Customer Ratings & Reviews

Great sound. I wish the equalizer has more servings, but all in all I am pleased to add this speaker to my Bose collection!

Great sound! Awesome looking speaker! Super excited to take it out and about

This speaker is very good quality and sounds. I am satisfied with this new purchase.

Great sound, change settings in bose app. only concern is reliability. charging failures.

I’m very satisfied with this purchase. It is small with a HUGE sound.

Clarity at it’s best u can’t have a better sound I promise

Great bass and sound. Perfect for a gaming monitor

I am happy to purchase it . Best buy is amazing! Product was frees and no damage issues! There volunteers was very helpful!

The Bose SoundLink Max rechargeable portable speaker, simply to say, lives up to Bose quality and sound. Packaging - great packaging and visual setup instructions Design - strong quality build that is small enough to carry around but feels sturdy and tough enough to last through daily use and listening on the go. The speaker is metal with a rubber skin to protect it from bumps and drops. The layout of buttons is simple and straight forward. The carrying handle is soft but strong and seems like it will hold up for the long term. It looks cool with the corded handle with rubberized grip. The size is also large enough to pack great sound with speakers on the front and sides. It is also waterproof to a point so you can take it outside and not worry about it getting wet when it rains or by the pool. Connectivity - Bluetooth is quick to connect but also provides a mini phone jack for direct connection if needed. A USB charger is included but also you can charge your phone with the same port when you are away and your phone gets low battery. Controls - Buttons are provided for power, volume, pause/play, input source and shortcut. Sound - Great sound that is full and room filling and seems to provide sound that a much larger speaker would provide. Great bass which sounds like a subwoofer is built-in. It gets really loud when you need it for outside listening with good treble and midrange. The midrange provides really good voice quality to better understand the words. It also sounds great at lower volumes. The quality sound is Bose good. Bose App - you can control the EQ settings for bass, midranges and treble through the app. You can also control the speaker volume, pause/play and switch input sources. You can create shortcuts to play from Spotify or to switch to audio line in.

This fairly little speaker puts out awesome sound, especially bass. Not at all surprising from Bose. The speaker isn’t tiny like the Bose Soundlink Mini II, and the sound is actually slightly better. Being probably three times the size of the Mini II, it is still very portable. Extremely portable in fact with the very comfortable built-in (but interchangeable) handle. It is heavier than I anticipated, but my guess is that is why it delivers bass that is deep and rich, comparable to many speakers way bigger than this one is. It doesn’t end with the bass. The speaker has incredible midrange and treble also. Turned all the way up there is no sound distortion that I detected. It has the ordinary Bluetooth control buttons (see picture) with an extra shortcut button (more later on that). It utilizes the Bose Music App which is a huge benefit as I can control it from the same place I do other Bose speakers. With the app, you can change the input source and customize the equalizer (or use four preprogrammed equalizer presets). The shortcut button is disappointing. You can turn it on and off or program it from the app. But there are ONLY TWO options for it. Those are to use the auxiliary (3mm) jack or Spotify. The shortcut button is pretty much worthless for those of us who don’t use Spotify. Not sure why Bose didn’t make other services such as iHeart, Apple Music, etc. available with the shortcut bar. It charges with a standard USB C to USB C cable and comes with its own power brick. So far battery life has been amazing. I haven’t actually timed the battery life but have played it all day long without draining the battery. The tips in the app suggest it is water resistant, as they show how to remove moister and dry the speaker. I didn’t read anything elsewhere about it being water resistant. I don’t plan on testing this out. However, it will be going to the beach a lot. I have several Bose speakers and just like the others, this one definitely delivers. Again, the sound is amazing for a smaller portable speaker. I very highly recommend this speaker for anyone looking for a quality, higher end, portable Bluetooth speaker.

