Short answer: the Minirig 4 with subwoofer. It ranks #5 of 115 large speakers by sound quality, rated 4.6/5, at $290; the Bose SoundLink Max ranks #17, rated 4.3/5, and costs $399, so there is little reason to consider the other one.
The Minirig 4 with subwoofer is the more balanced system. A 70mm driver plus a wireless subwoofer you can place anywhere give very balanced sound and deeper bass than the old Sub 3, with a 5-band EQ and separate sub controls, and it claims 30 hours of battery. It comes as two pieces with no handle, has no official water rating, and its default tuning needs EQ.
The SoundLink Max is the rugged one-box option. It is IP67, lasted over 43 hours in real-world battery testing, reaches about 48Hz before falling 10dB, and has a sturdy handle, a low-latency aux input and USB-C phone charging. Its upper bass peaks and its midrange dips, and it distorts above about 80 percent volume.
Buy the Minirig 4 with subwoofer. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Bose SoundLink Max and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
There is a real gap in water resistance: the Bose SoundLink Max at IP67 (brief submersion) against the Minirig 4 with subwoofer, which has Splash resistant (splashing).
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
A rugged waterproof speaker with deep bass, a very long real world battery and a port that charges your phone.
A compact speaker and wireless subwoofer pair with some of the most balanced sound available, a long battery and deep, impactful bass.
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 | Minirig 4 with subwoofer | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $399.00 | $290 |
| Ranked | #17 of 115 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #5 of 115 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Aux Latency | 33ms | 0ms |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 48Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP67 | Splash resistant |
| Bluetooth Latency | 116ms | 60ms |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | Partially (1 tweeter) | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | Pointing up |
| Weight | 4.9 lbs (2.2 kg) | 3.2 lbs (1.44 kg) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| EQ | No | Yes |
| Party Mode | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes (Bluetooth or cable) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.0 |
| Dimensions | 10.4” x 4.7” x 4.1” (264.7 x 120.1 x 104.9 mm) | 4” x 2.9” (101.6 x 73 mm) (diameter x height) |
| Drivers | 2x 2.5” (63.5mm) midrange drivers + 1x 0.79” (20mm) tweeter | 70mm custom driver |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | No | - |
| Frequency Response | - | 60Hz - 18kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Amplifier Power | - | 50W |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Minirig 4 with subwoofer: