Nowadays, portable speaker systems are gaining in popularity. They are compact, comfortable, and can provide pretty good sound quality. One such product is. A review of this speaker will help to identify its strengths and weaknesses.
Smart speakers appeared about 4 years ago and have become very popular among users. When going out into nature or to the country, these are irreplaceable devices. They are practical and sound good. But only BOSE came up with an almost perfect device.
Review of Revolve and Revolve + specifications and features
The main feature of these portable speakers is their construction. It is thanks to her that they are able to produce surround and high-quality sound. But the characteristics of BOSE Soundlink Revolve and Revolve + also play an important role.
The main characteristics of these two speakers are not very different. And although there is no data on the power, it is reliably known that the Revolve + is much more powerful than the conventional speaker. And there is nothing surprising in this. She also has a much larger size.
Now it's worth talking about column design. An overview of all its features is unthinkable without evaluating the appearance of the product.
Design and appearance
The appearance of these portable speakers is a separate topic. BOSE designers managed to come up with a unique shape and make it attractive. In general, this shape of the speaker is due to the need to send a sound signal in all directions.
But the design itself is a pure fantasy of designers. BOSE Soundlink Revolve and Revolve + are designed in a minimalist style and have a cylindrical body. The material used is high quality plastic with a matte finish.
There are several color options: black and gray. There is also a waterproof IPx4 case in the arsenal of this column. The column is not afraid of splashing, but it is not recommended to drop it into water. The advantages of such protection are obvious: you can easily use acoustics near the pool or in the bathroom.
The compactness of BOSE speakers also plays a positive role. The speaker can be easily moved to any place in the house and will fit perfectly almost anywhere. The Revolve + model also comes with a carry handle as it weighs a lot.
On the top of both speakers there is a control panel made of plastic. All the necessary buttons and microphone grill are here. The lower part is equipped with a tripod mount (which is quite unusual). There is also a contact for charging via the docking station.
There is perforation around the body (where the speakers are located). This is done to spread sound 360 degrees. The pattern is the same for both BOSE acoustics models. Now let's talk about the sound of these speakers.
Sound quality
This is a very important parameter for almost all users. It should be noted that the sound of these speakers is fine. Affected by the design of the speakers and the type of speaker. Both use a passive emitter with two diaphragms, operating on the antiphase principle.
This approach has helped to achieve high quality omni-directional sound in BOSE Soundlink Revolver and Revolver +. With a wireless connection, you can achieve highly balanced frequencies when listening to rock, metal and other instrumental music.
Low frequencies are quite clearly traced, there is a full range of mid frequencies, there is no dip in the frequency response. But the best quality can only be achieved with a wired connection. And only with a high quality sound source.
For playback on these speakers, it is best to use studio recordings in FLAC format. Only then can a truly clear sound be heard. BOSE speakers are powerful enough even for outdoor use. Moreover, the Plus version has more power reserve.
Speaker connection
You can connect speakers to a smartphone in three ways at once: using an NFC chip, a Bluetooth transmitter or a wired connection (via a 3.5 mm jack). For the first two, it is possible to use the BOSE Connect app.
Bluetooth connection
This very application allows not only to connect a speaker to a smartphone, but also to control playback through it. It is possible to use different modes. In the event that there are 2 or more columns.
Party mode. If you enable this mode, then two BOSE Soundlink Revolve or Revolve + speakers will play music at maximum volume, being at a distance from each other in order to fill the entire room with sound.
Stereo mode. When the stereo mode is on, the application will distribute the channels between the two speakers and get full stereo. Instruments in the compositions will immediately sound spacious.
The very connection of Bluetooth speakers to a smartphone is intuitive and will not cause any problems even for novice users. No instruction needed. Everything happens by pressing just one button on the control panel of the column.
Connecting via NFC
In the case of the NFC module, it will be enough for the smartphone to be in the immediate vicinity of the speaker itself. By the way, this method of connection is much faster and safer than using a Bluetooth adapter.
To connect, just bring the device close to the speaker and turn on the NFC option on the smartphone. Then you just need to allow the connection by clicking on the appropriate button in the request window.
In general, the NFC connection process may differ depending on the type of smartphone or tablet that is used to play the files. For example, iPhone owners will not be able to connect a speaker using this method, since they have NFC only for payment.
Wire connection
Everything is extremely simple here. You need to connect the smartphone and the speaker to each other using a cable, at both ends of which there is a 3.5 mm jack (mini jack). This connection is analog type. It is capable of providing higher sound quality.
