Okay, for anyone that's interested.
This very afternoon I borrowed my friends Anker speaker, the A3413, which my friend informed me cost him somewhere in the region of £40. I took this over to another friends, whom owns several Soundlink Mini's. Both mk1 and 2's. I compared the Anker to the mk2. I used my iPod Touch via bluetooth, all files were WAV.
To cut what i could make into a very long story short, the Soundlink is better. Build quality is obviously much better. Audio quality, the Bose IS simply better. The Anker is leaner in the mids, which may suit some people. The Mini is, and was always known as warm in it's mid's presentation. The bottom end, you cant really compare the two in my opinion. Because the Bose has more extension, when you up the volume, the sound is that much fuller and rounder sounding. In a medium sized room, at volume, the Anker sounds "cheap".
Whether the premium of an additional £100 is to be regarded as value is purely subjective in my opinion. This is simply for all those "experts" above claiming overpriced tat. The Bose is the better built, and performing product - end of!
You pay your money, and you take your choice (and i own neither)

Maybe he does, but I tend to believe my own ears rather than blindly buy purely based on reviews which are very often tainted by the very advertising companies that support the magazines or review sites.

My hearing allows me listen and then buy a product that I find better than another product - it's a pretty easy test without relying on experts although I'll always read reviews so I can whittle down the choice of items to listen to.

I'm also wary of some supposed experts as it's so easy to become a self appointed expert on the internet. I've seen experts recommend all sorts of crappy products over the years. :smile:

In my 30 years of dealing with audio, video and telecommunications equipment it is conceivable that I may have more technical expertise than some of the experts that do reviews. Possibly, who knows?

I don't have Apple products and I don't buy on brand names alone - I spent a lot of time testing out small bluetooth speakers and this one (well the mark 1 version) sounded the best for the small size. So I based my buying decision on sound quality and build quality alone. Perhaps you've also spent considerable time and effort to test out a number of small speakers and also speak from your own experiences? I'm sure you wouldn't be just making baseless statements without any due diligence carried out to support your thoughts.

The insult game is strong with this one :smirk:

These are not bad either if you factor in the cost of the stands: http://homeavdirect.co.uk/sonos-play-1-w-flexson-desk-stand

ram sonos and ram Bose. high price mediocre quality. you're just paying for the brand. most apple fans also have Bose/sonos

This is just a matter of taste. I personally preferred the Acoustics, but some might prefer Bose or Sonos, and as long as they are cheaper than other places, it is still a deal.

Derp!

I don't use Apple, do have Sonos, and it's not for the SQ (though it adequate for me, I have the amp with speakers and a One), it's more for the ease of use, it's stable, reliable and compact.

I can't comment of the Bose as not used it, but I think Sonos is great quality and worth the £££s.

The Bose is excellent.

Hot - Bose

Cold not apple

had this and a play 5 sonos for a while, now have the harmon kardon onyx 3 and imo it blows them both out of the water all be it 2 of them but 1 sounds superb imo off course

The insult game is strong with this one :smirk:

Maybe Leeroy reads reviews from people/places who know about audio quality, very few of which are complimentary towards Sonos or Bose (few exceptions for Bose as some of their gear is decent).

It is the sheer contemptuous assumption I object to

Maybe he does, but I tend to believe my own ears rather than blindly buy purely based on reviews which are very often tainted by the very advertising companies that support the magazines or review sites.

My hearing allows me listen and then buy a product that I find better than another product - it's a pretty easy test without relying on experts although I'll always read reviews so I can whittle down the choice of items to listen to.

I'm also wary of some supposed experts as it's so easy to become a self appointed expert on the internet. I've seen experts recommend all sorts of crappy products over the years. :smile:

In my 30 years of dealing with audio, video and telecommunications equipment it is conceivable that I may have more technical expertise than some of the experts that do reviews. Possibly, who knows?

I think people are missing the point of this product. It's a small portable speaker which has an internal battery. It's not a wireless steaming system that needs a media server and has to be plugged into a power socket all the time. If you want good quality audio in your house get a decent amp and some proper speakers. Sonos bose etc are trendy gadgets which will never give you the best quality of sound in a house...

