Customer Ratings & Reviews

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.

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.

The Bose SoundLink Max SE delivers a nice big punch in a portable take anywhere package! Bose is a bran that pretty much everyone knows for sound and quality and this speaker is no different. Unboxing the device you immediately feel the quality of the device as soon as you pull it out. The speaker has a heft to it that makes it feel very substantial and well made and the removable rope handle and metal front grill add to the impression of quality. Included with the speaker is a USB-C to USB-C cable and a charge brick. As nice and as well made as the speaker is, sound quality is first and foremost the most important aspect and it doesn’t disappoint at all. The speaker delivers nice deep bass for such a small speaker, I’ve used much bigger portable speakers that had less bass. It’s not the boomy type of bass either, it’s clean and adds depth to your music like it should. If bass isn’t your thing you’ll still be happy with whatever the genre is ,wether it’s classic, classical or rock. And if you want you can sync two together for even better sound. Bose rates this as IP67 water and dust proof so taking it to the pool or the beach isn’t a problem. If you want to customize your speaker, Bose does sell the rope handles individually allowing you to add some contrast to your speaker. If you’re looking for a small portable speaker that doesn’t sacrifice sound, the SoundLink Max SE delivers!

I am a huge fan of Bose overall, and I was very excited to get to use this speaker! It certainly has a lot of volume and can really fill a room or even a backyard with good audio! However, I will be transparent: I was a little less than thrilled with the bass range, particularly given that it is much of what Bose is lauded for in its audio products and that “deep bass” is literally part of this speaker's marketed description. I installed the Bose app on my phone and played around with the EQ settings, but I could never quite get this speaker to sound right. Maybe it is due for an eventual firmware update that will allow the speakers to better demonstrate their capabilities. What I did find rather fun about this speaker was hooking it up to our Soundlink Micro via party mode. We like to host get-togethers with friends, and it is really cool to have the same playlist rocking through our outdoor and indoor speakers. This partylink hookup makes that setup a breeze! I also appreciate this speaker’s build quality and resilient features. It picks up fingerprints and oils like nobody’s business, but this is because of the rubberized material that is covering it, which looks like it is really made to handle some bumps and bruises. The waterproof and dustproof features of the speaker also make me feel more than comfortable having it with us near water and outdoors in general. Overall, I am impressed with this speaker but would like to see what happens over time with updates or firmware changes that might make it sound a bit more worthy of its namesake and price tag. Thanks for reading and I hope that this review has been helpful!

TLDR: Big Bose sound in a small package PROS Exceptional Bass For Its Size Up to 20hrs Playback Can Charge Phone During Playback IP67 Weatherproofing Linkable To Form Stereo Pair CONS Does Not Support Lossless Audio Does Not Support Spatial Audio Limited EQ Controls within Bose App BOSE APP The Bose app is a marvel in simplicity. Refreshingly so. There are very limited options within the app and that is a good thing. The Bose app doesn't act like their competitors' apps, where the app tries to be a one size fits all and attempts to do everything. Honestly, this is really how I would prefer it. I would rather use my dedicated music app (in my case Amazon Music) for playback and control. I wish others would adopt Bose's approach. Just give me what I need. One part of the Bose app that I don't like though, is the EQ section. There are just 4 adjustments, bass and treble boost & reduce. Honestly, it would be better if Bose just omitted it. I know why they did what they did, it goes back to my previous paragraph of simplicity. This is one area where they could give a few more options. Luckily, my music app has plenty of EQ settings to customize sound output. SOUND QUALITY Bose's redesigned products and drivers are marked improvements over products in years past. The SoundLink Max is no exception. Audio quality is very pleasing. There is a surprising amount of punchy bass that comes from its small drivers. Not to mention, I appreciate Bose's soft dome tweeter. It does a good job at not sounding harsh and tinny like most do in portable speakers. The SoundLink Max supports linking to another Max to for a stereo pair, and I bet linking 2 SoundLink Maxes together would make for a fantastic soundstage. This single SoundLink sounds bigger than many other portable speakers I have of similar size. Frankly, it sounds bigger than larger portable speakers I own. MISSES The only glowing miss of the SoundLink is Bose's inability to play ultra HD, lossless, and spatial audio. While the SoundLink supports AptX if you have an Android phone, it will not receive spatial audio or ultra HD audio. FINAL THOUGHTS The SoundLink Max is another winner from Bose. The Max sounds significantly bigger than its size. It has a lot of thoughtful features like up to 20hrs of playback time, the ability to charge your phone during playback, just to name a couple. It's IP67 weatherproof and seems well sealed from the elements. I wish it would receive and process Ultra HD and Spatial audio, but to be fair to Bose, few speakers this size do. If you need a portable speaker and haven't listened to a Bose product for a while, you should give the SoundLink Max a try. I'll bet you'd be pleasantly surprised. RECOMMENDED

The Bose Soundlink Max is a really good portable speaker if you are more serious about sound when out and about. There are of course a ton of smaller and lighter speakers that are easy to carry in a backpack that deliver decent sound boosts compared to your phone, but the Soundlink Max is good for larger gatherings, parties, or just when you are in a larger area and want your sound to travel further and have more depth to it. First to note, is that this is portable, but NOT pocketable, nor would it be comfortable to carry in a backpack. It has a handle for a reason. It’s just under 5 pounds, and approximately 6 ½ by 10 ½ by 4 inches in size (give or take). The handle has a nice rubber grib with rope” on each tip/side, and you can remove the handle and replace it with other colors if that’s your thing. The Max comes with your standard USB-C charger and cable, but unfortunately not a remote, though you can control more of it via the Bose app from your app store. When you initially turn the speaker on via the power button on top of it, it goes into pairing mode, and my phone immediately recognized it and paired up with no issues. A popup reminds you to download the app, and once you do, you do need to create an account to get going on it. From the app, you can set a timer for the speaker to shut off, program a shortcut button that’s on top of the speaker, check the exact battery level, do some basic equalizer settings, connect the speaker to other Bose speakers, and update the firmware, among others. In other words, to get the most out of your speaker, you really do need the app. Sound quality out of the box is very good. Slightly more bass and muffled at times than I like, but each person has their own preferences. Just a quick bass/treble adjustment in the app makes it perfect. The sound is deep and can fill up a space quickly without getting anywhere near the top of the volume range. I don’t use Spotify, but you can connect to that service if you like via the app as well. Charging is done on the back via the USB-C port, next to an AUX port if you want to use a cable to connect to other devices. The battery takes around 5 hours to fully charge and they quote “up to” 20 hours of use, but that is going to depend on volume and other factors. I have no issues playing the Max through the day and into the night listening to background sounds when sleeping. Bose lists this model as “water proof” and I’m always leery about testing this out. It’s definitely going to handle light rain or splashes, but I would not tempt fate by dunking it in a pool or bathtub – protect it as you would any speaker. Overall I really like the Soundlink Max. It’s attractive with a nice smooth look, the handle is sturdy and looks nice, it’s quick and easy to set up for initial use, and the sounds it cranks out are good. My only complaints… no remote control, you have to use the app for any advanced functions, and the price. Though very nice, it’s pricey. But as always, I say look for it to go on sale and then go for it, as I do recommend it.

In the box you will get the speaker, USB-C cable and power supply. On the inside of the top lid of the box has a QR code for you to download the Bose app which is needed to use with smart devices. Once charged, you can get about 20 hours of listening on one charge, which is plenty of listening time. The size of the speaker is about 4.75 inches high, 10.5 inches wide and about 4 inches in depth and weighs around 5 pounds. The speaker has a handle on the top to easily move it to any place you need it and the handle is also removable. It is wrapped in a powder coated black silicone which easily wipes off any dirt or dust. The front and sides have a steel mesh grill for listening. The top of the speaker has a few buttons: power, Bluetooth, play/pause, shortcut and the volume up (+) and down (-) buttons. The back of the speaker has the USB-C input for charging and an aux port to connect non-Bluetooth devices like older MP3 players, etc. I appreciate that this speaker is waterproof, not just water resistant. If you happen to drop it into the pool or a tub by accident it should still work. To look at this speaker, it doesn’t seem much different than the others out there. What makes this one stand apart is the sound. This lives up to the Bose’s name. The sound is absolutely amazing! Tweaking the speaker with the app makes it even better and nice to have that option. The Bose’s app shows an image of the speaker at the top and the battery life and volume below. There are also tiles below that do different functions. The EQ has four presets, bass and treble boost along with bass and treble reducer. The tweaking of the equalizer is what really gives more of an immersive sound. I highly recommend the Bose SoundLink Max for its portability, long battery life and its waterproof sturdy build, but mostly for its sound.

Bose really make the best headphones and speakers. The SoundLink Max SE is no exception. With Fall starting and Halloween around the corner, I've been using the Bose Max SE outside as we cleaned up early fall leaves and started unboxing and sorting out our yard decorations. Setup was easy, the Soundlink Max SE connects via Bluetooth (if you do that, you get a prompt to install the Bose app - free) or you can use an Aux cable. Of late, my partner and I have been using our old iPod, so we used the wired connection. There's no Aux cable included, but fortuntately my box of saved cables, saved the day! Bass is deep, much more than you would expect from a portable speaker. Vocal tracks are clear and well balanced. In terms of battery life, we worked outside all day, with the speaker at a reasonably high volume and there was no need to charge or recharge. My only comment is the Soundlink is heavy, I'd guess it's 3-4lb. So yes, it's portable but I think it's more suited as portable outdoor speaker vs a portable carry anywhere with you speaker. That's even though the handle is very good and heavy duty. The only other thing you should know is it charges using USB C and there's both a USB C cable and a proper charger/wall wart plug included. Kudos to Bose for including the charging plug. Oh, and if you have other SoundLink capable Bose speakers, you can connect them together wireless for even more surround sound. Overall, great speaker, well built, brilliant Bose sound, and it will get heavy duty use this Halloween as we play scary songs during trick or treat!

I picked this up because I needed a small speaker with a big punch. I had previous experience with bose and how a large sound can come from small speakers, but this was more than what I expected. The price is on the upper side of speakers this size, but the performance is similar to a few speakers I have that are 10 times this size. It has good all around directional like sound, and fill my house easily. I wanted this for a conference room holds 30 people comfortably. I can keep this tucked away on a cabinet top and just kick it on at the beginning of a gathering, and this can easily fill that room with sound. It is a bit bass heavy, but the 3 equilizer ranges are easy to tweak and make sound pretty good. The tones are clear in most settings, but if not balance, the bass adds a bit of a muffle to it. The app worked well with it, and I like the 3.5 mm jack input also, because I do use cd players with this at times. I am impressed with the sound, but underwhelmed by only 3 bar equilizer, I wish I could tweek it a bit more. Overall, I think you are paying for a name here. It seems a bit expensive, great performance with loudness and clarity, almost too much bass, but I feel it is a solid 4 stars.