Welcome to the party, Bose. SoundLink joins a cool crowd.

From Bose press release announcing the Bose SoundLink Wireless Music System.

“Many people use a computer as their primary source for music,” said John Roselli, category business manager for Bose Corporation. “But that convenience and experience is diminished by having to be at the computer to hear it. The Bose SoundLink system unlocks that music, streaming it almost anywhere in the home –- even outside –- quickly and easily.”

Yes.  This has been the premise around numerous entry-level applications that Avnera has enabled with its AudioMagic product line.  As opined on Engadget today, Bose's offering at $549.99 is pretty expensive, more so than the applications Avnera has already enabled in this application space – the idea being making such a cool function accessible to more users.  So I'm happy to see this announcement because, with Bose's marketing machine putting the "reason-to-buy" into consumers' minds, it will shed a renewed light on the more affordable solutions already out there to enable unleashed PC music listening.

Here are a few affordable SoundLink alternatives:

• AudioEngine W1, $149 – USB to wireless line-out receiver.  Bring your own speakers.  Any speakers.  Amazon bundles AudioEngine's own A5 with a "price for both" of $474.  Will absolutely destroy the Bose in performance.  Or use the W1 with the aux input on the iHome iP1 and make your own bundle for $448 (like a high-end Mint... what a segue).


• Mint 220 Digital Music Station, $119.99 – Exactly the same concept as Bose's offering, but with the added utility of an iPod dock on the speaker itself making it more versatile.


• Rocketfish RF-WS01, $104.99 – Line-in transmitter with two wireless speakers for separate left and right arrangement, or dual zone mono operation.  Expandable with the RF-WS02 as well.

I love a market!

Comments

[Cooper]

Excellent information, have been meaning to blog about this myself for some time, but you beat me to it.

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[R.Jayapal]

I bought Bose Companion 3 audio system in India. It failed within 15 months. It was a horrible experience to get it serviced at Chennai.India. Service engineer will not be available whenever you go and they will ask you to come next week on your every visit. Service charges are quite high.I regret having bought this system. I feel ,Bose is not suitable for Indian environment.When Bose is charging exorbitant price for their products, is it not their responsibility to give a reliable product?

[-Sacriel]

Of course, as with all of Bose products, the sound is what is the defining feature. None of the posted competitor products have anything close to the clarity of sound and range that the Soundlink has. Having sadly owned AudioEngine and Rocketfish products, nothing has the longevity, simplicity of use, and clarity of sound for the size and portability that one gets with the Soundlink.