KAZUKIN is exceptionally fond of the BOSE SoundLink Mini II.
The full-bodied bass that comes from that tiny body.
I still can't forget the shock the first time I heard it, and nearly ten years later it's still on active duty.
But.
Because I like it too much, one problem arose.
I can't take it outside.
A man who doesn't carry his wireless speaker
What's the appeal of a Bluetooth speaker this size, anyway?
Of course there's sound quality.
But
“you can carry it casually anywhere”
is also a big part of the appeal.
Set it beside the court and play music when playing basketball.
Put it next to your bag and play it when skateboarding.
Place it on the table at a BBQ.
Nice, isn't it?
The SoundLink Mini II is exactly right for that.
...But KAZUKIN
doesn't take it.
“Why? Just take it.”
You'd think so.
KAZUKIN thinks so too.
But the problem is its compactness.
It seems like it could be taken the moment I look away
The SoundLink Mini II is small.
Small and high-performance.
That's wonderful.
But outdoors, that smallness becomes a worry.
It seems it could be taken easily.
Of course, that would rarely happen.
But once you imagine
“in the moment I look away...”
it's over.
Even while playing basketball:
Shoot.
Glance.
Dribble.
Glance.
Rebound.
Glance.
Every five seconds, I check whether anyone around is eyeing the BOSE.
Nobody is.
Nobody is even looking at the BOSE.
But only KAZUKIN is on guard.
So much for basketball.
Shots that were already missing miss even more.
BOSE's sound quality is wonderful, but it lowers KAZUKIN's shooting accuracy.
That won't do.
Enter the Anker SoundCore
So what I bought was
the Anker SoundCore.
The purchase price, I believe, was
¥4,980.
Excellent.
At this price, I can take it outside.
Of course, I wouldn't want ¥4,980 stolen either.
I wouldn't, but compared with the BOSE SoundLink Mini II, the mental damage is much reduced.
The BOSE KAZUKIN bought was about ¥16,000, so roughly 30% of the price.
At that price I don't need to check every five seconds during basketball.
Once every ten minutes is enough.
...So I'm still looking, after all.
The performance of “not having to be careful”
Since then, this Anker SoundCore has been invaluable outdoors.
Basketball.
Skateboarding.
BBQ.
Even if it gets a bit dirty, I'm not too nervous.
Used outdoors, it inevitably picks up dust and sand.
If placed with luggage, it may get scuffed.
With the BOSE, at such times it's
“Ah!”
With the Anker,
“Well, it's outdoors.”
and that's that.
That difference is big.
It's not on the spec sheet, but
a thing called “the performance of being usable without fuss” exists in this world.
The sound is clearly different from BOSE
So how's the all-important sound?
It is, naturally, different from the SoundLink Mini II.
It doesn't have BOSE's
“Where is this small box getting that bass from?”
thickness.
The Anker's sound is a bit lighter.
Comparing right after listening to the BOSE, the difference is quite clear.
But.
Does that make it bad? Not at all.
It's clearly different from sound played through a phone itself.
For enjoying basketball or skateboarding with background music outdoors, it's more than sufficient.
If anything, considering the ¥4,980 purchase price,
“Isn't this enough sound?”
is the feeling.
BOSE has BOSE's goodness.
Anker has Anker's goodness.
The expensive one isn't always the right answer
KAZUKIN cares about “price and value” in investing too.
I don't buy just because it's high-performance.
I don't buy just because it's premium.
It's not only that.
Does the price match how I'll use it?
Maybe that's true for speakers too.
To enjoy sound at home, the SoundLink Mini II.
To take it casually outdoors, the Anker SoundCore.
Compared on sound quality alone, BOSE takes the prize.
But if outdoors I keep worrying,
“Will it get stolen...?”
“Will it get dirty...?”
“Will it get scratched...?”
then a portable speaker isn't portable at all.
In that respect, the ¥4,980 Anker is strong.
It freed KAZUKIN mentally.
...An exaggeration (lol).
Today again, Anker handles outdoors
And so a natural division of roles formed in our house.
The BOSE SoundLink Mini II is a masterpiece for enjoying sound.
And
the Anker SoundCore is a masterpiece that you can take along casually.
Cherishing premium goods is fine.
But a tool you can use hard without minding a bit of dirt is also, well, good.
Play music beside the basketball court.
Play favorite songs while skateboarding.
Play BGM at a BBQ.
And KAZUKIN plays with peace of mind.
Now and then I look at the speaker.
...It's there.
Good.
Not stolen today either (lol).
Enough sound for ¥4,980.
And above all, this carefree feeling.
Anker is great, right?
今日も盗られてないね・・
KAZUKIN Rating
- 🔊 Sound you get for ¥4,980 — ★★★★☆ (more than enough)
- 😌 Performance of not having to be careful — ★★★★★ (not on the spec sheet)
- 🏀 Concentration when taking the BOSE out — ★☆☆☆☆ (a glance every 5 seconds)
- 👀 Frequency of checking after switching to Anker — ★★☆☆☆ (still once every 10 minutes)
- 💰 Balance of use and price — ★★★★★
This article is a personal opinion and record of use. KAZUKIN LAB has no relationship with Anker or BOSE. I'm just an audio-loving customer. Prices are as of purchase and may have changed. All trademarks belong to their respective owners.
The illustration is an image based on KAZUKIN's experience. It may differ from real stores and products. It is not an official manufacturer image.