Bose SoundTouch Series II

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Read about the new SoundTouch series III instead

Bose is emerging as a major player in the multi-room market with its upgraded SoundTouch series II systems.

The upgrade to series II includes: More music sources, like Spotify Connect and Deezer, streaming from a PC/Mac music library (non-copyprotected iTunes files), improved control apps with new search and bass control, removed requirement for PC plugin during setup and both a black and a white color option.

Music Sources
SoundTouch supports both AirPlay and Spotify Connect. Can play 20,000 Internet radio stations, music on the local network, and music services including Deezer, Pandora, and iHeartRadio. Local network includes from a NAS and various music libraries on a PC (one library per PC) like iTunes and Windows Media Player.

The supported audio formats are: MP3, WMA, AAC and Apple Lossless.

You can control the system with an app, ir-remote and on unit controls. Apps exist for iOS, Android and PC.

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SoundTouch 20 is for small to medium sized rooms. SoundTouch Portable is for small to medium sized rooms and portable through its rechargeable battery. SoundTouch 30 is for medim sized to big rooms.

Each unit has an OLED display that provides source and song/station info. They have Aux input that enables audio connections from other sources. They also have an Ethernet port for wired connection to the home network.

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SoundTouch Wave is device that is compatible with SoundTouch but with different design and features. It has a CD player, AM/FM radio, Aux in jack and a headphone jack. It is also designed to work as a bedside alarm clock with alarm and snooze.

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SoundTouch Stereo JC Series II is a stereo system with two Jewel Cube Series II speakers and a powered Acoustimass module that is targeted at the living room. It has a designed remote control that handles the standard tasks of skip, pause, play and so on.

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SoundTouch™ SA-4 amplifier can be connected to speakers of your choosing which in essence makes it a competitor to Sonos Connect AMP. The designed round remote is included in the package.

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SoundTouch outdoor speaker system is a package with amplifier and two speakers for outdoor usage.

Conclusion: Bose has a broad offering that matches top rival Sonos well. The SoundTouch system has one of the better source supports out there. Both AirPlay and Spotify Connect is impressive. Maybee Sonos should be a little worried.

Mu-so with AirPlay and Spotify Connect

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Mu-so is the first wireless music system from well known hi-fi manufacturer Naim. Mu-so is a standalone system that pack a lot of punch. With 450W it literally blows the competitors smaller stand alone speakers away, for a higher price.

Mu-so supports both AirPlay and Spotify Connect. And it dont stop there because Mu-so also supports Bluetooth, UPnP, USB, Optical input and internet radio stations. Which adds up to one of the broader platforms in the multi-room market.

mu-so_03_customisation_nogrilleSix 75 watt digital amplifiers deliver a total of 450 watts of power and a porting system moves large volumes of air with low turbulence for the bass. the audio brain of the system is a 32-bit digital signal processor. The touch panel control interface is illuminated around for feedback.

The system has an iPhone and an Android app that you can control volume, light settings, room modes, create playlists and activate multi-room with. AirPlay and Spotify Connect are used in their ordinary way.

It is interesting to compare Mu-so with Sonos because the two systems are each others opposites, in a good way, for both. Sonos has gone for massive support of services with their own software and Naim has instead broad support for standards like AirPlay, Spotify Connect and Bluetooth. So two different approaches to multi-rooming.

Naims offering would obviously be even better if they complemented the Mu-so with a smaller version and a dedicated non speaker player (like Sonos ZonePlayer). And Naim probably will. The price is around £895.