Bose today announced it has beefed up its popular Soundlink line of Bluetooth speakers, unveiling the stylish little portable pad, the Soundlink Color, as well as the new Soundlink Bluetooth On-Ear headphones, which are a first for Bose
Sounlink Color ($130)
Resting somewhere between the Soundlink Mini, and the Soundlink III in size, Bose’s latest portable Bluetooth speaker is the most affordable in the lineup. As one might guess from the name, the speaker comes in a rash of colors, including mint, black, white, blue, and red, and weighs just over a pound, allowing users to easily take the speaker along for a ride. Fashioned with an elastomer and plastic casing, the slim speaker stretches about 5-inches high and wide, and 2 inches deep.
Related: Soundlink Mini review
Along with its wide color palette and slim form, the Soundlink Color offers some other handy options, including voice operated commands which Bose claims will help “simplify setup and identify which source is connected.” In addition, the speaker remembers up to 8 previously connected source devices, and will auto-connect to the two most recent sources when powered on. Other features include an 8-hour battery and an Aux input.
Like the Soundlink Mini, the Color employs dual active drivers in the front, and dual passive radiators in the rear to bolster the bass in an attempt to offer full range sound from its slim package.
Soundlink On-Ear Bluetooth headphones ($250)
While best known for its noise-canceling headphones, it seems Bose couldn’t resist offering up its own take on the expansive selection of Bluetooth headphones now permeating the audio landscape. Claiming a “new level of performance” in the genre, Bose describes its new wireless cans as both “crisp” and “powerful.” They offer Bose’s Triport and Active Equalization DSP in an attempt to create a full and balanced sound signature.
Related: Bose’s new QC25 noise-canceling headphones will replace legendary QC15
As expected, the headphones offer full control over play/pause, track selection, power, and call answering on the earcup. They also employ a few other attractive traits, including Adaptive Audio Adjustment, designed to raise or lower the volume depending upon the outside environment, a twin-microphone system to reject ambient sound for phone calls, and the ability to remember two devices at a time so you can easily switch sources.
The Soundlink On-Ear is also built to travel, sporting a 5.5-ounce chassis constructed from stainless steel and glass-filled nylon for durability, and like other headphones in the Bose family, the ‘phones also fold up to easily stow in their included case. The headphones offer a claimed 15 hours of wireless play on a full charge, or 2 hours on a 15 minute quick charge, and are available in either black or white.
Bose’s Soundlink On-Ear headphones are available today, while the Soundlink Color speaker will start shipping on September 25, with pre-orders available now.
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