Wearable speaker for replacing headphones

PCMag has tested The Bosen wearable SoundWear Companion speaker, which will arrive in Finland next spring. The neck-mounted speaker is intended as a replacement for headphones rather than a speaker.

Compared to headphones, the advantage is that it allows you to be more aware of your surroundings. The device itself is black, but there are cloth covers available with a zipper that can be attached to it. The color options include gray, blue, and plum.

The SoundWear Companion includes a microphone that allows you to make phone calls. The device is also waterproof. The Bose Connect app allows you to adjust, among other things, the bass level and set the automatic power off time. The battery life is promised to be around 12 hours.

The PCMag tester describes the use as quite pleasant. The speaker is not heavy, although you are aware of its presence. However, when looking up or turning backwards, the device is at risk of falling, so it is not suitable for every type of exercise.

The sound is described as surprisingly good and balanced when used in the intended way, i.e. on the neck. The bass performance is described as rich and the treble as bright. The lowest bass frequencies are not the device’s area of expertise. A more traditional drum sound, on the other hand, plays flat but not squeaky. When used with a conventional speaker, the bass performance is not very far-reaching. As a downside, PCMag found the high price of around 300 dollars to be a disadvantage.

You can read the full review From PCMag.