Audio quality is always going to be a speaker’s most important feature, but it doesn’t hurt if it looks nice too. In our tests, Bose’s SoundLink Home is a solid sounding, aesthetically pleasing portable Bluetooth speaker that you can currently pick up for $199.99 ($20 off) from Amazon, Best Buy, and Bose.
The SoundLink Home’s aluminum band and fabric covering distinguish it from the plastic shells used for other speakers, and are likely to be the first things you notice. However, former Verge reporter Chris Welch was also pleased by the way it sounded, especially when listening to acoustic instruments or vocals. There wasn’t much distortion when listening at higher volumes either. You can’t adjust the SoundLink Home’s EQ, and it mixes audio down to mono unless you pair two together for true stereo. At that price, you’re better off getting a premium stereo speaker like JBL’s Authentics 200, which I tested and really enjoyed.
The speaker lasted around nine hours in our tests, so you probably won’t have to charge it more than once a week or so. Its USB-C charging port doubles as an audio input, so you can play audio from a laptop or digital audio player using a cable while another device is connected to it via Bluetooth. Although you can take the SoundLink Home anywhere, be mindful that it has no IP durability rating, which means even a small amount of exposure to dust and water can damage it. If you’re willing to trade aesthetics for durability, we recommend Bose’s SoundLink Flex, which is a lot more rugged.
The Bose SoundLink Home is a good choice if you want a portable Bluetooth speaker to use around the house. It’ll look nice on the desk of a home office, but can be easily carried to the living room or a covered patio when friends come over. It’d also make an excellent holiday gift if you’re already looking for deals while shopping early.
