- 6 VIDEOS
Image Unavailable
Color:
-
-
-
- To view this video download Flash Player
Bose SoundLink Color Bluetooth Speaker (Black)
Brand | Bose |
Item Dimensions LxWxH | 2.1 x 5 x 5.3 inches |
Connectivity Technology | wired, wireless |
Color | Black |
Compatible Devices | MP3 Player, Phones, Tablet, Smartphone |
About this item
- Clear, full-range sound you might not expect from a compact speaker
- Voice prompts make pairing your devices easier than ever
- Up to 8 hours of music from rechargeable lithium-ion battery
- Wireless connection to your smartphone, tablet or other Bluetooth-enabled device
Save on Quality Tripod by AmazonBasics |
AmazonBasics 60-Inch Lightweight Tripod with Bag, 2-Pack | AmazonBasics Lightweight Mini Tripod, 4-Pack | AmazonBasics 50-Inch Lightweight Tripod with Bag, 4-Pack |
Similar items that may ship from close to you
- Bose S1 Pro Portable Bluetooth Speaker Play-Through Cover, Arctic WhiteFREE Shipping by AmazonGet it as soon as Tuesday, Mar 19
- Bose soundlink Mini II Limited Edition Bluetooth Speaker (Renewed)FREE Shipping by AmazonGet it as soon as Tuesday, Mar 19Only 2 left in stock - order soon.Climate Pledge FriendlyProducts with trusted sustainability certification(s). Learn more
PRODUCT CERTIFICATION (1)
Pre-owned Certified: Electronics products are inspected, cleaned and (if applicable) repaired to excellent functional standards. Buying Pre-owned extends a product's life, reducing e-waste and raw material extraction.
- Bose SoundLink Micro Bluetooth Speaker: Small Portable Waterproof Speaker with Microphone, Black17% offLimited time dealFREE Shipping by AmazonGet it as soon as Tuesday, Mar 19
- Replacement Charger Cable for Bose SoundLink Color I, II, III, SoundLink Mini 2 II/Revolve Plus, Bose SoundLink Revolve, QuietComfort 35 II Bluetooth Speaker Charging Power Supply Cord (3.3FT), BlackAmazon's Choicein USB CablesFREE Shipping on orders over $35 shipped by AmazonGet it as soon as Tuesday, Mar 19
- Bose SoundLink Flex Bluetooth Speaker, Portable Speaker with Microphone, Wireless Waterproof Speaker for Travel, Outdoor and Pool Use, BlackAmazon's Choicein Portable Bluetooth SpeakersFREE Shipping by AmazonGet it as soon as Tuesday, Mar 19
- Bose SoundLink Revolve (Series II) Portable Bluetooth Speaker – Wireless Water-Resistant Speaker with 360° Sound, Black27% offLimited time dealFREE Shipping by AmazonGet it as soon as Tuesday, Mar 19
Important information
Legal Disclaimer
not responsible for damage in transit. Item is currently unopened and assumed to be in perfect working condition from the manufacturer.
To report an issue with this product or seller, click here.
Top Brand: Bose
Product guides and documents
From the manufacturer
About Us
At Bose, we have a passion for doing things that are better. We apply the highest level of scientific inquiry and invention to the discovery of new concepts and the development of new products. We create experiences for our customers that are enlightening, unique and delightful. We seek to develop an environment that challenges us to pursue excellence and to reach our fullest human potential.
Better sound is just the beginning. We're passionate engineers, developers, researchers, retailers, marketers … and dreamers. One goal unites us—to create products and experiences our customers simply can't get anywhere else. If you want to hear more, we invite you to explore.
What's in the box
Videos
Videos for this product
1:44
Click to play video
Honest Review of Bose Bluetooth Speaker
Jenny Berard
Videos for this product
0:42
Click to play video
Why I take this speaker with me
Chavez Savvy Insights
Videos for this product
3:50
Click to play video
Customer Review: Wonderful speaker, with flaws
rivalry
Looking for specific info?
