The Bose Sound Link Micro (aka ‘BLSM’) sounds amazing, not just for its size, but up against a lot of other battery powered portable Bluetooth speakers. Over the past two decades I’ve experienced offerings from JBL, Boombotix, Altec, Sony, Logitech and many others. Hands-down, this is the best I’ve heard, with the notable exception of the SONOS Move, but that’s a completely different beast at 4x the cost of a BSLM. Proprietary Bose technology produces loud, clear sound enabled by a custom-mounted transducer and passive radiators. It’s waterproof, protected by a soft but rugged exterior and tear-resistant silicone strap that attaches to your belt or backpack. Not only is the Micro speaker impervious to spills, but it can also endure full submersion for up to 30 minutes thanks to its IPX7 rating. The BSLM offers up to six hours of play time via a rechargeable lithium-ion battery. It is the real deal.
Another standout feature of the BSLM is its rapid pairing performance. Ever since the dawn of Bluetooth, it has been a struggle to get your headphones, earbuds and portable to pair and sync quickly twice in a row. Bose seems to have solved this with almost instantaneous Bluetooth connectivity and voice assist prompts. The BSLM also serves as a high quality speakerphone. Just press a button and take phone calls with a clear crisp sound wherever you are. The built-in speakerphone also gives you voice access to your phone’s Siri, Alexa or Google Assistant—directly through the speaker. Through the Bose Connect app, you can pair more than one compatible Bose Bluetooth speaker for Party Mode to play the same music through each. In Stereo Mode, you can use two BSLM’s to deliver separate right and left channels. Available in Black with Black strap, Midnight Blue with Smoky Violet strap or Bright Orange with Dark Plum strap.
But let’s go back to that transducer thingy. It is the secret sauce that gives this small package its big voice. Audio transducers have been around for a few years, I first experienced their impact from a Scottish company called Wowee almost ten years ago. Held in your hand, their speaker sounded decent, but put it on a hardwood table or mount it to a large pane of glass, the connected surface was seemingly transformed into a giant speaker. Bose has evolved this technology, utilizing molded silicone ‘legs’ to transfer low end frequencies through to a tabletop. Unfortunately, you must hear it to appreciate its impact on sound. Solution – Order one!
The Specs:
- Weight: 10.2 oz.
- Dimensions: 1.4 x 3.9 x 3.9″
- Charging Time: 4 hours
The Positives:
- Strong audio performance
- Waterproof
- Fast Bluetooth connectivity
- Good speakerphone mic
The Negatives:
- Does not float!
- No aux input
