Short answer: the Bose SoundLink Plus. It ranks #25 of 105 large speakers by sound quality, rated 4.2/5, at $179.99; the Klipsch Detroit ranks #76, rated 3.1/5, and costs $235.99, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The Bose SoundLink Plus is the better-sounding, lighter pick. IP67 rated, IP67 water/dustproof. At 3.3 lbs (1.5 kg) it weighs much less than the Klipsch Detroit at 5.5 lbs (2.5 kg). The catch: Boosted thuddy bass, but not as deep as the SoundLink Flex and you should probably just buy one of those instead if you want a Bose.
The case for the Klipsch Detroit: Dual 1” tweeters + 3” woofers deliver excellent sound detail and robust bass. It keeps a wired aux input, which the Bose SoundLink Plus lacks. The catch: Weird boosted upper bass, bass not very deep.
Buy the Bose SoundLink Plus. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Klipsch Detroit and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Bose SoundLink Plus | Klipsch Detroit | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $179.99 | $235.99 |
| Ranked | #25 of 105 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #76 of 105 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Bose Party mode) | Yes (Broadcast Mode) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) | Yes (USB-C, 10W) |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 3.3 lbs (1.5 kg) | 5.5 lbs (2.5 kg) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| EQ | No | No |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 9.1” x 3.9” x 3.4” (231 x 99 x 86 mm) | 13.1” x 4.2” x 4.7” (334 x 107 x 119 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 2.5” (63.5mm) woofer + 1x ~0.78” (20mm) tweeter + 4x passive radiators | 2x 76mm fullrange, 2x 25mm tweeters |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | Yes (built-in loop) | Yes (detachable strap) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | ~55Hz |
| Frequency Response | - | 55Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Amplifier Power | - | 30W RMS |
| Maximum SPL | - | 93dB (Manufacturer specified) |
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Prices on this page were last checked October 12, 2026 at 4:13 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.
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The Two Speakers In Full
Bose SoundLink Plus: $179.99 Amazon $179.99 eBay
Same family: the Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen (smaller model, rated 3.8/5), the Bose SoundLink Max (smaller model, ranked higher, rated 4.3/5) and the Bose Soundlink Micro 2 (smaller model, rated 3.6/5). See every Bose SoundLink Flex, Micro, Max and Plus generation.
Pros: IP67 rated, IP67 water/dustproof. Close to 20 hour battery life. Vibrant sound with booming bass, clean mids. Bluetooth 5.4 with good range. Premium tactile grille, smooth silicone. Quality build at $180.
Cons: Boosted thuddy bass, but not as deep as the SoundLink Flex and you should probably just buy one of those instead if you want a Bose.
Full Bose SoundLink Plus review and specifications →
| Released | Jun 2025 (1 year ago) |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 9.1” x 3.9” x 3.4” (231 x 99 x 86 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 2.5” (63.5mm) woofer + 1x ~0.78” (20mm) tweeter + 4x passive radiators |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Bose Party mode) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | Yes (built-in loop) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 3.3 lbs (1.5 kg) |
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Klipsch Detroit: $235.99 Amazon $235.99 eBay
Same family: the Klipsch Austin (smaller model, rated 3.7/5) and the Klipsch Nashville (smaller model, rated 3.3/5).
Pros: Dual 1” tweeters + 3” woofers deliver excellent sound detail and robust bass. IP67 dust/waterproof rating submersible 1m for 30 min. 20-hour battery life at moderate volume (12-15 hours at high volume). USB-C fast-charge in 2 hours with two-way power for device charging. Measured bass extension of ~55Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Weird boosted upper bass, bass not very deep. Boosted lower treble, somewhat harsh sounding like most other Klipsch speakers. Not very loud.
Full Klipsch Detroit review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 30W RMS |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~55Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 13.1” x 4.2” x 4.7” (334 x 107 x 119 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 76mm fullrange, 2x 25mm tweeters |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 55Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Maximum SPL | 93dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Broadcast Mode) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C, 10W) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | Yes (detachable strap) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 5.5 lbs (2.5 kg) |
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