Product information
Product Dimensions | 2.1 x 5 x 5.3 inches |
---|---|
Item Weight | 1.25 pounds |
ASIN | B00N32I2Q6 |
Item model number | 627840-1110 |
Batteries | 1 Lithium Polymer batteries required. (included) |
Customer Reviews |
4.5 out of 5 stars |
Best Sellers Rank | #35,862 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics) #1,040 in Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
Date First Available | July 30, 2013 |
Manufacturer | Bose Corporation |
Warranty & Support
Feedback
Product Description
If music is your motivation, wait until you hear the Bose Sound Link Color Bluetooth speaker. It plays your favorite tunes from your favorite Bluetooth device—out loud in clear, full audio—just about anywhere you want to go. It's small, durable and simple to use. And it comes in a spectrum of colors to match almost any style. The Sound Link Color speaker suits your active, mobile lifestyle. The body is constructed of durable materials, and its rounded, compact shape fits easily into your bag or backpack. The Sound Link Color speaker has a range of about 30 feet, so you can enjoy your music out loud, without wires. It pairs with your smartphone, tablet or other Bluetooth device. Voice prompts talk you through Bluetooth pairing, making it simple. And the speaker remembers the eight most recent devices you've used, so reconnecting is even easier. The speaker can connect to two Bluetooth devices at the same time, letting you switch between them quickly—when the first device stops playing, the second can start. The Sound Link Color speaker lets you play your music wherever you are, whatever you're doing. It's compact and light enough (1.25 pounds) to take along even when you're traveling light. The speaker is designed for ease of use. It features power, volume and source buttons. You control other functions from your Bluetooth device. Don't let the Sound Link Color speaker's small size fool you. It may be compact, but it delivers a satisfying listening experience. Proprietary technologies and a unique design produce clear, well-balanced, full-range sound. More features: Auxiliary input enables you to connect to other audio sources, like a tablet or MP3 player, Charges with most USB power sources or the included wall charger and Micro USB port allows for charging and software updates. What's in the box: Sound Link Color Bluetooth speaker, Wall charger and Cable.
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers like the value, ease of use, portability, and appearance of the speakers. For example they mention it's hard to beat for the money, it pairs very fast, and is a great little portable speaker. Customers also appreciate the sound quality, and quality. That said, opinions are mixed on battery life, and connectivity.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers are satisfied with the sound quality of the speakers. They mention that it produces a full, rich sound that is well-rounded, purified, and strong. It handles low to medium volumes fairly well, but it distorted towards the upper-end of its limit. Overall, customers are happy with the performance of the product.
"...worth the small amount of money I paid for it to have a relatively loud stereo speaker I can wear around with me as I am doing things outside on my..." Read more
"...OK, now for the really important aspect - sound quality. Here's my one word review - Fantastic. Now, for the details...." Read more
"...SoundLink Color Bluetooth Speaker in Blue packs a punch with its powerful sound in a stylish, compact design...." Read more
"Sound very good. Bought another." Read more
Customers like the quality of the speakers. They say that it has crisp, rich audio that exceeds expectations. They also say the construction feels fine, and the speaker housing is very strong. Some say that the radio function works, and that the buttons to control your device remotely are a bit of a mystery. Overall, customers are satisfied with the quality and functionality of the product.
"...The radio function works, though the controls are a bit of a mystery (I lost the directions) and it would only find a Bible-reading station...." Read more
"...- I wanted a good-sounding speaker that was portable enough, and rugged enough that I could take it with me when I travel, to the beach, on my deck,..." Read more
"...in place of a 40" flatscreen TV's built-in audio, and it did the job very nicely - we placed it right beneath the TV's front-center and..." Read more
"...enjoying a picnic, this speaker delivers crisp, rich audio that exceeds expectations...." Read more
Customers find the speakers easy to use. They mention that it's amazingly simple to pair, with detailed instructions included. It pairs to their iPhone instantly, and sounds great.
"...Soundlink Color has the best combination of sound, portability, and usability that I know of...." Read more
"...The bold blue color adds flair, making it a standout accessory. Easy pairing, reliable Bluetooth connectivity, and impressive portability make it an..." Read more
"...Very straightforward, and detailed instructions are of course, included...." Read more
"...used other wireless speakers this set up is pretty much the same…very easy. The sound is fabulous!..." Read more
Customers like the portability of the speakers. They say that it is compact and light enough that they can carry it in their backpack. The size is perfect for their needs, and it's easy to pair it with other devices. The SL Color may be good for very small rooms, or in places where only the volume is needed. The case for the speaker fits perfectly, and does not feel cheap. It is heavy and very sturdy, and is easy to cycle through devices until they find the one they want. The sound quality is fantastic.
"...The Color is lighter and more portable and has withstood several drops from a few feet off the ground...." Read more
"...I like that I don't need a docking station. - It's portable enough to easily take from room to room, But, I can easily hear it well enough in..." Read more
"...in Blue packs a punch with its powerful sound in a stylish, compact design. The bold blue color adds flair, making it a standout accessory...." Read more
"...It sounds less bass-y than the JBL Charge 2, for example, but it is far smaller, less expensive and has clearer midrange...." Read more
Customers like the value of the speakers. They say it's hard to beat for the money, and is a very good speaker for the price range. Some say it is certainly worth it and is in excellent condition for used.
