Recently,Bose's classic portable Bluetooth speaker series,SoundLink,has welcomed a new member—Bose SoundLink Max.Just as the "Max" in the name suggests,it is likely the largest SoundLink product I have experienced to date.With dimensions of 12cm x 26.5cm x 10.5cm,it is roughly the size of my 1.5L thermos.

Product Specifications:

Bluetooth Version: Bluetooth 5.3

Supported Bluetooth Codec Formats: AAC,SBC,aptX Adaptive

Input/Output Interfaces: USB-C input/output,AUX input

Battery Type: Rechargeable lithium-ion battery

Battery Life: Up to 20 hours

Protection Rating: IP67

Special Features: SimpleSync connectivity

Dimensions: 12cm x 26.5cm x 10.5cm (H x W x D)Weight: 2.13kg

Reference Price: 3199 yuan

Brand New Design

The Carry Handle Highlights Outdoor Features

The SoundLink series has always had a touch of outdoor attributes,and as camping and hiking activities become more popular,this design trend has become increasingly evident.From the Bose SoundLink Revolve,which is perfect for enhancing the camping atmosphere,to the small Bose SoundLink Micro that can be hung on a backpack,and up to the most recent update in the series before the release of the Bose SoundLink Max,the Bose SoundLink Flex,this design concept has been consistently implemented.Therefore,with the Bose SoundLink Max,although we see a product with a brand new design,we can still find some design ideas from these previous products.

Upon removing the Bose SoundLink Max from its packaging,it is natural to notice its carry handle design.The earliest product in the SoundLink series to adopt the handle element should be the Bose SoundLink Revolve+.However,unlike its cloth-wrapped,thin handle,the handle of the Bose SoundLink Max is more rugged,with more pronounced outdoor characteristics.It uses a climbing rope as thick as a little finger as the handle,with a large area of silicone material wrapped around the rope,providing users with a more delicate and comfortable grip when carrying it.Even though the weight of the Bose SoundLink Max reaches 2.13kg,it does not feel uncomfortable to carry.

What's more special is that the carry handle of the Bose SoundLink Max is designed to be detachable.The two protruding fixing rings at the top of the speaker can actually be removed by rotating.The speaker is currently available in two colors,classic black and twilight blue.The standard handle's climbing rope color matches the body color,and Bose additionally offers two different colored optional handles for them: classic black with cold lilac and graphite blue,and twilight blue with apricot yellow and grapefruit green.Users can purchase these handles separately according to their preferences,making their Bose SoundLink Max more personalized.In addition,considering the weight of the Bose SoundLink Max,Bose has also prepared an optional portable rope strap for users who want to carry it more easily,allowing it to be carried on the shoulder.The straps in classic black and twilight blue correspond to the different colors of the speaker.

Strong Protection

Fearless Wherever You GoEmbarking on an outdoor journey requires a plethora of equipment,and if a camping party is thrown into the mix,the luggage is bound to be packed to the brim.When bringing the Bose SoundLink Max along for the ride,it's inevitable that it will have "intimate collisions" with various gear.One might worry whether it can withstand the accidental test of sharp objects.Bose has taken this into consideration; the front of the Bose SoundLink Max features a large steel mesh,coated with a powder finish,and the edges are rounded and smooth.In addition,the body is wrapped in thick silicone material,including the top,bottom,sides,and back.The silicone surface is treated with a skin-like process,making it soft and comfortable to the touch,and it's as if the speaker is clad in a "soft armor," effectively resisting impacts from collisions,drops,and bumps.It also has corrosion resistance and UV protection,ensuring that its appearance will not be easily damaged.

The Bose SoundLink Max is powered by a built-in lithium-ion battery,offering up to 20 hours of usage on a full charge.Even in situations where charging is inconvenient,it can meet the demands of all-day high-intensity use.On the lower right corner of the back of the device,there is a USB-C port and an AUX input.The USB-C port is not only for charging the speaker but also for output,allowing it to charge mobile devices like smartphones connected to it.I tested it with a USB-C cable that displays charging power,and it consistently provides a 10W charge to the phone,which is suitable for emergency use when the phone's battery is running low.The AUX input offers an additional option for users who prefer a wired connection for a more stable audio signal input,broadening the range of audio sources that can be connected to the Bose SoundLink Max.However,Bose only provides a USB-C cable in the package and does not include a 3.5mm audio cable,so users with this need will have to prepare their own cables.

Despite the large metal mesh design and the lack of a dust cover on the interface area,the Bose SoundLink Max's protection level is not compromised,reaching an IP67 rating.What does this protection level signify?The "6" represents dust protection,which,according to the IP rating,means "complete prevention of dust ingress." The "7" for water resistance indicates that it "can withstand immersion in water for a short period (15cm to 1m,within 30 minutes)." In other words,even when taking the Bose SoundLink Max to sandy environments or situations where it's inevitable to encounter water,its protection level is more than adequate.Users can bring it to the beach without worrying about the impact of sand on the speaker; it can be rinsed clean with water,and even if it falls into the water,there's no problem.The Bose SoundLink Max can even float in water,making it easy for users to retrieve.So,in the more common situations we encounter in daily use,such as rain or drinks spilling on the speaker,the Bose SoundLink Max can handle them with ease.

Intuitive and Convenient Operation

Pairing with the App for More Features

The Bose SoundLink Max features six physical buttons,including power on/off,Bluetooth,quick function,volume down,play/pause,and volume up,located near the top handle,arranged in a row,hidden under the silicone,with illustrations for each button.This ensures the integrity of the device while providing a good tactile feel.Compared to the popular touch control,I prefer the feedback from physical buttons.The play/pause button can be used for fast-forwarding and rewinding by double or triple pressing,and long pressing the volume buttons allows for quick volume adjustment.The buttons are slightly recessed,with the power button having a separate recess,while the other five buttons are together.There is a small protrusion next to the Bluetooth and quick function buttons,and the play/pause button also has a protrusion; these detailed designs are thoughtful for users to locate the buttons by touch.Above the buttons,there are four indicator lights,for power,AUX,Bluetooth,and quick function,corresponding to the function buttons below.Since there is no button for AUX,it is indicated on the light.When not lit,users won't notice the existence of the indicator lights,which signal the speaker's working status through different colors and states.

Users can also install the Bose App on their smartphones to unlock more features of the Bose SoundLink Max.The connection process is simple and can be quickly completed following the app's instructions.In the app,users can not only view the speaker's remaining battery life,manage current connected devices,and control the music being played but also set the equalizer,choose quick operations,and upgrade firmware.The equalizer offers four options,including "Bass Boost," "Treble Boost," "Bass Cut," and "Treble Cut," which can be switched with one click.Of course,users can also customize the "bass," "midrange," and "treble." In the quick operation menu,only the audio line input option is currently provided,with more options possibly being added in future firmware updates.

Listening ExperienceLoudspeaker products have always been subject to the principle that "the larger the size,the stronger the sound quality." Therefore,for the Bose SoundLink Max,the largest in its series,I had high expectations for its audio performance.Bose has indeed made comprehensive upgrades to its acoustic structure.The speaker is equipped with three drivers,including two subwoofer units and one high-frequency speaker.Through the metal grille on the front of the body,one can see that all three speakers are arranged here,facing forward.In addition,the Bose SoundLink Max also employs Bose's proprietary passive resonance dual-mode technology.Judging from the openings on the body,located on both sides,they are designed to enhance the low-frequency performance of the speaker.

The Bose SoundLink Max is powered by the second-generation Qualcomm S5 audio platform,supporting the latest Bluetooth 5.3 and Qualcomm Snapdragon Sound technology.The latter optimizes the Qualcomm audio technology on connected devices to ensure that wireless audio transmission has better sound quality,connection stability,and ultra-low latency.Therefore,in addition to supporting common Bluetooth encoding formats such as AAC and SBC,the Bose SoundLink Max also supports aptX Adaptive.When paired with a smartphone that also supports it,a better wireless audio experience can be achieved.

I found a smartphone that supports aptX Adaptive and connected it to the Bose SoundLink Max via Bluetooth for a listening test.The music energy of Bose's portable speakers,which exceeds their size,has always impressed me,and this feeling still exists with the Bose SoundLink Max.I deliberately took it to an open outdoor scene for a listening test,and at half volume,it was enough to cover an area of about twenty to thirty square meters around the campsite.Although it does not adopt the 360° speaker layout like the Bose SoundLink Revolve+,the sound from the sides and back of the Bose SoundLink Max does not differ significantly from the front.The overall tonality of the Bose SoundLink Max is still the mid-low frequency direction that Bose excels at,and the passive resonance dual-mode on both sides gives its low frequencies a good sense of volume and elasticity,making it great for listening to fast-paced music with a "thump-thump" beat.When playing slow-paced music,it can also render a relaxed and leisurely atmosphere very well,with clean and full vocals that add a touch of warmth while reproducing the timbre,making it more enjoyable to listen to.The configuration of three speakers ensures good sound separation of the Bose SoundLink Max,expressing the layers that should be present in the music and bringing a certain sense of space.Back in an indoor setting,the Bose SoundLink Max's music energy can easily handle a space of sixty to seventy square meters,and the handle design also makes it convenient for users to move it around the house.

In summary,as the largest and highest-positioned product in the series,the Bose SoundLink Max has made further progress from the inside out.It not only has a refreshed design,better protection,and enough battery life for a whole day of use,but also offers better acoustic performance through the combination of multiple speaker units and passive resonance dual-mode technology.The support of Qualcomm Snapdragon Sound technology,along with the introduction of an AUX interface,ensures that it has excellent sound performance whether connected wirelessly to mobile devices or in wired input scenarios.So whether you are planning to take the Bose SoundLink Max for camping in the forest meadows,or to host a party by the sea,or to listen to music and adjust the atmosphere at home,its performance will not disappoint.