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Bose SoundLink Revolve+ II Review

If lush audio in a portable package is your top priority, this is the best speaker you can buy
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Bose SoundLink Revolve+ II Review (The carrying handle allows you to securely move the speaker around even when your hands are wet, and hang it from a...)
The carrying handle allows you to securely move the speaker around even when your hands are wet, and hang it from a fence or tree if used in conjunction with a carabiner.
Credit: Jason Peters
Price:  $329 List
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Manufacturer:   Bose
By Michelle Powell and Matt Bento  ⋅  Jul 15, 2021
86
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#1 of 10
  • Sound Quality - 40% 10.0
  • Portability - 25% 5.0
  • Volume - 20% 9.0
  • Battery Life - 15% 10.0

Our Verdict

The Bose Soundlink Revolve+ II is our favorite Bluetooth speaker. It delivers the best sound quality of any model we tested, even at high volumes where the competition starts to break up and sound muddy, and our testing reveals its impressive battery life can keep the party going for 34 hours in our tests. While its water-resistant IP55 rating doesn't protect it from total submersion, it can handle poolside splashes and spilled drinks, along with any dirt, dust, or sand it may encounter. There are less expensive and more portable options on the market, but none deliver the powerful, clear sounds that we enjoy from the Soundlink Revolve+ II. To compare it to the competition, check out our review of bluetooth speakers.
REASONS TO BUY
Incredible audio quality
Powerful volume
Pairs with other soundlink models
REASONS TO AVOID
Expensive
Not the most portable

Compare to Similar Products

 
Awards Editors' Choice Award
Best Overall Bluetooth Speaker
Best Buy Award
Best Bang for Your Buck
Top Pick Award
Best for Wireless Charging
Top Pick Award
Best for Travel
Best Buy Award
Strong Value on a Tight Budget
Price $329 List
$229.00 at Amazon
$130 List
$99.95 at Amazon
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$160.29 at Amazon
$80 List
$49.95 at Amazon
$51 List
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Overall Score Sort Icon
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Bottom Line This speaker raises the standards for portable audio, providing crisp highs and booming bass in a relatively small packageA great balance of sound quality, portability, and priceThis speaker will keep audiophiles happy with its balanced sound, even at higher volumes, but the battery life is sub-parConveniently small and light, this speaker sounds excellent for its size, and its clip feature makes it easy to take anywhereWhile this speaker can't match the sound quality of its more expensive competitors, it's still a good option at an attractive price
Rating Categories Bose SoundLink Revo... JBL Flip 5 Sonos Roam JBL Clip 4 Anker Soundcore 3
Sound Quality (40%)
10.0
7.0
9.0
6.0
6.0
Portability (25%)
5.0
7.0
7.0
10.0
7.0
Volume (20%)
9.0
9.0
8.0
6.0
6.0
Battery Life (15%)
10.0
9.0
5.0
9.0
7.0
Specs Bose SoundLink Revo... JBL Flip 5 Sonos Roam JBL Clip 4 Anker Soundcore 3
Dimensions (in x in x in) 4.13" x 4.13" x 7.25" 3.64" x 3.6" x 8.5" 6.61" x 2.44" x 2.36" 1.8" x 3.4" x 5.3" 6.9" x 2.4" x 2.2"
Inputs and Charging Ports Micro USB port Micro USB port USB-C port, wireless Qi charging USB-C port USB-C port
IP Rating IP55 IPX7 IP67 IP67 IPX7
Reported Weight (ounces) 32 oz 19.04 oz 15.20 oz 8.48 oz 13.12 oz
Measured Weight 32 oz 19 oz 15.2 oz 8.13 oz 17.8 oz
Wireless Range (feet) 30 Not Listed Not Listed Not Listed 66
Reported Battery Life (hours) 17 12 10 10 24
Measured Battery Life (hours) 34 27 10.25 27 16.75

Our Analysis and Test Results

The Bose Soudlink Revolve+ II is a high end portable speaker in nearly every way. While not the lightest or the most durable, what it lacks in portability, it makes up for in sound quality and a useful features set. You can control your digital assistant directly from the speaker with its intuitive multifunction button, and pair it with other Bose Soundlink speakers with the aptly named “party mode”. This speaker charges with a micro USB, and it can continuously charge at home while it sits in its specific charging dock (not included). It has excellent connectivity with Bluetooth 4.1, and it even has a 3.5 mm aux input if you want to play music from a non-Bluetooth-enabled device, or you just want to conserve battery.