Bose Rock's Bose a very good company I recommended to anyone going to get the speaker it's a very good speaker

Terrible purchase. Wasted $400. The Power button is FLIMSY and WEAK. I pressed the button too hard and heard the plastic break and fall into the speaker. Now it is un-usuable. There is also no remote or automatic bluetooth turn on functionality so now the speaker has become a brick. I only owned it for 7 months. And trying to replace it with BOSE now, the serial number is printed so poorly they cannot recognize the ID. Please don’t waste your money and time with this poorly made product.

Great speaker. This is the second time the power button has broken. Only had it about 2 months and already having to go back and get it replaced.

The Verdict: The Bose SoundLink Max Speaker is without a doubt incredible. If you are an audiophile like me, this is a must-have speaker. I have had many Bose products through the years and they never disappoint. This latest portable SoundLink Max has the word “Max” in its name for a reason. Setup Setup is simple, straightforward, and very intuitive. When I received the speaker, it was about halfway charged and took a few hours to charge up to full. Once charged up, pairing it to my iPhone was easy and I also paired it with a computer via Bluetooth. It retains the connection well and pairs right back up when you power it back on, provided the paired device is close enough. While not required, the Bose App gives you a lot of additional functionality and settings. I would highly recommend using the app to tweak your speaker to your ears’ liking. More on that below. Use I can’t say enough how incredible this little speaker is. The form factor is the perfect size for portability and it doesn’t weigh as much as you’d think given the amazing sound it produces. This speaker takes bass to the MAX – it will literally rattle your windows like a small earthquake if you turn the bass all the way up via the app. The sound is rich, full, and sounds like it is coming from a speaker 3-4 times the size of this little mini MAX. As I mentioned before, the app, while not required, should really be downloaded and utilized. It not only allows you to manage the EQ settings, but allows for Firmware/Software updates, registration/warranty support (if you ever need it), Battery life has been outstanding. I’ve been using this speaker often for nearly 5 days and I’m still at over 50 percent charged – very impressive. I currently have it placed in a bathroom (separate from the shower) for listening to music in the morning while showering. It’s sound is powerful enough even though it’s in a separate room. While you can control just about anything and everything from either the app or whatever device you connect via Bluetooth, my only wish is that this speaker came with a remote. I realize this is designed mainly to be a portable speaker, but I would be willing to pay a little more for a remote. I would highly recommend this speaker to anyone looking for a high quality, reasonably priced portable speaker with outstanding sound quality.

This speaker's sound is elite. The battery is ok but after just 5 months the sound is distorted and crackling speakers. I'm sad.

I previously had an older Bose 360 degree speaker and it was great - it was portable, sounded good, and you could hear music in any direction. This definitely takes it up several notches, however. With the SoundLink Max, you get stereo sound and good bass as well. It isn't extremely large, I would say roughly the size of a shoe. I really like the rubberized finish on it, which means that it is durable and can handle a few bumps and bruises. I also like the fact that it is powered by USB-C and can charge your phone as well! Having an aux input jack is also very nice. Because it has stereo drivers, it is able to do left/right, whereas other speakers have just a single driver. Bass is further enhanced by the radiators on the sides, as some other competitor models also do. That being said, I was impressed by the sound quality. By default the sound is "energetic", with prominent mids and good bass. However the app provides the ability to adjust the EQ (though only in bass/mid/high, instead of a more precise layout with sliders for the different bands) to tune the sound to your liking. The carry handle is also fairly sturdy, and the speaker can get pretty loud. All in all, I really like this device in that it has good quality sound without being overly large/heavy.

The SoundLink Max delivers excellent sound quality (which BOSE is known for!) The speaker measures in at 10.5” x 5” x 4” which makes it very portable. The first thing I noticed was the building quality. It has a little heft, which I love, and the rope handle is a nice touch. The sound quality is amazing, which is nice is such a small package. Too many times, I have used bluetooth portable speakers, and the sound quality negates portability. The bass was not too much, and the mids sounded great. I am a big classical fan, and this speaker manages to perform well in the genre. For battery, we are looking at 20 hours at moderate volume. I was able to use the device for around 5 hours, low volume, and the device was still at 100%, which was crazy. I believe if you keep the device at a decent to low volume, you could possibly see better battery life in terms of hours. There is also a USB-C port you can use to charge a phone, which is a neat feature to have. You can never have enough ways to charge handy. Overall, this is a well-designed, excellent performing Bluetooth speak. This will be a daily driver for me and my family as the portablity and sound, along with excellent battery life make this a must have for us.

Bose has come out swinging powerfully with the release of the Soundlink Max wireless speaker. As an owner and fan of the SoundLink Flex speaker, I was surprised and excited to hear that Bose would be releasing a bigger and louder version of it. If you already own a prior version of this line of speakers, you'll kind of know what to expect, but I promise you that you will be impressed! Sound Quality: I am blown away by how good this Bose speaker sounds. It definitely sounds a lot bigger than it physically is. I like to sit it on my window sill when I am listening to music and it fills our living room with music easily. It has such a nice full and immersive sound. I feel like I am standing in a concert hall when I use this speaker in my living room to listen to music. It is loud, even at a low 30-40% volume setting. The bass is very punchy, without drowning out the mids and highs. Mids have a nice subtle tone that carry the treble and voices very nicely to your ears. This speaker sounds so good, that I cannot wait to hear what the next song on my playlist is going to sound like through it. If you're an audiophile, You'll understand what I am saying. I honestly love this speaker, and I plan on using it every chance I get. Bose has proven their sound engineering knowledge and If there is an award for "Portable speaker of the year" I think this one deserves it. Build quality: This speaker is very very rugged. I think it will definitely survive a drop from shoulder height. I'm not going to test my theory, but it is tough. It is heavy, and it's built like a tank. The carry strap is a very nice touch, you can remove it easily if you don't want it. But I think it is classy and since the speaker is chunky ( I can barely wrap my hand around the whole thing), it makes carrying it around a lot easier. my one and only complaint about this speaker, is that the silicone "skin" that covers the speaker is a huge lint and dust magnet. If you have OCD about keeping things dust free as I do. You will find yourself wiping this thing clean very often. lol. I understand the need for it though. It gives the speaker a nice rugged protective skin. I do love that Bose included a 3.5mm aux port on here. I plan on using it to connect it to my home projector when watching movies. The USB C port is for input/output. So it will charge the speaker with a fast charging cable, and it will output power to charge your phone or tablet! I don't know how I feel about draining the battery from this amazing speaker to charge my phone, but it is definitely a very nice feature to have if I need to charge my phone in an emergency. Would I recommend this speaker? Yes, I highly recommend this speaker. You will not be disappointed.

Bose never ceases to amaze me with their products. I hate to sound like a “fan boy” but man…quality and performance is what counts and Bose takes it to the max with the Soundlink Max! I cannot not believe the range, clarity and bass that bursts from the speakers in the Soundlink Max. I wanted to replace a speaker that I had in my garage for projects due to environmental damage. The previous garage speaker had a critter that stored seeds and made a nest in the subwoofer opening! Ruined! IPX proofing is important on an outdoor speaker! Soundlink Max is IPX6… No critter, no water or dust gonna stop Soundlink from brining the tunes. IPX6 rated protection is extremely waterproof but not submersible. It can take rain, splashes or a spilled beverage! It’s ready for the beach, pool or adventure! NOTE: if you get it wet…let it dry COMPLETELY before trying to charge it usb! No hair dryers either. I don’t like reading manuals…but Bose kept it simple on the app so I would recommend checking it out to maximize your Soundlink Max. It also is usb C for charging which I really love. You can also charge your phone from it but note that it will decrease the 20 hours or play. Bose also makes a mention that if you are using max sound setting the 20 hours is greatly reduced as one would expect. To help with battery, if you leave it on accidently, after 20 minutes it will auto shut off which is nice. I also really love the premium material of skin, It feels soft but slip resistant if you have wet hands. The buttons are responsive. You can turn the volume up and down and play and pause on the speaker itself….BUT NO NEXT/BACK SONG BUTTON! That’s definitely a design misstep or bad design choice but totally forgivable. I use my phone most of the time anyway. The speaker sets solid on anything you set it on…beach towel or beach bag. While looking at the manual in the Bose App, I discovered you can change the handle with ease to different color rope design! I like that little touch. I also like the ergonomic handle… feels good and solid in the hand or to use it to tie on the boat somewhere or a canoe on a float trip! I like the app Bose has. I had the app with my BOSE Headphones and the Soundlink Max synced right up no problem. You can play with the EQ if you want…I found the factory set is the best for me. Back to the sound…Just world class. I love music and I have too many headphones and speakers to be honest but I like having the right device for the right job….For summer fun or out door adventure…BOSE SOUNDLINK MAX is by far the way to go. It completely fills my back deck, garage or any room in my house up with full rich, clear and crisp sound with bass that seems impossible from such a small device with no visible subwoofer or tweeters!!! So easy to transport anywhere you want to go! Loud for a party or soft for ambience….just amazing. Not to mention the rich warm conversations from podcasts. I absolutely love the Soundlink Max!

