In 1968, only Four years after founding his eponymous company, Amar Bose published a paper titled “On Loudspeaker Design, Measurement, and Evaluation.” In it, he argued that the listener’s subjective perception, rather than any technical measurement, is the most effective way to evaluate sound reproduction. It may have been the first time Bose (as an audio company) openly challenged popular opinion, but it would not be the last.
The new SoundLink Max could be the latest manifestation of this kind of attitude, albeit in a slightly less confrontational form. The range of products bearing the SoundLink name has served Bose well over the years, and it makes sense that the biggest and most expensive of them all is called the Max. But in its own way, the SoundLink Max defies popular opinion and current market trends.
The SoundLink Max is a Bluetooth speaker that costs $399. That’s it. It doesn’t have any smart features, no Wi-Fi connectivity — none of the things you might reasonably expect from a portable, battery-powered speaker that costs a lot of money. True, it includes SimpleSync, a Bose technology that lets it pair with other suitably specced Bose speakers or soundbars to become part of a rudimentary multi-room system. But seriously: popular opinion? You know what you can do with popular opinion.
Plus, you want a portable speaker for listening to music, not for asking questions about the weather? And when it comes to this fundamental requirement, the Bose SoundLink Max needs no excuses. Even before it makes a sound, it looks and feels like one.
Photography: Bose
It looks like the piece
At 2.1kg and measuring 12.9 x 26.1 x 10.5cm (H x W x D), this is easily the most powerful portable speaker on the market. However, its silicone and rope carrying handle does take quite a bit of strain, so it doesn’t feel as heavy in your hand as it might seem. The handle can also be easily removed, should you fancy swapping it out for the shoulder strap alternative (and if you have the $45 to buy one).
Both the speaker and shoulder strap are available in black or “dusk blue” finishes. For some reason, the carrying handle can also be purchased (for $25) in “charcoal blue” (which is darker than “dusk blue”), “cool lilac,” “deep citron” (an acidic greenish-yellow), or apricot if you fancy a more sudden look for your speaker.
Photography: Bose