Bose Smart Speaker 300 Short Review

The Bose Smart Speaker 300 is designed for your home and connects using wires. It’s special because it comes with Alexa and Google Assistant already installed, and this makes it work really well. Even if you’re not close to it or there’s a lot of noise around, it can still understand you when you talk to it. And if you ever don’t want it to listen, there’s a switch to turn off the microphone.

While it’s not the best at getting really loud and it doesn’t have much deep bass, it does have knobs to change the bass and treble so you can make the sound how you like it. You can also use it with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, and it works quickly with iPhones, Android phones, and Apple AirPlay.

Included in the package are:

• Bose Home Speaker 300 speaker
• Power cable
• User manual

Bose Smart Speaker 300 Rating

1. For Music

The Bose 300 Speaker is decent for music. Its default sound profile leans towards being a bit boomy, but it’s lacking in the deep bass department, which means genres like EDM and hip-hop won’t have that thumping and rumbling effect. Additionally, it doesn’t have the capability to reach high volumes, and when playing stereo content, it needs to convert it into mono, which doesn’t create an immersive experience. However, there are some positives to consider, such as the presence of bass and treble sliders for tailoring the sound to your liking.

Pros:

• Bass and treble sliders for sound customization.
• Includes an AUX port.

Cons:

• Limited maximum volume.
• Downmixes stereo content into mono.

2. For Watching Movies and Videos

The Bose Smart Speaker 300 is suitable for watching videos and movies, although it has some limitations. It performs decently in the mid-range, making vocals and lead instruments sound clear and neutral. However, it struggles with reproducing low-bass, resulting in less impact for sound effects like thumping and rumbling. Furthermore, it has to convert stereo content into mono, which affects the immersive quality of the audio, and it doesn’t reach high volumes. On a positive note, it offers low latency when used with iOS and Android devices.

Pros:

• Provides bass and treble sliders for sound adjustments.
• Offers low latency when connected to iOS, Android, and Apple AirPlay.

Cons:

• Limited maximum volume.
• Downmixes stereo content into mono.

3. For Listening to Podcast

The Bose Home Speaker 300 is suitable for listening to podcasts. It boasts a fairly neutral mid-range, ensuring that content focused on vocals remains clear and true to the source. Its 360-degree design allows for clear audio from all directions. However, it’s not highly portable as it requires a wall socket for power, and it doesn’t support pairing with multiple devices simultaneously.

Pros:

• Bass and treble sliders for sound customization.

Cons:

• Limited maximum volume.

4. Bose Smart Speaker Voice Assistant Support

The Bose Home Speaker 300 excels in providing voice assistant support. With both Alexa and Google Assistant integrated, it effectively recognizes your commands, even from a distance or in noisy surroundings. Additionally, there’s a convenient switch to disable the microphone if you don’t want continuous listening. However, it falls short in terms of maximum volume.

Pros:

• Bass and treble sliders for sound adjustment.
• Exceptional voice assistant performance.

Cons:

• Limited maximum volume.

Bose smart speaker 300 can indeed be connected to other compatible Bose speakers through the app, allowing them to play different audio content simultaneously.

The Bose Music app is of good quality and can be used on both iOS and Android devices. While it may lack a more extensive EQ (equalizer), it does provide bass and treble sliders for adjusting the sound to your preferences. Moreover, you have the option to link multiple units if you need to cover a larger area. However, it’s important to note that its multi-room capabilities are limited to specific Bose speakers and soundbars, and you can’t pair it with another unit to create a stereo pair.

Bose Smart Speaker 300 Overview

Here is the complete overview for Bose Smart Speaker 300:

1. Style

• RGB Lights: None

The Bose Home Speaker 300 is a compact speaker designed to be placed vertically on your table. It features a small status light on the front to signal voice assistant activity or commands. The speaker itself has a sleek appearance, and the aluminum grille that safeguards the speakers adds a touch of elegance. You can choose from two color options: ‘Triple Black’ and ‘Luxe Silver.’

2. Portability

• Volume: 135 in³ (2,219 cm³)
• Weight: 2.3 lbs (1.1 kg)
• Power Source:AC Only
• One-Hand Carry: Yes

This speaker is not highly portable. Although it can be carried with one hand, it requires a constant connection to an AC power source to function.

3. Design Quality

• Material Quality: Good
• Water Resistance: No
• Dust Resistance: Unspecified
• Impact Resistance: Unspecified
• Floats In Water: No

The Bose Home Speaker 300 boasts decent build quality. It utilizes thin plastic with a premium appearance, although the feel is somewhat less robust. An aluminum grille shields the speakers. On its upper surface, there’s a touch-sensitive control area, although it doesn’t sit flush with the rest of the speaker’s body.

4. Controls

• Ease Of Use: Great
• Feedback: Good
• Music Play/Pause: Yes (Tactile)
• Call Answer/End: No
• Volume Up/Down: Yes (Tactile)
• Track Next/Previous: Yes
• Microphone On/Off: Yes (Tactile)
• Additional Controls: Yes

The Bose Home Speaker 300 offers very good controls, conveniently located on the top side. You can easily adjust the speaker’s volume, play or pause audio, and switch to an AUX connection. Additionally, there are six preset buttons for quick access to media stations, playlists, artists, or albums. You can set presets by holding down the desired preset number while the content is playing or by configuring them in the app.

For track navigation, a double-tap on the play/pause button skips forward, while a triple-tap skips backward. The buttons are tactile and easy to press, though they lack texture, which may make it a bit challenging to discern functions without looking. Furthermore, there’s a small interface light that illuminates during commands or voice assistant use, changing colors to indicate different functions.

5. Bluetooth

The Bose Speaker 300 offers excellent Bluetooth connectivity. It achieves very low latency on both iOS and Android devices. However, it’s worth noting that the actual latency you experience can vary depending on the specific apps and devices you use. Unfortunately, this speaker does not support pairing with more than one device simultaneously.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Bose Home Speaker 300 offers a balanced blend of features for those seeking a smart speaker with impressive voice assistant support, excellent Bluetooth connectivity, and user-friendly controls. Its sleek design and customizable sound profile, thanks to bass and treble sliders, cater to a variety of listening preferences. While it may not excel in terms of portability or multi-room capabilities, its solid performance, easy one-hand carry, and compatibility with the Bose Music app make it a solid choice for enhancing your audio experience in a home environment.