Had one a while brilliant sound and volume for such a small speaker and the 1st thing we pack when going on holiday.

Welcome to hotukreviews, so many moaners out there think they know best on certain products. If you like it that's ok, if you don't then just don't buy it. :disappointed:

Me - "Alexa - Why would I want this over an Echo"
Alexa - "You wouldn't"

How well does it work at the beach?

Cheers. Wanted a decent small but loud speaker without paying for the badge. 40w and rave reviews at that price looks great. Will give it a try. Shame I have to get rid of my Wharfdale freestanding speakers to make room for all the games I buy on here :disappointed:

Was just about to recommend the JBL Charge 3 over these.
Forgot the full name as can see JBL badge from where I am sat.
Saw that there is a current deal too.

I have created a post as I strongly rate the JBL for an amazing bit of kit for people who prefer to have the option to take thier speakers outside and/or on holiday.

The S150 looks great, shame it isn't battery powered.

​Good for you..

Good price for a Bose - but so many other alternatives that do just as good a job for a lot less money out there.

I got one of these for my birthday back in September. A really good speaker and not tinny like ones I've had in the past. Hot.

For anyone interested in this but are put off by the price, checkout the Bluedio BS-3, apparently they are manufactured by the same people (they are identical in size, shape and materials).

I own both and there is no noticeable difference in the sound although the Bose has a better interface (the buttons) than the bs-3. Could be worth a look if on a budget as the bs-3 comes in at around £25 at most places

Overrated overpriced and muddy sound and poor design, looks like an alarm clock. I have a pair of megabooms I use in stereo or as 2 zone and they wipe the floor with these Bose speakers. The anker speaker that is based on this Bose is £100 cheaper

Well plastic is cheaper than aluminium. I suspect further savings have been made from using other cheaper components.

Just got a Chinese copy (Aliexpress ) as a pressie. ....sound is amazing!

Owned one since they came out - good for very small room and travel, not much else

Music quality is excellent for size but it's NOT going to fill your room unless you like very low volumes.

I'd rather go

Lepy
Wharfedale 9.1
Chromecast audio

...all for the same price as this.

Yes and it sounds like it too.

Most reviews i've read have agreed that the Bose has the Megaboom beat on both sound quality and bass. I like the look of the Bose as it just blends into a room. UE ones look a better bet for the beach.

Clearly lots of opinions, however lucky for us there is a massive choice and so you don't have to buy this speaker, others exist.

I wonder if Heinz baked beans get such a tough life when a deal is posted for them, as so many other baked beans exist

there is no way you can get the same quality That these Bose sound link Mini 2 or Sonos Play 1 or other premium sets provide from cheap Chinese no brand models or likes of Anker etc,people who claim that are just making themselves look like clowns because they obviously NEVER compared them in person.

they just see these products and read the specs then go straight to alibaba or banggoods and buy the cheap knock off that look similar and have similar specs on paper and they think they are smart,then they come here try to bash a product they have never even tried.

it's just pathetic,cheap,low quality of life mixed with jealousy.
this website is full of such clueless posters,always making stupid and false comments on anything from well known,high quality brands,I just ignore these foolish comments and will actually read proper reviews and try them for myself.

I agree with Tequila, You can tell the difference with these branded speakers, People need to go and listen for themselves, I have been and listened to quite a few different makes and sized speakers. These Bose mini's do sound really good for their size and portability. Surely that is why this deal has been posted for this in mind. Cheers :smiley:

I've owned this speaker for over a year and while no audiophile I think it sounds fantastic and much better than many other cheaper speakers I've owned previously or heard. The build quality is fantastic and the bass is deep without drowning everything else out. I travel a lot and this is one of the first items I pack. There are better portable speakers out there but in this price range it's one of the best.

You've got your opinion I've got mine.

