Bose Companion 2 review

Bose Companion 2

Bose Companion 2: Basic 2.0 Speaker Set for a PC/Laptop

Bose Companion 2

When I first took the Companion 2 Series III speaker set for testing, I was surprised there were a few technical specs available. Neither the manual nor Bose website didn’t mention the frequency range, drivers’ size and number, SNR, etc. So, for the most part, this Bose Companion 2 Series III review is based on my personal impression of using the set for music (MP3, WAV, FLAC) and movies.

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Dimensions

The speakers aren’t the smallest among the budget desktop systems. Each of them is 3.1-inch wide, 7.5-inch tall, and 5.9-inch deep. Nonetheless, they are not as large as a comparable set of the Logitech Z130, which has less power capability.

As per my estimation, there’s a single driver in each of the Bose Companion 2 speakers, with a diameter of about 2.5 inches. The boxes weigh differently. The primary one has 2.3lbs, and the dependent one—1.8lbs.

Features

The system is quick to set up and simple to use. Connect the speakers, plug in the power cord. Hook up the source (in my case, it was the Asus X550C laptop) with the AUX cable, and you’re good to go. Controls are limited by volume regulation, but the speakers are sensitive to the EQ calibration via my laptop. Setting an accent on lows delivered more base, and I managed to make highs crisper than they were out-of-the-box.

The sound of the Bose Companion 2 has good upper mids. The voices in the movies and videos were distinct, but the background was blurred. There’s also some muddiness in bass frequencies. I’d like to hear tighter beats in the background music. Still, listening to techno tracks, I’ve found the output balanced and precise. Shifting to the live records of guitarists, I’ve also experienced some dryness in the upper register. I’d estimate the frequency range being between 80Hz and 20kHz, but that’s a subjective opinion.

The soundstage, created by this computer speaker set, is quite wide. I also liked the imaging that got less exact only at complex sound mixes and passages. With 8.1W per channel, the speaker set can get loud quickly. At 75% level, the speakers filled my 12x14 room with ease. Up to that point (I believe, about 85 dB), the distortion wasn’t present. Overall, the set handles the digital sound well but has its limits with regard to the frequency response.

Features estimation: 8 / 10

Design

The Bose Companion 2 computer speakers look quite regular and even a bit old-fashioned. The drivers take the upper part of the slightly tilted backward rectangular boxes. The latter are made of plastic and feature the port holes on the back. The drivers’ covers are made of fabric and are non-removable (at least, with bare fingers).

Connections make a strong part of the Companion 2 set. On the main speaker, there are two AUX inputs (one is labeled “for computer”), the port for the interconnection cable, and the power connection. On the front, there’s a headphones output. I also liked that the speakers are labeled “Right” and “Left” on the back.

The set is supplied with the speaker cord, the power cable / adapter, and the 3.5mm cable. The latter is quite short having just 6ft.

Design estimation: 8 / 10

Conclusion

If you need loud multitask speakers for a medium-sized room, the Bose Companion 2 Series III multimedia speakers will be a good option to buy. They have good sensitivity and clarity and create a wide soundstage. Slightly cut-off frequency range and lack of bass/treble controls are compensated with the versatile connection panel and simplicity of setup and use.

Common

Reviews on Amazon

3295

Brand

Bose

General

Type

2.0

Total output power

Driver quantity (per channel)

Sound

Frequency response

Speakers power (per channel)

Subwoofer power

has not

Signal-to-noise ratio

Total harmonic distortion

Connections

3.5mm input

2

RCA input

0

3.5mm output

1

USB

0

Connectivity technology

wired

Controls

Volume

Bass

Treble

Amplifier

Amplification type

active

Integrated

Input impedance

Speakers

Subwoofer

Compatible with

PC

TV

Smartphones

PlayStation

Xbox

Features

Color

silver

USB powered

Wired control pod

Warranty

2 Years

Dimensions

Speakers size

8.66 x 3.54 x 4.72 inches

Speakers weight

6 pounds

Subwoofer size

has not

Subwoofer weight

has not