Bose reveals SoundTouch Series II multiroom wireless speakers

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Bose has upgraded its SoundTouch multi-room wireless speakers, adding more streaming music services, a simpler set-up process and upgraded Android and iOS apps.

A year on from the launch of the first Bose SoundTouch speakers, the Bose SoundTouch Series II is essentially the same hardware.

Bose has instead focused on upgrading the software, improving the set-up experience, adding more streaming music services and redesigning the control apps.

The changes should hopefully address some of our issues with the first wave of SoundTouch speakers, which you can read about in our Bose SoundTouch 20 review.

There remain three speakers in the range: the SoundTouch 30 Series II (£600), SoundTouch 20 Series II (£350) and the battery-powered SoundTouch Portable Series II (£350).

You can now get started using the smartphone/tablet app, there's no longer a need to connect your speaker to a computer, while Deezer and Spotify are now included - previously you were limited to streaming from your own music library or via AirPlay from an Apple device.

Internet radio is still on board, as is an aux input, but it doesn't look like file compatibility has been improved, so there's still no FLAC or WAV support.

The speakers can work on there own as a wireless speaker or part of a multi-room audio set-up.

Bose will hope its second-gen wireless speakers will help the company make its mark in the increasingly crowded multi-room market, with the likes of Harman-Kardon, LG, Monster and Samsung having released products to take on market-leaders Sonos.

MORE: Multi-room audio - everything you need to know

Joe Cox
Joe Cox
Content Director

Joe is the Content Director for What Hi-Fi? and Future’s Product Testing, having previously been the Global Editor-in-Chief of What Hi-Fi?. He has worked on What Hi-Fi? across the print magazine and website for almost 20 years, writing news, reviews and features on everything from turntables to TVs, headphones to hi-fi separates. He has covered product launch events across the world, from Apple to Technics, Sony and Samsung; reported from CES, the Bristol Show, and Munich High End for many years; and written for sites such as the BBC, Stuff, and the Guardian. In his spare time, he enjoys expanding his vinyl collection and cycling (not at the same time).