Working with voice assistants
By the way, the portable speaker BOSE Soundlink Revolve or Revolve + perfectly knows how to work with voice assistants on smartphones. There is an opportunity to chat with Google Assistant, Siri and Alice. Google and Siri are working fine. But with Alice, sometimes problems arise.
Also, the column can be used to organize a hands-free conference.
Food
A fairly capacious Li-Ion battery is installed inside the BOSE Soundlink Revolve and Revolve + portable speakers. According to the manufacturer, Revolve is capable of working 12 hours on a single charge.
For the Revolve + version, a full 16 hours of operation is available on a single charge. And this is absolutely true. The autonomy of this acoustics is excellent. A full charge of the battery is free for the whole day.
Equipment
The delivery set of these speakers is truly Spartan. It includes the BOSE Soundlink Revolve portable acoustics itself, a USB power adapter, a USB cable, an AC adapter, a user manual in different languages \u200b\u200band a warranty card.
The review would be incomplete without describing the instructions. Oddly enough, it is written in a simple and understandable language. With its help, even a person ignorant of technology can easily set up a connection and start using a portable instruction.
And the best thing is that the Russian language in the instructions is correct. There is no machine translation touch.
The advantages of portable acoustics
Each product has its own benefits. You just need to know how to highlight them correctly. The pros and cons outlined in the review help consumers make the right choice.
Benefits:
Excellent design;
High quality materials;
Unique design;
High quality sound;
Good battery life
360 degree sound propagation;
Dedicated carry handle (Revolve + version);
NFC connectivity;
There is an option to connect using a wire;
There is an official smartphone app;
There are several modes of operation;
Can be used to make calls;
There is protection against moisture;
There is a built-in microphone.
Conclusion
So what about the BOSE Soundlink Revolve and Revolve + portable speakers? These are excellent speakers for use outdoors, at a party, in the country and in other places where it is very difficult to deliver a full-fledged speaker system.
These speakers are rich in functionality, excellent sound quality, excellent build and can provide high-quality surround sound.
The Bose SoundLink Mini II speaker system is an updated version of the popular Bose portable Bluetooth speaker. The SoundLink Mini II features hands-free calling, lasts longer, sounds better, and remains Bose's smallest portable system.
Rich rich sound
High sound quality is the undisputed strength of the Bose SoundLink Mini II. This small speaker system, which fits in the palm of your hand, is the best proof of the phrase “looks are deceiving”: you simply don't expect such deep bass and rich sound from it.
Compared to its predecessor, the SoundLink Mini II sounds brighter and richer. The manufacturer has seriously worked on the sound: the high frequencies have been increased, the vocals have become more noticeable and more powerful, and the difference cannot be overlooked.
Add to this the amazing detail and volume, and it becomes clear why experts unanimously call the Bose SoundLink Mini II the best portable speaker on the market.
Convenient connection
The Bose SoundLink Mini II speaker system automatically connects via Bluetooth to Apple, Android devices, as well as PCs and laptops. And to make it even easier for you to use the speaker, the manufacturer has added voice prompts in Russian, so the connection has become a very simple task.
New feature: now SoundLink Mini II can be simultaneously connected to two devices at once: it is convenient if two owners of gadgets plan to use the speaker at once.
The range of the Bose SoundLink Mini II wireless connection is about 9 meters. The column remembers up to 8 devices to which it has ever been connected.
The SoundLink Mini II also provides an additional audio input in case you want to connect the speaker to an mp3 player or portable DVD or CD player.
Stylish design
The Bose SoundLink Mini II portable speaker is designed with a simple, minimalist design. The one-piece aluminum body with smooth lines is both strong and beautiful. On the top panel there are power and volume buttons, as well as a multifunctional key, with which you can, for example, switch tracks.
An LED battery indicator will show you if the sound is long enough or it's time to recharge your speaker. To check the charge, press and hold the power button, then the indicator will turn on. If it is green, more than 70% charge remains, and if it is red, plug the Bose SoundLink Mini II into the mains. The battery lasts for 10 hours.
The Bose Soundlink Mini II is available in two colors: black and silver.
Features of Bose Soundlink Mini II
- Rich Bose sound.
- The process of connecting to devices via Bluetooth is even easier with voice prompts.
- The hands-free function allows you to talk on your smartphone.
- You can connect two devices at the same time.
- The speaker pairing list stores up to 8 devices.
- Compact, lightweight and stylish body made from solid anodized aluminum.
- The lithium-ion battery lasts for 10 hours of music playback.
- The charging stand can also serve as a convenient stand for the speaker itself.
- Two colors to choose from.
