The new Bose SoundLink Plus Bluetooth speaker is now shipping in a summertime Citrus Yellow finish.
BOSE
If you’ve been thinking about buying a new Bluetooth speaker for taking out into the yard or using in an RV or summer house, there’s never been a better time to make that purchase. JBL recently launched its new Charge 6 and Flip 7 speakers and now Bose has revealed a new midrange Bluetooth speaker.
The new Bose SoundLink Plus is available in Black and Blue Dusk colors, plus an all-new “summertime” theme called Citrus Yellow, which is actually more of a fetching primrose yellow. This week I managed to get my hands on one of the new speakers so here’s a quick explainer with a bit more about what this new speaker has to offer.
Built For Life
Announced alongside the baby Bose SoundLink Micro, this new mid-sized SoundLink Plus sits neatly between Bose’s SoundLink Flex and SoundLink Max models. Although the SoundLink Plus is billed as “portable,” it’s a fairly chunky speaker with a real hefty feel about it. It has the usual level of Bose build quality and should be able to shrug off a little rough handling.
Equipped with the latest version of Bluetooth, the SoundLink Plus supports Multipoint connectivity so that two Bluetooth devices can be paired with the speaker at the same time and you can easily switch between them. The speaker also supports SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive codecs. Anyone with a suitably-specced Android phone that supports for Snapdragon Sound will be able to stream hi-res music to the speaker.
The Bose SoundLink Plus neatly between the Bose SoundLink Flex and SoundLink Max models.
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Big Bass Response
The overall size of the SoundLink Plus means it’s big enough to produce a larger bass response but small enough to take to the beach. However, it’s no lightweight so it might be better stuffed in a backpack, duffle bag or beach tote instead of being carried using the built in finger loop.
The Bose SoundLink Plus is fitted with a single subwoofer to produce bass frequencies, plus there’s a single tweeter for defining the upper end of the sound spectrum. To fill out the rest of the audio landscape there are four passive radiators which underpin the whole soundstage.
When it comes to withstanding a bit of punishment, the SoundLink Plus has an IP67 waterproof rating that should ensure it can stand up to the kind of conditions that a speaker might encounter when used outside.
Ranged across the top of the SoundLink Plus there is a strip of soft-touch controls for turning the speaker on and off, initiating Bluetooth pairing, syncing with other Bose speakers, as well as playing and pausing music, skipping tracks and adjusting volume levels. There’s also a shortcut button that can be programmed using the Bose smartphone app which includes an adjustable three-band equalizer.
Bose SoundLink Plus has soft-touch controls ranged across its top.
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Floating On Water
Thanks to its IP67 rating, the Bose SoundLink Plus can float on water should it somehow end up being thrown into the pool. And when it’s had enough of swimming, it can be hooked out using the utility nylon rope loop on the speaker’s side. The loop doesn’t come off so although it looks tough enough, there doesn’t seem to be a way to replace it but it could be useful for hanging the speaker from the brand of a tree or a tent pole.
The front-facing metal grille of the SoundLink Plus is finished with a rustproof powder-coating that matches the color of the speaker. The rest of the speaker is covered in a layer of silicone material that feels soft to the touch and should be sufficiently durable to resist knocks.
A full charge of the speaker’s built-in lithium battery can provide up to 20 hours of continuous playtime. The battery is large and its USB-C charging port is a bi-directional so if your smartphone is running out of juice, you can simply plug it into the SoundLink Plus and receive a welcome recharge.
Pricing and Availability:
The Bose SoundLink Plus Bluetooth portable speaker is available in Black and Blue Dusk colorways. There’s also a new summertime Citrus Yellow version available. Shipping starts from June 26 and the SoundLink Plus is priced at $269 / £249 / €269.
Tech Specs:
- Connectivity: Bose Simple Sync, Google Fast Pair, Spotify Connect.
- Codecs: SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive Snapdragon Sound.
- Bluetooth: Version 5.3.
- Multipoint connectivity: Yes.
- Profiles: A2DP, AVRCP, SPP, iAP, BLE.
- Weight: 1.49kg.
- Dimensions (WxHxD): 231 x 100 x 86mm.
