Bose SoundLink Color II review: A great speaker gets even better
Modestly redesigned, the next-generation SoundLink Color is an excellent compact Bluetooth that’s water-resistant, has speakerphone capabilities, and improved sound.
Executive Editor David Carnoy has been a leading member of CNET’s Reviews team since 2000. He covers the gamut of gadgets and is a notable reviewer of mobile accessories and portable audio products, including headphones and speakers. He’s also an e-reader and e-publishing expert as well as the author of the novels Knife Music, The Big Exit and Lucidity. All the titles are available as Kindle, iBooks, Nook e-books and audiobooks.
I was a fan of Bose’s original SoundLink Color Bluetooth speaker and praised it for being relatively affordable.- by Bose standards anyway.- and sounding good for its compact size. Its mostly improved sequel, the SoundLink Color II, also comes in a few different color options and is similar in shape, though it’s slightly shorter and squatter, and weighs a tad more (1.28 pounds. or 581g vs. 1.20 pounds or 544g) while costing the same price: 130, £120 in the UK, and AU179 in Australia.
Bose SoundLink Color II
The Good
Like its predecessor, the Bose SoundLink Color is a compact portable Bluetooth speaker that delivers impressive sound for its size (the sound is improved) and 8 hours of battery life. It’s now water-resistant and adds speakerphone capabilities.
The Bottom Line
Modestly redesigned, the next-generation SoundLink Color is an excellent compact Bluetooth speaker that’s water-resistant and has speakerphone capabilities, as well as improved sound.
While the original’s finish was mostly smooth, hard plastic with some rubberized trim on top of the speaker and sides, this new model is entirely covered in soft-t0-the-touch rubber, which has a little give to it and seems better designed to withstand drops. The new speaker is officially water-resistant, too: Its IPX-4 certification makes it splashproof, though not waterproof. Or to put it another way, it should be able to spend some time out in the rain and survive.
Other bonus features include a microphone for speakerphone capabilities, as well as NFC tap-to-pair technology for devices that support it. The SoundLink Color II can remember up to eight devices paired to it, while its eight hours of battery life.- at medium volume levels.- is the same as the original’s. (That’s decent enough but not exceptionally good).
I personally don’t think the design is an aesthetic upgrade, but the speaker does look a tad more understated and mature. I like the soft-to-the-touch finish, but the one downside is that it’s a magnet for dust, lint and carpet fibers, so you may find yourself having to wipe it down from time to time (as I said, it is water-resistant, so taking a wet cloth to it isn’t a problem).
Note, too, the USB-powered speaker does not include an AC adapter. That may be an annoyance to some, but I was fine with it.- any standard phone or gadget charger you have will do the trick.
I had no trouble pairing and re-pairing the speaker with an iPhone 6S and Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge.- there are voice prompts to guide you through the process. There’s also a companion app for iOS and Android.- Bose Connect.- that doesn’t do all that much but does allow you to rename the speaker to your liking, disable those aforementioned voice prompts, and check in on your remaining battery life.
The SoundLink Color sounds a little better than the original.- which makes it arguably one of the best-sounding Bluetooth speakers for its size. I ran a bunch of different music through it and came away impressed with the sound it was able to produce, though it does have its limitations. (It can envelop a small room with sound but don’t expect it to fill a larger space).
It does best with jazz, classical, acoustical live music, and your soft rock favorites. It had good tonal balance with U2’s “Running to Stand Still” and Eric Dolphy’s jazz track “Sketch of Melba.”
There isn’t a ton of bass, but with well-recorded techno and hip-hop tracks it’s got enough kick to surprise you sometimes. For example, Snoop Dogg ‘s “Drop It Like It’s Hot” and Swedish House Mafia’s “Greyhound” came across better than I expected they would. However, tracks where a lot of instruments are playing at once are more challenging for this little guy, and you’ll notice at times that the speaker ratchets back certain frequencies as well as the volume to keep from distorting.