After testing a dozen portable speakers, we learned to predict their advantages and disadvantages - even before we get a new device out of the box. Looking back, nothing could not prepare us to meet Bose SoundLink Mini.
Here is the most amazing portable speaker we've ever reviewed. Capabilities SoundLink Mini several times larger than its size. And it's not about the features, but about the stunning sound quality. This minimalist, small oval thing plays in such a way that the pupils of those around you dilate, the pulse quickens, and the required amount instantly spills out of the wallet. Checked.
They did not expect
Bose - one of the synonyms for quality sound. The brand name pops up in the mind every time someone is looking for good home acoustics. So far in the pages website their mobile speakers did not appear, and it was decided to start acquaintance with them with SoundLink Mini.
SoundLink Mini forever changed the way we think about mobile sound and the power of portable speakers. And not only ours. The entire runet is replete with similar reviews from device buyers. Shock, surprise, love from the first track - this is how you can describe the first minutes of owning a speaker. In this regard, there is a question addressed to Bose's competitors: how can you compete with this at all?
Package and design
The speaker package is almost predictable, with a small but very important surprise. In addition to the device itself, which lies on a plastic pedestal, the box contains a network cable, micro-USB cable and a docking station with an inductive charging port. We will talk about it a little later and how much it means to the owner. And now about the nail of the program, sharp and aluminum.
Every second portable speaker on the market is strictly rectangular. SoundLink Mini stands out against their background: instead of perfectly straight lines - curved, rounded dimensions. The case makes it parallel to the front speaker from an expensive home theater set. The parallel, by the way, is not far from the truth. Comparing this speaker with portable speakers, even large ones, is practically pointless. There will be a beating of a lying person, only not with his hands, but with the power of sound.
All controls on the column are located at the top, in the center. Opposite the logo are all the typical keys familiar to owners of portable speakers. Power off, mute, volume control, bluetooth controller and input source switch. All outer buttons are recessed into the body. This is done in order to adjust the volume blindly. Or maybe just to dilute the design.
In the dark gray strip between the logo and the keys, the status LEDs are hidden. There are four of them. By the way, the column, with its dimensions, is not an easy one - 670 grams are still felt in the hands, at the same time instinctively evoking respect and confidence in quality. There is such a weakness among gadget lovers: harder means cooler. Old habits are difficult to overcome, including because of such little things that with might and main confirm the correctness of the judgment.
The bottom is covered with a dense rubber stand, which successfully dampens the speaker's vibrations at maximum volume and completes the picture inherent in front speakers, but not portable. This plate also acts as a docking station mount.
The Bose SoundLink Mini comes with a plastic docking station with an inductive charging plug. The latter connects to the corresponding port in the speaker every time you place the speaker on a "pedestal". By plugging the power into the dock, the owner gets an incredibly convenient charger that continues the speaker's best visuals.
Instead of butting with cords every time, you can simply dock the speaker and then remove and carry it just as easily. Very comfortably. This approach allows you to hide the unsightly power cable away, behind furniture and other objects, leaving only the cradle in a visible place. It will turn out very nice:
Sound
Think about what the last portable speaker you listened to sounded like. And forget about it forever. Bose SoundLink Mini plays as if the size of its speakers is three to four times larger, and there are at least five of them. I think that the engineers who assembled the prototype of this model for the first time felt the same as Gagarin during the flight into space.
A small and austere speaker from Bose, it reproduces high frequencies, as expected, without affecting the brightness of the vocals and the effect of the presence of instruments. But then the real magic begins: we have not yet heard such detailed, varied midrange from mobile speakers. It's scary about bass: there is no separate subwoofer, but the bass sounds amazingly decent.
Bose is in no hurry to elaborate on how they managed to achieve this sound quality. Most likely miracles come from the use of a proprietary, proprietary dual passive radiator. Thanks to it, the SoundLink Mini reproduces low frequencies with unexpected detail, filling music with depth and variety, unusual for mobile speakers.
This is exactly the column to listen to before drawing any conclusions. Otherwise, there is simply nothing to argue and debate about. Hats off to Bose.
Additional accessories and price
Bose's minimalist case design can be customized with one of five different colored cases. The format is known to every iPhone owner: in fact, these are silicone bumpers with colored stripes on the edges and a transparent protective wall. By matching the bumper to the color of the room, you can fit the SoundLink Mini into any interior. And at the same time, and protect from falls from the shelf.
In addition to the bumpers, Bose sells a branded survival-style cover that the Tracer.ru audience will definitely like. Really high quality and dense, with a pocket for cables and the most soft inner side, this case is perfect for transporting the SoundLink Mini over long distances.
The column is removed and inserted with effort, obviously adjusted to a millimeter.
