STEREO GUIDE erdict
The Bose Portable Smart Speaker is a mobile Bluetooth speaker with Wi-Fi, voice control via Siri or Alexa and Airplay 2.
Pros
- versatile control options
- Voice assistants work great
- substantial bass with good level
- Open-air and in large rooms nice and clear
Cons
- little sound transparency
- diffuse and blurred in small rooms
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Sound:tonal balance / transparency6
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Tone: Bass / Dynamics7
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Ease-of-use / Connectivity9.5
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Price/Performance8.5
A battery-powered mobile speaker that can handle not only Bluetooth but also WLAN and offers all-round sound radiation? The US manufacturer, which once shook up the format of the smallest portable Bluetooth speakers with its Soundlink Mini, is now relying on a completely new concept with the Bose Portable Smart Speaker. We put it to the test.
The fact that the medium-sized portable in coffee pot design is versatile is already noticeable from the carrying handle as well as the charging cradle on which it can simply be placed. The manufacturer also advertises the portable with Airplay 2 compatibility as well as built-in Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa built-in voice control. This would justify the name Smart Speaker and the not exactly low price.
This is how versatile the Bose Portable Smart Speaker is
Because voice control here actually means an integrated microphone array, which is supposed to provide the respective service with reliable voice commands even in noisy environments without a smartphone at hand. An LED ring at the top provides visual feedback.
The manufacturer promises direct integration with Spotify, Deezer and Amazon Music. In addition to the widely used AIrplay 2 and Bluetooth playback protocols, Bose also offers its own app, the Bose Music App. Thus, there are really no limits to the operation, because in case of need, the buttons on top of the rubberized surface still help, if the volume is to be controlled or the track is to be skipped.
As usual with Bose, a broadband chassis takes over the reproduction of all audible frequencies. This plays down to an air volume and three lateral passive diaphragms that work more effectively than a bass reflex tube or duct. The vertically mounted full range driver radiates the sound onto a cone. This deflector must actually distribute the sound horizontally in all directions. Hence the term 360-degree radiation.
The battery performance is amazing. Bose promises up to 12 hours of music, after which the Portable Smart Speaker can be recharged relatively quickly either via USB-C cable or with the optionally available charging cradle.
Thanks to the recently introduced SimpleSync technology, the smart speaker can even be paired with a whole range of compatible Bluetooth speakers from Bose. The wireless technology, which can be set up via the Bose Music app, works with the SoundLink Micro, for example.
This is how the setup and installation went
Due to an overdue update, the setup of the Bose took a bit longer, but the usual procedure for integrating one of the assistants worked without any problems.
This is how the Bose Portable Smart Speaker sounds
The low end of the little Bose was impressively substantial and also sounded relatively dynamic. The bass seemed coherent and very rich for the size. The vocal range was balanced to clear, but didn’t offer much resolution or transparency. On the other hand, it also performs well in open-air applications with a certain freshness.
However, the omnidirectional dispersion did not make it the first choice as a nearfield monitor on a desk or in small rooms. There it tended to a diffuse image and washed out dynamics. But as the distance increased, the sound became more and more authentic and blended perfectly with the room. In larger rooms and as background sound, the Bose also detached itself perfectly acoustically from the action and really filled the room. Given its volume, it handled respectable monitoring levels, so even a larger room is no problem for it if a less focused and resolved reproduction is desired.
Conclusion and alternatives to the Bose Portable Smart Speaker
Portable, battery-powered speakers with built-in Google Assistant and Alexa are still the exception on the market. If you appreciate the Bose operating concept and the wide, somewhat vague surround sound, you can’t go wrong with the Portable Smart Speaker. With a similar concept in terms of sound and dynamics, the recently reviewed Sonos Move achieves a higher level, but is larger and significantly heavier.
Technical specification Bose Portable Smart Speaker
- Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price: 420 Euro
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 11.9 x 19.15 x 10.4 cm
- Weight: 1,06 kg
- Features: Microphone for Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, controllable via voice, USB-C port or charging cradle contacts on the bottom,
- More at www.bose.com