Performance Comparison


bose soundlink revolve+ ii - this speaker's cylindrical shape projects high-quality audio in all...
This speaker's cylindrical shape projects high-quality audio in all directions, and is powerful enough to be heard clearly on both sides of the pool.
Credit: Laura Casner

Sound Quality


These speakers have the best sound quality of any Bluetooth speaker we tested. This comes as no surprise, as Bose has been engineering top-notch audio quality into smaller-sized speakers for decades. The Soundlink Revolve+ II is jam-packed with Bose technology, including an omnidirectional acoustic deflector for uniform 360° sound, and dual-passive radiators to convert vibrations into acoustic output.


The resulting sounds will bring a smile to the face of even the most discerning audiophiles, especially when they consider the speaker's portable size. This speaker, as with other Bose models, produces powerful bass sounds without losing any clarity in the highs or mids, even at higher volumes. Many small, portable speakers produce mushy, rattly bass that overwhelms the other frequencies, while the Soundlink Revolve+ II sounds crystal clear, even when you're pushing the speaker a little bit. This speaker sounds excellent when playing mid-heavy acoustic music, but can still handle repeating beats and thumping bass with ease for the impromptu dance party. It outperformed much larger soundbars and significantly raises our expectations for how good a portable speaker can sound.

bose soundlink revolve+ ii - in addition to sounding incredible, this speaker lets you access...
In addition to sounding incredible, this speaker lets you access your digital assistant directly from the speaker to send texts or look up recipes. It also has a pairing feature so you can sync it with other Bose Soundlink models.
Credit: Jason Peters

Portability


Portability is not this speaker's strong point, but it only underperforms in a relative sense, and the more portable competition doesn't come close to matching the Soundlink Revolve+ II's sound quality. This speaker weighs 32 ounces, cylindrically shaped, measuring 4.13" x 4.13" x 7.25". It doesn't exactly disappear into a backpack, but it still goes just about anywhere you do.


The Revolve+ II has an IP55 dust and water-resistant rating. A few models we tested have higher ratings, and can even survive brief submersions. This expensive speaker is likely toast if it falls in the water, but it can handle splashes or brief rain showers. This is not the speaker you want to strap to your paddleboard and float down the river, but it's tough enough to handle beach picnics and poolside parties with ease. We gave it an extra point for its useful handle that allows you to carry or hang the speaker, and inconspicuously folds out of the way.

bose soundlink revolve+ ii - while this isn't the smallest model we tested, it's still...
While this isn't the smallest model we tested, it's still impressively portable, and it sounds much better than the more compact competition.
Credit: Jason Peters

Volume


This puppy is delightfully loud, one of the loudest portable speakers we've tested, and as we mentioned, we're particularly impressed at how it maintains a balanced sound at the higher volumes. We measured an 88-decibel max volume from a meter away. That's loud enough to keep 30 of your friends moving and grooving, and the whole campground will be able to hear the detailed, lush sounds coming from your campsite (whether they want to or not). Our distance testing showed a loss of only one decibel over 30 feet, confirming that this speaker can powerfully project sound in all directions.


bose soundlink revolve+ ii - you can intimidate (or merely entertain) your opponents with this...
You can intimidate (or merely entertain) your opponents with this powerful speaker. Our testing registered a loss of only one decibel over 30 feet, so it's capable of projecting sound over an impressive distance.
Credit: Laura Casner

Battery Life


The Soundlink Revolve+ II boasts an impressive 17 hours of continuous battery life. More impressively, we were able to milk a whopping 34 hours of continuous play at 75% of max volume from this speaker during our testing. This is plenty of power for a weekend camping trip or a day out on the boat. When the battery finally does run out, 4 hours plugged into AC power via a micro-USB will provide a full charge. There is also a charging cradle available (sold separately), giving the speaker a place to sit at home and be at the ready to crank out the jams at a moment's notice.


bose soundlink revolve+ ii - this speaker gets a full charge in about 4 hours via a micro usb and...
This speaker gets a full charge in about 4 hours via a micro USB and is one of the few models that still has a connection for a 3.5mm aux cable.
Credit: Jason Peters

Value


This high-quality speaker comes at a high price, but considering the tech crammed into this little unit, its superior sound quality, and marathon battery life, we're actually surprised that it's not more expensive. Folks who consider themselves audiophiles no doubt have spent more cash on audio equipment that doesn't deliver the sonic satisfaction of this portable speaker.

Conclusion


The Bose Soundlink Revolve+ II takes home our highest accolades, blowing away the competition with its superior audio quality, even at high volumes. There are less expensive, more portable speakers available that may be more appropriate for folks who are notoriously hard on their equipment, but if you prioritize sound quality and volume over all else, you'll be very satisfied with this powerhouse of a speaker.

Michelle Powell and Matt Bento