Bose had a little event today at Grand Central Station just footsteps away from the Apple Store to announce and demonstrate their new portable products.
We’ve rated the Best Portable Bluetooth Speakers on the market (TL;DR: Overall winner, Best Value, Best sound, Best Portable/Sound, Apps/Updates, more) but clearly there is some room for the $199 Bose SoundLink Mini Bluetooth speaker at the top end. Bose gave us a listen and I don’t think I’ll ever be the same after hearing such rich sound out of a small device (which weighs about as much as an original iPad and can be stowed away in a coat pocket). It certainly gives the much larger Logitech Boombox a run for its money in volume and edges it in clarity. The downsides are that it is bigger/heavier than the Beats Pill or the Logitech Mini Boombox, it charges via a proprietary AC adapter and it isn’t Bluetooth 4.0. The sound quality will make those little things melt away, I promise.
The Soundlink speaker will be released on July 11th but pre-orders begin today at Bose retailers.
Bose also introduced a new level of noise canceling headphones called the QuietComfort 20 and 20i. We got to put some on and hear aircraft level noise disappear while noise canceling features were activated. Bose also has a mid-level noise cancellation mode that can be activated with a switch on the cord and still allows you to hear voices and other important noises you might want to be alerted to. Music is amazing as you’d expect and the buds fit incredibly comfortably in my ears.
The QuietComfort 20 and 20i headphones will be available starting in the summer of 2013 for $299.95.
Both products are highly recommended. Details in the Press release that follows…
BOSE INTRODUCES QUIETCOMFORT® 20 ACOUSTIC NOISE CANCELLING® HEADPHONES AND SOUNDLINK® MINI BLUETOOTH® SPEAKER
Mobile Audio Like Never Before
June 4, 2013 — Today, Bose ushered in a new era of portable audio by introducing its new Bose® QuietComfort® 20 in-ear noise cancelling headphones and Bose SoundLink® Mini Bluetooth® speaker. Both offer an entirely new experience when listening to a smart device or tablet, delivering performance that redefines what’s possible from mobile audio.
QuietComfort 20 Headphones: The Most Versatile Bose Headphones Ever
The new QuietComfort 20 headphones are the first in-ear noise cancelling headphones from Bose. They deliver a stunning breakthrough in noise reduction, audio performance and comfort, and offer two ways to listen –- one to shut out the world, and one to keep you connected. They fit in your pocket, weigh just 1.5 ounces, and rival the performance of much larger headphones.
“The Bose QC20s are a revolutionary headphone,” said Sean Garrett, vice president of the Bose Noise Reduction Technology Group. “Just like your phone, you’ll want to take them everywhere, every day.”
The QC®20 headphones benefit from over 30 years of continuous research in noise reduction technology, and integrate more U.S. patents than any Bose® headphone ever made.
New Bose® QuietComfort® 20 Headphones and SoundLink® Mini Speaker
Bose engineers first placed two tiny microphones in each earbud; one senses the sound approaching, the other measures the sound inside. The measurements are then sent to a digital electronic chip located in the control module found on the headphone cord. The digital electronic chip –- exclusive to Bose, and the first of its kind — calculates an equal and opposite noise cancellation signal within a fraction of a millisecond. The resulting noise reduction is so dramatic, it has to be heard to be believed.
Within the quiet environment created by Bose noise reduction, musical detail previously “lost” through conventional in-ear headphone listening can be heard with remarkable clarity. Bose TriPort® technology uses ports to increase the effective acoustic space of the earbud to reproduce deep lows, and lifelike vocals and instruments. Bose active equalization tunes the frequency response for improved, natural sound. All music genres sound better — full, rich, and deep, without artificial boosts or distortion.
The QuietComfort® 20 headphones were made for comfort and performance. New proprietary StayHear®+ ear tips sit at the entrance of the ear canal, and feature an improved conical design that ensures an effective seal to passively block noise, and the proper acoustic enclosure to improve active noise reduction. They are stable, secure, and barely felt. The QC20 headphones can be used in two ways, giving you control over what you hear and when. Owners can choose to block out the noisy world and enjoy their music. Or, with the push of a button on the cord’s Y-joint, the QC20 headphones switch to new Aware mode, which keeps the music playing, but allows surroundings to be heard clearly: a horn beeping, friend talking, a passerby, or gate announcement at the train or airport.
