Event Coverage

Bose Introduces SoundLink Wireless Mobile Speaker

By Hurrairah bin Sohail - 6 Dec 2011

Bose Introduces SoundLink Wireless Mobile Speaker

Linking Sound

At Atlas Sound & Vision's flagship showroom at TripleOne Somerset earlier today, Bose unveiled its new SoundLink wireless mobile speaker. Targeted at the youth on the move, the speaker aims to provide high quality audio and fidelity to sound which have become the hallmarks of Bose products over the years. The design principles behind the new product were said to be “Quality Sound”, “Spontaneous Mobility” and “Elegant Durability”.

Introducing the new Bose SoundLink wireless mobile speaker.

Armed with four 2-inch drivers and dual opposing passive radiators enclosed in waffle cone surrounds, the Bose SoundLink is definitely a heavy hitter in the wireless speaker category. It boasts almost twice the hardware that the top contenders such as the Jawbone Jambox and the Soundmatters Foxl v2 bring to the table.

Quality sound courtesy of four 2-inch drivers and dual opposing passive radiators in a waffle cone.

During our hands-on session at the showroom, the speaker passed its tests with flying colors. We tested the Bose SoundLink with a selection of jazz tracks, and they were dutifully rendered. Well defined bass and preservation of the rich tonal characteristics of vocals were the most impressive features. In addition, the attack of percussion instruments and guitars on rock tracks was also pleasingly sharp.

The wireless speaker has a built-in digital signal processor (DSP) which makes sure you get the most out of the music you play. Soundstage for the device was also impressive and the SoundLink should have no problems handling medium-sized rooms.

Though bigger than some of the wireless speakers in the market, the Bose SoundLink is still quite portable. The neat rectangular form factor means it can be easily slipped into a backpack.

A good deal larger and heavier than the competition, the Bose SoundLink weighs in at 1.3kg. Though it is still portable and will fit easily into a backpack or bag, carrying it in your hands for long periods of time might not be the best idea. Connectivity is offered via Bluetooth; it supports the A2DP profile for streaming.

The top left corner of the Bose SoundLink has the Power, Aux and Bluetooth buttons.

Pairing with the device is a simple process and can be achieved by holding down the Bluetooth button on the top left of the speaker for three seconds. Once a beep is heard, you can connect with your device of choice. Only one device can be connected at a time to the Bose SoundLink.

Rudimentary volume and mute controls are located on the top right.

The device has a battery life of six to eight hours courtesy of its onboard lithium-ion cells. Holding down the power button will flash the remaining battery life on the speaker's front display.

At the back of the speaker you will find a 3.5mm port, micro-USB port and power jack.

Housed at the back is a 3.5mm auxiliary port for wired playback. There is also a micro-USB port for firmware upgrades in the future. Of course, there's a jack for the power adapter.

The cover of the Bose SoundLink serves to put the device on standby when closed. Its inside is comprised of material designed to ensure stability.

An interesting design choice from Bose is the integrated cover. Closing this cover puts the SoundLink on standby. The inner surface of the cover is a non-stick material and the speaker is actually incapable of standing upright unless the protective layer is folded back. These certainly sound similar to the Smart Cover functions for the Apple iPad 2.

The speaker is incapable of remaining upright and stable without the cover folded out as shown in this picture.

Two screws at the bottom keep the cover in place. The cover can be changed and a variety of color choices are available.

The premium version of the Bose SoundLink is offered with a leather cover and a chrome finish while the regular version comes with a nylon casing. You can purchase a different colored nylon cover for the speaker for S$59, while a new leather case will cost you S$99.

Besides the leather casing, the premium luxury model of the Bose SoundLink (left) also has a chrome finish that's not present on the regular model (right).

The Bose SoundLink wireless mobile speaker has gone on sale today and is priced at S$549 for the regular model. The price for the premium luxury version is S$639. Look for the product at the Atlas showrooms located at TripleOne Somerset and Milennia Walk.

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