Bose SoundLink Micro Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker Review

The Bose Soundlink Micro is one of the first ultraportable pocketsized speakers that are really enjoying to listen to unlike the sheer mass of crappy comparable speakers promising "big bass" etc. The only comparable alternative is the B&O Beoplay P2, but it is even more expensive and is far not as rugged and suitable for portable use, thanks to its bling-bling look and finish.

The Soundlink Micro is rather meant to be taken outdoors, it doesn't matter if it falls onto stone or falls into water, as it is completely waterproof. Thanks to the built in strap/clip you can fix it to any objects, bicycle bars, belts or whatever, much better than the common carabiners or ropes or even leather loops like those from the Beoplay P2 which gets worn pretty quickly if you really start to bind the speaker around objects. Soundwise it is a tie between the Soundlink Micro and the P2, the P2 sounds maybe slightly more refined, but at half volume it does really strange stuff, bass scratches and becomes quite uncontrolled, while the Bose plays really clean, with just some slight tendency to drone in the 100hz region.

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The P2 is slightly louder and more dynamic at high levels, it has a larger driver together with a tweeter, while the Bose has to rely on a tiny full-range driver supported by 2 dual passive radiators. Still quite impessive what Bose squeezed out of this design. It sounds really mature and natural at levels up to 2/3, above that the sound thins out quite a bit and above 3/4 dynamic compression becomes quite noticeable. There is also some additional limiting hearable at higher levels which results in some volume fluctuation with particular content, this means the song will becomes softer, then again slowly louder during the less busy parts. The P2 does exactly the same btw, just that it is slightly more noticeable from the Bose, these are just the natural physical limits given this minuscule size of these speakers.

Some complain about the high price of the Soundlink Micro, but looking at what the competition has to offer, I think the price is more than justified, this is really the 1st take it anyhwere portable speaker, as it is so small yet still sounds like a big one. Just don't expect any party levels, it is not meant for that. I would even consider buying them in a pair, as 2 support stereo or party mode. Just imagine one hanging at your left side, the other one at the right and you will be covered by some great sound on the go. Also love the great Bluetooth connectivity, it always connects to 2 devices at once, and from within the Bose app you can select the devices to connect or delete etc, just like on all the other recent Bose speakers. Highly recommended if you want the smallest speaker with the biggest sound. There are of course cheaper larger alternatives that sound better, but they are not suitable to be taken around with you all the time.

A note about the battery: Bose claims it to offer 6 hours of battery life which appears maybe a bit short, but I tested it at maximum volume and it played for close to 5 hours, thus at normal levels you should easily be able to exceed 12 hours unlike other companies that promise 24 hours, while the speakers will die before even reaching 1 hour if you crank them to higher levels. Well done Bose a great addition to the already great line-up, with Soundlink Revolve and Revolve+, just please update the Soundlink Mini which is completely dated these days, there is way more potential in this class...

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