“Aware mode changes behavior,” said Garrett. “With it, you no longer have to remove your headphones to connect with the world. It’s just another reason why the QC20 headphones can be used in more places, in more ways, and more often than any other headphone available.”
A rechargeable battery provides about 16 hours of power; when the battery is depleted or the power is turned off, the music plays on.
The new QuietComfort® 20 headphones include an integrated inline microphone and controls that enable you to take calls. They are available in two different models: the QC20 headphones work with most Android™, Windows® and BlackBerry® phones; the QC20i headphones are designed specifically for select iPhone, iPad and iPod models.
The QC20 and QC20i join the iconic QuietComfort 15 headphones and QuietComfort 3 headphones in the renowned Bose® QuietComfort noise cancelling headphone line.
SoundLink® Mini Speaker: A New Kind of Ultra-Portable Bluetooth® Speaker
The new SoundLink® Mini speaker is a completely new Bose® SoundLink® family member. It fits in the palm of your hand, connects wirelessly to a smart device or tablet, and delivers a new level of performance for personal, out-loud listening.
“Handheld speakers aren’t new, but none are like the SoundLink Mini,” said Phil Hess, vice president of the Bose Home Entertainment Division. “Developing a smaller speaker wasn’t the goal and it wasn’t enough. The SoundLink Mini had to be small, and it had to offer better sound than anyspeaker of its size. And we believe it does.”
New Bose® QuietComfort® 20 Headphones and SoundLink® Mini Speaker
At 1.5 pounds, the SoundLink® Mini speaker weighs no more than the average tablet. It measures just 2.0”H x 7.1”W x 2.3”D — 30% the size and 50% the weight of the original SoundLink® Mobile speaker. With its anodized aluminum housing, it resists scratches and fingerprints, and is strong and durable enough for the rigors of everyday use.
The SoundLink® Mini speaker features several engineering advancements precisely integrated in its enclosure: two new passive radiators feature a patented surround to reproduce the lowest low notes. The proprietary passive radiators are driven by new custom-designed, high-efficiency Bose® transducers. Debuting in the SoundLink® Mini speaker, the new Bose transducers move twice the air as conventional same-size transducers and deliver clear mid- and high-frequencies. To optimize the audio output, Bose digital signal processing is integrated for tonally balanced sound at any listening level. The resulting experience is unprecedented: the SoundLink® Mini plays the full range of music — lifelike and powerful.
The SoundLink® Mini speaker uses Bluetooth® A2DP and a powerful antenna for a reliable wireless connection. It’s easy to pair and play, connecting to a mobile device at the touch of a button on the speaker’s control panel. The six most recently used Bluetooth devices are stored in memory, eliminating the need to pair again. The SoundLink® Mini speaker comes with a charging cradle, making it easy to grab-and-go with your music, and a rechargeable lithium-ion battery for up to seven hours of listening. Accessory soft covers in orange, green and blue, and a travel bag, are also available for customization and convenience.
The SoundLink® Mini Bluetooth® speaker joins the acclaimed SoundLink® Bluetooth® Mobile speaker II in the Bose® Bluetooth® speaker product line.New Bose® QuietComfort® 20 Headphones and SoundLink® Mini Speaker
Pricing, Accessories, Availability The QuietComfort® 20 and 20i headphones will be available starting in the summer of 2013 for $299.95. The SoundLink® Mini Bluetooth® speaker will be available beginning on July 11, 2013, for $199.95; SoundLink® Mini speaker preorders begin today. SoundLink® Mini speaker accessory soft covers will retail for $24.95; the travel bag will retail for $44.95. The QuietComfort 20 headphones, SoundLink® Mini speaker and its accessories will be sold through Bose stores, Bose.com, toll-free at 1-800-444-BOSE (2673), and select authorized dealers.
