Short answer: the Tribit Maxsound Plus V1/V2/Thunderbox Plus. It ranks #21 of 135 medium speakers by sound quality at $79.99; the Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen ranks #33 and costs $129.99, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
Where the Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen shines: it sounds pretty much identical to the 1st gen. The compromise: it’s not stereo, sounds warm with overly boosted bass that drowns out midrange detail, and self-drains its battery about 10% a week.
The appeal of the Tribit Maxsound Plus V1/V2/Thunderbox Plus: switching to Xbass mode gets the flattest frequency response, and all three versions sound exactly the same. That’s offset by: bass is slightly less deep than the best in the category.
Buy the Tribit Maxsound Plus V1/V2/Thunderbox Plus. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
If battery life is a priority, the Tribit Maxsound Plus V1/V2/Thunderbox Plus is rated for 20 hours versus 12 hours for the Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen.
Specifications Side By Side
| Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen | Tribit Maxsound Plus V1/V2/Thunderbox Plus | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $129.99 | $79.99 |
| Ranked | #33 of 135 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #21 of 135 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | No |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | No |
| EQ | Yes (3 band) | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX7 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Bose Party mode) | - |
| Power Input | USB-C | - |
| Stereo | No | Yes |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs / 586 g | 1.3 lbs / 595 g |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 4.2 |
| Dimensions | 7.9" x 3.5" x 2" (201 x 90 x 52 mm) | 2.6" x 7.8" x 2.7" (65 x 198 x 68 mm) (2.56 x 7.79 x 2.68 inches) |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Drivers | 60mm full-range driver with passive radiators | 2x 44mm full-range drivers + 2x passive radiators |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive | - |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 58Hz |
| Bluetooth Latency | - | 160ms |
| Max Volume | - | 99dB |
| Power Bank | - | No |
| Output Power | - | 24W |
The Two Speakers In Full
Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen: $129.99 Amazon
Pros: Pretty much identical sounding to the 1st gen
Cons: Not stereo. Warm sounding with overly boosted bass which drowns out midrange detail. Self drains the battery about 10% a week.
Full Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 7.9" x 3.5" x 2" (201 x 90 x 52 mm) |
| Drivers | 60mm full-range driver with passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (3 band) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Bose Party mode) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs / 586 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Joy & Oluv’Sone: Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen vs Flex
- Oluv Patreon: Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen - sound demo
- Tô Thái Trí Hùng: Unbox & Sound Test - Bose Soundlink Flex 2
- Joy & Oluv’Sone: Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen & Soundcore Motion 300 sound test
- Alan Ross: Hall of Fame classic vs latest Bose tech!
- CEONTHEMAKING: Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd Gen VS Marshall Emberton III - What’s NEW??
- Alan Ross - The Anti Shill!: Small speaker, mighty sound, The Flex gen 2 shatters physics!
- Reddit Search for Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen vs Bose Soundlink Flex
- Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen vs Soundcore Boom 3i
- Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen vs JBL Charge 5 Wifi
- Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen vs Xiaomi Sound Outdoor
- Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen vs Bogasing M4
- Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen vs Bogasing G4
- Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen vs W-King D320
- Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen vs Harman Kardon Luna
- See all 21 comparisons
Tribit Maxsound Plus V1/V2/Thunderbox Plus: $79.99 Amazon
Pros: Use Xbass mode for flattest frequency response. V1/V2/Thunderbox Plus sound exactly the same.
Cons: Slightly less deep bass than the best in category.
Full Tribit Maxsound Plus V1/V2/Thunderbox Plus review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 58Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Latency | 160ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Built in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 2.6" x 7.8" x 2.7" (65 x 198 x 68 mm) (2.56 x 7.79 x 2.68 inches) |
| Drivers | 2x 44mm full-range drivers + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Max Volume | 99dB |
| Output Power | 24W |
| Power Bank | No |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs / 595 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: All Tribit Speakers Compared - Maxsound Plus, Stormbox, Xsound Go, Maxboom
- Alan Ross Reviews: Tribit Stormbox Flow has deeper bass than the Bose Flex but………..
- Alan Ross Reviews: Anker Soundcore 3 vs Tribit Maxsound Plus - Best £50 speaker
- Alan Ross Reviews: JBL Flip 6 vs Maxsound Plus and Soundcore Boost - ultimate travel speaker!
- Alan Ross Reviews: Earfun Uboom Review - full test - vs tribit maxsound and motion plus!
- Alan Ross Reviews: Tribit Maxsound Plus v1 vs V2 - upgraded Maxsound Plus tested! 🏅
- Reddit Search for Tribit Maxsound Plus V1/V2/Thunderbox Plus Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Tribit Maxsound Plus V1/V2/Thunderbox Plus vs JBL Charge 6
- Tribit Maxsound Plus V1/V2/Thunderbox Plus vs Soundcore Motion 300
- Tribit Maxsound Plus V1/V2/Thunderbox Plus vs Sonos Roam 2
- Tribit Maxsound Plus V1/V2/Thunderbox Plus vs Soundcore Boom Go 3i
- Tribit Maxsound Plus V1/V2/Thunderbox Plus vs JBL Partybox 110