Bose packs big sound into small spaces with SoundLink wireless speaker, Lifestyle and Cinemate soundbars

High-end home and personal audio brand Bose has launched three new products, focusing on consumers' apparent want for high quality sound in a small package. Two new home theatre soundbar speakers join a Bluetooth wireless travel speaker in beefing up the lower-priced end of the Bose product line-up.

The Bose SoundLink Bluetooth wireless speaker.

The leather-wrapped $499 Bose SoundLink LX (a cheaper $449 non-leather version is also available) connects to any Bluetooth-capable device — laptops, smartphones and tablets — and plays back audio with high fidelity. The stereo speaker can pair with up to 6 devices, but once a connection is made the SoundLink will wait until that device is disconnected or powered down before accepting another connection. It has eight to nine hours of battery life when playing at standard volume, and three to four hours at maximum volume. The battery can be fully recharged in around three hours. Bose is aiming the SoundLink at travelling executives, saying it can easily fit (with included travel AC charger) in a briefcase or carry-on bag.

The Bose Cinemate 1 SR home theatre system.

The lower end of Bose's home theatre offerings has been padded out with the Cinemate 1 SR soundbar and subwoofer, which will retail for $2199. The Cinemate 1 SR and its subwoofer have a wireless RF link that allows for more flexible subwoofer and soundbar placement, and the soundbar has optimised digital signal processing for table-top and wall-mount use. Bose says the Cinemate soundbar is aimed at the previously-unserved segment of consumers that value stylish design and minimalist design over outright sound quality — a segment already served by Bose's larger 5.1 and 2.1-channel surround sound systems.

The Bose Lifestyle 135 home theatre system.

A step-up product is available in the Bose Lifestyle 135 soundbar system, which has the same sound characteristics as the Cinemate 1 SR but includes Bose's media control centre, universal RF remote control, and integrated iPod dock. The Lifestyle 135 is available from October 19th for $3699. Both the Lifestyle 135 and Cinemate 1 SR will be distributed through Bose's official retail channel, selected independent resellers and big-box Myer and David Jones stores that already carry other Bose products.