You can get speakers that have better battery life, such as the JBL Charge 3. or ones with more robust water-resistance, like the UE Roll. But given for the choice for sound, I’d opt for the Bose. It’s a little expensive at 130 (it’d ideally be priced closer to 100), but it’s a very likable little speaker with only a few minor drawbacks.
Bose SoundLink Color Bluetooth Speaker II. Coral Red
Want to chill at the pool, or have a bonfire at the lake without worrying about your speaker? With IPX4-rated water resistance, and durability tested against water sprayed in all directions for 5 minutes straight (that’s like getting caught in a heavy rain storm), you’ll have peace of mind and a killer soundtrack.
It’s small, it’s soft, and it’s durable. Innovative Bose craftsmanship packs big sound into a rugged, rounded and compact speaker that’s tough enough to take wherever your day takes you.
Voice prompts talk you through pairing, so when you’re connected with two Bluetooth devices at the same time you can switch quickly. The Bose Connect app simplifies pairing with drag-and-drop convenience, unlocks features and accesses future updates.
An impromptu celebration with friends. That DIY project you reserve for weekends. A monster to-do list. There are times when nothing but your extra-special, extra-long playlist will help you rise to the occasion. SoundLink Color Bluetooth speaker II has a lithium-ion battery that plays up to 8 hours of music—so you’ll always have the right music for any occasion.
A built-in speakerphone means you can take calls out loud without having to pick up your smartphone. You can take a call at the touch of a button, and even access Siri or Google Now.
FAQ
While they’re all designed for portability and Bluetooth connectivity, SoundLink speakers differ in size, battery life and composition.
SoundLink Bluetooth speaker III is the most powerful portable speaker from Bose, is made from premium materials and has battery life of up to 14 hours SoundLink Mini Bluetooth speaker II delivers full sound with dramatically deep lows, is available in two colors (Carbon or Pearl) and has battery life of ten hours SoundLink Color Bluetooth speaker II features a water-resistant design, has a battery life of up to eight hours and is available in four colors: Aquatic Blue, Coral Red, Soft Black or Polar White
The voice prompts serve two key purposes. First, they provide guidance during the Bluetooth pairing and connection process so the customer understands how it works. Second, they identify the connected source devices by name, simplifying usage with more than one source device.
Yes. Voice prompts can be disabled by simultaneously pressing the “” (volume up) and “-” (volume down) buttons. We recommend leaving voice prompts enabled because of the additional functionality they provide.
The SoundLink Color II’s Bluetooth link is capable of stable operation at up to 30 ft (9 m). Performance can be affected by obstacles such as walls or metal, interference from Wi-Fi or other wireless devices, and device manufacturers’ Bluetooth implementations.
The SoundLink Color II keeps track of the last eight devices to have paired and connected with it, dropping the least recently used when a new one is paired. When in Bluetooth mode, the SoundLink Color II searches for and connects to the two most recently connected active Bluetooth-enabled devices. It will only receive audio from one device at a time.
If you wish to connect to a previously paired device other than the one(s) already connected, press the Bluetooth button. Press once to identify the currently connected devices; press again (within three seconds) to search through other recently connected devices on the pairing list. If you wish to connect to a new device, press and hold the button until the indicator light blinks blue. If voice prompts have been disabled, the Bluetooth button will behave differently; one press will make the SoundLink Color II ready to pair.
When a call comes in, the audio on the SoundLink Color II will pause, and the call will ring through the speaker. If you wish to answer the call through the SoundLink Color II, simply press the multi-function button to answer the call. You can now talk into the speaker itself to conduct your phone call. Once you end your call, music playback will resume. Some details of this experience will vary depending on the implementation by the phone manufacturer.
When in audio playback mode, the multi-function button allows for play (press), pause (press), track forward (double press) and track backwards (triple press). Pressing and holding the multi-function button will activate the voice control capabilities of your device (for voice dialing and access to Siri or Google Now Pressing the multi-function button again will exit the voice control mode.
