Technology

Bose Wave SoundTouch IV Review: Good Audio, Poor Design

bose-wave-soundtouch-iv-review-good-audio-poor-design

Sound Quality

The Bose Wave SoundTouch IV impresses with its exceptional sound quality that is sure to elevate your audio experience. With the Waveguide speaker technology, this system produces clear and crisp audio across a wide range of frequencies. Whether you’re listening to your favorite music tracks or watching movies, the sound reproduction is impressive and immersive.

The system boasts a dual speaker configuration that ensures well-balanced audio delivery. The high-frequency sounds are rendered with precision, while the low-frequency tones are reproduced with depth and richness. This combination creates a remarkable audio experience that is enjoyable for music enthusiasts and movie buffs alike.

One of the standout features of the Bose Wave SoundTouch IV is its ability to fill a room with powerful sound. The engineered enclosure provides clear and spacious sound that permeates every corner of the room, creating a captivating and engaging listening experience. Whether you’re in a small apartment or a larger living space, you can expect a consistent and enjoyable audio performance.

The system also excels in reproducing vocals, delivering crisp and natural-sounding voices. This is particularly advantageous for those who enjoy listening to podcasts, audiobooks, or vocal-oriented genres. The clarity and precision of the vocals make for an immersive listening experience, allowing you to fully appreciate the nuances and emotions in the content you’re consuming.

Moreover, the Bose Wave SoundTouch IV offers customizable sound with its built-in equalizer settings. This allows you to adjust the bass, treble, and mid-range frequencies according to your preferences. Whether you prefer a punchy bass or a more balanced sound, you can fine-tune the settings to achieve your desired audio profile.

Design and Build Quality

The Bose Wave SoundTouch IV features a sleek and compact design that effortlessly blends with any home decor. Its minimalistic appearance, with a combination of glossy and matte finishes, adds a touch of sophistication to your living space.

The system is crafted with attention to detail, exemplifying Bose’s commitment to quality. The build is sturdy and durable, ensuring that the device will withstand the test of time. The buttons on the front panel are well-placed and responsive, allowing for easy control of the system’s functions.

One notable design aspect is the built-in CD player, which provides a nostalgic touch for those who still enjoy listening to their favorite albums in physical format. The CD player smoothly loads and plays discs, and the slot neatly tucks away when not in use, maintaining the sleek appearance of the system.

Furthermore, the inclusion of a remote control adds convenience to the user experience. The remote is intuitively designed, with all the essential buttons easily accessible. You can adjust the volume, switch between audio sources, and even control the system through the SoundTouch app from the comfort of your couch.

In terms of portability, the Bose Wave SoundTouch IV is relatively lightweight, making it easy to relocate within your home. Whether you want to enjoy your music in the bedroom or move it to the patio for a gathering, the compact size and manageable weight make it a versatile audio companion.

The presence of a headphone jack on the front panel allows for private listening, giving you the flexibility to enjoy your music without disturbing others. Additionally, the system features an auxiliary input, enabling you to connect other audio sources such as smartphones or tablets.

Overall, the design and build quality of the Bose Wave SoundTouch IV are top-notch. It combines aesthetics and functionality seamlessly, resulting in an audio system that not only sounds great but also complements your home decor.

Connectivity Options

The Bose Wave SoundTouch IV offers a range of connectivity options, ensuring that you can easily connect and enjoy your favorite audio content from various sources. Whether you prefer streaming music wirelessly or playing your CDs, this system has you covered.

One of the key connectivity features of the SoundTouch IV is its built-in Wi-Fi. This allows you to connect the system to your home network and access music streaming services such as Spotify, Pandora, and Amazon Music. With just a few taps on the SoundTouch app, you can play your favorite playlists, discover new artists, and create customized stations.

In addition to Wi-Fi, the system also has Bluetooth connectivity. This enables you to wirelessly connect your mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets to the SoundTouch IV. Whether you want to play music or watch videos, you can easily stream audio from your device and enjoy it through the system’s powerful speakers.

For those who still enjoy listening to physical media, the Bose Wave SoundTouch IV features a built-in CD player. This allows you to play your collection of CDs and experience the high-quality audio that the system offers.

Furthermore, the system provides an auxiliary input, giving you the option to connect other audio sources. You can plug in your MP3 player, turntable, or other multimedia devices to enjoy your music library. The versatility of the connectivity options ensures that you can enjoy your audio content in multiple ways.

