Sometimes it's okay to buy a speaker primarily for aesthetic reasons. And from the moment it was first announced, Bose's $219 SoundLink Home stood out from the rest (and other Bose efforts) with a mid-modern style that bears little resemblance to most competitors. It's the kind of device that people are likely to notice and comment on. Nobody says a word about boring, boring cylindrical speakers.
But this thing, with its fabric casing wrapped in a brushed aluminum band, feels like a vintage Bose. The company doesn't always show such attention to detail in design and materials, so I'm encouraged by the unique feel of the home.
If you've used or listened to Bose's SoundLink Flex, then you already have a good understanding of what the home speaker will sound like in your living room. Their tuning is quite similar. Like the Flex, the Home outputs mixed mono audio. I'll always choose stereo speakers when given the option, but mono is common in the portable speaker category, although Bose is pushing it with the price here, and especially in this size.
Taking this into account, the SoundLink Home sounds quite detailed and clear. The vocals are clear. Acoustic instruments have a touch of warmth. And even if you turn the volume up to the extreme, there is little distortion. This is partly because this speaker is not a bass champion; The SoundLink Max wipes the floor with it in that regard, but it's bulkier and almost twice the price. Home only supports the standard AAC and SBC Bluetooth codecs, while Flex (2nd generation) and Max offer aptX Adaptive support for devices that offer it.
The point is that you will have to really like the original sound of the Home, because it cannot be changed. Unlike other Bose speakers, the SoundLink Home lacks any kind of companion mobile app. As a result, you won't be able to customize its equalizer at all. That's a disappointing omission that would be easier to forgive in a cheaper speaker, but not in this one. You can Pair at least two units to create a stereo pair. If you're willing to spend money on it, you'll be rewarded with noticeably richer sound.
Another important thing to note with the SoundLink Home is that there is no water resistance to speak of. The same goes for dust resistance. This is not intended to be a pool or outdoor speaker. I guess it's there in the name. You'll want to place the speaker in a safe (and dry) location. A covered patio is as far as you'll want to go. Bose does not even recommend taking it to the bathroom. The rugged Flex is a better choice for those who need a road warrior that can withstand the elements. Durability is one area where the Home falls short of the Ultimate Ears. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/JBL-Waterproof-Portable-Speaker-Powerbank/dp/B08ZQLXYLY/?tag=theverge02-20″>JBLSoundcore and other brands that have Bluetooth speakers at similar prices.
So far I've discussed a lot of what's missing, but one advantage over the SoundLink Flex is that the Home supports USB-C audio input. And you can take advantage of that while being paired via Bluetooth. So, in theory, you could listen to wired audio from your laptop while using the speaker for phone calls or interacting with Siri or Google Assistant. (You can press and hold the multi-function button on the top to activate your phone's voice assistant.) Calls and other Bluetooth activities will override the USB-C connection.
That USB-C port is on the left side of the speaker, which makes some cables look a little inelegant when plugged in. Bose at least includes a 90-degree USB-C cable to keep it as subtle as possible. Battery life is rated at up to 9 hours of playback, and my testing has shown that number to be mostly accurate. If you listen at 70 percent volume or higher, expect to lose a couple of hours. It's not impressive resistance, but for a speaker that will only travel around the house, it's enough. It takes about three to four hours to fully recharge the speaker via USB-C, which seems pretty long for the decent battery life you're getting.
There really isn't much else to cover with SoundLink Home. It goes big on look and feel and clears the bar for sound quality without glaring tonal weaknesses. The lack of equalization settings will inevitably disappoint those who like to tinker, and I think that any The $200+ Bluetooth speaker should have some weather protection. But Bose went in a different direction with the SoundLink Home. If you're looking to buy (or gift) an unusual speaker, I don't blame you for choosing this one.
Photography by Chris Welch/The Verge
