Bose - SoundLink Mini II

I have a similar SoundLink Mini (yours is a Micro), also a gift from an employer, from 2015. Sounds great and I haven't noticed any decrease in battery life over the years. Unfortunately mine is a Mini **II**. The first-gen Mini the battery came out with four screws for extremely easy replacement; Bose even has instructions on the website. The Mini II came out in 2015 and looks and functions exactly the same way, but they entirely changed the guts, so [replacing the battery now requires nearly completely disassembling the unit to desolder a ribbon cable from the motherboard, and then reflashing the device's firmware from a computer with Bose proprietary software,](https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Bose+SoundLink+Mini+II+Battery++Replacement/84991) with not great odds of success for a DIYer. So if I ever have to replace the battery I'm probably screwed. Hopefully it'll be able to run directly from USB power after the battery goes. I have no idea if all the newer Bose speakers have had the same anti-repair design changes, but something to pay attention to when shopping for one.

For traveling I always bring a single Minirig. Long battery, tough, and great bass for a small dude. If we pack good I throw a second one in my wife’s bag. However I did love the Soundlink mini 2 for the longest until it died

I still use Bose Soundlink Mini ii in the old car. Occasionally tried searching for some better ones but nothing comes up. Either bad for placement or sound quality not worth upgrading.

I have the Flex; I think it's okay. It's very awkward having it "stand" (most likely to fall back anyway). I also have the Revolve II, Soundlink II, and etc. I think the Revolve II is more nifty and useful (that "surround" amplification, and it can actually stay standing, haha), plus it has an aux in.

I’ve had the Bose Mini Sound Link for 11 years and at the time it was $99 at Costco but I think their price has increased since then. It sill works really well and holds a charge for hours. I’d check Costco for some other recommendations from here they tend to offer a slight discount.

We have one of those still going that is older than 2017. Not sure when we bought it, but have had it forever. Only travel speaker we take on our adventures.

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.

Oh bose is no competition to the charge 5, crossover on the soundlink series is horrible and it made the speaker sound muddy. Your gonna get better speakers cheaper than the bose, their just really greedy with their shit. It just looks more premium, thats all.

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.