Short answer: the Bose SoundLink Max. It ranks #17 of 77 large speakers by sound quality at $309.99; the Sonos Move 2 ranks #25 and costs $399, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The case for the Bose SoundLink Max: IP67 rated - dustproof and waterproof to 1m. The tradeoff: Big peak in the upper bass, dipped midrange and lots of peaks and dips above the midrange.
What the Sonos Move 2 offers: Warm sounding with somewhat rolled off treble. Watch for: Not very loud.
Buy the Bose SoundLink Max. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Sonos Move 2 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
Specifications Side By Side
| Bose SoundLink Max | Sonos Move 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $309.99 | $399.00 |
| Ranked | #17 of 77 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #25 of 77 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | No |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Aux Latency | 33ms | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 48Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built in Microphone | No | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP56 |
| Bluetooth Latency | 116ms | - |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | Partially (1 tweeter) | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Weight | 4.9 lbs / 2.2 kg | 6.6 lbs / 3 kg |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| EQ | No | No |
| Party Mode | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.0 |
| Dimensions | 10.4" x 4.7" x 4.1" (264.7 x 120.1 x 104.9 mm) | 9.5" x 6.3" x 5" (242 x 160 x 126 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 2.5" (63.5mm) midrange drivers + 1x 0.79" (20mm) tweeter | mid-woofer, 2x angled tweeters |
| Output Power | Specs not published by manufacturer | Specs not published by manufacturer |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Wifi | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- B&O Beoplay A2 active vs Sonos Move
- B&O Beoplay A2 active vs JBL Xtreme 5
- B&O Beoplay A2 active vs Marshall Middleton II
- B&O Beoplay A2 active vs Bose SoundLink Max
- Sonos Move 2 vs Sonos Move
The Two Speakers In Full
Bose SoundLink Max: $309.99 Amazon
Pros: IP67 rated - dustproof and waterproof to 1m. Up to 20 hour battery; real-world testing found 43+ hours. Deep, rich bass with neutral tuning, app EQ. USB-C doubles as device charger. Sturdy carry handle.
Cons: Big peak in the upper bass, dipped midrange and lots of peaks and dips above the midrange. Bass not as deep as a Boom 2. Gets distorted above 80%. Self drains the battery about 20% a week.
Full Bose SoundLink Max review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Aux Latency | 33ms |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 48Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Latency | 116ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 10.4" x 4.7" x 4.1" (264.7 x 120.1 x 104.9 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 2.5" (63.5mm) midrange drivers + 1x 0.79" (20mm) tweeter |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | Specs not published by manufacturer |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Partially (1 tweeter) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 4.9 lbs / 2.2 kg |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Joy & Oluv’Sone: Bose SoundLink Max & SoundCore Boom 2 - indoor soundtest
- Joy & Oluv’Sone: Bose SoundLink Max & SoundCore Boom 2 - outdoor soundtest
- Alan Ross Reviews: Bose Max, the worlds most overpriced speaker? its a shocker!
- Oluv Patreon: Marshall Middleton II - first impressions
- Jay’s Straight Up Reviews & More: Bose SoundLink Max vs. Ultimate Ears EpicBoom 🤑Big Bucks No Whammies? 💣 Let’s Find Out 😧
- Jay’s Straight Up Reviews & More: Bose SoundLink Max vs Tribit XSound Mega 😲 Can the Budget Priced Speaker Hang With the Big $ One?
- Scott’s Reviews: Bose SoundLink Max First Impressions, Unboxing, and Sound Test.
- Reddit Search for Bose SoundLink Max Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Bose SoundLink Max vs B&O Beoplay A2 active
- Bose SoundLink Max vs JBL Xtreme 3
- Bose SoundLink Max vs Soundcore Motion X600
- Bose SoundLink Max vs Soundcore Select Pro
- Bose SoundLink Max vs Soundcore Rave Neo 2
- Bose SoundLink Max vs Soundcore Motion Boom
- Bose SoundLink Max vs Harman Kardon Citation 200
- Bose SoundLink Max vs Bose SoundLink Plus
- See all 23 comparisons
Sonos Move 2: $399.00 Amazon
Pros: Warm sounding with somewhat rolled off treble. Slightly better midrange clarity than the Move 1.
Cons: Not very loud. This may have some of the same issues at full volume that the Move 1 had too, but I’ll need more sound samples at full volume to verify.
Full Sonos Move 2 review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 9.5" x 6.3" x 5" (242 x 160 x 126 mm) |
| Drivers | mid-woofer, 2x angled tweeters |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IP56 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | Specs not published by manufacturer |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 6.6 lbs / 3 kg |
| Wifi | Yes |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Sonos Move 2 vs Soundcore Motion X500
- Sonos Move 2 vs Sonos Move
- Sonos Move 2 vs Marshall Middleton II
- Sonos Move 2 vs Bose SoundLink Plus
- Sonos Move 2 vs Teufel Rockster Cross
- Sonos Move 2 vs LG Xboom Bounce
- Sonos Move 2 vs Soundcore Rave Neo 2
- Sonos Move 2 vs Marshall Middleton
- See all 27 comparisons