The SoundTouch IV also includes an Ethernet port, providing a wired option for network connectivity. This can be particularly useful if you prefer a stable and reliable connection for streaming music or if your Wi-Fi network is experiencing any issues.

The system is compatible with voice assistants such as Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, allowing you to control the SoundTouch IV using voice commands. This hands-free convenience enhances the user experience and makes it even easier to access your favorite music and control the system’s functions.

Overall, the Bose Wave SoundTouch IV offers a wide range of connectivity options, catering to different preferences and ensuring that you can enjoy your music from various sources with ease.

Ease of Use

The Bose Wave SoundTouch IV is designed with user convenience in mind, making it incredibly easy to set up and operate. Whether you’re tech-savvy or a novice user, you’ll appreciate the simplicity and intuitive nature of this audio system.

Setting up the SoundTouch IV is a breeze. The included instructions guide you through the process step-by-step, ensuring that you can have the system up and running in no time. The system connects effortlessly to your home Wi-Fi network, allowing you to access music streaming services and enjoy your favorite tracks with ease.

The front panel of the system features a clear and easy-to-read display, providing essential information such as the currently playing track, artist name, and volume level. The buttons on the panel are responsive and well-labeled, allowing for quick and straightforward control of the system’s functions.

For added convenience, the Bose SoundTouch app is available for both iOS and Android devices. This user-friendly app acts as a central hub for controlling the SoundTouch IV. With the app, you can easily navigate through your music library, create playlists, and control the system from the palm of your hand. The app’s interface is intuitive and visually appealing, providing a seamless user experience.

In addition to the app, the Bose Wave SoundTouch IV also comes with a remote control. The remote features a straightforward layout with all the essential buttons easily accessible. You can adjust the volume, switch between audio sources, and control playback without needing to reach for the system itself or your smartphone.

The system’s CD player is also straightforward to use, with a slot-loading mechanism that makes it easy to insert and remove discs. The system supports playback of various formats, allowing you to enjoy your entire CD collection without any hassle.

The inclusion of presets on the system and app further enhances the ease of use. With presets, you can save your favorite music stations or playlists as shortcuts, allowing you to access them with a single button press. This eliminates the need to navigate through menus or search for your preferred content every time you want to listen to it.

SoundTouch App

The Bose SoundTouch app is a powerful companion for the Bose Wave SoundTouch IV, providing a seamless and intuitive way to control and personalize your audio experience. Available for both iOS and Android devices, the app offers a range of features that enhance the functionality and convenience of the SoundTouch IV.

One of the key features of the SoundTouch app is the ability to access and control your music library. Whether you have stored your music locally on your device or have it in the cloud, the app allows you to easily navigate through your collection and select the tracks you want to play on the SoundTouch IV. This ensures that you have quick access to your favorite content without needing to physically interact with the system.

The app also provides access to a wide range of music streaming services. From popular platforms like Spotify and Pandora to lesser-known options, the SoundTouch app integrates seamlessly with these services, allowing you to search, browse, and play your favorite songs and playlists directly from the app. The app’s user-friendly interface makes it easy to discover new music and create personalized stations tailored to your taste.

In addition to controlling music playback, the SoundTouch app allows you to adjust the equalizer settings of the SoundTouch IV. You can fine-tune the bass, treble, and mid-range frequencies to achieve the desired audio profile that suits your preferences. This level of customization ensures that you can optimize the sound output of the system to match your listening preferences for different genres of music.

Another noteworthy feature of the SoundTouch app is the ability to create and manage presets. Presets allow you to save your preferred radio stations, playlists, or albums as shortcuts, eliminating the need to search for them every time you want to listen. This convenient feature lets you effortlessly switch between your favorite content with just a tap of a button on the app.

The app also offers multi-room functionality, allowing you to connect multiple SoundTouch speakers throughout your home and create a synchronized audio experience. With the app, you can group speakers together, control their volume levels, and play the same or different audio content in different rooms, enhancing the versatility and flexibility of the SoundTouch IV system.

Overall, the SoundTouch app is a valuable addition to the Bose Wave SoundTouch IV, giving you full control over your music and audio experience. Its user-friendly interface, seamless integration with music streaming services, and customization options make it a powerful tool to enhance your listening pleasure.

