Bose SoundLink Max Review: Ranked #17 of 102

The Bose SoundLink Max ranks #17 out of 102 total Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers for sound quality. See all Portable Bluetooth rankings for every top pick.

Brand: Bose

Prices on this page were last checked October 5, 2026 at 10:21 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.

As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.

#17 Bose SoundLink Max: $279.00 Amazon eBay

Smaller models: the Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen (rated 3.8/5) and the Bose Soundlink Micro (rated 3.5/5).

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. The aux input has lower latency (about 33ms) than most Bluetooth connections. Measured bass extension of 48Hz (-10dB).

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.

How it compares: Just above it: B&O Beoplay A2 active - $121 more, 4 more hours of battery life. Just below it: JBL Xtreme 3 - $9 cheaper, 5 fewer hours of battery life.

App	Yes
Aux Input	Yes
Aux Latency	33ms
Bass Extension (-10dB)	48Hz
Battery Life	20 hours (Manufacturer specified)
Bluetooth	Yes
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
Party Mode	No
Power Bank	Yes (USB-C)
Power Input	USB-C
Stereo	Partially (1 tweeter)
Strap	No
TWS	Yes
Weight	4.9 lbs (2.2 kg)

• Links
  • Official Bose SoundLink Max Product Page
• 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. More from ScottsReviews →
  • Mateusz Cholewa: BOGASING S8 Pro Max 100W vs BOSE Soundlink MAX More from Mateusz Cholewa →

Head-to-Head Comparisons

86 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 Motion Boom
• Bose SoundLink Max vs Loewe We. Hear Pro
• Bose SoundLink Max vs Soundcore Rave Neo 2
• Bose SoundLink Max vs Harman Kardon Citation 200
• Bose SoundLink Max vs B&O Beosound A5
• Bose SoundLink Max vs Teufel Rockster Cross 2
• Bose SoundLink Max vs Marshall Stockwell II
• Bose SoundLink Max vs Teufel Rockster Cross
• Bose SoundLink Max vs Soundcore Boom 2
• Bose SoundLink Max vs Bogasing S8 Pro Max
• Bose SoundLink Max vs Bose SoundLink Plus
• Bose SoundLink Max vs onn Portable FM Boombox
• Bose SoundLink Max vs Vifa Oslo
• Bose SoundLink Max vs Soundcore Motion X500
• Bose SoundLink Max vs Sonos Move 2
• Bose SoundLink Max vs Minirig 3 with subwoofer
• Bose SoundLink Max vs Dockin D Fine+ 2
• Bose SoundLink Max vs Minirig 4 with subwoofer
• Bose SoundLink Max vs Sonos Move
• Bose SoundLink Max vs Brane X
• Bose SoundLink Max vs Tribit Stormbox Lava
• Bose SoundLink Max vs Marshall Middleton II
• Bose SoundLink Max vs JBL Xtreme 5
• Bose SoundLink Max vs Mee audio PartySPKR
• Bose SoundLink Max vs LG Xboom Bounce
• Bose SoundLink Max vs Vifa Helsinki
• Bose SoundLink Max vs Marshall Middleton
• Bose SoundLink Max vs Ultimate Ears Everboom
• Bose SoundLink Max vs Marshall Kilburn II
• Bose SoundLink Max vs JBL Xtreme 4
• Bose SoundLink Max vs Zealot S79
• Bose SoundLink Max vs W-King T9
• Bose SoundLink Max vs Devialet Mania
• Bose SoundLink Max vs Tronsmart Bang 2
• Bose SoundLink Max vs Sony ULT Field 5
• Bose SoundLink Max vs Sony SRS-XB43
• Bose SoundLink Max vs W-King D8
• Bose SoundLink Max vs JBL Xtreme 2
• Bose SoundLink Max vs Zealot S97
• Bose SoundLink Max vs Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 4
• Bose SoundLink Max vs Tronsmart Halo 100
• Bose SoundLink Max vs JBL Xtreme
• Bose SoundLink Max vs Doss Soundbox XL
• Bose SoundLink Max vs Klipsch Detroit
• Bose SoundLink Max vs Sony SRS-XG300
• Bose SoundLink Max vs Marshall Stockwell III
• Bose SoundLink Max vs Turtlebox Cub
• Bose SoundLink Max vs Tronsmart Force Max
• Bose SoundLink Max vs Xdobo X8 Max
• Bose SoundLink Max vs Ultimate Ears Epicboom
• Bose SoundLink Max vs Dali Katch G2
• Bose SoundLink Max vs Dali Katch G1
• Bose SoundLink Max vs B&O Beosound Level
• Bose SoundLink Max vs Ultimate Ears Megablast
• Bose SoundLink Max vs LG PN7
• Bose SoundLink Max vs Soundcore Rave Neo
• Bose SoundLink Max vs W-King D9
• Bose SoundLink Max vs Orange Box
• Bose SoundLink Max vs Laney F67
• Bose SoundLink Max vs Treblab HD-Max
• Bose SoundLink Max vs Soundcore Trance
• Bose SoundLink Max vs Doss Extreme Boom
• Bose SoundLink Max vs Zealot S67
• Bose SoundLink Max vs Tribit Xsound Mega
• Bose SoundLink Max vs Teufel Rockster
• Bose SoundLink Max vs JBL Charge 6
• Bose SoundLink Max vs Harman Kardon Luna
• Bose SoundLink Max vs Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8
• Bose SoundLink Max vs JBL Boombox 4
• Bose SoundLink Max vs Marshall Emberton III
• Bose SoundLink Max vs JBL Charge 5
• Bose SoundLink Max vs JBL Boombox 3
• Bose SoundLink Max vs JBL Charge 5 Wifi
• Bose SoundLink Max vs JBL Partybox Encore 2
• Bose SoundLink Max vs Harman Kardon Luna 2
• Bose SoundLink Max vs Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9
• Bose SoundLink Max vs Marshall Emberton II
• Bose SoundLink Max vs JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2
• Bose SoundLink Max vs Tribit Stormbox Blast
• Bose SoundLink Max vs Yeahbox Sonic Boom Ultra
• Bose SoundLink Max vs Bose Lifestyle Ultra Speaker
• Bose SoundLink Max vs Bose Portable Smart Speaker

More Bose speakers →

Questions about the Bose SoundLink Max? Ask other owners on r/WirelessSpeakers.