Bose - SoundLink Max SE Portable Bluetooth Speaker with Powerful Stereo Sound & Deep Bass - Black

I have had the Bose Soundlink Max SE for about a week now and have been using it more than 5 hours a day, so I feel like I’ve had enough time to really get a feel for it. I spent quite a bit of time comparing different Bluetooth speakers before buying this one. I wanted something with really good sound and bass, but also something that was easy to carry and could handle being used outside. So far, I am really happy with my choice. The main reason I went with Bose was the overall balance. There are cheaper speakers out there, and there are also bigger speakers that can get louder, but I didn’t want something big and bulky that I would only use in one place. I wanted something I could easily move from the kitchen to the backyard, take to another room, put in the car, or bring along when we are hanging outside. For the size of this speaker, the sound is surprisingly big. The music feels full and does not sound like it is coming from a small portable speaker. Vocals are clear, instruments sound good, and the bass has a nice punch. I’ve listened to all kinds of music during the past week, and it has handled everything pretty well. I especially like it with music that has good bass. If you really push the volume, the bass can get a little less clean and slightly muddled, but honestly, that is not surprising for a speaker this size. I also like the EQ in the Bose app. You can adjust the bass, midrange and treble, which is useful because everyone has a different preference for how they like their music to sound. It is not a tiny speaker, but it is also not so big that I don't want to carry it around. It has some weight to it, which makes it feel solid and well built, but I don't find it difficult to move. The handle is actually more useful than I expected. At first, I thought it was just a nice design feature, but after using the speaker for a week, I find myself using the handle all the time. I can just grab it with one hand and move it wherever I need it. I went with the Black color, and I’m happy with it. It looks clean and simple and doesn't stand out too much. It also seems like a practical color for a speaker that is going to get used outside. The speaker feels solid when you pick it up. Nothing feels cheap or fragile, and I don't feel like I have to baby it. The IP67 rating is a big plus for me. I like being able to use it outside without constantly worrying about dust, splashes or unexpected weather. I haven't intentionally put it in water, and I don't plan to, but knowing it has that protection gives me some peace of mind. It is also easy to clean. The outside can be wiped down pretty easily, which I appreciate even more now that I’ve actually been using it outdoors. I’ve been using it for several hours every day and haven't had any issues with the battery. Bose rates it for up to 16 hours, although actual battery life will depend on volume and how you use it. For my normal use, it has been more than enough. I also like that it uses USB-C, so charging is simple and convenient. Setup : I connected it to my phone over Bluetooth and was playing music within a few minutes. I haven't had any frustrating connection issues so far. The buttons on top are simple and easy to understand. The Bose app is also useful for checking the battery and making sound adjustments. One thing I really appreciate is the 3.5mm AUX input. I don't use it every day, but I like having the option. It is one of those features you may not think about until you actually need it. The Soundlink Max SE is a slightly simpler version of the regular Soundlink Max. The SE is rated for up to 16 hours of battery life, and some features from the regular Max are not included. I knew that before getting it, and for me, it wasn't a big deal. If you are deciding between the two, I would definitely compare the features and price before making a decision. For what I wanted, the SE made more sense. Pros Big, full sound for its size Good bass, especially at normal listening levels Clear vocals and good detail Solid and premium-feeling build IP67 water and dust resistance makes it great for outdoor use Easy to carry with the built-in handle Compact enough to move around without feeling bulky Good battery life for everyday use USB-C charging Simple, easy-to-use buttons Bose app gives you bass, midrange and treble adjustment 3.5mm AUX input is a nice option to have Easy to clean Black color looks simple and practical Cons Not the cheapest portable Bluetooth speaker Bass can become a little less clean at very high volume The SE has fewer features than the regular Soundlink Max Battery life is rated at up to 16 hours, which is less than the regular Max Overall, after a week of using it heavily, the SoundLink Max SE has become one of those things I keep grabbing without really thinking about it. I use it around the house, outside, while working in the yard, and whenever I just want some music playing in the background. The biggest thing for me is the combination of sound quality, size, portability and durability. It feels like a speaker I can actually use and take places instead of one I have to constantly be careful with. So, if you are looking for a portable speaker that is easy to carry but still gives you a big, enjoyable sound, I think the SoundLink Max SE is definitely worth considering.