"...Definitely worth the small amount of money I paid for it to have a relatively loud stereo speaker I can wear around with me as I am doing things..." Read more
"...KEY DECISION FACTORS - Value: Quality audio at a good price, in a portable package.FIRST TRY..." Read more
"...bass-y than the JBL Charge 2, for example, but it is far smaller, less expensive and has clearer midrange...." Read more
"...For now, my assessment is that this speaker is wonderful and well worth $129...." Read more
Customers like the appearance of the speakers. They mention that it is a good looking, very good sounding, really nice speaker, the cute robin's egg blue color, and the wall plug is extremely sleek. The charger has a unique design, and is colorful. The color is lighter and more portable, and has withstood several drops.
"...I was never sure what the purpose of the base was anyway. The Color is lighter and more portable and has withstood several drops from a few feet..." Read more
"...I agree and found its bass to be both loud and clearly defined - really nice! But, the bass was perhaps a touch toooo much for me...." Read more
"...Bluetooth Speaker in Blue packs a punch with its powerful sound in a stylish, compact design...." Read more
"...just like new except for the box, and this was 100% accurate; it looks brand new...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the battery life of the speakers. Some mention that it has a light, rugged design and has pretty great battery life, while others say that it ends up staying on and then running down the battery. The rechargeable battery is neither removable nor replaceable.
"...Addendum: new little WAAV rocker is the BEST for wearing around, lasts 4.5 hours, see pics of tiny WAAV rocker and AX320 around my neck.)" Read more
"...through my use of the SoundLink is that the rechargeable battery is neither removable, nor replaceable, and will eventually die...." Read more
"...1. The battery life is beyond impressive...." Read more
"...The battery life is really good too (I don't remember how long, but I can keep it running all evening without it dying)...." Read more
Customers have mixed opinions about the connectivity of the speakers. Some mention that the Bluetooth pairs well and even audibly says what it is connecting to. However, others say that the connectivity is terrible and difficult to get it to connect. Some say that it can be paired with two devices at any time, and it works both with bluetooth or an auxiliary cord.
"...Easy pairing, reliable Bluetooth connectivity, and impressive portability make it an ideal choice for any setting...." Read more
"...However, it doesn't remember to go to Bluetooth first, instead looking for the wireless network, so I have to always push the button to get it to..." Read more
"...The SoundLink can be paired with two devices at any time, and it will automatically connect with the most recent pairing...." Read more
"...Works very well... loud enough and good sound. Pairs well and I like the voice prompts. Would buy another if they were $40 cheaper...." Read more
Reviews with images
-
Top reviews
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
The speakers are: Bose SoundLink Color, Bose SoundLink Mini, Bose SoundTouch 30, Inateck MarsBox BP2002 Bluetooth Speaker and Alpatronix AX320 Rugged Splashproof Bluetooth Speaker.
The Color is overall the best of the four portables IMHO, so I will use it as the main comparator.
Color vs. the Mini:
I think the Color has overall better sound than the Mini for general purposes, especially at relatively loud volume, though in reading reviews, I know some others disagree. I don't play classical music on it, just classic rock and such (see below). The sound between the two is very different if you flip back and forth within one song, which the iPod Touch 6 allows me to do, as it will pair with both at once. The difference in sound is rather like the difference in shape of the speakers almost. The Mini is more like the larger Bose speakers. It has deep, rich sound in the lower ranges at the expense of including the upper ranges as fully, so sounds kind of flat sometimes compared with the Color if you go back and forth. The Color has, well, more colorful sound, in terms of having the full-spectrum of sound more equally. It doesn't have quite the depth in the lower ranges, though you can overcome some of that by setting your sound equalizer setting appropriately (discussed later). I guess it depends what kind of music you mostly listen to and what you like. Boston, John Denver and Fleetwood Mac sound better on the Mini; Rush, Journey and AC/DC better on the Color -- though both are more than acceptable on either, especially compared with other speakers. (Yes, I'm a product of the 70s and 80s, I listen to that kind of music.) It's more noticeable the further away you are. I often sit right next to the speaker, in which case it isn't as noticeable, at medium volumes. What is noticeable if you switch with it next to you is that the Color is much, much louder at the same volume setting. I was testing sound quality from across the room at about 15 feet at maximum volume, at which point the quality difference is sometimes striking.
