Short answer: the Brane X. It ranks #4 of 115 large speakers by sound quality, rated 4.6/5, at $549. The Bose SoundLink Max ranks #17, rated 4.3/5, at $399, $150 cheaper, a saving that is not big enough to make up the sound-quality gap.
The Bose SoundLink Max is the longer-running, lighter choice. A rugged waterproof speaker with deep bass, a very long real world battery and a port that charges your phone. It is rated for 20 hours of battery against 12 for the Brane X. At 4.9 lbs (2.2 kg) it weighs noticeably less than the Brane X at 7.7 lbs (3.5 kg). Watch for: Big peak in the upper bass, dipped midrange and lots of peaks and dips above the midrange.
The Brane X is the deeper-bass pick. A portable speaker with extraordinarily deep bass for its size, plus Wi-Fi, AirPlay, Alexa and a low latency aux input. Its bass reaches about 31Hz before falling 10dB, against 48Hz for the Bose SoundLink Max. It supports aptX HD Bluetooth, which the Bose SoundLink Max lacks. It links with other speakers (Brane app, up to 8 speakers), which the Bose SoundLink Max cannot. Watch for: The front-facing design has only moderate dispersion, so sound changes noticeably off to the sides or behind it.
Buy the Brane X. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $150 saving on the Bose SoundLink Max is not enough to make up the difference.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
A rugged waterproof speaker with deep bass, a very long real world battery and a port that charges your phone.
A portable speaker with extraordinarily deep bass for its size, plus Wi-Fi, AirPlay, Alexa and a low latency aux input.
Prices on this page were last checked October 31, 2026 at 7:11 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
| Bose SoundLink Max | Brane X | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $399.00 | $549.00 |
| Ranked | #17 of 115 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #4 of 115 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes (Brane app) |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Aux Latency | 33ms | 295ms default, 33ms with aux pass-through |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 48Hz | 31Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP57 |
| Bluetooth Latency | 116ms | 100ms |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | AC Power brick |
| Stereo | Partially (1 tweeter) | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Weight | 4.9 lbs (2.2 kg) | 7.7 lbs (3.5 kg) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | aptX HD, aptX, AAC, SBC |
| EQ | No | Yes (5 band) |
| Party Mode | No | Yes (Brane app, up to 8 speakers) |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.1 |
| Dimensions | 10.4” x 4.7” x 4.1” (264.7 x 120.1 x 104.9 mm) | 9.3” x 7” x 6.1” (236 x 178 x 155 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 2.5” (63.5mm) midrange drivers + 1x 0.79” (20mm) tweeter | 2x 2.5” midrange, 2x 0.75” tweeters + 6.5”x9” subwoofer |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | No | No |
| Maximum SPL | - | 106dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Wi-Fi | - | Yes |
| Voice Assistants | - | Amazon Alexa |
| Frequency Response | - | 30Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Amplifier Power | - | 200W |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Brane X compares with other leading options: