Bose SoundLink Flex Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker

OMG this is the best speaker which is not a huge floor speaker (over 1 foot high) that is part of a massive speaker system. The sound quality is truly impressive for a speaker of any size, & I think that if I bought another one, which I’m seriously considering, it would rival my Kenwood stereo system, which has two floor speakers that are over a foot high each, & the Kenwood amplifier, & the Kenwood 5-CD player. All that stuff is so big that it needs its own cabinet & takes up several feet of floor space. I don’t know how the geniuses at Bose have done it, but they have somehow packed all that sound into a speaker less than half the size of a loaf of bread that is also a very appealing shade of lilac that goes with my décor. The Bluetooth connection works perfectly every time, even though I don’t have the newest phone out there. I’m so in love with this speaker, the only complaint I have is purely aesthetic & easily fixed- the fabric loop attached to this beautiful lilac speaker is, for some unknown reason, an entirely ridiculous shade of brilliant orange, which clashes hideously with everything. I solved this problem with a dark purple Sharpie marker. That is the only complaint I have. While this speaker comes without any instructions on how to set it up, the set up is so easy, even when you’re not a technology person, that I set it up myself with no help in under a minute. I plugged it in, turned it on, turned the volume all the way up- for some idiotic reason, it comes with the volume all the way down- & then turned on the Bluetooth on my phone & had it search for Bluetooth devices. My phone found the speaker very quickly, paired with it without issue, & started playing. One important thing to know is that when you leave the range of the speaker for an extended period of time, like when I leave for work & take my phone with me, the speaker will turn that connection off, so that when I get home & want to use my speaker again, I need to go over to the speaker with my phone & push the power button once. The speaker will say how much battery power is left & that it is now connected to my phone- I don’t turn the Bluetooth off on my phone when I leave the house. I recommend turning the speaker all the way up & then controlling the volume through your phone, which is what I do. I think that’s the easiest way to do it. One charge of the battery lasts a long time- at least 12 hours, so that part’s great as well. Just buy it already, you won’t regret it. It’ll beat the pants off of all of your other speakers, even if you already have a nice set of Bose speakers.

De sonido obviamente un 10/10. No me decepcionó, totalmente contenta

I spent time reviewing options, but I’ll start out saying I am a Bose fan. So, to begin – this is a TRAVEL / PARTY speaker – my #1 criteria, then sound quality #2. Please don’t compare it as an audiophile. They serve the purpose incredibly well. I bought two to pair with iPhone and/or iPod independently or as a stereo option for an upcoming trip with others. The sound quality is superb – as always with Bose products. Yes, people have mentioned the lack of EQ control, but again, these are TRAVEL / PARTY speakers – who has the time or inclination to care when you’re having FUN (I’m in my 60’s and have spent plenty on audio items during my life). #1 – it is well made, waterproof and can withstand travelling with a punch! #2 – sound quality is outstanding for it’s intended use and versatile using the Bose Connect app. All round – it fitted my needs and have no regrets – absolutely recommend for the price.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my entire ownership of this speaker.

Time of writing this review is roughly 8 months after purchase, having used this speaker practically every single day since. This was a replacement for a very well-loved but somewhat lacking B&O (P3?) oval-shaped speaker that inspired of few of my must-have features.

My key requirements in purchasing a speaker at this price point were:
– Punchy, solid bass, with high accuracy, clear playback throughout most of the volume range
– Relatively attractive, understated, simple design with ergonomic and intuitive controls
– Easily oriented for high quality playback in a variety of different situations (facing sideways, upwards, at angles)
– Long-lasting battery without any obnoxious constant playback interruptions informing you of battery life remaining

This speaker delivers on all of these.

The bass is incredibly clear, with no horrible warbling and distortion that’s very common with dozens of other similar speakers. The audio playback is very crisp and clear, with no noticeable quality losses. I’m sure it’s not perfect, but it’s more than adequate for 95%+ of people. Even at low volumes, the quality is still extremely high. There is a usable, enjoyable sound at every volume level.

The design is simple, but handsome. It does not look obnoxious or out of place anywhere. It is just the right size, not too large to pop into a bag, and not too small as to have low-power drivers with poor sound. Very easy to transport. The squared design makes it very stable on most surfaces, but is still rounded enough not to get caught on things. The controls are very easy to understand, even the multi-device Bluetooth cycling and syncing. I have no complaints.

The speaker works well for playback in nearly any position, especially when placed on a table or other nice playback surface. It can be placed facing upward, and the speaker enhances playback for all-around sound. When placed horizontally, the same happens for directional playback. Very impressive stability in a wide variety of situations. Some would consider the lack of a lanyard or string to be a downside for this point, but there is massive benefits to keeping this speaker on a surface.

The battery life is incredible. Vastly longer than I had really expected for this speaker. With my personal usage (middle volume range, 2-3 uses a day for 30 to 60 minutes at a time), I usually recharge every 1-2 weeks. Not sure what exactly that equates to in real playback time, but I still find it impressive. The speaker will notify you at 20% and 10% battery level, which is exactly what I wanted. Many other speakers will interrupt playback at 75%, 50%, etc. I’ve not experienced any noticeable battery decay during my ownership, but I have only fully depleted and nearly fully recharged the entire time, with no “filling up” in between.

Downsides do exist, but most are inconsequential for me.
– The audible indicators that inform you of which device you are connected to can sometimes feel a bit sluggish, especially with long device names.
– I feel the price point is still a bit on the high side for the value, but I feel I’ve more than gotten my money’s worth. I just like a good deal.
– Volume occasionally spikes very high in certain scenarios when switching between devices, but is fairly easily turned down after a quick scare.

I would highly recommend this speaker to anyone in the market for a speaker at this price point. This is an especially good deal on sale. If you’re still reading at this point, just get the damn thing on the way.