The Color is more reliable than the Mini ever was. It works well with two of three of my iPods (a Touch 6, Touch 5 and a Nano 7; the Mini won't pair with the Nano). It tells you (literally speaks to you) when the battery is getting low and will run well when it is on the charger (though I try not to so as to not potentially ruin the battery). The Mini will sometimes die even when plugged in for inexplicable reasons, it's kind of like it overheats or something, because it will come back on after 5-15 minutes for awhile again. The Mini won't work now even when plugged in if the battery is totally dead. The Mini stopped working with it's base and will only charge when plugged in directly. Not a big deal, but strange. I was never sure what the purpose of the base was anyway. The Color is lighter and more portable and has withstood several drops from a few feet off the ground. I don't know for sure how long the battery lasts as I wasn't really paying close attention when working all night. I'd estimate about 6-8 hours depending on how loud you play the music, vs 2-4 for the Mini (though I may have wrecked the battery life on the Mini by leaving it plugged in much of the time -- not sure if it is one that needs to be regularly fully charged and discharged to maintain life, but suspect it is).
Color and Mini vs. Bose SoundTouch 30:
Got the SoundTouch 30 because I was tired of little speakers running out of battery when working all night and because I wanted something louder than the little speakers. Well, the SoundTouch doesn't run out of battery because it plugs in and it is definitely louder when used with the iPod Touches. With the Nano the loudest ones are the non-Bose speakers yet to be discussed, but the SoundTouch at least produces sound you can hear adequately if sitting within 3-4 feet of it with the Nano. It has the kind of sound you expect from a larger Bose speaker, blowing the Back in Black album out of the water at high volume with the iPod Touch. It can connect with all sorts of other things if one is so inclined to use it that way. I live in the middle of nowhere with DSL worse than dial-up, so don't anticipate using those functions. It does remember which iPod it connected with last and will find that easily, or whatever else is turned on if that one isn't available. However, it doesn't remember to go to Bluetooth first, instead looking for the wireless network, so I have to always push the button to get it to go to that, which is kind of annoying. When playing it side-by-side with the Mini and the Color, the Color performed admirably with things like Fleetwood Mac (less bass) when compared at somewhat similar volumes (max for the Color, about half-max for the SoundTouch), but no comparison with something like Back in Black. The Mini couldn't achieve adequate volume to compare and it's bass advantage over the Color disappeared when compared with this, so was the worst of the three. These comparisons were at about 10 feet (across the room in the other direction due to location of the SoundTouch). Close up, putting them next to each other about 3 feet behind me, there wasn't much difference between the two in terms of which I'd prefer, even with AC/DC, at lower volume, actually. The advantage of the SoundTouch in that circumstance is that it doesn't run on a battery. But AC/DC is meant to be cranked, and the SoundTouch is truly great for that. For a portable speaker the Color holds its own in that regard. The Mini wasn't up to the job.
Bose Color vs. Inateck MarsBox:
The MarsBox is a decent little speaker. It's hardly fair to compare anything to a Bose after all. It doesn't have as full sound as the Color or as much power when used with the iPod Touch at full volume. I went back and forth between the two playing "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" with the Touch 6, since it can connect to two devices at once, for example. The Bose is much louder overall and a bit fuller with the fiddle music. Interestingly, with the iPod Nano, the Color will pair with it just fine, but even with the Nano turned up to max volume, I could not hear it at all unless I put it up to my ear, and then barely. On the Marsbox I could hear it fine across the room 15 feet away with a noisy pellet stove blowing in the background. With the iPod Touch it was about twice as loud as with the Nano at max volume on the MarsBox, so the power of the device obviously makes a difference with these types of speakers. The MarsBox can also be used as a speaker phone whereas as far as I can tell, the Color cannot. It paired with my 12 year old flip phone and worked to make and answer calls. The person on the other end said it was muffled and difficult to hear; however my cell service is poor, so we aren't sure if it was the speaker or poor reception/old phone on my end. In any case, it did do as advertised, even with a 12 year old flip phone in an area with poor cell service. May work better with a modern smart phone in an area with better cell coverage, lol. The radio function works, though the controls are a bit of a mystery (I lost the directions) and it would only find a Bible-reading station. The radio reception here, like with cell phones and internet and everything else is rather sketchy (I live in the woods in the middle of nowhere). However, as it was seeking others would come on, but it would blow by them and I couldn't find a way to stop it to see if they had enough reception to work. I will probably leave this speaker at work to play "Boat Drinks" (Jimmy Buffet - "I shot 6 holes in my freezer. I think I got cabin fever...") for my patients complaining they aren't doing well right now, as they seem to forget every year that February in the Wisconsin Northwoods is a dreary time for all. It will work well for that purpose.
Alpatronix AX320 vs Inateck MarsBox (briefly, as you can't compare a little pocket speaker to a Bose):
Alpatronix AX320 is a little speaker meant for the shower and carrying around, so different from the above. It is about as loud as the MarsBox, has good sound for this type of speaker, better than the MarsBox with certain types of music, and plays well with the Nano. You can clip it to your belt/waistband, stick it in a shirt pocket (if you have a man's shirt with a decent pocket), or probably tie the wrist strap to something. Only downer is there is no place to attach a carabiner, but I found a way around that. I removed the wrist strap and stuck a piece of pipe cleaner through it to make a loop to attach a clip to, then put a piece of rope through that to tie it around my neck. Definitely worth the small amount of money I paid for it to have a relatively loud stereo speaker I can wear around with me as I am doing things outside on my property if I don't feel like wearing headphones that get tangled up in the things I'm carrying, like tree branches, for example, or running around up and down three flights of stairs carrying things reorganizing the house.
To make the best of the sound on any of these speakers takes a little fiddling and trial and error with the equalizer setting on the iPod or whatever device you are playing from. I found that for artists like Bob Seger, Billy Joel, Arlo Guthrie, etc. the "Lounge" setting is noticeably better than all the rest. For most others the "Treble Reducer" setting is better than the others, even "Bass Booster" or "Small Speakers" with much fuller sound. "Late Night" sometimes produces interesting effects. The specific ones like "Rock" or "Latin" or whatever generally don't sound very good, so wouldn't waste my time, but easy enough to check for yourself. In any case, do check for yourself, as it made a huge difference when I discovered that under the music settings on my iPod.
Well, that's it, and that's more than enough, if you are still reading. I tried to put in product links, but couldn't make it work. Sorry. If this review was at all helpful to you, please click yes. If it wasn't, please click no. It helps me to know, so that I can decide whether or not to spend my time writing reviews. Any comments or questions are welcome as well. Thanks and good luck finding what you need :)
I just ordered another even littler speaker. Will update if useful. (Addendum: new little WAAV rocker is the BEST for wearing around, lasts 4.5 hours, see pics of tiny WAAV rocker and AX320 around my neck.)
Reviewed in the United States on February 7, 2016
The speakers are: Bose SoundLink Color, Bose SoundLink Mini, Bose SoundTouch 30, Inateck MarsBox BP2002 Bluetooth Speaker and Alpatronix AX320 Rugged Splashproof Bluetooth Speaker.
The Color is overall the best of the four portables IMHO, so I will use it as the main comparator.
Color vs. the Mini:
I think the Color has overall better sound than the Mini for general purposes, especially at relatively loud volume, though in reading reviews, I know some others disagree. I don't play classical music on it, just classic rock and such (see below). The sound between the two is very different if you flip back and forth within one song, which the iPod Touch 6 allows me to do, as it will pair with both at once. The difference in sound is rather like the difference in shape of the speakers almost. The Mini is more like the larger Bose speakers. It has deep, rich sound in the lower ranges at the expense of including the upper ranges as fully, so sounds kind of flat sometimes compared with the Color if you go back and forth. The Color has, well, more colorful sound, in terms of having the full-spectrum of sound more equally. It doesn't have quite the depth in the lower ranges, though you can overcome some of that by setting your sound equalizer setting appropriately (discussed later). I guess it depends what kind of music you mostly listen to and what you like. Boston, John Denver and Fleetwood Mac sound better on the Mini; Rush, Journey and AC/DC better on the Color -- though both are more than acceptable on either, especially compared with other speakers. (Yes, I'm a product of the 70s and 80s, I listen to that kind of music.) It's more noticeable the further away you are. I often sit right next to the speaker, in which case it isn't as noticeable, at medium volumes. What is noticeable if you switch with it next to you is that the Color is much, much louder at the same volume setting. I was testing sound quality from across the room at about 15 feet at maximum volume, at which point the quality difference is sometimes striking.
