This retro-looking Bose speaker brings the boom (and an immense amount of style)

What’s the deal?

The Bose SoundLink Home portable Bluetooth speaker is Bose’s latest speaker release and a Bose exclusive. it’s stylish and sounds great, and it’s on sale at Bose’s website for $199 ahead of Black Friday.

Bluetooth speakers are an easy way to bring your favorite tunes into any room in your home. They can also be companions while you spend a day on the beach, hike, or host a few friends. 

But I’ve been turned off by the popularity of rugged Bluetooth speakers; it’s great that many speakers can withstand days at the beach, drops in the pool, and tumbles down the side of a mountain on a hike. My issue is that speakers don’t have to look like they can survive the end times.

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As a result, I’ve explored speakers meant for home use, with my favorite being the Sonos Era 300. However, it’s not easy to move from room to room. One speaker has answered my sound, style, and portability wishes, and it’s the Bose SoundLink Home, the latest speaker in Bose’s SoundLink lineup.

The SoundLink Home is a simple Bluetooth speaker, so it lacks the features of a smart speaker, like compatibility with WiFi or voice assistants. As a result, its main selling points are sound and design. 

In the audio community, a running joke about Bose speakers is, “No highs, no lows, must be Bose.” Sure, the highs are a bit sharp, and the mids are slightly hollow, but the bass on this relatively small speaker is insane.

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The SoundLink Home’s penchant for low-tone sound compelled me to listen to lots of R&B and hip-hop, like Frank Ocean’s Novacane, Omar Apollo’s Kamikaze, and Kendrick Lamar’s Money Trees. This speaker reproduces skipping and groovy basslines beautifully, and lower-pitched singing voices are received well.

The bass is full and punchy, and the mid-low sounds are vivid and electric, even at low volumes. Most people prefer these tones to be at the forefront of their speakers’ and headphones’ sound profiles, so I can see a broad audience enjoying this speaker. 

Overall, the SoundLink Home’s warm and mellow sound profile, clear-enough vocals and midrange instruments, and prominent bass response at low volumes make it more than suitable for at-home listening.

In Bose’s advertising campaign for the SoundLink Home, the models are donned in neutral, warm-toned, and loose-fitting clothing. Their model homes feature wood floors and panels, tile backsplashes, sheer curtains, and earth-toned, minimalistic furniture. 

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I’m an informed consumer, Bose. I know an ode to the 70s when I see one. Bose is targeting a specific audience: younger people with a 70s-influenced aesthetic who want a speaker that fits their style more than it offers future-forward software features.

The SoundLink Home sports a retro-inspired design with a metal frame and stand, while the rest of the speaker is mesh. If designs like the Beats Pill (2024), Apple HomePod, and Sonos Era 100 are just a tad too modern for your taste, the SoundLink Home offers the old-school style you may want.

Although its metallic accents can complement more modern home designs, its rectangular form factor, and speaker impression placement make the SoundLink Home resemble an old 70s AM/FM radio. 

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The SoundLink Home’s most significant technological feature is its connectivity. It is equipped with Bluetooth 5.3, which offers stable and efficient connections. However, this speaker only provides nine hours of playtime before recharging, so it’s not the most battery-friendly speaker.

A USB-C port on the speaker’s side allows for connection to other audio sources, like a laptop, and this speaker has microphones for taking and making phone calls.

On the flip side, the SoundLink Home isn’t compatible with the Bose or Bose Connect apps, meaning you cannot access speaker controls through a companion app. Still, if you purchase two SoundLink Home speakers, you can manually pair them into Stereo Mode.

Stereo Mode turns one speaker into a left audio channel and one into a right audio channel, creating a more spacious and more immersive soundstage. Playing some jazz or mellow tunes through two of these speakers while you have guests over during the holiday season will turn you into the host of the year.

ZDNET’s buying advice

The Bose SoundLink Home is a wonderful home speaker that strays from the industry standard of angular, rugged, and bright-colored design elements. If you want a Bluetooth speaker that harkens back to the 1970s, the SoundLink Home is the one for you.

However, most Bluetooth speakers on the market can offer at least 12 hours of battery life, and the SoundLink Home falls short with nine hours of playtime. It lacks any official water protection, and Bose suggests keeping this speaker away from water and moist environments. Still, its great sound and interesting design set it apart from mainstream options.

If the SoundLink Home’s retro design doesn’t move you and you want a waterproof Bluetooth speaker with a longer battery life, consider the Beats Pill (2024). If you want a smart home speaker and portability isn’t at the top of your priority list, consider the Sonos Era 300.

When will this deal expire?

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