If sound quality if your top priority and if your budget is $400 or less, then the Bose SoundLink III is the speaker to get. That being said, there are some valid reasons for choosing something else, so in this review, I’ll cover the features and sound quality as well as comparing it to some other options.
FEATURES
Included with the SoundLink III is a power adapter that has a 62” cord and the plug folds flat which is a really nice feature for portable use.
There is a USB port which allows for software updates to ensure ongoing Bluetooth compatibility and you can also charge this in your car using an optional 12V car charger, but keep in mind that does need to be purchased separately.
The SoundLink III includes 4 transducers behind the front grill and 2 passive radiators behind the back grill.
DESIGN & BUILD QUALITY
Regarding the styling, the SoundLink III has a new case design which provides a clean, simple and refined look. It’s also slightly larger in height and width compared to the older models.
You can also customize your SoundLink speaker with a cover which comes in 5 different color choices. Of you can choose one of the speaker designs from the NFL collection.
The speaker is wrapped in aluminum and then has plastic bands covering the top and bottom.
All buttons are located on the top which include the power, bluetooth, auxiliary, mute and volume buttons. The buttons are covered in a protective silicone cover to help protect from dirt and dust.
But something to be aware of regarding the volume functionality is that there isn’t any numeric indication of how loud the volume is, nor do you get a beep or other indication when the maximum volume is reached.
Across the front of the speaker are 4 LED indicators that remain mostly invisible unless they’re being used. But even when lit, they’re pretty subdued and don’t shine like a beacon the way other Bluetooth LED indicators do. These LED’s are used for telling you when either the Bluetooth, Auxiliary or Mute functions are in use as well as indicating when the battery is charging.
One nice feature of this battery is that it has about 40% more life over the the previous SoundLink model. You can expect up to 14 hours which is on the high end compared to other Bluetooth speakers. And it takes about 3 hours to fully charge it up.
And then on the bottom of the speaker are rubber pads which keep the speaker from sliding around.
BLUETOOTH
Regarding the Bluetooth feature, this works very well and it’s easy and quick to pair this with other Bluetooth devices. It has a range of up to 30 feet which I found to be accurate. And you don’t get any periodic drops or Bluetooth connection breaks like you might with other Bluetooth speakers.
The SoundLink III will remember up to 6 of your most recent Bluetooth pairings. So if you try to pair more than 6 devices it will simply replace the new Bluetooth device with one of the other 6 that is used the least.
SOUND QUALITY
When it comes to the sound quality, this is definitely what separates the SoundLink III from other speakers. The overall sound signature is warm, with a slight bass emphasis and a good overall depth, especially compared to other Bluetooth speakers. It provides a very soothing and comfortable sound that you can listen to for hours on end without any fatigue. The SoundLink III also does a very nice job preserving the details and doesn’t sound tinny, even at full volume.
The low end has a decent emphasis to it which shows up a bit, even in songs that aren’t particularly bass heavy. But compared to other Bluetooth speakers this sounds incredibly good as it’s common for so many of the competing speakers to have a weak or anemic sounding bass. Now the low mids can get overshadowed just a bit by the bass, but otherwise, the detail in the mids and highs don’t get lost, and overall the bass is still well managed.
Regarding the mids, vocals have nice detail, and sound natural and smooth. Instruments are well defined and guitar strumming sounds realistic and engaging. The SoundLink III really sets itself apart here by not sounding boxy which again, is so common among many Bluetooth speakers.
The high end or treble region is also fairly crisp with nice detail and is devoid of any harsh or tinny sounds.
Bose even manages to make the soundstage seem a bit larger than you’d expect for a speaker of this size, but otherwise, it is what it is and you’re not going to get the same effect as a pair of stereo speakers.
Now you’ll probably find this speaker sounds best when you place it near a wall, roughly within two feet or so, as this allows the 2 passive radiators on the back side to adequately reflect sound off the wall. So keep this in mind if you’re experimenting with speaker placement.
Also, another nice feature is that when you place the SL III in an open space, it maintains a nice level of sound quality whereas other Bluetooth speakers will start to sound too shrill.
And overall, this speaker sounds great with any genre of music, but it does sound best with music that benefits from a slight bass emphasis
Now this speaker not only sounds great with music but with movies as well. Voices come through very distinctly even during quiet conversations and explosions in movies like Transformers or other action films don’t drown out the other details. The big difference you’ll notice over other Bluetooth speakers is the ability to hear the minor nuances and background noises that tend to get lost or are just too subdued to even notice.
COMPARISON TO OTHER BLUETOOTH SPEAKERS
Now comparing the SL3 to other speakers such as the previous model, the Bose SoundLink II. This newer model gets a little louder without distorting, has a much improved battery life, and does sound better overall. The sound is clearer, vocals stand out more and highs have a bit more detail.
Then comparing the SoundLink III to the UE Boom, the UE Boom is more durable and rugged, including being water resistant but it doesn’t have the bass or the overall sound quality of the SoundLink III, which provides a richer, fuller sound experience by comparison.
Finally, comparing this to the Beats Pill XL, the Pill does provide some bass, but the mids and highs are not nearly as clear and detailed as the SoundLink III. Also, at higher volumes the Pill produces some distortion whereas Bose doesn’t. So again, the sound quality overall is much better with the SoundLink III.
REASONS TO CONSIDER SOMETHING ELSE
Now even though the SL3 really shines in the sound quality department, there are some reasons you may want to choose something else.
First, if having features like aptX, NFC or hands-free calling are important then you may want to consider a different choice.
Also, if you plan on taking this places where it might get knocked around or have something spilled on it then a more rugged durable speaker would probably be a better choice.
And finally, if you primarily want this to use at lower listening volumes then you may actually prefer the SoundLink mini. The mini doesn’t get as loud or sound as good at louder volumes as the SoundLink3, but it does sound very similar at lower volumes. So for example, if you just want some music playing very softly in the background, the mini might be the better way to go.
BUT OTHERWISE
But otherwise, if sound quality, strong battery life and a small form factor are your top priorities, then the Bose SoundLink III is the one to get. Although you can spend more money to get something that sounds nicer, you’re not going to find another speaker with as rich, full and detailed of a sound for the money. Combine that with it’s refined, classy look and you have one dynamite Bluetooth speaker here that you’re sure to enjoy.