Bose SoundTouch 30 Series III Wireless Smart Speaker System (White) B+

Product Information

While browsing music libraries, the lists are logically structured and lightning-fast. The app scrolls through huge music libraries without much hesitation – I whizzed down a list of more than 900 albums on my NAS drive and it needed only a brief pause when it reached “M”. There’s decent clarity here too. Hi-hats are crisply conveyed and snare drums have a nice slap to them. Switch to Corinne Bailey Rae’s cover of “Munich” and the Bose identifies the fragility and detail in her voice.

Throw on something more chin-scratching such as “So Real Surreal” by Carl Hudson and the spacey jazz-funk groove is deftly handled – the synths and keys have warmth and body, while the live drums and bassline are handled with pleasing agility. However, there are two issues here. Functions such as queuing songs and creating playlists – key to the usability of systems such as Sonos – are missing, as are some of the major streaming services. This product is compatible with Alexa-enabled devices, letting you command the speaker just by speaking to it. Without moving a muscle, you can adjust the volume, skip songs, and turn the speaker on and off with this feature. The SoundTouch 30 has а sleek, simple appearance that will complement any room’s aesthetic. Its circular design is aesthetically pleasing and practical, as it provides sound in every direction.The Bose SoundTouch 30 is, in short, аn excellent wireless speaker that excels in several key areas: sound quality, design, and functionality. It has a 360-degree soundstage for fully immersive sound, and its built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Apple AirPlay 2 make it extremely flexible and simple to use. Have a library of your favorite albums and artists? Connect your laptop or NAS drive to have access to your stored music libraries. Apple’s Siri speech assistant is compatible with the Apple HomePod, a popular wireless speaker known for its high-quality sound. It looks great and works well with all of my Apple devices. In contrast to the Bose SoundTouch 30, however, it is more expensive and offers fewer connection choices. Conclusion The app itself looks professional and works like a dream. The intuitive layout places tabs at the edges of the screen, which you can swipe inwards to switch menus.

If you’re looking for a wireless speaker to fill a room with sound, go no further than this model. The speaker provides a full-circle soundstage, so the quality of the music is consistent no matter where you are in the room. Speaker overall, this has excellent sound quality, producing a loud and detailed sound that will please even the most critical listener. This speaker has excellent sound quality and will improve your entertainment experience in any medium. Connectivity and FeaturesOne must look at this model alongside other wireless speakers tо understand its worth. Some noteworthy alternatives are listed below. The Sonos Play:5 is a high-class wireless speaker that, in terms of sound quality and features, can hold its own against the SoundTouch 30. Still, Play:5’s modern appearance belies its ability to produce booming, immersive sound. So, it costs more than the SoundTouch 30 and doesn’t offer as many connection choices, either. With the Bose SoundTouch app and Alexa voice control, users can use hands-free operation by managing their speaker from their mobile device. That said, the Bose’s sound can become a little dense and congested, particularly when you start turning up the volume. Its rich, bottom-heavy presentation comes at the expense of openness and breathing space. Placement and imaging become slightly lost within the Bose’s weighty wall of sound.

What’s more, the mids and treble could do with a little more refinement – certain instruments and vocals flirt with hardness, a far cry from the silky top-end and gorgeous layering of the B&W Zeppelin Wireless and Naim Mu-So, or to a lesser extent the Denon Heos 7. On the whole, however, there are many more positives than negatives in the SoundTouch 30’s performance. The Bose SoundTouch app is one of its most outstanding aspects. You can adjust the speaker’s volume and mute settings with this app, which is accessible for iOS and Android devices. So, the app allows you to control the speaker’s settings from your mobile device, connect to your preferred music streaming service, and set up multi-room audio. It is also further restricted by the company’s control app. All the basics are in place: pairing is simple, grouping components or conversely setting them apart is simple and well synchronised, and it runs smoothly. Experience your favorite music from one or many SoundTouch® speakers, with the SoundTouch® app. SoundTouch® is a family of wireless speakers for your home that play the same music throughout, or different music in different rooms. The speaker’s connectivity and capabilities are outstanding, with various options that make it simple and adaptable to different situations. Particularly noteworthy is the Bose SoundTouch app, which allows for complete speaker management from your mobile device. Using one’s voice to command it is an excellent bonus feature. Competitors ComparisonIn terms of audio features, the SoundTouch 30 uses a ported box design with two custom-made mid-range/high-frequency drivers with exclusive waveguide technology and a subwoofer to give bass frequencies a boost. Bose doesn’t quote power figures for the unit. Bose SoundTouch 30 – Setup and Operation Both speakers have their merits, and depending on what you're looking for; either speaker could be the right fit for you. The Bose SoundTouch 30’s many inputs and outputs allow it to be used in various settings and situations while remaining intuitive to operate. The wireless speaker can pair with almost any electronic device and play music wirelessly, thanks to its built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Apple AirPlay 2 capabilities. When it comes tо the standard features, it also has an Ethernet connection and a USB input. The Sonos Play:5 really excels at being a multi-speaker system with other Sonos speakers. Its app is super intuitive, and setting up multiple rooms and zones is fairly straight forward. If you're looking to build out a home theater system or a big multi-room household-wide sound system, the Sonos Play:5 (and other Sonos speakers) is going to fit your needs better and be able to seamlessly grow with your sound system as you add to it. Of course, that won’t matter to Spotify users, for example, and it’s easily remedied, however it just sees the Bose app toe just the wrong side of the line between uncomplicated and undercooked.

Unusually, Spotify is incorporated into the SoundTouch app, which is simple and cohesive. Bose’s menu uses similar options as the main Spotify app, including featured playlists, genres and moods, charts and a search function, plus it even saves stuff you play in the Recents menu. You can, however, use the main Spotify app instead and stream to the Bose via Spotify Connect. Two years ago, we gave the SoundTouch series III 30 four stars, but the subsequent introduction of similarly sized speakers with similar features since – most notably from Audio Pro and Denon – has shed a different, and less favourable, light on its abilities. If you like doing things the old-fashioned way, the Bose comes with an excellent physical remote. The entire handset has a pleasant rubbery texture and the logically arranged buttons are satisfying to press. It’s a pleasure to use. Bose SoundTouch 30 – PerformanceAs a whole, this piece iѕ well-made and stylish. For those in the market for a high-quality wireless speaker, its sturdy build guarantees it will last through repeated use. High-Quality Sound Personalize your home with “living” presets like Spotify’s “Discover Weekly” or Pandora’s “Thumbprint Radio.” Always have a fresh list of favorites a touch away, without having to even find your phone. Thanks to its built-in Wi-Fi connection, the SoundTouch 30 lets you stream music from servers on your home network, such as PCs and NAS drives, as well as Spotify, Deezer and internet radio. You can link up several SoundTouch devices in different rooms and enjoy the same music through them all, or send different sources to individual speakers. These functions are carried out through Bose’s SoundTouch controller app, available for iOS and Android devices. If you’re into bass-heavy music like hip-hop or electronica, you’ll appreciate how robust the bass iѕ here. Similarly, vocals and instruments are rendered crystal clear thanks to the crispness and separation of the midrange. The highs are clear and precise, creating a harmonious sound.