I am a big fan of the Bose SoundLink Max SE. It sounds good, has the same big, satisfying Bose sound I expect from the SoundLink Max, and is a great portable speaker for using around the house. If I had two of the same color sitting side by side, I honestly do not think I could tell the regular Max and this SE version apart without checking which one was which. The SoundLink Max SE feels a little lighter than my regular SoundLink Max, and its rated battery life seems a little shorter: up to 16 hours versus up to 20 hours for the standard model. I do think it’s all in my head though because they list them as being the same weight. For my normal at-home use, that difference is not a problem at all. It’s is still plenty of runtime for everyday listening. Same excellent Bose sound: The reason to buy this speaker is the sound. It delivers full audio with deep bass and enough presence to make music feel substantial in a room. It is easy to carry from one spot to another, but it does not sound like a tiny portable speaker trying to act bigger than it is. I really like that these have a handle! It’s so natural to carry it from room to room or place to place. For background music, cleaning, working around the house, or taking music outdoors, this is simply a very enjoyable speaker. Bose got the fundamentals right: it sounds great, it is easy to use, and it feels well made. Speaker Link is the killer feature! I especially like the Bose Speaker Link system. Any Bose speaker with the shortcut button can be synchronized with another compatible speaker. With two SoundLink Max speakers, you can switch into Stereo Mode, where one speaker handles the left channel and the other handles the right channel. That makes the listening experience much wider and more immersive. Stereo Mode requires two speakers of similar mode. If you link different compatible Bose speakers—or want several speakers playing together, you can use Party Mode, which sends the same audio to all linked speakers. That is very useful for filling multiple rooms or spreading sound around a patio or gathering. You can activate the modes with the shortcut button or through the Bose app. The difference I found is phone charging. My regular blue SoundLink Max can use its USB-C port to charge my phone directly from the speaker battery. The SoundLink Max SE did not charge my phone when I tried it. That is not an accident: Bose says that the SE removes the standard Max’s power-bank function. The regular SoundLink Max supports USB-C output for charging a phone or tablet, while the SE is a simplified version with lower stated battery life and no device-charging capability. I dont understand why Bose took that feature away, especially when the speakers are otherwise so similar and the pricing is close. It is not a dealbreaker for me, but it is worth knowing before buying. If using the speaker as a backup phone battery matters to you, look for the regular SoundLink Max rather than the SE. I bought a third-party protective cover with attachment points for a shoulder strap, and it makes the speaker more convenient to move around. I really wish Bose offered an official fitted case or cover with a strap. The speaker has a sturdy built-in carry handle, but a case with a shoulder strap would be useful for travel, carrying it outside, or protecting it between uses. The Bose SoundLink Max SE is an excellent portable Bluetooth speaker, and I recommend it. The sound is outstanding, the size is practical around the house, and Speaker Link makes it even more compelling if you already own—or plan to add—another compatible Bose speaker. The SE makes a few compromises: slightly less battery life and no USB-C phone-charging output. Still, because it otherwise feels and sounds so similar to the regular SoundLink Max, most people will be very happy with it. Just know that you are giving up charging, and maybe get a protective cover with a strap if you expect to carry it around often. RECOMMENDED!

I’ve loved the big sound and compact form of this speaker. Bose has a nice design language going on here that’s both rugged and refined, It’s durable with a built-in silicone sleeve around the back (not a soft plastic finish) that helps isolate and protect the speaker from dust and water. Up front, forward-firing tweeters and a woofer have great sound out of the box. Side perforations help spread that sound to the sides. The handle is nicely chunky and solid, I love the look of the woven chord too. Unlike other options, this would look great in a whole range of environments, even if placed on a shelf as your primary audio for an office or bedroom. __ Super Simple to Use __ Along the top of the speaker clear buttons for power, volume, etc. make it dead simple to use. I was able to connect my SoundLink Flex 2 easily using the party mode/connection button. Pressing it on each speaker made them instantly connect, making the music feel even more immersive when coming from two quality sources. This will be my go-to portable audio solution from now one. It looks so professional and cool, and sounds amazing without a lot of fussing with bass levels, etc. __ Sound __ Bose typically does great work, and these speakers are a hit for a reason. No other Bluetooth speaker has sounded as balanced as these, straight out of the box. Bass sounded impactful without being ridiculous, while the mids and highs came through clearly without distortion at my preferred volume. Adding a second Bose speaker had a noticeable impact on filling the room in party mode, but this speaker is still room-filling on its own. Compared with the more expensive ‘normal’ MAX, the SE here only seems to drop a small amount of its battery capacity - down to 16 hours of playback, down from 20. That’s still a ton of playback time! It also loses the ability to charge other devices from that battery, but those are very fair compromises to get essentially the same quality speaker (and sound) at a lower price. I also appreciate that it retained the aux port to allow connecting sources directly. Though in practice, the quality from the bluetooth connection is already stellar for my use. __ Overall __ This speaker impressed me in both design and balanced sound. Bose has been a winner in the design category for nailing a form that’s both fun and professional. It exudes quality worthy of its price, while this SE further refines their top offering to save buyers a bit of money in the process.

The Bose SoundLink Max SE is a portable Bluetooth speaker that weighs about 5 pounds but still delivers a serious punch. It produces the kind of full, room-filling sound that works just as well for relaxing at home as it does for backyard hangouts, cookouts, poolside listening, or trips to the park. One of the best things about the SoundLink Max SE is that you do not have to baby it. With an IP67 rating, it is built to handle dust and water exposure, making it a great option for enjoying your favorite music just about anywhere. It measures approximately 4.73 inches high, 10.42 inches wide, and 4.13 inches deep, so it is compact enough to carry around without taking up too much space on a table, shelf, or in a bag. Sound quality is easily the main highlight. Music comes through clear, detailed, and surprisingly big for a portable speaker. The bass has plenty of punch without overpowering the song, while vocals and instruments remain clean and balanced. It handles a variety of music styles well, whether you are listening to hip-hop, rock, pop, country, or your favorite podcasts. For a portable speaker, it creates a wide and impressive soundstage. It is able to do that with three front-facing drivers: two 2.5-inch midrange speakers and one 0.79-inch tweeter. The midrange drivers help produce clear vocals and detailed instruments, while the tweeter brings out the higher-frequency detail in music. Together, they give the speaker a fuller and more balanced sound than you might expect from something this portable. Battery life is another major plus. Bose rates the SoundLink Max SE for up to 16 hours of everyday listening, which is more than enough for a full day of music without constantly searching for an outlet. Actual battery life will vary based on volume level, music type, settings, and whether you use the USB-C port to charge another device. USB-C charging is convenient, and the speaker can even provide USB-C power to a compatible phone when needed. Bluetooth connectivity is simple and reliable, while the Bose app gives you additional control over settings and sound. The SoundLink Max SE also includes an AUX input, which is a nice bonus if you want to connect a device with a wired audio cable. Many portable Bluetooth speakers have dropped that feature, so it is useful for older devices or anyone who wants a quick wired connection. Overall, the Bose SoundLink Max SE is a great portable speaker for anyone who wants bold, balanced sound on the go without having to worry too much about the elements or battery life.

The Bose SoundLink Max SE is small, compact, tough and awesome! I just love how well its built and the handle and size make it perfect to carry around without feeling bulky. It is substantial feeling, but not heavy like some of my other BT speakers, and it is tiny too. It also is easy to keep clean, everything is a plastic/rubbery material that is easy to wipe down and it is IP67 rated for water resistance. Other speakers I have you feel like you have to baby them or they will get dirty and they are hard to clean if stuff gets in their grills. Speaker quality is typically solid with Bose. I am not saying this is the best SOUNDING portable speaker I have ever used, but Bose was the original compact but big sound company out there using some audio magic to get more out of a small package. The bass is a little bit muddled given the size of the unit and the woofers, but it is still respectable for a unit this small. There's an EQ you can use in the Bose app but rather than multiple EQ settings you get a wave with minor adjustments to bass, mid, treble. I also really enjoy the minimalistic inputs and buttons. There's just the 3.5mm jack and usb-c without having to open a compartment and it comes with a nice charger and cable. The buttons on top are responsive and easy to read and you can even group two of these together over BT or WiFi to get bigger sound. The documentation says you can also do this with multiple compatible speakers from Bose but I only have the 1. You can also group multiple speakers from different brands using AirPlay 2 on your WiFi network and your Apple products. One minor thing to note is this SE appears to be a slightly pared down version of the highly rated original SoundLink Max. The differences I noted from the specs were a little lower but still excellent 16 hours of battery vs. 20 hours, and the ability to use this as a charging bank for a phone has been removed on the SE. Still not a deal breaker for most and this unit is slightly cheaper so I think the trade-off is reasonable. Love the size and durability, one thing I would say is Bose could've put an embossed Bose logo on the unit to glam it up a little bit, but otherwise love this speaker for the Beach, the Pool, Yard parties, Halloween Trunk or Treat, yard work, camping or whatever else.