Room-filling Sound

The Bose Wave SoundTouch IV is designed to deliver a room-filling sound experience, immersing you in rich and dynamic audio that fills every corner of your space. Whether you’re having a quiet night in or hosting a party, this audio system ensures that everyone can enjoy high-quality sound no matter where they are in the room.

With its proprietary Waveguide speaker technology, the SoundTouch IV produces a wide soundstage that extends far beyond the physical boundaries of the system. This technology allows the speakers to disperse sound evenly, resulting in a spacious audio presence. Whether you’re sitting directly in front of the speakers or off to the side, you can still enjoy a consistent listening experience without any loss of audio quality.

The SoundTouch IV’s dual speaker configuration further enhances the room-filling capabilities of the system. The speakers work in tandem to create a balanced sound reproduction, ensuring that all frequencies are delivered with precision. The high frequencies are crisp and clear, providing detailed nuances, while the low frequencies are deep and rich, adding depth and impact to the overall sound.

In addition to the dual speaker configuration, the SoundTouch IV utilizes built-in digital signal processing (DSP) to optimize the audio output. The DSP algorithms analyze and process the audio signal, ensuring that it is reproduced accurately and faithfully. This fine-tuning allows the system to deliver a well-balanced sound signature, creating a captivating and immersive listening experience.

Furthermore, the engineered enclosure of the SoundTouch IV plays a crucial role in the room-filling sound. The enclosure is designed to minimize sound leakage and reflection, directing the audio output towards the listener. This focused sound projection ensures that the sound reaches every corner of the room, whether it’s a small bedroom or a larger living area.

Whether you’re listening to soft melodies or rocking out to your favorite tunes, the SoundTouch IV’s room-filling sound ensures that the music fills the air with clarity and depth. From delicate instrumental details to powerful vocals and thumping basslines, the system delivers an immersive audio experience that brings your music to life.

Overall, the Bose Wave SoundTouch IV’s room-filling sound capabilities create an engaging and immersive listening experience that is sure to captivate and delight music enthusiasts of all genres.

Additional Features

Aside from its exceptional sound quality and user-friendly design, the Bose Wave SoundTouch IV offers a range of additional features that further enhance your audio experience.

One notable feature is the inclusion of an alarm clock function. With the SoundTouch IV, you can wake up to your favorite music or radio station, allowing for a pleasant and gentle start to your day. The alarm clock settings are easy to configure, and the system’s display provides a clear and visible time readout.

Another useful feature is the inclusion of a sleep timer. This allows you to set a specific duration after which the system will automatically turn off, so you can fall asleep to your favorite music without worrying about leaving the system powered on all night.

The SoundTouch IV also includes a USB port, providing the ability to connect external storage devices and play music files directly from a USB drive. This gives you added flexibility in accessing and enjoying your digital music collection.

Moreover, the system supports multi-room functionality. You can connect multiple SoundTouch speakers throughout your home and control them simultaneously or individually using the SoundTouch app. This allows you to create a synchronized audio experience, playing the same music in multiple rooms or different music in each room.

The system is also compatible with voice assistants such as Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. This means that you can control the SoundTouch IV using voice commands, allowing for hands-free operation and an even more convenient user experience. With voice control, you can request specific songs, adjust the volume, and even control other compatible smart home devices.

The Bose Wave SoundTouch IV also supports Bluetooth pairing with multiple devices. This feature enables you to connect and switch between different devices seamlessly, making it easy to share music with family and friends or transition from your smartphone to a tablet without any hassle.

Finally, it’s worth mentioning that the SoundTouch IV is backed by Bose’s reputation for quality and reliability. With decades of experience in creating high-end audio products, you can trust that the SoundTouch IV is built to last and provide long-term enjoyment.

Overall, with its alarm clock function, sleep timer, USB port, multi-room capabilities, voice assistant compatibility, and Bluetooth connectivity, the additional features of the Bose Wave SoundTouch IV enhance its versatility and make it an even more appealing choice for audio enthusiasts.

Price and Value for Money

The Bose Wave SoundTouch IV is an investment in high-quality audio and a premium audio experience. While it might have a higher price tag compared to some other audio systems on the market, the value it offers makes it worth every penny.

With its exceptional sound quality, room-filling capabilities, and versatility in connectivity options, the SoundTouch IV delivers audio performance that surpasses many other systems in its price range. The carefully engineered speakers, advanced technology, and attention to detail ensure that you’re getting top-notch audio reproduction with clarity, depth, and precision.

