The question that Bose are asking with their new SoundLink Revolve speaker range is a pretty simple one. "Why bother" Specifically: why bother with messy net

Purists seeking a flat response-style speaker won't be pleased with the SoundLink Revolve's pronounced boosting and sculpting in certain ranges, and booming bass fiends will want to seek out a larger speaker.

Strong audio performance for size, with rich bass and clear highs; Built-in speakerphone; Water-resistant design

Comparatively pricey

Bose recently updated its SoundLink line of wireless speakers, and the $199.95 SoundLink Revolve falls right in the middle. It shares quite a bit in common with the SoundLink Revolve+, including an almost cylindrical contour, the same control panel layout, and a water-resistant build. From an audio standpoint, the Revolve is less powerful than its larger sibling, but it can still hold its own. There are rich lows and sculpted, well-defined highs here. For its size, the SoundLink Revolve delivers laudable audio performance, but for its price, it has some strong competition. Design The 1.5-pound SoundLink Revolve measures roughly 6.0 by 3.3 by 3.3 inches (HWD) and has a circular base and a slightly smaller circular top panel, giving the speaker a shape similar to a salt shaker, albeit significantly larger. It's available in black or gray, and aside from being smaller, the other primary difference between it and the Revolve+ is its lack of a built-in handle. Both models are IPX4-rate...

The Bose SoundLink Revolve delivers rich, powerful Bluetooth audio in a water-resistant design, but feels slightly overpriced.

Strong audio performance for size, with rich bass and clear highs; Built-in speakerphone; Water-resistant design

Comparatively pricey

Bose recently updated its SoundLink lineup of Bluetooth speakers, and one of the main attractions is the new SoundLink Revolve+. At $299.95, it's a water-resistant portable speaker that delivers sound in every direction. Like most Bose products, it's exceptionally easy to operate and handsomely designed. From an audio standpoint, it delivers powerful sonic performance with boosted, rich bass and sculpted, clear high-mids and highs. It's not a frequency response for audiophiles seeking accuracy in the mix, but it's a balanced, robust sound signature that will appeal to a wide range of listeners. Design Available in black or gray models, the 2-pound SoundLink Revolve+ ($249.00 at Amazon) measures 7.3 by 4.1 by 4.1 inches (HWD) and has a somewhat cylindrical contour with a top panel that's smaller than the base, kind of like a very large salt shaker. The speaker has an IPX4 rating, which means it can handle being splashed by water, making it ideal for poolside parties (though it's no...

The Bose SoundLink Revolve+ speaker delivers a strong Bluetooth audio experience in a portable, outdoor-friendly design.

Powerful audio performance with rich bass and crisp highs; Can play wired audio via aux input or USB; Built-in speakerphone capabilities

Not for purists seeking accurate frequency response; Expensive

It's no secret that I - and my colleagues at Ausdroid - are rather fond of Bose gear. We've reviewed plenty of it, from the first time I used a Bose Soundtouch speaker , to Phil's review of the excellent Bose QC35 noise-cancelling Bluetooth headphones , and Scott's reviews of various Bose earphones...

The best portable speaker for audiophiles

Excellent sound quality; water resistant; great battery life

Expensive; relatively heavy; Expensive; relatively heavy

Cylindrical design, 360-degree omnidirectional sound.

While I'd lean toward the bigger Revolve Plus, Bose's SoundLink Revolve is still of the best-sounding Bluetooth speakers for its size.

The sleek Bose SoundLink Revolve Bluetooth speaker sounds excellent for its compact size; Battery life is good at 12 hours, there's a threaded tripod mount on the bottom of the speaker and an integrated microphone for speakerphone calls.

Expensive, and the cradle that makes charging easier is an optional $30 accessory; The pricier Revolve Plus sounds even better.

Cylindrical design, 360-degree omnidirectional sound. If you've been monitoring the Bluetooth speaker space, you're probably aware that such descriptors are nothing new. Ultimate Ears led the 360-degree charge with its Boom , Boom 2 and Megaboom , and JBL's popular cylindrical Flip and Charge series...

The sleek Bose SoundLink Revolve Bluetooth speaker sounds excellent for its compact size; Battery life is good at 12 hours, there's a threaded tripod mount on the bottom of the speaker and an integrated microphone for speakerphone calls

Expensive, and the cradle that makes charging easier is an optional $30 accessory; The pricier Revolve Plus sounds even better

The SoundLink Revolve is our favorite Bluetooth speaker from Bose to date. In terms of build quality and design, you will be hard pressed to find a better portable wireless speaker on the market. It's got an elegant aluminum body and soft-touch bumpers on the top and bottom in case you drop it.

Great sound quality; Superb build quality and design; Great battery life; Easy to setup and use; Auto turn-off feature

Price; Average Bluetooth stability; On the heavier side

While I'd lean toward the bigger Revolve Plus, Bose's SoundLink Revolve is still of the best-sounding Bluetooth speakers for its size.

The sleek Bose SoundLink Revolve Bluetooth speaker sounds excellent for its compact size; Battery life is good at 12 hours, there's a threaded tripod mount on the bottom of the speaker and an integrated microphone for speakerphone calls.

Expensive, and the cradle that makes charging easier is an optional $30 accessory; The pricier Revolve Plus sounds even better.