When there is an incoming call, pressing the multi-function button will answer the call, and pressing and holding it will reject the call. During an active call, pressing the multi-function button will end the call.
Battery performance varies with the content played and volume at which it is played. In typical usage, the SoundLink Color II battery lasts up to eight hours.
While not playing music, much of the SoundLink Color II battery’s charge can be recovered in 3 hours when using a USB power source of at least one amp of current. Charging from alternate USB power sources or when playing music may take longer.
No. SoundLink Color speaker II’s wireless connection is Bluetooth only.
Yes. However, the quality of the experience—specifically, synchronization between audio and video—can be influenced by the implementation of Bluetooth on the device, and the best performance will occur when wireless interference is minimized by keeping the SoundLink Color II and the device in close proximity, less than 6 ft (2 m), with no objects between them. Use of a Wi-Fi network in the area may also affect performance.
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If music is your motivation, wait until you hear the soundlink 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.
Tech Specs
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Bose SoundLink Color II Noir
Avec son revêtement en silicone doux et son microphone intégré pour prendre vos appels, l’enceinte Bluetooth SoundLink Color II de Bose vous suivra partout ou vous irez tout en délivrant un son puissant. Diffusez ainsi vos musiques préférées depuis votre smartphone ou votre tablette grâce à la technologie Bluetooth Très facile à transporter, elle deviendra vite la partenaire idéale de vos folles soirée d’été !
Des performances exceptionnelles
Dotée de plusieurs technologies exclusives, l’enceinte SoundLink Color II intègre notamment deux radiateurs passifs opposés pour diffuser un son impressionnant avec un minimum de vibrations. Elle vous offre alors une expérience d’écoute des plus agréables.
Avec une portée d’environ 9m, l’enceinte SoundLink Color II se connecte facilement à tous vos appareils par Bluetooth. Mémorisant jusqu’à 8 appareils à la fois, vous allez pouvoir très facilement et très rapidement passer de votre smartphone à votre tablette ou encore à l’ordinateur portable d’un ami. Ne soyez plus le seul maitre de cérémonie lors de vos soirées et faites enfin participer vos amis à la fête !
Toujours avec vous
L’enceinte SoundLink Color II vous permet de diffuser votre musique, où que vous soyez, quoi que vous fassiez. Suffisamment compacte et légère elle peut vous accompagner partout, même lorsque vous avez prévu de voyager léger. Avec sa forme arrondie et sa surface douce au toucher, elle tient aussi parfaitement en main.
De plus, l’enceinte SoundLink Color II est résistante aux projections d’eau pour que vous puissiez profiter de votre musique au bord de la piscine ou d’un lac.
De son côté, la batterie lithium-ion rechargeable offre jusqu’à 8 heures d’écoute pour que la journée en musique ne s’arrête jamais.
L’appli qui fait la différence
Avec l’enceinte SoundLink Color II utilisez l’application Bose Connect pour vous permettre de vous connecter facilement et passer automatiquement d’un appareil Bluetooth à l’autre. Lorsque le niveau sonore n’est pas assez fort, utilisez l’application pour connecter deux enceintes SoundLink Color II et basculez de l’une à l’autre plus facilement que jamais.
Avec Bose Connect, bénéficiez des nouvelles fonctionnalités de l’enceinte, accédez à des conseils sur le produit et personnalisez vos paramètres. L’application vérifie également que votre enceinte possède toujours la toute dernière version logicielle en proposant des mises à jour simples et rapides. Découvrez comment une application simple et intuitive fait toute la différence.
Caractéristiques principales :
Sélectionnez vos critères
Bose SoundLink Color II review: A great speaker gets even better
Modestly redesigned, the next-generation SoundLink Color is an excellent compact Bluetooth that’s water-resistant, has speakerphone capabilities, and improved sound.
