Bose SoundWear Companion Speaker

The Bose SoundWear is average-at-best for neutral listening. It has a unique soundstage since it's a speaker that you wear around your neck. This gives it a good ambiance that some neutral listeners may like; however, its sound quality isn't the most balanced. It has a decent representation of instruments and vocals, and it doesn't sound too sharp on already bright tracks. Unfortunately, it doesn't pack a lot of bass, but it's tactile so you do feel it in your body. It sits relatively far from your ears, especially when compared to headphones, and since it doesn't create a seal with ear cups or an in-ear/earbud fit, it has a difficult time producing a lot of bass. Moving the neckband closer to your ears somewhat mitigates this issue, but it's not a practical fix and won't be ideal for everyone.

-- As reviewed by Rtings
Bose SoundWear Companion Speaker 1

Product details

  • Comfortable and wearable, so you can enjoy music, take calls and access virtual assistants and still stay connected to the world around you
  • Patented waveguide technology, digital signal processing and upward facing speakers surround you in deep, rich sound, creating a truly unique and immersive sound experience
  • Three button control lets you make calls, play and pause tracks and access your phone’s Siri or the Google Assistant
  • Plays for up to 12 hours off a single charge with a rechargeable lithium ion battery. Bluetooth range: 9 m (30 feet); Battery charging time: Up to 3 hours
  • Sweat and weather resistant (with an IPX4 rating) and includes a four way stretchable cover that won’t cause static and dust won’t cling to. Micro B USB port

PROS

+ Solid audio performance with rich bass and bright highs.
+ Can be used as a speakerphone.
+ Adjustable bass levels.
+ Water-resistant.

CONS

- Overpriced.
- It's quite possible that you will be mocked while wearing this speaker.

Expert reviews and ratings

By Rtings on July 13, 2018
The Bose SoundWear is average-at-best for neutral listening. It has a unique soundstage since it's a speaker that you wear around your neck. This gives it a good ambiance that some neutral listeners may like; however, its sound quality isn't the most balanced. It has a decent representation of instruments and vocals, and it doesn't sound too sharp on already bright tracks. Unfortunately, it doesn't pack a lot of bass, but it's tactile so you do feel it in your body. It sits relatively far from your ears, especially when compared to headphones, and since it doesn't create a seal with ear cups or an in-ear/earbud fit, it has a difficult time producing a lot of bass. Moving the neckband closer to your ears somewhat mitigates this issue, but it's not a practical fix and won't be ideal for everyone.
58
By PCMag on November 21, 2017
The unique Bose SoundWear Companion is a pricey Bluetooth speaker that delivers solid sound as you wear it around your neck.
70