![]() The Envaya carries more details but the soundlink has more clarity, it really depends on preference, but the Envaya is technically better. Spikes in the upper mids and certain sculpting emphasize electronically synthesized effects, however it can sound metallic, raspy and even thin at times with other material. While the Envaya Mini`s mids are more natural, the Soundlink seems to be tuned mainly for contemporary music, a fare but polarizing choice. The midrange is the biggest issue, whilst the rest of the sound is very good. The Soundlink`s sound isn`t bad, in fact it`s probably one of the best small Bluetooth speakers in this size/price class. After a few days of listening however, I`m still liking the Envaya Mini more. Sound – Initially I was really impressed by the Soundlink Mini II, It sounded very dynamic and rich, not balanced, but enjoyable nonetheless. It also has 100 volume steps like the Envaya Mini for fine control. Despite the weight, the Soundlink Mini II is quite small, similar in size to the Envaya Mini and smaller than the UE Boom. ![]() ![]() In addition, a single press of the Bluetooth button switches between the devices the speaker has remembered, making for simple transitions, useful in multi-room setups, etc. Simply hold down the Bluetooth button until the icon begins to flash and it becomes discoverable to nearby devices. The Soundlink mini has a neat text to voice feature that announces the name of the device it`s connecting too, battery remaining, etc, it`s very nice but can be obtrusive at night. The Soundlink doesn`t support NFC nor Apt-X (The Envaya Mini has noticeably less latency for movies and games), but pairing is simple and intuitive. The Envaya Mini is another speaker I praised for having a solid build, and it feels great too, but the rubber ends are inconsistent with the well-finished perforated aluminium grill. The Soundlink Mini II has no life-proof features such as water and dust resistance but the solid weight and all-aluminium build feel a step above the competition. You won`t struggle to meet the 10hr claim in normal use. Speaking of battery, runtimes are quite good on the Mini II, similar to the Envaya Mini at medium volumes but quite a bit longer at high volumes. The battery is not particularly large at 2330mah so the weight must come from large driver magnets and the metal housing. As such, the Soundlink Mini II is immediately noticeable in a bag or pocket, but also feels especially premium and quality in the hand. It weighs around 50% more than the Envaya Mini for example, a speaker that is itself quite hefty. The Soundlink mini is noticeably heavier than the competition, a good or bad thing depending on your perspective. Other Bluetooth speakers are much more rugged feeling, not more solid or sturdy, just rugged. A rubber rim runs around the front and back faces, providing some shock absorption, but I doubt the speaker would return unscathed from even a modest fall. Once you actually start playing music, it is easy to differentiate between front and back, just based on the clarity of the sound. ![]() It presents very symmetrically and looks fantastic, but can be hard to orientate by feel. If I use a different eartip/pad/cover during the review I will note that and describe the sound changes.ĭesign – The Soundlink Mini II features one of the classiest designs of any bluetooth speaker. I`m not particularly treble sensitive and can tolerate large amounts without fatigue, though too much ruins the enjoyment. I prefer a more neutral midrange within a relatively tight tolerance, but I`m probably more forgiving of brightness over darkness. I like a lot of detail and clarity, but can appreciate a smooth, laid back sound such as that on the X10`s. With such a minimalist approach to the refreshed model, does Bose`s offering still hold the top spot on the market?Ībout Me – Some background, Gear of choice, Preferences and Biases I generally prefer a slight v-shape to my sound, but still closer to neutral. Bose has since released an updated model, the one I have here, the Soundlink Mini II which features smarter electronics, increased battery life and slight differences to tuning. ![]()
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