Bose SoundLink Flex, Sonos Roam and B&O Beosound Explore are arguably some of the best portable Bluetooth (mono) speakers to use with your smartphone or other devices. They offer good musical quality, have a small footprint and above all they shine for design choices that median between functionality and aesthetic appeal. The context of use is truly manifold: you can go from domestic musical enjoyment, to a day on the beach, a trip to the mountains, a backpacking trip or even an aperitif with friends, perhaps consumed on the terrace. The power available is on average compatible with each of these contexts.
The design choices
The Bose SoundLink Flex is a speaker the size of a pen holder; measures 9 x 20.1 x 5.2 cm and weighs approx 630 grams. The rear area is coated with a silicone material while the front grille is in powder-coated steel. Not only is it pleasant to the touch but shock resistant. It is no coincidence that the company certifies a degree of waterproofing (max 30 minutes at a depth of one meter) and dustproof IP67: sand and water are not a problem; it even allows for buoyancy. A highly resistant fabric webbing then facilitates transport or attachment to a backpack using a carabiner. In short, it is compatible with any environment, even the most extreme while offering a refined elegance. In the upper part it reveals five pressure areas that correspond to ignition, volume management, multi-function and Bluetooth.
Gaming
Music, voices, special effects: this is how the Italian dpstudios creates sounds for video games
by Alessandra Contin
The Sonos Roam is more compact than the Bose model and resembles a glasses holder. In fact, it measures only 16.8 x 6.2 x 6 cm and weighs approximately 431 grams. The external structure is made of resistant plastic, while the two side caps are made of rubber. Three rather minimal LEDs indicate the connection, microphone and charge status. It focuses on functionality rather than aesthetic beauty – even if the palindrome brand is an eye catcher. IP67 waterproof and dustproof protection is also ensured. It seems a a little more metropolitan and less adventurous but it takes up very little space, especially when you place it vertically. One of the two rubber surfaces houses four pressure zones that correspond to the microphone, volume and multifunction. There is also a thin rear power button that also enables a low-consumption dormant status.
Audio
The + Record Player, the turntable which is also a stereo system
by Ernesto Assante
The B&O Beosound Explore is a little jewel of industrial engineering made of type II anodized aluminum, so it boasts good resistance to oxidation and adequate protection against wear and scratches. Also in this case an IP67 certification is ensured. Compared to Bose and Sonos, the overall dimensions are even smaller: this small cylinder with circular cuts and internal fabric lining measures 8.1 x 12.4 x 8.1 cm and weighs approx. 631 grams. Heavy weight to carry around, even if the matching sling is more comfortable than the Bose one. Correction of the idea of using rubber surfaces in the upper and lower areas; the sharp edge and the metal, however, cause anxiety and it would be a shame to ruin the speaker even just because of the proximity of a bottle in the backpack or a rubbing. Let’s say that the Beosound Explore looks great in the home and perhaps it is less suitable for battle outings. The upper area shows five pressure areas that respectively manage ignition, volume, playback and Bluetooth (the only one with status LED).
How do they sound?
The Bose SoundLink Flex takes advantage of two passive radiators and a 60mm speaker to deliver good music quality even if the lows tend to be overbearing. The effect on a pop track such as Peaches by Justin Bieber is still appreciable. Even more so if the listening takes place outdoors, where a little boost on the bass is not out of place. The only criticality occurs in a small room, for example in the bathroom: the rumble forces you to turn down the volume. Too bad also about the lack of the equalization function in the Bose Connect app (Android and iOS). In any case, the latter allows you to manage the new wireless connections, the sleep timer, the voice instructions and the party mode if you connect other popular Bose wirelessly. Instead, the proprietary Bose PositionlQ technology is useful, which allows you to automatically detect the orientation of the speaker and act accordingly on the audio. The difference is felt above all in relation to the lower frequencies.
Celebrations
World Radio Day, the radio of the future between digital and podcast
by Ernesto Assante
The Sonos Roam relies on a 16mm tweeter speaker and mid-woofer with Class D amplifiers that offer good listening balance. Overall it is less powerful than the Bose and the bass is less present, but the yield is always pleasant and more balanced. The sound tends to privilege the details, especially at reduced volume the listening appears relaxed. In Watermelon Sugar of Harry Styles the result is a well-managed picture: the voice that stands out on the guitar, bass and drums. Here, with the Bose the same track is more powerful and full but slightly overshadowed by the low frequencies. The parts are reversed with I want of Zaz where the Sonos sounds become thin, while the Bose ones are full-bodied enough to stimulate the desire to dance. To underline the usefulness of the Sonos Auto Trueplay function (for iPhone) which, thanks to the integrated microphones of the Roam, automatically adapts the sound in relation to the environments both in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth mode. The only weakness of the Roam is related to the fact that when you turn up the volume too much it tends to be less effective, while Bose and B&O do better.
