Customer Ratings & Reviews

We purchased this speaker for our daughter for Christmas. I hated to spend as much as I did on it, but I was blown away by its sound quality. It's portable, a little on the heavy side, but it was well worth the money. I would purchase it again, if needed!

Was looking for a new speaker with a longer charge life that was water proof/resistant so I can listen to music while showering and getting ready. Have a Bose Sound Link Mini that I love but got tired of carrying from one level of the house to another. Did some searching and found this little guy. Was worried about the sound quality because it's so small but went to BB and they had one on display and the sound was amazing. It's very loud and the sound quality is as good as any other Bose speaker. They were also on sale, so it was meant to be. There's a secure strap on the back so you can take it anywhere (bike, back pack, etc...) and I can hang it from a hook in the shower. It's on the far side from the shower head and high up so it doesn't get submerged but so far so good from the moisture. I believe it is actually submersible but probably not going to test that on purpose. But it's nice to know it's probably protected from water. It's small, sleek, light weight, super easy to pair with the app and has a great battery life and there's no better sound quality out there.

The music on my ASUS computer is not as loud as I would like. This BOSE speaker does an excellent job of amplifying the sound to my liking. It is also small, has a long lasting battery without a lot of wire connections.

The sound quality exceeded my expectations. I was impressed that I could hear every note of each song clearly as this little speaker’s sound effortlessly filled the room and beyond. It was easy to use of course, equipped with a few controls on the device to power on/off, adjust volume, play/pause and connect to Bluetooth - it has all the function I need. My fiancé loves the size and how conveniently it travels with us, awesome for on the go and because it’s waterproof it can go anywhere. The small size is definitely something she would feel more comfortable toting than a larger speaker. If she likes it, it’s a win!

I'm old enough to remember when Bose was new to the mainstream commercial market and a home that had their Wave system was 'high-falutin'. I cut my teeth on Bose products when I finally had money of my own and was stepping into the audiophile world. I quickly moved past Bose into the ethereal realms of speakers and headphones, but always had a soft spot for Bose, even though it seemed like they were consistently getting beat at their own game. Well, I was pleasantly surprised to see and hear Bose come out swinging with the SoundLink Max. TL:DR - It deserves to be on the shortlist for anyone looking for an outstanding portable bluetooth speaker. It's the first portable BT speaker to even come close to acing my audiophile test playlist. Here is what I like about the SoundLink Max: Sound Quality: I kinda feel like this has taken a back seat for a lot of portable BT speakers as of late. Many people prioritize the portability or battery life of a system over pure sound quality. Understandable since if you can't take it with you, or if it doesn't play long enough, the quality really doesn't matter. You don't have to compromise on sound with the SoundLink Max. Even though I stopped chasing the holy grail of audiophile sound (it got WAY too expensive), I do still utilize my test playlist with all my new sound gear, and the Max is the first portable bluetooth speaker I've owned that could even come close to nailing each test. Everything from depth, impact, focus, transients, and resonance were spectacular. Of course it can't get proper separation due to the closeness of the speakers (but a paired set might just do it), but no single point system can do that. The only test that it even tripped over was part of the bass response, and I'm having trouble isolating whether that is an actual issue with the speaker or if it is something else. On some dance/R&B tracks with certain bass segments, there is a 'stutter' in one frequency set. It's weird, and it only pops up in certain songs. It could very well be an artifact from processing or the original production. Other than that, the SoundLink Max has an impressively controlled bass response which has usually been a weak point for BT speakers and Bose in particular. Looks: My wife loves the Blue Dusk color and the SoundLink Max design itself is simple and clean. I don't need disco lights nor do I need it to look like some alien spaceship. I also dig the rope handle, which I guess can be swapped out for a longer shoulder rope strap but that's not for me. Battery Life: Bose says you get 20 hours at moderate volume, but I spent six hours with the audiophile test and just regular music yesterday and a good three hours so far this morning just working in my office and the speaker is still reporting 100%! Now I hope that's not an error with the software but the weight of this speaker makes me think that it has some solid battery capacity built into it. Charge Capability: Unlike a few portable speakers I've utilized lately, the SoundLink Max will charge your phone if you plug it into the USB-C port. Always a nice feature. Durability/IP Rating: The Bose SoundLink Max feels solid and sturdy, plus the rubberized coating all lead you to feel that it can take some abuse and still keep rocking. That, and the fact that you can replace the handle if needed, all give me a good feeling that I'll be using this speaker for years to come. The solid IP67 (and weirdly secondary IP64) rating also mean that this is a great speaker to take out and about, whether it is to the pool, beach, desert, or wherever you may roam. Phone App: Simple and clean. Always appreciate that. What I don't like as much (but none are very big issues): Weight: Despite being a relatively compact speaker, you could probably do some serious damage to someone if you were to swing this at them. Perhaps Bose should consider marketing it as a self-defense item or perhaps a stylish exercise weight. It's nothing egregious, but it has some heft to it. Equalizer: While I appreciate that the app is clean and simple, and that the equalizer is easy to adjust, I would appreciate some better presets, or better yet, the ability to save my own. Hopefully this will come out in a future app update. I am VERY happy with the Soundlink Max and I look forward to years of great sounding music no matter where I may be.

Great sounds! deep base but expensive!! compared it to my soundcore motion boom plus and tbh its actually louder than this soundlink max!.. yes go on youtube and see reviews but all are done with in 2 feet distance. i placed both speakers against the wall in my garage and walked away about 20 ft. had the volume set the same on both and the montion boom plus was way louder!. will i keep the Bose yes.. only because i was able to price match and had some rearwards points. if it wasn't for the savings i would of returned this speaker the next day and stick with my soundcore speaker. buy it and try the distance review..

The Bose speaker is fantastic—crisp sound, deep bass, sleek design, and long battery life. Easy Bluetooth connection and room-filling audio make it worth every penny.

Best bluetooth portable speaker that I have ever had. The SoundLink Max offers the full sound that I was looking for an only requires a little bit of space. A full charge battery lasts several full days of use before needing a recharge. Very impressed by this little speaker and highly recommend.

I was honestly surprised when I heard this speaker the first time around. Sure, it may just be one speaker but the passive radiators in this little guy make the bass so much boomier and punchier than you'd expect for a speaker this small. Now, don't get it twisted, this isn't gonna beat the bass of even something like a JBL Flip 5 that has a larger driver, but if you've got $100 and you need a speaker for a small room or for moving on the go, it doesn't get much better than this. The built in strap makes it perfect for attaching to bikes and other things and it holds on pretty well. It's pretty waterproof but I'd be careful around the charging port since it doesn't have a cover and is just exposed 24/7 but beyond that, it's a solid little speaker.

Great sound for the size. I connect them with another one or with a bigger bose speaker. Makes for great sound and spread for a bigger area. Especially use this at the beach. Just attach to an umbrella or anything that works. I use this riding my bike. Just put it on the handle bars. Not only great sound for the size but tue battery lasts a long time. The fact that its water proof and dust proof is amazing. I use at the beach, it gets sand on it and just knock it off. I even forgot it outside in the rain overnight once and it was perfectly fine. Stong durable speaker made for life and adventures!

This Bluetooth speaker packs a punch and fills the room with music without needing to be very loud indoors. I look forward to using outdoors. It’s small but loud enough to use for a family gathering. I love it. I think it’s on the expensive side but Bose doesn’t disappoint with the sound and toughness of the speaker. I am glad that I purchased this speaker.

I've had this for over a year and love love love it.. the sound is epic coming out of this tiny device.. one time my home theater system stopped working so I used this and couldn't tell the difference! No problems connecting to the bose app for battery intel... the battery life after a year hasn't phased at all! If I were you and thinking if getting this ..well don't hesitate its totally worth the buy.... its great for road trips, artist adventures to take with you when you want to zen out an draw and listen to music, perfect to listen to the game when out walking, even great for using while you are cooking.. you name it.. Im thinking of getting a larger one for my home theater.. but would recommend this over everything else!

Excellent sound, wish it was a bit louder. I’ve been using the Bose SoundLink Max, and I’m very impressed. The sound quality is outstanding—clear, powerful, and well-balanced even at higher volumes. The bass is deep without being overwhelming, which makes it great for both indoor and outdoor use. The build quality feels premium and durable, and the battery life easily lasts through long days. Overall, it’s a high-quality speaker that delivers exactly what you expect from Bose.

Excellent sound and bass. Powerful and portable. Hold its charge for long periods. Highly satisfied with the purchase, will buy again

Nice bass, great for the shower area a sits water resistant IP67, fast lag free Bluetooth 5.2, pairs well design wise with a MacBook Pro, nice build and super convenient handle, built well and has a hefty felt to it but not too heavy.

It sounds incredible! That Bose sound!! The bass is crazy!!! Rumbles!! Mids and highs are crisp and clear. You can also adjust the EQ to your liking on the app. Great battery life!! Dust and waterproof is a plus. It also looks elegant. A bit pricey but if you can afford it, you'll not regret it.

This is my first Bose purchase ever! After contemplating for 5 years on a portable speaker, I chose to go with a Bose based on my mother’s recommendation and a friend who has a Bose surround sound system for his TV. They have spoken good things about Bose. I chose this one also because it was on sale during Black Friday. When I connected my phone to this thing, I was completely shocked and amazed at the sound quality. Its pretty loud too…. in my opinion. I am someone who likes a lot of base in some of my music and for a portable speaker, this was a pleasing a sound. The base is pretty good. I do recommend. Try it when it goes on sale again if you dont want to pay full price.

Great sound quality. Water and weather proof. Cool carrying strap. Loving the color.

This Bose Sound Link Max delivers the best quality sound with a smooth design, pleasurable appearance and of course, portable and long playing battery life

I'm not a Bose fanboy at all but this speaker is fantastic. I think at one point I owned 15 Bluetooth speakers so I have a good idea of what I want out of a speaker over a wide range of sizes. Everything about the Max is perfect. The bass is solid. I can't believe they fit all this sound into such a small package. The build quality is perfection. The Bluetooth is rock solid. It connects instantly every time. Handles multiple devices no problem. The price is steep so maybe wait for a sale in the future. But even if you pay full price I don't think you will have buyers remorse. I would love if the app EQ was 5 band instead of 3 band but I would not change anything about the speaker itself. So tempted to get another one once they add stereo pairing.