Short answer: the Tribit Maxsound Plus/Thunderbox Plus. It ranks #21 of 140 medium speakers by sound quality at $79.99; the Bose SoundLink Color II ranks #101 and costs $100.50, so there is little reason to consider the other one.
What the Tribit Maxsound Plus V1/V2/Thunderbox Plus offers: Use Xbass mode for flattest frequency response. V1/V2/Thunderbox Plus sound exactly the same. Watch for: Slightly less deep bass than the best in category.
What the Bose SoundLink Color II offers: Soft-touch rubber coating is comfortable to hold and tough enough for bumps and scrapes. IPX4 splashproof. Supports multipoint pairing to two devices at once. Watch for: Boosted bass on Color II. Not as deep of bass as other models. Lacking midrange detail. Rolled off treble
Buy the Tribit Maxsound Plus/Thunderbox Plus. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Bose SoundLink Color II and costs less, which settles it without a real tradeoff to make.
If battery life is a priority, the Tribit Maxsound Plus/Thunderbox Plus is rated for 20 hours versus 8 hours for the Bose SoundLink Color II.
There is a real gap in water resistance: the Tribit Maxsound Plus/Thunderbox Plus at IPX7 (brief submersion) against the Bose SoundLink Color II, which has IPX4 (splashing).
Specifications Side By Side
| Tribit Maxsound Plus/Thunderbox Plus | Bose SoundLink Color II | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $79.99 | $100.50 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #21 of 140 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #101 of 140 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | No | Yes (Bose Connect) |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 58Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built in Microphone | No | Yes |
| EQ | No | No |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IPX4 |
| Bluetooth Latency | 160ms | - |
| Max Volume | 99dB | - |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | No | Yes |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs / 595 g | 1.3 lbs / 600 g |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | 4.2 |
| Drivers | 2x 44mm full-range drivers + 2x passive radiators | 2x 40mm full-range drivers |
| Output Power | 24W | - |
| Power Input | Micro USB | Micro USB |
| Dimensions | 2.6" x 7.8" x 2.7" (65 x 198 x 68 mm) (2.56 x 7.79 x 2.68 inches) | 5.2" x 5" x 2.2" (132 x 127 x 56 mm) |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Party Mode | - | Yes (Bose Party mode) |
| Discontinued | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
Other pairings from the same speaker class worth checking:
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- Soundcore Boost “upgraded” 2021 vs Tribit Xsound Mega
- Soundcore Motion 300 vs Bose SoundLink Color II
- Soundcore Motion+ vs Bose SoundLink Color II
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
Tribit Maxsound Plus/Thunderbox Plus: $79.99 Amazon eBay
Pros: Use Xbass mode for flattest frequency response. Identical driver, tuning, and sound to the Thunderbox Plus and the newer Maxsound Plus V2.
Cons: Slightly less deep bass than the best in category. No true wireless stereo pairing between two units, unlike the V2.
Full Tribit Maxsound Plus/Thunderbox Plus review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 58Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Latency | 160ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Built in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 2.6" x 7.8" x 2.7" (65 x 198 x 68 mm) (2.56 x 7.79 x 2.68 inches) |
| Drivers | 2x 44mm full-range drivers + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Max Volume | 99dB |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 24W |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs / 595 g |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: All Tribit Speakers Compared - Maxsound Plus, Stormbox, Xsound Go, Maxboom More from alanrossreviews →
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- Alan Ross Reviews: Earfun Uboom Review - full test - vs tribit maxsound and motion plus!
- Alan Ross Reviews: Tribit Maxsound Plus v1 vs V2 - upgraded Maxsound Plus tested! 🏅
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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Bose SoundLink Color II: $100.50 Discontinued Amazon eBay
Pros: Soft-touch rubber coating is comfortable to hold and tough enough for bumps and scrapes. IPX4 splashproof. Supports multipoint pairing to two devices at once.
Cons: Boosted bass on Color II. Not as deep of bass as other models. Lacking midrange detail. Rolled off treble. Discontinued.
Full Bose SoundLink Color II review and specifications →
| App | Yes (Bose Connect) |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 5.2" x 5" x 2.2" (132 x 127 x 56 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 2x 40mm full-range drivers |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IPX4 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Bose Party mode) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs / 600 g |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Bose SoundLink Color II vs Marshall Emberton III
- Bose SoundLink Color II vs Marshall Emberton II
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- Bose SoundLink Color II vs Sony SRS-XB20
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- See all 74 comparisons