The B&O Beosound Explore features two 4.5cm full range speakers paired with two 30W Class D amplifiers. The emission power is similar to that of the Sonos but lower than that of Bose. Standard equalization tends to make vocals a bit dark with a slight emphasis on the low-mid frequencies. It can be seen with a trace like Thinking out loud by Ed Sheeran: the voice is almost compressed, as if the young man crooner had been forced to sing in a small studio. However, by intervening on the equalizer you can lighten this sort of shadow. In any case, the Explore is always pleasant to listen to even if compared to Bose and Sonos it has less extension on the low frequencies and on the high ones it is a more ringing wire. On the other hand, the ability to propagate sound at 360 ° is very good, where Bose does worse and Sonos tears enough.
The additional functions
The Bose SoundLink Flex relies on the Bluetooth 4.2 standard and supports the classic SBC audio codec; it also allows you to connect two different sources and then switch from one to the other with a touch. The app’s Stereo and Party Mode functions allow you to achieve stereo playback or the same playback simultaneously on two Bose speakers, respectively. By pairing your smartphone (Android or iOS) you can take advantage of the Google or Siri voice interface. In this sense, the microphone works well, but during telephone calls the interlocutors report a bit of a hands-free effect with external noises.
The Sonos Roam supports Bluetooth 5.0 technology (SBC and AAC audio), Airplay 2 and Wi-Fi 5. Basically you can connect your smartphone or other device using Bluetooth, while Wi-Fi comes into play if you want to use the Sonos cloud platform that allows you to integrate a hundred music streaming apps, enjoy other services and even support a maximum audio resolution of 24 bit / 48 kHz (perhaps with Qobuz). Finally, Airplay 2 is the technology of choice for Apple products, which moreover allows all speakers that support the standard to be paired to create a single musical environment. For example, in this test we also combined the Roam with the Apple HomePod Mini, obtaining a more powerful overall sound emission. The same experience was had with the Sonos Arc soundbar and using the native Sound Swap function that with a touch switches the audio from one speaker to another. As for the voice assistants, both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant are available under the Wi-Fi network, just implement your choice on the Sonos app. Siri, on the other hand, only works with iOS devices connected via Airplay 2.
The B&O Beosound Explore features Bluetooth 5.2 technology and also supports the Apple Fast Pair, Google Fast Pair and Microsoft Swift Quick Pairing standards. Its reference audio codec is SBC. The Bang & Olufsen app for smartphones is very essential but however, it does provide an equalizer, enable stereo setup with another Explore. A peculiarity is that of being able to use the USB-C connection for audio playback via cable generated by smartphone, laptop or other devices. It should be emphasized that the device has no microphone so there is no support for voice interfaces or call management. An interesting detail is that thanks to the contribution of Bluetooth 5.2 it is the model that boasts the lowest connection latency, producing benefits in synchronization with video-streaming.
Good autonomy for everyone
The Bose SoundLink Flex charges via the Usb-C port; the package includes a USB-C to USB-A cable. The declared maximum autonomy is 12 hours maximum while the recharge time is 4 hours. In general, in everyday life with a volume level tending to 50% you get to about 8/9 hours, but outdoors it is easy to go below these thresholds. The Sonos Roam provides a Usb-C port and a cable similar to that of the Bose. If desired, it also supports wireless charging based on Qi standards. The declared autonomy is 10 hours but in everyday life it is easily reached not to exceed 6 hours. The B&O Beosound Explore recharges via Usb-C in about 3 hours while the declared autonomy is about 27 hours; in reality with listening at normal volumes the autonomy is practically halved. The package includes not only the USB cable but also a convenient (and neat) carabiner for the sling.
In conclusion
The Bose SoundLink Flex is the most powerful model that we recommend for outings, vacations and outdoor listening. It is really the speaker that conveys the best sensations in relation to potential risks of bumps, rain or falls for both the rubberized shell and the steel front grille. And then those deep basses, which are not adjustable, indoors are a bit of a limit for some musical genres; outdoors, on the other hand, they are fine. The microphone that allows you to manage hands-free calls is useful. Its list price is 169,95 euro but online it is easily found with a 15-20% discount; it is offered in black, white and blue.
The Sonos Roam is probably the most balanced musically and its light weight also makes it easy to transport. So let’s say a metropolitan who lends itself to trips out of town. Perhaps it is not the best of beauty, but it is also a real smart speaker with voice assistant (but the SL version without microphone has just come out). Then the possibility of using, if desired, the Sonos cloud platform in combination with Wi-Fi enhances the spectrum of use. However, at maximum volume it loses cleanliness and tends to distort. Its list price is 199 euro (179 euro the SL version) and online for now it is difficult to find it discounted; it is offered in black and white.
Finally the B&O Beosound Explore is the one with the most luxurious materials and the most refined design. It sounds good but probably its best qualities compared to its competitors are in the autonomy, the inputs (even if it is heavy) and the possibility of working via the USB-C cable connection. It should be remembered, however, that it has no microphone. Its list price is 199 euro and for now online it is difficult to find it discounted; it is offered in black, chestnut, green, gray and blue.