Short answer: the B&O Beosound A5 for better sound quality, the Bose SoundLink Plus for the lower price. The B&O Beosound A5 ranks #12 of 105 large speakers, rated 4.5/5, at $1,650. The Bose SoundLink Plus ranks #25, rated 4.2/5, at $269, $1,381 cheaper.
Why pick the B&O Beosound A5: Ip65 protection, up to 101db and mono playback make its feature set practical for its intended room or portable use. It keeps a wired aux input, which the Bose SoundLink Plus lacks.
The Bose SoundLink Plus is the longer-running, lighter pick. A 3.3 lbs (1.5 kg) mid-size speaker with IP67 water and dust protection, close to 20 hours of battery and a USB-C power bank output. It is rated for 20 hours of battery against 12 for the B&O Beosound A5. At 3.3 lbs (1.5 kg) it weighs much less than the B&O Beosound A5 at 8.5 lbs (3.86 kg). It is rated IP67 against IP65 for the B&O Beosound A5. The tradeoff: Boosted thuddy bass, but not as deep as the SoundLink Flex and you should probably just buy one of those instead if you want a Bose.
Buy the B&O Beosound A5 if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Bose SoundLink Plus if the price matters more than sound quality.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
At 3.86 kg, B&O Beosound A5 combines 5.25” woofer, 2x 2” fullrange, 0.8” tweeter with Bluetooth and aux.
Amazon $1,650.00 eBay
A 1.5 kg mid-size speaker with IP67 water and dust protection, close to 20 hours of battery and a USB-C power bank output.
Amazon $269.00 eBayPrices on this page were last checked October 16, 2026 at 5:46 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
Specifications Side By Side
| B&O Beosound A5 | Bose SoundLink Plus | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,650.00 | $269.00 |
| Ranked | #12 of 105 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #25 of 105 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| IP Rating | IP65 | IP67 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Beolink Multiroom) | Yes (Bose Party mode) |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | No | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | Yes | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) | No |
| Weight | 8.5 lbs (3.86 kg) | 3.3 lbs (1.5 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | - |
| App | No | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | No |
| EQ | No | No |
| Power Bank | No | Yes (USB-C) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 | 5.4 |
| Dimensions | 11.2” x 7.4” x 5.1” (285 x 187 x 130 mm) | 9.1” x 3.9” x 3.4” (231 x 99 x 86 mm) |
| Drivers | 5.25” woofer, 2x 2” fullrange, 0.8” tweeter | 1x 2.5” (63.5mm) woofer + 1x ~0.78” (20mm) tweeter + 4x passive radiators |
| Frequency Response | 32Hz - 23kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Amplifier Power | 280W | - |
| Maximum SPL | 101dB (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Battery Life | 12+ hours (Manufacturer specified) | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Strap | No | Yes (built-in loop) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How B&O Beosound A5 compares with other leading options: