Short answer: the Bose SoundLink Max. It ranks #17 of 120 large speakers by sound quality, rated 4.3/5, at $399. The Turtlebox Cub ranks #85, rated 3.0/5, at $330, $69 cheaper, not enough of a saving to outweigh the sound-quality gap.
The SoundLink Max has deep, rich bass to about 48Hz, but a big upper bass peak and a dipped midrange, and it distorts above about 80% volume. The Cub has only listening impressions so far: loud for its size, warm and bass-forward, with some bass loss at high volume.
Both are IP67 with a USB-C power bank. The Max adds an aux input with low latency. The Cub adds crush resistance, tie-downs and Party Mode.
Battery: Bose claims 20 hours and real world testing found over 40. Turtlebox claims 14+.
Weight: 4.9 lbs (2.2 kg) for the Max, 5.3 lbs (2.4 kg) for the Cub.
Buy the Bose SoundLink Max. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $69 saving on the Turtlebox Cub is not enough to make up the difference.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Bose SoundLink Max | Turtlebox Cub | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $399.00 | $330.00 |
| Ranked | #17 of 120 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #85 of 120 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | - |
| Aux Input | Yes | - |
| Aux Latency | 33ms | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 48Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 14+ hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | - |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Bluetooth Latency | 116ms | - |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | Partially (1 tweeter) | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Weight | 4.9 lbs (2.2 kg) | 5.3 lbs (2.4 kg) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | - |
| EQ | No | - |
| Party Mode | No | Yes (Party Mode) |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.4 |
| Dimensions | 10.4” x 4.7” x 4.1” (264.7 x 120.1 x 104.9 mm) | 8.6”H x 7.2”W x 5.7”D (218 x 183 x 146 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 2.5” (63.5mm) midrange drivers + 1x 0.79” (20mm) tweeter | 1x 4.5” (114mm) woofer + 1x 1.3” (33mm) titanium tweeter |
| Digital Aux Input | No | - |
| Strap | No | No |
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