Short answer: the Bose SoundLink Max. It ranks #17 of 77 large speakers by sound quality at $329; the Dali Katch G2 ranks #58 and costs $750, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Dali Katch G2 gets right: Pretty neutral Set against that: Loses bass quickly after 40% volume. A lot of compression artifacts at high volume. External AC power brick for charging. Horribly overpriced. Nearly identical to the Dali Katch G1. Reverb added to the output screws up the imaging.
What the Bose SoundLink Max offers: 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. The catch: 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].
Buy the Bose SoundLink Max. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Dali Katch G2 and costs less, which settles it without a real tradeoff to make.
Skip the Dali Katch G2 if sound quality matters to you. It ranks near the bottom of the 77 large speakers.
Battery life favors the Dali Katch G2: rated for 30 hours against 20 hours for the Bose SoundLink Max.
Specifications Side By Side
| Dali Katch G2 | Bose SoundLink Max | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $750.00 | $329.00 |
| Ranked | #58 of 77 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #17 of 77 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Charging Time | 2 hours | - |
| Weight | 2.4 lbs / 1.1 kg | 4.9 lbs / 2.2 kg |
| App | No | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD | SBC |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | No |
| EQ | No | No |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IP67 |
| Party Mode | No | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB) | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes | Partially (1 tweeter) |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 5.3 |
| Drivers | 2x 89mm woofers, 2x 21mm tweeters | 2x 2.5" (63.5mm) midrange drivers + 1x 0.79" (20mm) tweeter |
| Dimensions | 10.6" x 5.4" x 1.9" (269 x 138 x 47 mm) | 10.4" x 4.7" x 4.1" (264.7 x 120.1 x 104.9 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 49Hz - 23kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Output Power | 50W RMS | Specs not published by manufacturer |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Aux Latency | - | 33ms |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 48Hz |
| Bluetooth Latency | - | 116ms |
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Prices on this page were last checked September 1, 2026 at 2:15 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
Dali Katch G2: $750.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: Pretty neutral
Cons: Loses bass quickly after 40% volume. A lot of compression artifacts at high volume. External AC power brick for charging. Horribly overpriced. Nearly identical to the Dali Katch G1. Reverb added to the output screws up the imaging. Quite a hollow character to the sound.
Full Dali Katch G2 review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Charging Time | 2 hours |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 10.6" x 5.4" x 1.9" (269 x 138 x 47 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 89mm woofers, 2x 21mm tweeters |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 49Hz - 23kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 50W RMS |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 2.4 lbs / 1.1 kg |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- JOY’s 3D Audio Show: Dali Katch G2 - award winning portable speaker with peerless performance More from Oluv’Sone →
- Oluv Patreon: DALI KATCH G2 - sound demo
- Alan Ross Reviews: Dali Katch G2 high end audio takes on the entire world of bluetooth speakers! 👌👋 More from alanrossreviews →
- Alan Ross Reviews: Dali Katch G2 epic review vs Original Dali Katch audiophile speaker! 🤞
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Bose SoundLink Max: $329.00 Amazon eBay
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 |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Joy & Oluv’Sone: Bose SoundLink Max & SoundCore Boom 2 - indoor soundtest More from Oluv’Sone →
- Joy & Oluv’Sone: Bose SoundLink Max & SoundCore Boom 2 - outdoor soundtest
- Alan Ross Reviews: Bose Max, the worlds most overpriced speaker? its a shocker! More from alanrossreviews →
- 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 😧 More from JaysStraightUpReviews →
- 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.
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