Show me any of these numerous devices that offer the same size and sound quality as this Bose whilst at a much cheaper price.

this speaker is well worth it. I've been considering a soundtouch and went into a store (currys) to test it out and saw the mini. seriously so much power from such a small device. the bass is amazing and I'm on the hunt for one. need it to be slightly cheaper for me to bite.

Okay, for anyone that's interested.
This very afternoon I borrowed my friends Anker speaker, the A3413, which my friend informed me cost him somewhere in the region of £40. I took this over to another friends, whom owns several Soundlink Mini's. Both mk1 and 2's. I compared the Anker to the mk2. I used my iPod Touch via bluetooth, all files were WAV.
To cut what i could make into a very long story short, the Soundlink is better. Build quality is obviously much better. Audio quality, the Bose IS simply better. The Anker is leaner in the mids, which may suit some people. The Mini is, and was always known as warm in it's mid's presentation. The bottom end, you cant really compare the two in my opinion. Because the Bose has more extension, when you up the volume, the sound is that much fuller and rounder sounding. In a medium sized room, at volume, the Anker sounds "cheap".
Whether the premium of an additional £100 is to be regarded as value is purely subjective in my opinion. This is simply for all those "experts" above claiming overpriced tat. The Bose is the better built, and performing product - end of!
You pay your money, and you take your choice (and i own neither)

Yes, it is. Really, it is.

I get so fed up of these "Bose is blah blah", or "Sonos is etc etc" - It's my house, my choice. Doesn't work for everyone, but there is no need to slate it just because you don't like it.

It's mainly the people that can't afford it anyway.

The silence is deafening, speaks volumes really if you pardon the pun.

​It must be annoying with all those people telling you Sonos is over priced average sound quality. It's probably because they are right.

This bose soundlink mini is a portable speaker. Ie a speaker with battery you can take anywhere. It is not a replacement for a home system. It's the only bose product I support because it's the best in class.
I can say that bose and Sonos stuff is a rip off because I've auditioned them. And I've compared to my monitor audio gold reference speakers and marantz KI pearl lite amp. They don't touch it. And for the same money as most Sonos systems you can pick up a really good second hand amp and speakers which kick the Sonos in the face and then spit on it.

Or, maybe some people don't have the time, botheration or need to "audition" sound equipment (probably because they have a life...). I wanted a good sounding, easy to use, easy to set up, multi room speaker system without having to bother with amps, cables or the like. I bought sonos. I'm happy. I'm would never, ever take a recommendation from someone like you...!

Haha OK mate... ​I'm not bothered if people listen to any recommendations I give. I give my opinion on what I know. That's what this site is all about.

Auditioning products isn't unusual. Imagine you buying a car without test driving it. Or buying a TV without going to a shop and actually seeing how good the picture is.
I bet shops and car dealers love it when people with your thought process walk through the door.

Firstly I'm not your "mate", secondly who said anything about buying a car?! I listened to a Sonos set up in a shop, it did everything I wanted, I bought it! End of story! I don't listen to people like you for good reason!

Now go away and preach your hate on avforum.com

​So you did audition it.... If you read through your posts and mine again you will find you started the hostilities just because I said Sonos was rubbish. I've tried to keep it none personal even though you insulted me more than once.

[/quote]​So you did audition it.... If you read through your posts and mine again you will find you started the hostilities just because I said Sonos was rubbish. I've tried to keep it none personal even though you insulted me more than once.[/quote]
No, I listened to it and looked at the controller. I "audition" people for a band, I "listen" to audio equipment.

Anyway, enjoy your future "auditioning" things. I'm bored of you now.

​So you did audition it.... If you read through your posts and mine again you will find you started the hostilities just because I said Sonos was rubbish. I've tried to keep it none personal even though you insulted me more than once.[/quote]
No, I listened to it and looked at the controller. I "audition" people for a band, I "listen" to audio equipment.

Anyway, enjoy your future "auditioning" things. I'm bored of you now.[/quote]

​Last word...

Could not agree more, I'm no great fan of Bose in general but with this particular speaker they smacked ball out of the park. For the size and price this is a truly outstanding speaker.