Comparison Bose SoundLink Mini Bluetooth Speaker II vs Bose SoundLink Color

— Mono. The simplest type of acoustics is a single-channel audio system equipped with one speaker. Of course, there is no question of any volume of sound.

— Stereo. Acoustic system equipped with two speakers responsible for the left and right channels. Allows you to create a minimal illusion of "surround" sound by simulating the displacement of the sound source in the space in front of the listener.

— 2.1. A system of two stereo speakers that create a minimal illusion of "surround" sound, and a subwoofer that provides powerful and rich sound at low and ultra-low frequencies.

The total power of all channels of the speaker system. The higher the power, the larger the size of the room in which the audio system can be used, however, more powerful portable speakers usually have larger dimensions and weight.

- Speakerphone. Possibility of using portable sound system as a public address system for a mobile phone. In this mode, the sound system are connected to the device using Bluetooth, and the voice of the subscriber on the other end of the line is output not to the phone’s speaker, but through the speakers of the speaker system. This is often more convenient than holding the phone to your ear; In addition, speakerphone is useful if several people need to participate in a conversation.

— NFC chip. NFC is a short-range wireless communication technology (about 10 cm). It allows for many uses, but in portable speakers it is usually used as an addition to Bluetooth, making it easier to set up the communication. For example, a smartphone with an NFC module can simply be brought close to a speaker with the same function - and both devices will automatically recognize each other, and the user will only have to confirm the communication.

- Multipoint. A technology used in Bluetooth models that allows the speaker to connect to multiple devices simultaneously. Thanks to this, you can, for example, listen to music from a laptop, and when a call arrives on your mobile phone, switch the speakers to conversation. Different manufacturers have their own characteristics of this technology, and therefore, if the multipoint function is critical for you, it is worthwhile to sepa...rately clarify the details of its operation in the selected model.

- Bass Boost. Low frequency boost for powerful, rich bass. Often implemented as a single button, with which you can actually “turn the bass on and off.” Bass Boost is more convenient than adjusting low frequencies using an equalizer; In addition, various special technologies can be used to enhance the bass.

- Mobile app. The ability to operate the functions and settings of portable sound system through a mobile application for a smartphone or tablet. Communication between the device and gadgets is usually carried out via the Bluetooth wireless protocol. The proprietary software may provide tools for flexible sound settings (equalizer, bass boost, etc.), managing wireless connections, selecting a sound source, etc. Also, through a mobile application, it is often possible to update the firmware of portable sound system.

— Lighting effects. Such effects can be different - from the simplest set of light bulbs blinking at a constant frequency, to advanced color and music systems that produce multi-colored patterns in time with the music being played. In any case, this function has more of an entertainment meaning and does not in any way affect the sound of the device.

Operating time of a portable audio system without connecting to an external power source (network or USB port, depending on the capabilities). Note that manufacturers tend to indicate battery life in their specifications under optimal conditions for energy saving: at low volume, without using additional functions, etc. Therefore, in fact, this indicator may be noticeably lower than the claimed one, and speakers with a long operating time will not sound at full volume for the specified hours.

The main material used in the construction of the hull.

— Plastic. Inexpensive and at the same time very convenient material for portable acoustics. Plastic easily accepts a variety of colours and complex shapes; the latter not only gives space to designers, creating speakers of unusual design, but also allows you to apply various tricks to improve sound quality. In addition, this material is not afraid of moisture. It is believed that the strength of plastic is not very high, but this disadvantage is easily compensated by the large thickness of the material or the use of special impact-resistant grades. Therefore, plastic is found in all categories of speakers, from low-cost to high-end and from "home" to extreme, designed for an active lifestyle and frequent outdoor use.

— Metal. The metal gives the speakers a solid and expensive appearance, and on the practical side, this material is remarkable primarily for its high strength. At the same time, it is much more expensive than plastic — also due to the fact that manufacturers have to use shock-absorbing inserts and other tricks to avoid an unpleasant "metallic" coloration of the sound; and the mentioned strength is most often not critical. Therefore, metal cases are much less common than plastic cases, mainly in rather expensive portable acoustics.

— Silicone. Relatively soft and elastic mate...rial, not afraid of moisture. Suitable for creating dust, moisture and shock-proof speakers; in addition, it is convenient for models with suction cups (see above) — the part of the body that has the appropriate shape can play the role of a suction cup directly. At the same time, silicone has no other noticeable advantages over plastic, so its use is limited to specific models of portable acoustics.

— Rubber. For a number of reasons, rubber is considered well suited for models with dust and water protection, almost all speakers made of this material are protected. In addition, due to the softness of the rubber provides good shockproof properties.

— Wood. Wood is considered the optimal material for speaker cabinets in terms of acoustics. However, the specificity of portable speakers is such that this moment is not decisive in this case, and the main advantage of wooden cases over others (primarily plastic ones) is their aesthetic appearance, with characteristic colours and patterns. In addition, many consider wood a more pleasant to the touch and “natural” material. But this option does not have any special practical advantages, despite the fact that it is quite expensive. As a result, portable speakers with wooden cases are rare — they are mostly designer models created based on the original design.