Executive Editor David Carnoy has been a leading member of CNET’s Reviews team since 2000. He covers the gamut of gadgets and is a notable reviewer of mobile accessories and portable audio products, including headphones and speakers. He’s also an e-reader and e-publishing expert as well as the author of the novels Knife Music, The Big Exit and Lucidity. All the titles are available as Kindle, iBooks, Nook e-books and audiobooks.
I was a fan of Bose’s original SoundLink Color Bluetooth speaker and praised it for being relatively affordable.- by Bose standards anyway.- and sounding good for its compact size. Its mostly improved sequel, the SoundLink Color II, also comes in a few different color options and is similar in shape, though it’s slightly shorter and squatter, and weighs a tad more (1.28 pounds. or 581g vs. 1.20 pounds or 544g) while costing the same price: 130, £120 in the UK, and AU179 in Australia.
Bose SoundLink Color II
The Good
Like its predecessor, the Bose SoundLink Color is a compact portable Bluetooth speaker that delivers impressive sound for its size (the sound is improved) and 8 hours of battery life. It’s now water-resistant and adds speakerphone capabilities.
The Bottom Line
Modestly redesigned, the next-generation SoundLink Color is an excellent compact Bluetooth speaker that’s water-resistant and has speakerphone capabilities, as well as improved sound.
While the original’s finish was mostly smooth, hard plastic with some rubberized trim on top of the speaker and sides, this new model is entirely covered in soft-t0-the-touch rubber, which has a little give to it and seems better designed to withstand drops. The new speaker is officially water-resistant, too: Its IPX-4 certification makes it splashproof, though not waterproof. Or to put it another way, it should be able to spend some time out in the rain and survive.
Other bonus features include a microphone for speakerphone capabilities, as well as NFC tap-to-pair technology for devices that support it. The SoundLink Color II can remember up to eight devices paired to it, while its eight hours of battery life.- at medium volume levels.- is the same as the original’s. (That’s decent enough but not exceptionally good).
I personally don’t think the design is an aesthetic upgrade, but the speaker does look a tad more understated and mature. I like the soft-to-the-touch finish, but the one downside is that it’s a magnet for dust, lint and carpet fibers, so you may find yourself having to wipe it down from time to time (as I said, it is water-resistant, so taking a wet cloth to it isn’t a problem).
Note, too, the USB-powered speaker does not include an AC adapter. That may be an annoyance to some, but I was fine with it.- any standard phone or gadget charger you have will do the trick.
I had no trouble pairing and re-pairing the speaker with an iPhone 6S and Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge.- there are voice prompts to guide you through the process. There’s also a companion app for iOS and Android.- Bose Connect.- that doesn’t do all that much but does allow you to rename the speaker to your liking, disable those aforementioned voice prompts, and check in on your remaining battery life.
The SoundLink Color sounds a little better than the original.- which makes it arguably one of the best-sounding Bluetooth speakers for its size. I ran a bunch of different music through it and came away impressed with the sound it was able to produce, though it does have its limitations. (It can envelop a small room with sound but don’t expect it to fill a larger space).
It does best with jazz, classical, acoustical live music, and your soft rock favorites. It had good tonal balance with U2’s “Running to Stand Still” and Eric Dolphy’s jazz track “Sketch of Melba.”
There isn’t a ton of bass, but with well-recorded techno and hip-hop tracks it’s got enough kick to surprise you sometimes. For example, Snoop Dogg ‘s “Drop It Like It’s Hot” and Swedish House Mafia’s “Greyhound” came across better than I expected they would. However, tracks where a lot of instruments are playing at once are more challenging for this little guy, and you’ll notice at times that the speaker ratchets back certain frequencies as well as the volume to keep from distorting.
You can get speakers that have better battery life, such as the JBL Charge 3. or ones with more robust water-resistance, like the UE Roll. But given for the choice for sound, I’d opt for the Bose. It’s a little expensive at 130 (it’d ideally be priced closer to 100), but it’s a very likable little speaker with only a few minor drawbacks.