I have already written quite a few reviews about Bose products - a well-known manufacturer of high-quality speakers (and not only). And there was always the same conclusion - an excellent quality product. In this review, we will focus on a very compact, stand-alone speaker system with Bluetooth - Bose SoundLink Mini.
1. Packing and kit:
Sealed in plastic wrap, cardboard box is not very small
The main features are listed at the back,
And below is the scope of delivery.
We open the packaging and there are 2 boxes in front of us:
Let's start with a large, 2-tiered ... Under the cover, the column itself is in a special substrate
Then the cradle,
At the very bottom is the charger:
There are only 2 adapters in a small box for European and English sockets
That's the whole kit ...
Strange ... I was a little surprised, to be honest ... Add a cradle (I personally don't need it at all), but not add an audio cable and at least some cover ...? A very controversial decision. But what is - that is.
2. Design and construction features:
I'll start with the overall dimensions. Despite the impressive size of the box, the speaker itself is very tiny
Comparison with iPhone 5S
Well, very compact :)
If we are talking about the size, then I will indicate the weight, so it is just not very small for such dimensions - 670g. (although, depending on what to compare :)) But this is not surprising -
Bose SoundLink Mini has a one-piece aluminum body
Now let's take a closer look at the column ...
Bose lettering on perforated front panel
Behind exactly the same panel, but without the inscription
Through it you can see a passive resonator that improves sound quality
All the control buttons are located on top, by the way, they are made of rubber and slightly recessed (except for the volume control)
Above the power button is the indicator of the built-in battery charge,
The mute and AUX indicators are milky white,
Bluetooth indicator during search - blue, when establishing a connection - also milky white
Volume buttons do not have indicators.
On the right side surface there are 2 connectors: charging and audio input (AUX)
From the point of view of convenience (my personal opinion), it would be better if they were in the back, but maybe this could not be done due to the presence of a rear acoustic resonator.
The left side part is absolutely smooth
At the base of the case there is an imposing rubber "outsole" that provides stability on smooth surfaces. In addition, the center of gravity of the system is shifted downward, so it is quite difficult to accidentally move the speaker. It also contains: s / n, country of origin (Mexico) and charger parameters. Well, in one of the corners there are contact pads for the cradle and a MicroUSB connector (for updating the software, but how to do this is not indicated anywhere)
The cradle itself is made of black plastic, almost weightless, with shock-absorbing rubber strips on the sides.
In the upper right corner, there are contacts for charging the speaker and a fixing pin (to avoid displacement, although the speaker is already placed in a niche and has nowhere to go)
What else interested me and what I could not find an answer to: there are 2 contacts in the cradle, and there are 4 contact pads on the system. What are the 2 additional ones, one can only guess ...
The charger connector is located on the right side of the cradle
Why not make it from behind? It's more convenient than a sideways cable. Alas, there is ...
On the bottom again: rubber anti-slip strips, model information and requirements for spare parts.
Here is the power supply itself:
What prompted Bose not to use the MicroUSB connector for charging, which is already so familiar to all other manufacturers, and even manage to make 12V / 0.833A? Honestly - just a shock! Loss or damage to a s / y is almost tantamount to losing a speaker or you will have to run in search of ..... Know comments!
This is what the system looks like in the dock:
Now a little about the "stuffing". In order to provide high-quality sound at such a small size, the specialists from Bose had to work hard and "smash their brains". Responsible for the sound are 2 small speakers and a rather complex system of passive resonators, which are located both in front (between the speakers) and behind. Below is a screenshot of a promotional video about the device ... So the heavy aluminum case was made for a reason ...
What else can you say about performance? The battery capacity is unknown, but it provides up to 7 hours of battery life. Full charging time is about 3 hours.
When the speaker is turned on, the battery indicator glows for 10 seconds, then turns off to conserve power. To check the charge, press and hold the power button, the indicator will light up. The indicator glows green when the battery is 70 percent or more. Yellow indicates a charge between 20 and 70 percent. And red means less than 20 percent battery power.
There is no built-in microphone, so you won't be able to use the speaker in speakerphone mode.
Well, finally about the design: here it is - 5 points. The appearance is very harmonious, calm, and at the same time pleasing to the eye. Well, if you are a fan of Apple technology, then even more so :)
3. Connection:
As you probably already understood, connection is possible in two ways: via Bluetooth and a 3.5 jack audio cable. In both cases, everything is very simple. First of all, turn on the column with the power button, then select the type of connection. If it is Bluetooth, then, at the first connection, we slightly hold the corresponding button, the indicator blinks blue. On the sound source (iPhone 5S was used), turn on the search and select the Bose Mini SoundLink that appears. The column indicator changes color to milky white ... That's it ...
