Short answer: the Bose SoundLink Color II. It ranks #97 of 135 medium speakers by sound quality at $118.40; the Cabasse Swell ranks #101 and costs $300, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Bose SoundLink Color II offers: Soft-touch rubber coating is comfortable to hold and tough enough for bumps and scrapes. Watch for: Boosted bass on Color II.
What the Cabasse Swell offers: Compact, pocketable design (750g). Watch for: Bass boosted.
Buy the Bose SoundLink Color II. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Cabasse Swell and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
If water resistance matters to you, the Cabasse Swell at IPX7 (brief submersion) holds up far better than the Bose SoundLink Color II at IPX4 (splashing).
Specifications Side By Side
| Bose SoundLink Color II | Cabasse Swell | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $118.40 Discontinued | $300 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #97 of 135 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #101 of 135 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Party Mode | Yes (Bose Party mode) | - |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs / 600 g | 1.7 lbs / 750 g |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | IPX7 |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | 4.0 |
| Dimensions | 5.2" x 5" x 2.2" (132 x 127 x 56 mm) | 7.3" x 3" x 3" (185 x 75 x 75 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 40mm full-range drivers | 2x 85mm woofers, 2x 40mm mid-tweeters |
| App | Yes (Bose Connect) | - |
| EQ | No | - |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | - |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Power Input | Micro USB | USB |
| Power Bank | No | - |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Discontinued | Yes | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | - | aptX |
| Output Power | - | 60W |
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The Two Speakers In Full
Bose SoundLink Color II: $118.40 Discontinued Amazon
Pros: Soft-touch rubber coating is comfortable to hold and tough enough for bumps and scrapes. IPX4 splashproof. Supports multipoint pairing to two devices at once.
Cons: Boosted bass on Color II. Not as deep of bass as other models. Lacking midrange detail. Rolled off treble. Discontinued.
Full Bose SoundLink Color II review and specifications →
| App | Yes (Bose Connect) |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 5.2" x 5" x 2.2" (132 x 127 x 56 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 2x 40mm full-range drivers |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IPX4 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Bose Party mode) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs / 600 g |
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Cabasse Swell: $300 Discontinued
Pros: Compact, pocketable design (750g). Can pair two Swells for a 120W stereo system.
Cons: Bass boosted. Bass gets distorted and thuddy. Mids recessed. Discontinued.
Full Cabasse Swell review and specifications →
| Aux Input | Yes |
|---|---|
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | aptX |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.0 |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 7.3" x 3" x 3" (185 x 75 x 75 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 2x 85mm woofers, 2x 40mm mid-tweeters |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Output Power | 60W |
| Power Input | USB |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.7 lbs / 750 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples