Bose SoundLink Around-Ear Wireless – Functionality over Looks

Bose is one of the greats of the audio industry. There are very few that have managed to provide quality and comfort packed into their device, the way Bose has managed to provide in every one of its products. Of course, there are those that are not swayed by the sounds of the Bose which tends to be more heavy on the bass.

In the wireless headphones category, there are two beastly contenders equally matched in their fields – Bose and Beats by Dre. The product we are reviewing is the Bose Soundlink Around-Ear Wireless Headphones priced at $280. These companies also boast over the ear headphones variety. I prefer around the ear headphones simply for one reason – better comfort.

Contents of the Box
A simple and solid carrying case and inside an inner flap, you will find an audio cable to plug in case you do not have access to Bluetooth or even to use it in the airplane, a USB cable to charge the headphones.

Design
The Bose Soundlink Around-Ear Wireless headphones comes in two colors – white with tans on the ears and under the headband, black with deep blue on the ears and under the headband. The L and the R are imprinted in each ear. The right side comes with a simple button switch in the center. You go all the way down to turn off the device. Go up one notch to turn it on and go up once more to choose between devices. Behind the right ear is the + and – buttons to increase and decrease volume.

As far as the colors go, the black pair is the savior of this model whereas the white is a huge letdown. I would have expected a company like Bose to give out better colors. The design isn’t offensive. It is nothing wow either. The headphones feel very comfortable that I keep forgetting I have them on most of the time. They are especially comfortable to use for longer periods of time.

Setup

Setup is fairly simple. Plug in the USB cable to a power source to fully charge the battery. This should take about 3 hours. A battery indicator in the right ear will show if the battery is low, fully charged or charging. Red for low, Green for fully charged and Amber for charging. Once turned on, the headphones will prompt you to connect to your devices using Bluetooth. You will also pick a language so every time you turn on the headphones, a voice is used to inform you of the battery levels or the device it is connected to in the language of your choice.

The device can be connected up to 8 devices and simultaneously connected to 2 devices for ease of use.

Battery Life
The battery life is impressive with 15 hours of playback time. Honestly, if you are conservative and do turn off the device when it is not in use, the headphones need not be charged for over a month. Bose boasts of the 15 minute quick charge which will give you at least 2 hours of battery. This is a nice advantage. And in worst case scenarios, you can connect using the audio cable which will let you listen to all the audio you want. Except it may not be as amazing as the EQ settings on the wireless side of things.

Sound
This is the reason you buy any set of headphones and one of the best at sound is Bose. if you’re a professional nitpicking on the higher bass on audio, you’re probably not even looking at the mid-range headphones category. For the price range, what you get is amazing audio with immense clarity to detail and comfort packed into one powerful headphone. The problem with most headphones is there is always a compromise. If there is great audio, then there is no comfort. If there is comfort, the audio lacks. The Bose Soundlink provides both with a slight setback in the looks department.

Verdict
The nearest rival to the Bose Soundlink Around-Ear Wireless is the Beats Wireless. The Beats has exceptional sound quality, but compromises heavily on the comfort front. This is where the Bose remains solid and comfortable even hours after use. If you are looking for a great set of wireless headphones and choose functionality over looks, go with Bose. It won’t disappoint.