You can listen ...
Well, the cable connection is even easier, we connect and press the AUX button.
Please note that in any of the ways, the value of the volume levels on the speaker and on the iPhone is not synchronized (although I have seen this). If the volume on the connected device is at maximum, this does not mean that it is also maximum on the system. The loudest sound is achieved by increasing the volume to the limit on both devices (maybe this is a common truth, but just in case I mentioned it).
4. Sound quality:
I have already written about the design features of the acoustics, so now it is about the listening experience. First, let me give you the opinion of Bose itself on this matter:
“You never expected to hear this power from a speaker this small, but SoundLink® Mini is a whole new level. You don’t have to sacrifice power for portability. Proprietary technologies and innovative driver configurations combine to deliver full range sound, including low frequencies. in an ultra-compact package. Now you can take your music with you and listen to it wherever you go. "
I repeat, as in some other reviews ... I am not a music lover and am not strong in special terms to describe the sound quality, only my personal impressions or opinions of other people who have listened to this system. For evaluation, I selected compositions of different genres, but only high-quality ones: downloaded from the iTunes Store, converted from original CDs or already available in ALAC format. What exactly .... M. Gulko, Accept, Iron Maiden, Pilgrim, El Pasador, Yngwie Malmsteen, MC ST Yura, Savages, Vanessa Mae, Louis Armstrong, Alice - this is an assortment :) Yes, and I also watched a couple of films with DTS sound. I can definitely say that the sound quality exceeded all my expectations. It's hard to believe that such a "baby" can play so great. The bass is noticeably felt, the sound is clear with excellent detail, no wheezing or distortion at maximum volume (and it can actually sound a 2-room apartment, but not large). It is safe to say that Bose performed a "little miracle" :) And I write the whole review while enjoying the music from this column.
In confirmation of my words is the highest mark that the system received from the authoritative resource What Hi * Fi?
Here are some more opinions:
"The sound is really amazing, and you won't find a speaker of this size with the same sound quality. Bright bass, huge, truly huge volume headroom, the sound is clear, interesting, so to speak, groovy."
"I stumbled upon the Bose Soundlink Mini at the airport (and there was a large selection of such devices), turned it on and just fell in love. It sounds fantastic for such a little girl. etc.), and even more so for travel. "
"In the store I saw behind the glass, asked the seller to turn it on. I could not buy it."
5. Accessories:
Yes, this is something new in my reviews, but in this case, you can't do without it. Now it's clear why there is no cover in the kit :) On the official Bose website (not in Russian), I found 3 different types: plastic 3 colors SoundLink® Mini Bluetooth® speaker soft cover ($ 24.95), leather 2 colors SoundLink ® Mini Bluetooth® speaker leather cover ($ 34.95)
And SoundLink® Mini Bluetooth® speaker travel bag ($ 44.95)
You can also find a charger for a car on sale - Bose SoundLink Mini Car Charger
6. Conclusion:
Bose SoundLink Mini- very good stylish stand-alone compact speaker system with excellent sound quality! The only drawbacks are the lack of a case and a non-standard charger. But this is clearly not a reason to refuse a purchase. So - I recommend!
Build quality, sound quality, bluetooth speed (connection of unfamiliar devices) bluetooth sound quality
Minuses
Price, lack of aux wires in the kit (they could have put it for such a price)
Feedback
BOSE did not disappoint, the sound quality is excellent. The build quality is the same. I think the volume is good for its size. There is another speaker for comparison JBL Charge - it is louder with similar dimensions, but only takes high and medium frequencies, low practical. absent, unlike BOSE. I'm not prof. musician but I feel the difference between these speakers perfectly. There is a negative aspect of BOSE - the lack of uniform sound at 360 degrees. around you. When the speaker is positioned with its end face, and not with the speakers towards the person, the volume drops noticeably, the real feeling is that you are listening to music from somewhere from the side, as if you were behind sound waves. JBL, for example, does not have this, the location of the speaker relative to the person is not important, the sound is the same at 360 degrees. The second point is weight, a rather heavy column. I admit that this is what is needed, as already mentioned, to combat vibration and due to the use of better and more expensive components and materials. But since I often have to take the column with me, this is rather a minus for me. In summary: I will recommend this speaker for acquisition to those people who care about sound quality and who will mainly use it in one place without carrying a lot with them, having the opportunity to correctly position it relative to themselves in order to reveal its full potential. Feedback on the results of three months of operation and comparison with other existing column.