Without question, the SL Max provides great sound out-of-the-box dominating speakers twice its size and form factor. With very few shortcomings, it will be my go-to speaker for beach/picnic outings due to its space filling soundscape and portability. Performance- Rich, full sound with a great balance of treble and bass. No peaking on high volumes and easily able fill a room and/or cover a space in a mid-size gathering. App based EQ can further implement a specific sound profile to match different genres of music. My overall rating is specifically tied to its robust performance. Size/ Portability- A lot packed into a little. For comparison, it's roughly the size of a Fiji water bottle and easily able to fit into any backpack without hogging too much space. With that, the control panel buttons are sized just right, even for my thick fingers. Another high point. Build- When you first grab the handle, you may be slightly surprised at how heavy the capsule is. With that weight comes confidence in the build. This is a solid, sturdy road companion. I have no issue toss around, getting wet, or placing in the sand. A downside it there are no covers for the power or aux inputs, but there is a warning system for charging. If there is water detected, the led will flash until dry. In any event Bose recommends fan usage for drying/clearing debris, so I can still feel confident in taking it wherever I boldly go. This goes for the handle as well. Very sturdy, without the need to be delicate. Battery- The first 10% of the fully charged battery disappeared after about an hour and some change, which I assumed I was going to get roughly 10% per hour. But, I've been at 80% for well past that metric which gives a solid plus for battery life. Of course, the louder the play, the shorter the battery life, but for sporadic usage, the battery has surpassed satisfaction. Finish- This is where I find one of my main issues. The finish of the Max is a rubber based matte coating. While I know it helps with durability, it is terrible for keeping your speaker looking its best. All knicks, dust, specks, marks, etc. show on the surface and are not easily removed. So, if you're going to put this speaker to hardship, let it be known it will look the part over time. Also, I have known such finishes to not do well over time with oxidation. Only time will tell, but this is/has been my experience. App experience- Easily connected to several BT sources with/without the app. App adds EQ and quick settings so it will be advantageous if you like to tinker with your sound. The app has been improved since my last foray with the S1 Pro. So far, dependable and useful when I choose to use it. A few things to wrap up. The first is the Shortcut button. It is promoted as programmable, but the only choices are for the AUX and Spotify. I'm hoping that can be expanded through a software update at a later date, as of writing this, it is simply a disguised "source" button. I would love to set the button to my preferred music app of choice. Second, there are no in-call options. No mic or speaker output of calls. That can be a hit or miss feature, and they chose to exclude it here. When you take a call, music stops, call is taken through handset. Once call completes, music automatically resumes with no interaction needed. Not an issue, but is one of those features that should be noted. In closing, The Soundlink Max lives up to the boisterous claims and satisfies just about all of my needs and wants in an on-the-go speaker. A worthy companion.