Bose SoundLink Mini: Tiny $200 Bluetooth speaker delivers big sound (hands on)

(Credit: John P. Falcone/CNET)

There's a new portable Bluetooth speaker in town -- and it's got the Jawbone Jambox and its wireless brethren squarely in its sights.

Bose today introduced the SoundLink Mini, a $200 wireless speaker that's considerably smaller and less expensive than the company's earlier Bluetooth offering, the SoundLink Bluetooth Mobile Speaker II. That model retails for $300 to $350, depending on whether you opt for a nylon or leather cover flap.

The svelte speaker is 2 x 7.1 x 2.3 inches, and it's a looker. The frame is a unibody aluminum enclosure surrounds tiny stereo drivers at each side, flanking front and rear passive radiators in the center. 

Color sleeves will set you back $25 -- each.

(Credit: John P. Falcone/CNET)

Like all Bluetooth speakers, the Mini will stream audio wirelessly from virtually any smartphone or tablet, plus any Bluetooth-enabled PC or audio player (like all recent iPod Touch models). The speaker remembers up to six devices, so you'll only need to sync once.

At 1.5 pounds, the Mini isn't as diminutive as some of the supertiny Bluetooth ultaportables now on the market. But its metal housing gives it considerably more substance than most of its plastic competitors as well -- this thing feels like something that's worth $200, at least.

Another nice luxury on the Mini is its included charge cradle. But that can stay in the house when you travel, since the included fold-up AC adapter can also plug into the speaker's side. For the record, Bose claims seven hours of playtime, and a three-hour recharge time.

While the cradle is a nice extra, everything else is gonna cost you -- big time. Bose will sell green, orange, and blue colored sleeves for a whopping $25 each, and a carrying case will set you back $45.

The Bose SoundLink Mini (with charging cradle in the foreground)

(Credit: John P. Falcone/CNET)

A good first impression -- but enough to distinguish it from the pack?
I was able to hear the SoundLink Mini in person (it was being demoed at the same event in Manhattan's Grand Central Terminal where Bose introduced its new QuietComfort 20 headphones). For such a tiny speaker, its sonic gravitas was palpable. Low-end bass was particularly meaty compared to what we've come to expect from the endless array of on-the-go portables. In that regard, the DNA of its elder sibling -- which also delivered excellent sound quality for its size -- was apparent.

It's a good thing the sonics are promising, because the SoundLink Mini is against a mountain of competing products -- including many that deliver more features for the same money (or less). The Jawbone Jambox, for instance, has a longer advertised battery life (10 hours), and it doubles as a speakerphone (the Bose does not). The Jambox is now widely available for $130, and in multiple colors -- so there's no need to invest in expensive cosmetic sleeves. Or take the Logitech UE Boom -- that $200 model is rated at 15 hours of battery life, has speakerphone capabilities, and is water resistant.(source: cnet)