Description
What the SoundLink Revolve+ II Is
The Bose SoundLink Revolve+ II is a portable Bluetooth speaker built as a tapered cylinder so that sound radiates in all directions rather than firing forward from one face. Bose describes the goal as true 360 degree sound giving consistent coverage, so the speaker can sit in the middle of a room and give everyone the same experience, or sit near a wall and use the reflection to fill the space. The plus in the name denotes the larger of the two Revolve models, and the II denotes the second series.
The design decisions follow from the shape. An aluminum body gives rigidity without much weight, a flexible fabric handle makes a cylinder easy to pick up, and the listing gives dimensions of 4.13 by 4.13 by 7.24 inches with a weight of 2 pounds. That is genuinely portable in the sense of moving between rooms and gardens rather than the pocketable sense. Buyers wanting something smaller should compare the Bose SoundLink Micro, and those wanting a similar size from another brand can look at the JBL Flip 6.
Durability and Outdoor Use
The listing states an IP55 rating and Bose describes the design as water and dust resistant, giving the example of the speaker being splashed by a pool. IP55 is worth reading precisely: the first digit, five, means protection against dust ingress sufficient to prevent harmful deposits, and the second digit, five, means protection against low pressure water jets from any direction. It does not mean the speaker can be submerged, and it does not mean it can be left out in heavy rain indefinitely.
That distinction matters because the specification block on this listing separately states that the product is waterproof, which contradicts both the IP55 rating and Bose’s own wording of water resistant. A buyer who takes the waterproof field literally and drops this speaker in a pool will not be covered. The aluminum body does make it more robust against knocks than a plastic cabinet, which is the more relevant durability question for a speaker that gets carried around.
Battery, Pairing and Controls
Bose states the rechargeable lithium ion battery plays up to 17 hours, described as full day listening. The specification block gives battery life as 16 hours and charging time as 17 hours, which is the playback figure entered in the wrong field, so 17 hours of playback from the manufacturer description is the number to work with. In the box are the speaker, a USB power supply and a USB cable described as micro-B to USB A, along with AC power adapters that Bose notes are not available in all countries. The micro USB connection is dated by current standards and worth knowing before purchase, since most other devices in a bag will use USB-C.
Pairing is guided by voice prompts, and a built in speakerphone handles calls. The speaker can pass through to whatever voice assistant the connected phone uses, and Bose notes it can be connected to an Alexa enabled device such as an Echo Dot for additional control. Two SoundLink Revolve speakers can be linked in Party Mode, where both play the same content, or Stereo Mode, where they split into left and right channels. Stereo Mode is the more interesting of the two, since a single 360 degree speaker is inherently mono. Bose also notes the charging port sits at the bottom of the back of the speaker.
Highlights
- 360 degree radiating design for even coverage rather than a single forward firing face.
- Aluminum body with a flexible fabric carrying handle.
- IP55 rating covering dust and low pressure water jets.
- Up to 17 hours of stated playback from the internal battery.
- Built in speakerphone with voice prompts for pairing.
- Party Mode and Stereo Mode for pairing two Revolve speakers.
- Voice assistant pass through from the connected phone.
Things To Consider
The specification block on this listing is unreliable in several places. It gives the woofer diameter as 2.29 centimeters and the audio driver size as 7.25 inches, which cannot both describe the same driver; the 7.25 inch figure matches the height of the speaker rather than any component inside it. It lists the surround sound channel configuration as 2.0 on a speaker that radiates in all directions from a single point. It gives the maximum range as 9 meters while describing Bluetooth generally. And as noted, it flags the product as waterproof when the manufacturer says water resistant.
On genuine limitations, a 360 degree speaker trades stereo imaging for even coverage. That is the right trade for a garden or a kitchen and the wrong one for focused listening, which is why the Stereo Mode pairing option exists. Cylindrical speakers of this size also cannot produce deep bass, regardless of the processing applied; physics sets the limit and the cabinet is small.
The micro USB charging port is a practical annoyance on a product of this age and price, and the AC power adapters being unavailable in some countries is a note worth reading for anyone outside the United States. Finally, Party Mode and Stereo Mode require a second SoundLink Revolve, so those features carry a further purchase. Anyone wanting more output from a single unit should compare a mains powered design from the portable systems category or the substantially larger Marshall Woburn III.
Who It Suits
The Revolve+ II fits someone who moves a speaker around a home and garden, wants even coverage rather than a listening sweet spot, and values a metal body and a handle over the lowest possible weight. The IP55 rating covers rain and poolside splashes, and 17 hours of playback removes charging from daily thinking.
It is a weaker choice for anyone who wants stereo from a single unit, deep bass, USB-C charging, or a speaker that can be submerged. Buyers in those situations should compare the wider portable Bluetooth speakers range, including the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 for a more rugged alternative.
