The company's new SoundTouch Wi-Fi line includes three speaker models at launch: the SoundTouch 30, SoundTouch 20, and SoundTouch Portable. Check out our photo gallery of the new products.
David Carnoy
Executive Editor David Carnoy has been a leading member of CNET's Reviews team since 2000. He covers the gamut of gadgets and is a notable reviewer of mobile accessories and portable audio products, including headphones and speakers. He's also an e-reader and e-publishing expert as well as the author of the novels Knife Music, The Big Exit and Lucidity. All the titles are available as Kindle, iBooks, Nook e-books and audiobooks.
Over the years, Sonos, once a fledgling startup, has grown up to dominate the DIY multiroom wireless audio space. Now it has some serious competition.
Bose has officially unveiled a new line of Wi-Fi speakers under its new SoundTouch brand, which features simple setup and operation, and it's definitely aimed at the same audience that Sonos has targeted.
The three new speakers that are available at launch -- you can order them today -- are the SoundTouch 30 ($699), a larger speaker designed for larger living spaces, and the SoundTouch 20 ($399) and SoundTouch Portable ($399), which are designed for somewhat smaller rooms. Bose will also introduce a Wave SoundTouch music system in December and other SoundTouch speakers and audio products in early 2014, signaling that it's going all-in on wireless audio.
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SoundTouch Ensemble
From left: The SoundTouch 30, SoundTouch Portable, and SoundTouch 20. The SoundTouch portable has a built-in rechargeable battery.
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Ports
The SoundTouch 30 and SoundTouch 20 feature Ethernet and USB ports on back along with an auxiliary input. The SoundTouch Portable does not offer Ethernet connectivity.
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Ports close up
In case you wanted a more close-up view of the connectivity options...
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The SoundTouch Portable
All the speakers feature six buttons on top of their respective units. They correspond to presets in the mobile apps.
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SoundTouch Portable
Another angle on the $399 Portable.
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Included remote
You get a simple remote with each speaker. Those same six numbers are on the remote as well.
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SoundTouch apps
Close up of the iOS app running on an iPad. An Android app will also be available at launch along with apps for Mac and Windows PCs.
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Total ensemble
An overview of the line with the iOS and Android apps running in the foreground.
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Swankier remote
Bose previewed the SoundTouch Controller, an optional $99 accessory that will arrive in early 2014. It features touch controls.
