Bose announces the new SoundLink Revolve 360° Bluetooth speakers

Bose SoundLink Revolve

The trend in the portable speakers market seems to be about omni-directional sound and Bose is in for the party. The new Bose SoundLink Revolve and Bose SoundLink Revolve+ are both cylindrical portable Bluetooth speakers with 360° sound and an aluminium shell.

The Bose SounLink Revolve uses one “powerful, ultra-efficient transducer” positioned face-down in conjunction with “dual-opposing passive radiators” (like the Creative iRoar Go) and “a new patented acoustic deflector”. This means we’ve got one single driver that achieves omni-directional sound by making sound waves go down and then diffuse – similarly to what water would do when falling down and running down the slopes of an underlying cone. That’s a different approach to the one used on the UE WONDERBOOM, which uses two speakers in opposing directions.

Both the Bose SoundLink Revolve and the Bose SoundLink Revolve+ are IPX4 certified, so they can withstand water spills and splashes – showers and poolsides should be no issue. There’s also a screw thread on the bottom to mount them on tripods.

What’s the difference between the Revolve and the Revolve+? The first is 15.2 cm tall and has a radius of 8.2 cm, while the latter is 18.4 x 10.5 cm; there’s also a difference in weight (0.66 kg vs 0.9 kg) and battery life (12 hours vs 16 hours). Battery life seems to be especially notable, given the size of the two speakers. Both offer NFC, plain language voice prompts and a microphone that allows to use the speaker as a speakerphone or as a medium for Siri or Google Assistant. The Revolve+ also features a handle to make carrying easier.

The Bose SoundLink Revolve retails for $199 and the Revolve+ has a price tag of $299. They are both already available and come in two colours: “Triple Black” and “Lux Gray”.

You can find the full press release below.

Spoiler
April 13, 2017 – Bose today announced its best Bluetooth speakers ever — the new SoundLink Revolve™ and SoundLink Revolve+™. With true omni-directional performance, and an entirely new acoustic design, Revolve speakers spread deep, jaw-dropping sound in every direction — from a seamless aluminum design.

“When SoundLink first hit the market, it took the industry by storm,” said Glenn Gomes-Casseres, director of products for Bose wireless speakers. “We didn’t want to make small improvements to the audio that made it famous. We wanted the difference to be so dramatic, that it would take just one song to hear the best sound you’ve ever heard from a little speaker — all over again.”

To do that, Bose engineers started from a clean-sheet to redefine the relationship between size, sound, and battery-power. An entirely new acoustic package was developed first, then matched with the cylindrical shape it required, and a single-piece aluminum enclosure. There’s no “front” or “back,” because Revolve speakers don’t have to be pointed to favor one location over another. They combine dual-opposing passive-radiators with a powerful, ultra-efficient transducer — positioned face-down — and a new patented acoustic deflector. With an added “pressure trap” to eliminate distortion, the result is dramatic. Sound radiates uniformly in every direction, with deep, rich bass — and without the sweet spots and frequency drop-offs of conventional 360-degree speakers. Set in the middle of the room, a corner, or anywhere in between, Revolve speakers deliver the same experience for everyone. Music is spacious, clear, and when you want — remarkably loud.

Both new Revolve models are just at home outside. They feature an IPX4-rating to withstand spills, rain, and pool splashes; and rugged durability to survive dings, drops, and bumps. A quarter-twenty thread on the bottom of each makes for easy mounting on a tri-pod for listening in the yard or an outdoor party.

Revolve is 6” high x 3 ¼” deep, weighs a mere 1.5 pounds, and provides up to 12-hours of battery life. Revolve+ is slightly bigger for more performance at 7 ¼” high x 4” deep, 2 pounds, and up to 16-hours of playtime. Both can pair through NFC, feature plain-language voice-prompts for fool-proof set-up, and integrate microphones to use as a speakerphone, or with Siri and Google Assistant.

The free Bose Connect app now syncs two SoundLinks — any combination, for any models starting with the SoundLink Color II. New Stereo Mode enables left-right pairing, and new Party Mode lets you play the same music on both simultaneously.

THE SOUNDLINK OBSESSION

Bose SoundLink speakers are globally recognized as the standard for mobile audio. The original SoundLink Mobile speaker redefined the Bluetooth speaker category with revolutionary performance from a portable design. The SoundLink Mini and Mini II took the market by storm with an entirely new level of sound quality from an even smaller design. The SoundLink III pushed the boundaries further with an even more powerful experience. And the original Color and Color II became hits with their rugged design and colors. Today, Revolve and Revolve+ usher in the next generation of SoundLink, made possible by the same obsession that started it all — to make the smallest, best sounding wireless speaker ever.

PRICING, AVAILABILITY AND COLORS

The SoundLink Revolve and SoundLink Revolve+ Bluetooth speakers will be available beginning April 13, 2017 for $199.00 and $299.00, respectively, and come in two colors –- Triple Black and Lux Gray. SoundLink Revolve and SoundLink Revolve+ are sold at Bose stores, Bose.com, and authorized Bose dealers. Additional information can be found at Bose.com.

ABOUT BOSE CORPORATION

Bose Corporation was founded in 1964 by Dr. Amar G. Bose, then a professor of electrical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Today, the company is driven by its founding principles, investing in long-term research with one fundamental goal: to develop new technologies with real customer benefits. Bose innovations have spanned decades and industries, creating and transforming categories in audio and beyond. Bose products for the home, in the car, on the go and in public spaces have become iconic, changing the way people listen to music.

About Riccardo Robecchi

Living in Glasgow, Scotland but born and raised near Milan, Italy, I got the passion for music listening as a legacy from my father and my grandfather. I have reported on technology for major Italian publications since 2011.

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