In addition to its impressive sound quality, the Bose Wave SoundTouch IV offers a range of features and functionalities that add value to the overall package. The inclusion of an alarm clock, sleep timer, USB port, multi-room capabilities, and compatibility with voice assistants are all features that enhance your experience and make the system more versatile and convenient to use.

When considering the overall value for money, it’s important to factor in the build quality and durability of the SoundTouch IV. Bose is known for producing high-quality audio products that are built to last, ensuring that you will enjoy the system for years to come. The attention to detail in the design, the use of premium materials, and the reputation of the brand all contribute to the long-term value of the product.

Furthermore, the SoundTouch app adds significant value by providing seamless control and customization options for your audio experience. The ability to access music streaming services, customize equalizer settings, create presets, and control the system from your smartphone or tablet adds convenience and flexibility to how you enjoy your music.

Ultimately, while the Bose Wave SoundTouch IV may have a higher price point, the combination of superb sound quality, advanced features, durable build, and the overall audio experience it delivers makes it a worthwhile investment for those who appreciate premium audio performance and value for their money.

Comparison with Other Models

When considering the Bose Wave SoundTouch IV, it’s essential to compare it to other models in the Bose Wave SoundTouch series to understand its unique features and advantages.

The Bose Wave SoundTouch IV offers several notable improvements over its predecessors. One significant difference is the inclusion of dual speakers, which enhances the stereo performance and provides a more immersive audio experience compared to previous models. The dual speaker configuration ensures a well-balanced sound reproduction across all frequencies.

Another enhancement is the improved design and build quality. The SoundTouch IV features a sleek and modern design, blending seamlessly with any home decor. The sturdy construction ensures durability and reliability, allowing the system to withstand the test of time.

In terms of connectivity options, the SoundTouch IV provides wireless streaming capabilities through Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, allowing you to easily connect and enjoy music from various sources. The inclusion of a CD player is also a notable feature, adding versatility for those who still enjoy listening to their physical music collection.

Furthermore, the SoundTouch IV offers additional features such as an alarm clock function, sleep timer, USB port, multi-room capabilities, and compatibility with voice assistants. These features further enhance the convenience and value of the system, catering to various usage scenarios and preferences.

When compared to other models in the Bose Wave SoundTouch series, the SoundTouch IV stands out with its improved sound quality, enhanced design, and added features. While the other models in the series still offer excellent audio performance, the SoundTouch IV takes it to another level with its dual speakers and advanced technology.

It’s worth mentioning that the different models in the Bose Wave SoundTouch series cater to different needs and budgets. If you’re looking for a more affordable option with solid sound quality, the previous models like the Bose Wave SoundTouch III or SoundTouch Music System IV might be worth considering. However, for those seeking the best combination of audio performance, design, and features, the Bose Wave SoundTouch IV is the clear choice.

Overall, the Bose Wave SoundTouch IV sets itself apart from other models in the series with its enhanced sound quality, improved design, and additional features. It offers a premium audio experience that justifies its position as the flagship model in the Bose Wave SoundTouch series.

Pros and Cons

Like any product, the Bose Wave SoundTouch IV has its strengths and weaknesses. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of this audio system:

Pros:

  • Exceptional sound quality that is clear, well-balanced, and immersive.
  • Room-filling sound with wide soundstage, thanks to Waveguide speaker technology and dual speakers.
  • Sleek and compact design that blends seamlessly with any home decor.
  • Easy setup and intuitive controls, both on the system’s front panel and through the SoundTouch app.
  • Wide range of connectivity options, including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and CD player.
  • Customizable sound with built-in equalizer settings for personalized audio experience.
  • Additional features such as alarm clock, sleep timer, USB port, multi-room capabilities, and voice assistant compatibility.
  • Durable build quality that ensures long-term enjoyment of the system.

Cons:

  • Higher price compared to some other audio systems in the market.
  • Limited control options and display information on the system’s front panel.
  • No built-in streaming services, requiring reliance on external devices or the SoundTouch app.
  • No integrated battery, limiting portability and requiring constant connection to a power source.
  • May be too complex for those seeking a simple and basic audio system.

While the Bose Wave SoundTouch IV offers outstanding sound quality, design, and features, it’s important to consider the price point and individual preferences when making a purchase decision. The system’s strengths make it a top choice for those who prioritize audio performance and a versatile listening experience, while the cons may be less relevant to those seeking a straightforward and budget-friendly option.