Bose Companion 2 Series III review

Our Verdict

Bose Companion 2 Series 3 sound swell and aren't as well large — only lack the latest tech.

For

Total bass without a subwoofer
Big overall sound
Not as well big

Against

Pricey
No Bluetooth or USB-C

Tom'south Guide Verdict

Bose Companion 2 Series Iii audio peachy and aren't too big — simply lack the latest tech.

Pros

+
Full bass without a subwoofer
+
Big overall sound
+
Not too big

Cons

-
Pricey
-
No Bluetooth or USB-C

Bose Companion ii Serial Three: Specs

Type of system: ii.0
Size: 7.5 10 five.nine x 3.i inches
Speakers: N/A
Inputs: 3.5 mm (x 2)

If you value splendid audio and are looking to bring better audio to your desk, the Bose Companion 2 Series 3 are the best choice for most people. Though there are computer speakers with more features, few other speakers audio as skilful as these. The speakers produce good bass, without being large or needing a separate subwoofer. The Companion two Series III also create a broad sound — another impressive feat for speakers this size. Yous'll pay a chip of a premium, but that's the Bose manner.

Read on for our full review of the Bose Companion 2 Series III.

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Bose Companion 2 Series Iii: Toll and Availability

The Bose Companion 2 Series III has been on the market place since 2013 — which shows its lasting popularity, but also means it lacks some of the latest tech that newer computer speakers offer.

The Companion two Serial 3 cost $149 and is available at Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart and other sites.

Bose Companion ii Series Iii review: Design

With two 7.five 10 5.9 10 3.1-inch units, the Bose Companion 2 Series balances size and performance. They don't take up as well much space on your desktop, but they still evangelize splendid audio. The blackness plastic case and blackness fabric speaker covers will friction match merely near whatever decor, not attracting likewise much attention.

Bose Companion 2 Series III — (Image credit: Tom's Guide)

The Companion 2 Series III'southward minimalism extends to its controls. The right speaker has a volume knob and headphone jack on the front — the latter is handy when you want to switch to personal listening on headphones; you won't demand to disconnect the speakers to hook upward wired headphones.

Bose Companion 2 Series III power button — (Epitome credit: Tom's Guide)

On the back, there are connections for power, 2 3.5 mm inputs for audio sources and a port to connect the left speaker. The package comes with 1 3.5 mm cablevision to connect to the headphone jack on your reckoner.

Back of Bose Companion 2 Series III — (Image credit: Tom's Guide)

But it's important to consider what the Companion two Series III doesn't take: there'southward no Bluetooth or USB, which are connections bachelor on newer estimator speakers.

Bose Companion ii Series III review: Performance

The Companion 2 Series 3 creates a big sound — bigger than you'd call up past looking at them. In addition to a wide soundfield, the speakers generate significant bass for speakers of this size, without the help of a subwoofer. Put those together and you get impressive audio at your desk.

Bose Companion 2 Series III connected to laptop — (Image credit: Tom's Guide)

The drums on Billie Eilish's "Therefore I Am" thumped securely — vibrating my desk-bound a scrap — while her vocals were clear and resonant. The synths on The Weeknd'due south "Blinding Lights" sounded crisp while the bass line was appropriately menacing. The cymbals on Radiohead's "Bodysnatchers" were sharp above the distorted guitars, and the broad soundfield spaced out all the sounds, making information technology easy to hear each one. The audio-visual guitar'south on Fleetwood Mac's "Never Going Back Over again" were bright and Lindsey Buckingham'south voice was full.

The Companion two Series Iii'due south strengths work for more than than music. While watching The Avengers: Infinity War, the wide sound helped make it sound like Thor's hammer was moving across the room. The bass added resonance to podcasts such every bit The Daily, and even made people speaking on briefing calls easier to understand.

The speakers take enough of power if you want to rock out. At max book they produced 90 decibels without distorting — more than enough to irritate part and house mates.

Bose Companion two Series 3 review: Setup

The Companion ii Series III is simple to fix upwards: connect the 3.5 cable to your estimator'due south headphone out or another audio source. There are no sound adjustments you can make on the speakers themselves — you have to change bass and treble levels on the sound source itself.

Bose recommends setting your estimator volume to 75% and adjusting the volume using the punch on the correct speaker. This produces the best sound from the speakers.

Bose Companion 2 Series Three review: Verdict

The Bose Companion 2 Series Three figurer speakers are the all-time for most people — as long as you have a headphone output on your computer. They audio not bad and don't accept upwardly also much infinite on your desk. But they lack Bluetooth or USB-C — something many more than recently released speakers include. And, at $149, they aren't inexpensive. Only you go what y'all pay for when it comes to sound.

Yous could save some money by choosing Klipsch's ProMedia 2.ane system, but they have up more infinite and you'll have to find room for the subwoofer. To find a system that sounds amend, you'll need to spend much more, such $269 on the Audioengine A2+.

Or you could get yourself the Companion 2 Serial Three and continue it elementary. You lot're worth it.

Michael Gowan covers soundbars, TVs, portable speakers and other audio- and video-related topics for Tom'south Guide. He'south written about music and technology for more than xx years for a raft of publications including Wired, Men'south Periodical, PC World and Macworld. When he'south non reviewing speakers, he's probably listening to one anyhow.