Overall, the Bose SoundLink Revolve II performed well, with consistent timbre and dynamics performance regardless of device orientation. At nominal volume, the upper spectrum timbre is good, with good extension. Localizability is also good, thanks to the high frequency performance. The balance is excellent, and the centered content is well rendered. The directivity is also excellent, as the speaker fires in 360 degrees. In most cases, voice distance rendering is adequate. At nominal and soft volumes, the Revolve II has no artifacts. Another advantage is that the audio-video latency is acceptable when connecting to video content via the jack. The SoundLink Revolve II’s drawbacks include slightly inconsistent midrange rendering and a lack of upper mids. Tonal balance suffers from a lack of high-frequency content at low volume. Tonal balance, on the other hand, becomes very midrange-focused at high volume. The 360-degree approach impedes distance rendering in the bedtime and bathroom use cases, with voices perceived as diffuse or coming from the back of the device. Because of the configuration, the device has no width. Attack on high-pitched instruments is imprecise, and the lack of a lower spectrum impairs both bass precision and punch. Maximum volume is insufficient, and the volume steps are inconsistent overall. Strong compression causes noticeable pumping at high volumes. Furthermore, the Bluetooth connectivity has an audio-video latency that makes it unsuitable for watching video content. The SoundLink Revolve II fared well in terms of timbre, with good trebles and high-end extension. However, the midrange is slightly inconsistent, with a lack of upper mids and low-mid resonances, particularly when listening to podcast content. Tonal balance is slightly harmed by a lack of low-end extension. On the plus side, the 360-degree firing design ensures consistent tonal balance regardless of device orientation. Our engineers noticed a slight lack of upper spectrum content and clarity in quiet environments.