The Color is more reliable than the Mini ever was. It works well with two of three of my iPods (a Touch 6, Touch 5 and a Nano 7; the Mini won't pair with the Nano). It tells you (literally speaks to you) when the battery is getting low and will run well when it is on the charger (though I try not to so as to not potentially ruin the battery). The Mini will sometimes die even when plugged in for inexplicable reasons, it's kind of like it overheats or something, because it will come back on after 5-15 minutes for awhile again. The Mini won't work now even when plugged in if the battery is totally dead. The Mini stopped working with it's base and will only charge when plugged in directly. Not a big deal, but strange. I was never sure what the purpose of the base was anyway. The Color is lighter and more portable and has withstood several drops from a few feet off the ground. I don't know for sure how long the battery lasts as I wasn't really paying close attention when working all night. I'd estimate about 6-8 hours depending on how loud you play the music, vs 2-4 for the Mini (though I may have wrecked the battery life on the Mini by leaving it plugged in much of the time -- not sure if it is one that needs to be regularly fully charged and discharged to maintain life, but suspect it is).
Color and Mini vs. Bose SoundTouch 30:
Got the SoundTouch 30 because I was tired of little speakers running out of battery when working all night and because I wanted something louder than the little speakers. Well, the SoundTouch doesn't run out of battery because it plugs in and it is definitely louder when used with the iPod Touches. With the Nano the loudest ones are the non-Bose speakers yet to be discussed, but the SoundTouch at least produces sound you can hear adequately if sitting within 3-4 feet of it with the Nano. It has the kind of sound you expect from a larger Bose speaker, blowing the Back in Black album out of the water at high volume with the iPod Touch. It can connect with all sorts of other things if one is so inclined to use it that way. I live in the middle of nowhere with DSL worse than dial-up, so don't anticipate using those functions. It does remember which iPod it connected with last and will find that easily, or whatever else is turned on if that one isn't available. However, it doesn't remember to go to Bluetooth first, instead looking for the wireless network, so I have to always push the button to get it to go to that, which is kind of annoying. When playing it side-by-side with the Mini and the Color, the Color performed admirably with things like Fleetwood Mac (less bass) when compared at somewhat similar volumes (max for the Color, about half-max for the SoundTouch), but no comparison with something like Back in Black. The Mini couldn't achieve adequate volume to compare and it's bass advantage over the Color disappeared when compared with this, so was the worst of the three. These comparisons were at about 10 feet (across the room in the other direction due to location of the SoundTouch). Close up, putting them next to each other about 3 feet behind me, there wasn't much difference between the two in terms of which I'd prefer, even with AC/DC, at lower volume, actually. The advantage of the SoundTouch in that circumstance is that it doesn't run on a battery. But AC/DC is meant to be cranked, and the SoundTouch is truly great for that. For a portable speaker the Color holds its own in that regard. The Mini wasn't up to the job.
Bose Color vs. Inateck MarsBox:
The MarsBox is a decent little speaker. It's hardly fair to compare anything to a Bose after all. It doesn't have as full sound as the Color or as much power when used with the iPod Touch at full volume. I went back and forth between the two playing "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" with the Touch 6, since it can connect to two devices at once, for example. The Bose is much louder overall and a bit fuller with the fiddle music. Interestingly, with the iPod Nano, the Color will pair with it just fine, but even with the Nano turned up to max volume, I could not hear it at all unless I put it up to my ear, and then barely. On the Marsbox I could hear it fine across the room 15 feet away with a noisy pellet stove blowing in the background. With the iPod Touch it was about twice as loud as with the Nano at max volume on the MarsBox, so the power of the device obviously makes a difference with these types of speakers. The MarsBox can also be used as a speaker phone whereas as far as I can tell, the Color cannot. It paired with my 12 year old flip phone and worked to make and answer calls. The person on the other end said it was muffled and difficult to hear; however my cell service is poor, so we aren't sure if it was the speaker or poor reception/old phone on my end. In any case, it did do as advertised, even with a 12 year old flip phone in an area with poor cell service. May work better with a modern smart phone in an area with better cell coverage, lol. The radio function works, though the controls are a bit of a mystery (I lost the directions) and it would only find a Bible-reading station. The radio reception here, like with cell phones and internet and everything else is rather sketchy (I live in the woods in the middle of nowhere). However, as it was seeking others would come on, but it would blow by them and I couldn't find a way to stop it to see if they had enough reception to work. I will probably leave this speaker at work to play "Boat Drinks" (Jimmy Buffet - "I shot 6 holes in my freezer. I think I got cabin fever...") for my patients complaining they aren't doing well right now, as they seem to forget every year that February in the Wisconsin Northwoods is a dreary time for all. It will work well for that purpose.
