https://www.bose.com/p/speakers/soundlink-home-bluetooth-speaker/SLHM-SPEAKERWIRELESS.html?srsltid=AfmBOopfCqvD0qTHTI0LMmhf3ums9UF87xRoQKCSN\_cyteDI0sxU29LI](https://www.bose.com/p/speakers/soundlink-home-bluetooth-speaker/SLHM-SPEAKERWIRELESS.html?srsltid=AfmBOopfCqvD0qTHTI0LMmhf3ums9UF87xRoQKCSN_cyteDI0sxU29LI) The Verge: [https://www.theverge.com/2024/10/1/24259408/bose-bluetooth-wireless-speaker-soundlink-home](https://www.theverge.com/2024/10/1/24259408/bose-bluetooth-wireless-speaker-soundlink-home) Engadget: [https://www.engadget.com/audio/speakers/the-bose-soundlink-home-brings-premium-audio-to-a-small-and-portable-package-171006213.html](https://www.engadget.com/audio/speakers/the-bose-soundlink-home-brings-premium-audio-to-a-small-and-portable-package-171006213.html)

Major bummer for me too! I've been waiting for an update to the Portable Smart/Home Speaker. And yes - I was also under the impression that "Home" in the product name meant Wi-Fi included. Maybe because this still has "SoundLink" in the name, that's supposed to mean portable Bluetooth? This speaker lineup is confusing. It does seem like the Flex 2 is the better overall buy.

Yeah, this design is so nice! I'd personally also enjoy Wi-Fi functionality. Their Portable Smart/Home Speaker hasn't been updated in a while. Sign me up for those Customer Feedback sessions too lol. I'd love to give Bose some insight as a long-time consumer of theirs. I do commend them for at least *trying* some new things - but they have some work to do to streamline this Bluetooth speaker offering (it looks like they're ***still*** keeping around the Bose Revolve+ 2 - which ***STILL*** connects only via micro-USB).

yeah agreed! I bought both the Flex 2 and the SoundLink Home, and definitely kept the Flex 2. It sounds much better, which is so odd.

Same here! My 2 soundlinks are still going strong and I even still have my sounddock from when I was young.

Diggin my Bose Soundlink. Thin for portability. The bass isn't mind blowing but I was surprised for the size. Sounds great.

I do. for me. so I'm the guy who rarely listens to music around others. I don't like listening to others music especially out side, at a park or beach for example. so I don't listen to my music loud out of consideration. this little bose unit sounds great to just chill with on the back porch, not loud enough for the neighbors to hear but it's able to reproduce great sound at moderate levels. I like this flatter form over the round speakers, it will pack better. if it packs better the chance is higher it will go more places with me.

Yes. I can hear the bass at low volumes. All frequencies are well produced.

Using an old Bose sound link Bluetooth speaker when I need more sound that the mini provides.

Bose soundlink is a good option. A little out of your price range, but worth checking out IMO.

Yeah, I have the old soundlink and I have no issues with it. I can only imagine the new version is the same if not better.

I have a Bose soundlink and a soundlink mini and I think they’re both pushing 15 years. The mini has been drug all over golf courses and gotten wet countless times. The soundlink has been outdoors on patios or back porches everywhere I’ve lived that entire time

Flip 6 and Bose SoundLink are both excellent options, but for me personally, after owning both, I’ll go for the Bose. Deeper bass and clarity.

The woofer just blew on my 10 year old soundlink. I'm crushed.

I have both the JBL clip and Bose sound link. Both amazing, depending on need. If it’s staying around the house, sound link. On the move, beach, etc… JBL

Ah, when you said black and orange I immediately thought jbl. I have a jbl charge and the battery is amazing. My OG Bose soundlink? Still cranking after over 12 years.

The bose isnt bad at all. There plenty out there that actually sound bad. Also its the only thing i've no latency issues or connection issues. Every jbl i've had has had Bluetooth issues, latency, and broken on me. With bose i've never had a single peice of equipment fail on me since my first acoustimass back in the day

I agree as well. I dont experience any distortion at max volumes. Can vary on audio sample quality as well.

I have a black and orange. They can be paired to make a super speaker. Easy to travel with and waterproof. Havent bought another speaker after this one! So good

Bose Soundlink hands down

I rocked a BOSE Soundlink for a decade as my portable speaker of choice. I totally bought BOSE sales pitch in the brochure that said the speaker would not produce needlessly exaggerated bass & was built for space filling clarity. Wonderful!  Then I got a first generation MOVE & couldn’t believe what a measly sound experience I had been enduring. The BOSE soundlink series are NOT stereo speakers. They do not move enough air to produce any significant low-end tones. YES, you can crank it to full volume without distortion. But it still a mono, compressed Bluetooth signal. Have you ever sat a MOVE on a piece of wooden furniture outdoors? FORGETABOUTIT!!! The move sitting on my wooden stairs or patio ROCKS THE WHOLE FUCKING YARD.  And the way it can hold on to my crappy over-crowded 2.4GHz wifi signal at ASTOUNDING distances from my house is downright mystical. My kids can be in the neighbours yard, outside, 200 feet from my router & still bark song requests at Alexa and IT WORKS!!  Our Move has had the shit kicked out of it. It’s dented & scratched & has paint flaking off of it. It’s been left out overnight in the rain multiple times. Gets chlorinated pool water all over its control surfaces, weekly.  But it still sounds AMAZING. And the battery life is still delightfully robust despite years of faithful service. 

I have them. They’re cool to show off to your friends right up until the moment that you turn them on. They have zero depth, zero bass, and really aren’t that loud. My Bose SoundLink sounds 1000x better and is much louder. You’ll get better sound from just turning on your stereo and rolling down the windows. I was highly disappointed. I don’t have any connectivity issues like a lot of people. As soon as I drop the gate, it turns on and immediately starts playing music from my phone. I really wouldn’t spend the money unless you hear one in person and decide it’s worth it. Because it’s not.

I have to say that, for as much as I love the Bose speakers I own, battery drain is far more noticeable than with other brands I own. My Bang & Olufsen speakers have the absolute least battery drain while idle; JBL is great for power retention, too.