Preparing for your garden bash? Our audio specialist reviewed Bose's mightiest portable outdoor speaker and practically praised it to the skies, awarding it a near-flawless rating.
The Bose SoundLink Max, JBL Charge 6, Sonos Roam 2, and Sonos Move 2 are four popular portable Bluetooth speakers, each offering unique features and sound qualities. In this article, we'll delve into the strengths and weaknesses of each speaker, focusing on sound quality, battery life, and additional features.
Sound Quality
The Bose SoundLink Max delivers clearer audio with excellent balance, especially for vocals and guitar-driven tracks, along with four passive radiators enhancing its bass response.
In contrast, the JBL Charge 6 produces a bigger sound with more bass and minimal distortion at higher volumes, making it outstanding for large outdoor spaces. It also supports advanced features like lossless USB-C audio.
The Sonos Roam 2 is more compact and designed for portability, with commendable sound but not quite matching the Max or Charge 6 in bass or loudness. The Sonos Move 2 tends to deliver better overall sound quality and louder playback among the Sonos portable line but requires more battery consumption.
Battery Life
| Speaker | Battery Life | Notes | |--------------------|---------------------|---------------------------------| | Bose SoundLink Max | ~20 hours | Charges in ~5 hours, supports phone charging via USB-C[4] | | JBL Charge 6 | ~13–28 hours | Officially 24 hrs, Playtime Boost extends it with sound sacrifice; offers fast charging and power bank functionality[1][3][5] | | Sonos Roam 2 | ~12 hours | Lower battery life consistent with its smaller size[4] | | Sonos Move 2 | ~24 hours | Longer battery for bigger size and louder output[4] |
The Bose SoundLink Max offers respectable 20-hour playback, better than Sonos Roam 2 and fairly close to Sonos Move 2 but less than the JBL Charge 6 under certain conditions. It also notifies battery percentage on startup—a handy feature[4].
Features
The Bose SoundLink Max has USB-C charging and supports phone charging (power bank functionality), but lacks some of the JBL Charge 6’s newer connectivity perks like lossless audio over USB-C and Auracast audio sharing[1][4][5]. It supports Bluetooth 5.4 with AAC and some advanced codecs (AEX adaptive), favorable for Android Snapdragon users[2].
JBL Charge 6 offers a rugged IP68 rating (fully dust- and waterproof), a removable handle, and more flexible connectivity options like lossless USB-C and power bank functions[1][3][5].
Sonos Move 2 and Roam 2 emphasize integration into the Sonos ecosystem with automatic Trueplay tuning and multi-room support but have less battery life than JBL Charge 6 or Bose Max[4].
Summary
The Bose SoundLink Max excels in sound clarity and balanced audio with good bass, battery life around 20 hours, and practical features like phone charging and battery percentage alerts. For those prioritizing balanced sound with clear vocals and a reliable 20-hour battery with handy power bank capacity, the Bose SoundLink Max is very competitive.
For those focused on long battery life, bass impact, and rugged flexibility, the JBL Charge 6 stands out. Sonos options excel more in ecosystem and smart features.
Art enthusiasts may find the sleek design of the Bose SoundLink Max a perfect addition to their home-and-garden decor, reflecting an upscale lifestyle. On the other hand, fashion-and-beauty enthusiasts might admire the JBL Charge 6's rugged IP68 rating and removable handle, complementing their active and adventurous lifestyle.
