STEREO GUIDE verdict
The Bose SoundLink Plus proved very convincingly in the review how much sound can be packed into a compact Bluetooth speaker. Thanks to the 2-way system and more housing volume, the new Plus version beats the smaller SoundLink Flex in every frequency range. In return, the price and weight of the Plus are worth it.
Pros
- Rich, deep and clean bass plus fine, fresh treble and balanced vocals
- App with equalizer and useful functions
- Long battery life
- Carrying strap
Cons
- Buttons on the device poorly recognizable
- App sometimes loses the connection to the device
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Tonal Balance / Transparency8
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Bass / Dynamics8.2
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Usability / Connectivity8.5
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Price/Performance8.5
The Bose SoundLink Plus has a plus in terms of the data sheet alone. Compared to the SoundLink Flex reviewed some time ago, there has been a significant increase in the depth of the housing and in weight, which has more than doubled to 1.5 kilograms. Perhaps the biggest gain, however, remains hidden. Bose has equipped the compact mobile Bluetooth speaker with a 2-way system consisting of a bass-midrange driver and a dome tweeter. However, this is an advantage in terms of treble reproduction compared to the 4 cm full-range speaker of the smaller Bluetooth speaker that is still available. After all, cone drivers with such a large diameter concentrate the treble and, due to their greater weight, cannot follow the audio signal as quickly at high frequencies. When a speaker is equally responsible for bass, mids and treble, this is always a compromise.
Low-mid plus tweeter instead of full-range speaker
However, Bose is not relying solely on the new 2-way system for the SoundLink Plus, which is designed as a mono speaker due to the compact housing. As with the smaller Flex, two oval passive radiators are used for the bass. The only way to send music to the speaker is wirelessly via Bluetooth 5.3. There are no analog inputs on the Bose SoundLink Plus. The USB input is only used to charge the speaker or to power a smart device such as a power bank.
The rechargeable lithium-ion battery lasts up to 20 hours, depending on the volume and usage scenario. In practice, it lasts around 4 hours even at maximum volume – more than enough for many occasions. The battery is fully charged after around 5 hours, provided that a 5V/3A mains adapter is used.
Sync different
The Bose SoundLink Plus supports Bose SimpleSync technology. It can be used to conveniently connect soundbars, speaker systems and headphones via Bluetooth. This allows party chains of many compatible Bose speakers to be put together at a distance of around 9 meters or a multi-room system for synchronous music playback in different rooms without the need for a network router. And of course there is also a stereo linking of two identical SoundLink Plus speakers. You can even connect the speakers directly without an app using the short-cut gate on the respective devices.
Made from silicone, polycarbonate, steel and nylon, the SoundLink Plus offers all-round protection against dust and water in accordance with protection class IP67 for use outside the home. Bose emphasizes that the medium-sized Bluetooth speaker is also shock and rust resistant. The protective surface made of soft silicone and the speaker grille made of powder-coated steel should contribute to this. The available colors are Citrus Yellow (the color of our test device), Blue Dusk and Black.
The control buttons for standard functions such as play/pause or volume are seamlessly embedded in the silicone cover on the top of the speaker and there are three LEDs for feedback. However, the tiny, low-contrast labeling makes it difficult to use, especially for older or visually impaired people – or simply in dim light. Bose managed it perfectly with the normal SoundLink Flex in terms of the size and color of the button imprint. We find the wetness warning really smart: if the battery LED lights up yellow and white, water has entered the device and a drying procedure described in the app needs to be carried out.
Updates and extended functions via app
The Bose app is basically well designed and has a practical range of functions. The only drawback: When I switched to other apps on the iPhone, it sometimes took a while before the connection to the speaker was activated again in the Bose app. The 3-band equalizer, which is easy to use even for non-experts, proves to be useful, allowing bass, mids and treble to be adjusted as required or to taste. There are also four self-explanatory sound presets for certain preferences: “bass booster”, “bass reducer”, “treble booster” and “treble reducer”.
Sound test: This is how the SoundLink Plus sounds
As someone who was able to attend the presentation of the first SoundLink speaker from Bose many years ago, I still remember the astonished faces of us journalists (influencers hadn’t been invented back then). So much sound from such a tiny Bluetooth speaker, that was something. By now, we’re not only used to a lot from Bose, but also from JBL and many others. However, the Bose SoundLink Plus surprised me a little after a short break-in period for the brand new speaker chassis. The real aha effect didn’t even come at the beginning, because I hadn’t had such a compact speaker on my desk for a long time. When I switched to the larger new Teufel MYND for comparison purposes – a review of the great Bluetooth speaker will follow shortly – I was amazed at how well the much more compact Bose performed, especially in terms of bass. Chapeau!
At Bose, smaller does not mean cheaper, but despite the 30 euro surcharge, you have to bear in mind that there are numerous situations in which mobility counts as well as sound. And this is where the Bose sets a benchmark. It combines a comparatively powerful, deep and yet very clean, differentiated bass with finely resolved highs. Nevertheless, unlike the Teufel, it fits comfortably in any hand luggage such as a bathing bag. This is also its trump card over the recently reviewed Panasonic SC-BMAX5. Although the Japanese manufacturer offers an impressive party speaker with LED lighting for the same price, it weighs almost 7 kilos and won’t fit in a suitcase or normal backpack.
Very rich, lively sound for its size
Although the Bose SoundLink Plus sounds best at low to medium volumes, it normally only cuts the bass at around 80 percent of the maximum level. And that is already quite loud. Then the sound becomes thin and sibilant with an exaggerated high-frequency component. The sound is in its element in small to medium-sized rooms or as background music at a barbecue party, with surprisingly powerful bass, natural voices and fresh but not sharp highs for this class.
The strengths of the SoundLink Plus come across wonderfully with tracks characterized by natural instruments such as “Liberty” by Anette Askvik as well as dance tracks such as “Imago” by boys be kko. It is noticeable how well the sound detaches itself from the cabinet and makes the speaker seem bigger than it is. The impulsiveness, transparency and resolution are also very pleasing. Even in the endurance test with the extremely bass-heavy “Inferno” by Heeedegard from our Qobuz playlist “STEREO GUIDE Extreme Bass Test”, the Bose performs remarkably well up to around 80 percent of the maximum level.
Bose SoundLink Plus: Conclusion and alternatives
Bose has not simply given the SoundLink Flex a brother with a thicker housing. The Americans also get significantly more performance out of it. At the moment, we can only think of one comparably compact and similarly priced speaker that delivers a similarly rich and clear performance: the Teufel Motiv Go or the slightly more expensive Teufel Motiv Go Voice according to the list price. But even these are not quite as practical to take with you as the perfectly sized SoundLink Plus with its carrying strap. In addition, the former is only protected against water jets in accordance with IPX5 and the latter is not protected against water or dust at all. The Bose reassures users in outdoor use with protection class IP67. This certifies that it is completely sealed against dust or sand and waterproof when immersed for up to 30 minutes at a depth of 1 meter.
Technical specifications: Bose SoundLink Plus
- Manufacturer’s suggested retail price: 280 Euro
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 23.1 x 10 x 8.6 cm
- Weight: 1,5 kg
- Special features: waterproof according to IP67, stereo pairing, party mode, app control with 3-band equalizer, carrying strap
- More at www.bose.com