Alpatronix AX320 vs Inateck MarsBox (briefly, as you can't compare a little pocket speaker to a Bose):
Alpatronix AX320 is a little speaker meant for the shower and carrying around, so different from the above. It is about as loud as the MarsBox, has good sound for this type of speaker, better than the MarsBox with certain types of music, and plays well with the Nano. You can clip it to your belt/waistband, stick it in a shirt pocket (if you have a man's shirt with a decent pocket), or probably tie the wrist strap to something. Only downer is there is no place to attach a carabiner, but I found a way around that. I removed the wrist strap and stuck a piece of pipe cleaner through it to make a loop to attach a clip to, then put a piece of rope through that to tie it around my neck. Definitely worth the small amount of money I paid for it to have a relatively loud stereo speaker I can wear around with me as I am doing things outside on my property if I don't feel like wearing headphones that get tangled up in the things I'm carrying, like tree branches, for example, or running around up and down three flights of stairs carrying things reorganizing the house.
To make the best of the sound on any of these speakers takes a little fiddling and trial and error with the equalizer setting on the iPod or whatever device you are playing from. I found that for artists like Bob Seger, Billy Joel, Arlo Guthrie, etc. the "Lounge" setting is noticeably better than all the rest. For most others the "Treble Reducer" setting is better than the others, even "Bass Booster" or "Small Speakers" with much fuller sound. "Late Night" sometimes produces interesting effects. The specific ones like "Rock" or "Latin" or whatever generally don't sound very good, so wouldn't waste my time, but easy enough to check for yourself. In any case, do check for yourself, as it made a huge difference when I discovered that under the music settings on my iPod.
Well, that's it, and that's more than enough, if you are still reading. I tried to put in product links, but couldn't make it work. Sorry. If this review was at all helpful to you, please click yes. If it wasn't, please click no. It helps me to know, so that I can decide whether or not to spend my time writing reviews. Any comments or questions are welcome as well. Thanks and good luck finding what you need :)
I just ordered another even littler speaker. Will update if useful. (Addendum: new little WAAV rocker is the BEST for wearing around, lasts 4.5 hours, see pics of tiny WAAV rocker and AX320 around my neck.)
It's been over a month since my original review of the Bose SoundLink Color, and have used it a lot since getting it.
- Bass really IS quite nice.
- Found a new use for it too: We recently used it in place of a 40" flatscreen TV's built-in audio, and it did the job very nicely - we placed it right beneath the TV's front-center and experienced nice full sound with no lag.
Great!
- - - -
WHY I got one?
Mostly for non-earphone music where my phone's built-in speaker is not enough.
KEY DECISION FACTORS
- Value: Quality audio at a good price, in a portable package.
FIRST TRY
I first got an OontZ Angle to try out the Bluetooth speaker concept. At @ $30, the OontZ was among the least expensive with good ratings. I like the OontZ's triangle package, and the sound is OK for the price. But, price aside, I find the audio lacking in rich or balanced sound - not "satisfying". I now use it mostly it in my car to supplement the radio and the car's cassette tape deck. At the $30 price point, I guess you could say this might be expected.
NEXT TRY for better Audio
For listening around the house, I notched up to the higher price strata - quite a jump up - by $100 or more, to look at the:
1) Bose SoundLink Color (@ $130)
2) UE Boom (@ $180)
3) Bose SoundLink Mini Bluetooth Speaker (@ $200).
COMPARING was TOUGH
I found it difficult to find a good forum to compare these. Online and in-store comparisons were both ineffective.
ONLINE reviews:
I found that online auditory reviews captured only the grossest of sound differences vs. what I could, later on, hear in person. So, by all means, listen to the auditory reviews online - but you'll need to go further.
IN STORE comparisons:
These were not easy either.
- I could not judge audio quality in stores sufficiently to make a solid decision.
- Crappy demo music was installed for all the speakers. (How in the world do they pick those demo tracks ?).
- The store speaker placements, and nearly constant cacophony of ambient noises filling the air all but obliterated the quiet needed to better judge sound details.
- If you try in-store comparisions, I suggest that you pair your own phone/device with each speaker you try, so that you can at least hear YOUR OWN type of music instead of their demo tracks - this is really a must so that you can listen for what satisfies you in YOUR music.
SALES PUSH ?
It seemed that sales personnel were PUSHING the UE Boom on me, while giving the Bose SoundLink Color relatively short shrift. I HAD TO ASK THEM SEVERAL TIMES to let me hear the Bose SoundLink Color. But, it took 4 or 5 times of me asking to even get their attention away from the UE Boom. W h a t ' s with that?
