The design of the Bose SoundLink Revolve+ is nearly identical to the smaller Bose SoundLink revolve. Both have an aluminum enclosure with a rubber base and buttons. The only difference is that the SoundLink+ gains a convenient handle for taking on the go. Although it looks like it weighs about a ton, it is surprisingly light, making it an easy speaker to take to parties. On the top of the speaker are power, pairing, volume, and auxiliary switches, as well as a multi-function button that allows you to activate your smartphone’s voice assistant as well as control playback. The buttons are easy to press, and the multi-function button is slightly raised to make it sensible and easy to use. It also has a microphone that is ideal for picking up voices during calls. On the back of the speaker is a microUSB port for legacy devices and a 3.5mmAUX port. We are disappointed that Bose chose not to update the speaker with USB type-C. Most devices today move to the new connector, which supports fast charging, and the lack of one means the SoundLink Revolve+ will take longer to fully charge if you let it dry out. According to the company, the speaker combines “dual-opposing passive radiators with powerful, ultra-efficient transducers (in a face-down arrangement) and a new patented acoustic deflector.” Waterproof and shock-resistant, the speaker has a threaded tripod mount on the bottom of the speaker for mounting on a wall or stand. Bose also sells a charging cradle for $30, which makes charging easier than using the included USB cable. It just plays a little louder than the Megaboom, has deeper bass, and offers a slightly richer sound overall. That doesn’t mean the Megaboom is a big step backward, especially if you plan to use the speaker a lot outside. Fully waterproof, the Megaboom is very suitable for outdoor use, and it also features excellent battery life at 20 hours (the Bose offers 16 hours of music playback at moderate volume). the Megaboom is an excellent Bluetooth speaker, but its sound quality is not as good as the Bose The Revolve+ is a good Bluetooth speaker, but its sound quality is not as good as the Bose. Inside the Revolve+ are a pair of opposing passive bass radiators and a single transducer that fires into a dispersion plate with a pressure trap to reduce distortion. In theory, this should result in omnidirectional audio, with no sweet spot or dead spot when walking around the speakers. Each speaker has memory for pairing with eight devices, allowing them to cycle through the Bluetooth pairing procedure without having to go through it every time. Two Revolve+ can also be stereo-paired or put into multi-room party mode to play the same music.
