Ready for some portable high quality, 360-degree sound to go with your adventures? We just received Bose’s SoundLink Revolve+ II Bluetooth speaker, an excellent option for home offices, camping and everything in between.
Bose recently released two models: SoundLink Revolve II and SoundLink Revolve+ II, both Bluetooth-compatible and easy to port.
[What’s in the box]
The first thing that strikes me once the speaker is out of the box is its unique conical shape and textured carry handle. Once it’s been charged and paired via Bluetooth (Macbook Pro and iPhone 12), it’s time to appreciate the sound that Bose is so well known for! (Note that you’re able to pair just two devices to this speaker at once).
At various volumes, the sound is full and rich. The unique design offers full 360 surround sound, so you can put this little beast in any part of a room (or out on a camping table) and you’ll be rewarded with high quality sound. Bose designed this one with a super-efficient transducer, dual-passive radiators and an omnidirectional acoustic deflector.
The speaker feels solid in the hand and the grippy, textured handle folds down when not in use. Either way, the design is sleek and beautiful. The bottom is constructed of silicone integrated into a seamless aluminum grille.
Bose designed the SoundLink Revolve+ II (and Revolve II) with adventure in mind: it’s both dust and water-resistant.
The product ships with a USB micro-B to USB cable; the optional charging cradle (USD $39) lets you keep it plugged in and fully charged in one spot — excellent for work spaces.
When the speaker is unplugged and unused for more than three days (with a remaining charge of less than 10%), the SoundLink enters battery protection mode to conserve power. The battery status light will indicate medium-to-full and medium charge levels as well as charging and need-to-charge status.
I noticed that the speaker powers off after 20 minutes of inactivity with either AUX connection on battery or AC power, or Bluetooth connection operating on battery power.
The multifunction button controls skipping forward/backward to next/previous track. To answer or end a call, press the multifunction button (and press it again to answer a second incoming call). Callers can also be switched from one to another as well muted/unmuted.
You can also disable auto on-off by pressing and holding the “+” and Input buttons simultaneously.
The microphone in the speaker acts as an extension of the microphone in your smartphone. You can access voice control on your mobile device to make/take calls, play music, tell you the weather, give you the score of a game, and more.
There’s 13 pre-installed languages that ship with the speaker (English, Spanish, French, German, Mandarin, Japanese, Korean, Italian, Portuguese, Swedish, Dutch, Russian, Polish).
Another cool feature (not mentioned in the quick start guide) is the option to plug a 3.5 mm stereo cable into the AUX connector at the back of the speaker.
If you’re looking to pair the SoundLink Revolve II with a Bose Home Speaker or Bose Soundbar, I highly recommend downloading the more detailed user manual (on Bose’s website).
[Optional charging cradle]
Dimensions
SoundLink Revolve II
Size:15.2 cm H x 8.2 cm W x 8.2 cm D (6” x 3.2” x 3.2”)
Weight: 0.66 kg (1.45 lb)
Battery life: Up to 13 hours with a four-hour charge time using provided cable
SoundLink Revolve+ II
Size: 18.4 cm H x 10.5 cm W x 10.5 cm D (7.24” x 4.1” x 4.1”)
Weight: 0.9 kg (1.98 lb)
Battery life: Up to 17 hours with a four-hour charge time using provided cable
Tips
– Place your mobile device within 10 meters (33 feet) of the speaker, making sure there’s a clear line of sight between the two.
– Avoid placing the speaker on wet or dirty surfaces.
– Clean the surface with a soft, damp cloth.
– To switch between two connected devices, pause audio on the first device, then play audio on the second.
The Bose Connect app (iOS, Android) adds a way to connect the speaker, unlock product features and personalize settings (or play two speakers simultaneously in Party Mode). The Bluetooth (4.1) range is up to nine meters (30 feet) too.
The buttons on the silicone top include Bluetooth pairing, input mode, volume up/down, multi-function (for Siri/Google Assistant), and on/off.
Both models come in Triple Black and Luxe Silver; CAD $249/USD $199 (SoundLink Revolve II) and CAD $369/USD $299 (SoundLink Revolve+ II). Visit Bose online for more info.
Disclaimer: Bose sent us the SoundLink Revolve+ II and charging cradle to test drive for this feature. Opinions, as always, are our own.