WHAT DO YOU NEED ?
- The UE does have nice features - no dispute. But, I do not plan to going surfing on the ocean with this speaker strapped to a surfboard, so water proofing is really nice but not a must-have feature for me, and I do not plan to be on a Merry-Go-Round going around it 360-degrees while listing. Actually, I favor wall or, better yet, corner placements for speakers - and for these types of features I personally did not see an advantage for the UE Boom. In short, I did not need the kind of features that sales personnel (repeatedly) emphasized as UE boom strengths - and that they pointed out (rightly so) as missing from both Bose speakers.
PAIR UP
And so, when I finally managed to pair up my iPhone with the Bose SoundLink Color Bluetooth speaker, and played MY OWN music through it, I was surprised at the s w e e t tones I then heard and was pleased at familiar details nicely portrayed from these speakers. Ahhhh ... satisfying sounds :-) My own tunes evolked the feelings I was accustomed to feeling while listening. It's not a "perfect" speaker (not sure I've ever heard one), but I do enjoy hearing it play my music again and again: Great piano, guitar, vocals, bass and more. AND, back to my value consideration: It's the least expensive of these three.
The BASS PLACE
- Online reviewer consensus seems to be that the Bose SoundLink Mini Bluetooth Speaker (@ $200) has the best bass. I agree and found its bass to be both loud and clearly defined - really nice! But, the bass was perhaps a touch toooo much for me. And while the (@ $130) SoundLink Color's bass seems not as well defined to me as its more expensive sibling's, I do find that it DOES have QUITE strong bass, especially when placed near a wall, and is even stronger when in a corner. The UE Boom comes in behind on this. So, the value winner for bass is the: Bose SoundLink Color.
DECISION
So, lacking any better comparison opportunities, I decided to just take a plunge and to buy it to try one out at home: The Bose SoundLink Color.
- I'm happy with it. It is actually MUCH better when listening to it at home than online or in-store.
- I got it in Red by the way, which looks good and which the whole family likes.
- The key for this speaker's bass sound, is to play with placement near a wall (as the online manual suggests).
- For best placement, take a few seconds to move it around as you listen to the effect of each position in the area where you want to set it down. This way, you can home-in on the best spot to set it down for listening.
- I've found some corners on the kitchen counter to set it in, that work nicely to really accentuate bass. I can roam anywhere in the kitchen and hear good full sound.
A decision factor was that it's from Bose. Friends have related to me some good customer support experiences they've had with other Bose devices. I hope I don't need that, but it was a factor, just in case.
GOOD ALL AROUND TOO
- It comes with a charger and charger cable. I like that I don't need a docking station.
- It's portable enough to easily take from room to room, But, I can easily hear it well enough in adjacent rooms without having to carry it along each time I briefly roam around.
- It stands nice and firmly on its rubber feet.
- It's simply cool.
Also, by pairing it with my MacBook, I was able to use it to lend a very nice boost to a movie's soundtrack !
Mission accomplished !
Top reviews from other countries
-Conectarlas via Bluetooth es relativamente fácil
-La calidad de audio es sorprendente para un aparato tan pequeño. Fácilmente puede llenar un espacio de aprox. 40 metros cuadrados, con 20-25 personas, sin demasiado problema. No, tampoco es un antro portátil, pero para una bocina pequeña, está muy bien.
-Se puede conectar con un cable de 3.5 mm si hace falta
-La batería dura mucho, mucho tiempo, y se carga con un cable micro USB, de los cuales probablemente tenemos muchos en casa
If you're just looking for a speaker for your home that you can connect your iPod or phone too, this is really, really great option. I purchased it on a promotion so that it came with a little carrying case but I've never used it. The cord that it comes with to charge is just a micro USB cord so you can use any cord you want really or buy a replacement quickly if you forgot yours at home. My husband and I will sometimes take this on road trips with us because it's louder than our car's speakers and if we're listening to a really quiet podcast, it's way easier to hear this over the sound of the road than our car speakers.
Our only real issue that we've seen is if you take the bluetooth connected device that is streaming music too far away from it- it'll more than likely stay connected but for some reason it alters the music as it's playing to a slightly higher key... Not sure why but we've learned to just keep our phones within 20 or so feet and not between multiple walls.
The battery keeps a charge for a very long time but obviously the louder you listen, the less time you'll have.
Either way, I would definitely buy one of these again or as a present.
Excelente!