SINGAPORE — Small, sexy, and packing a great punch, the Bose SoundLink Mini II is near the top of its class in the ultra-compact Bluetooth speaker category.

Coming out about two years after the release of the highly lauded SoundLink Mini, the Mini II has retained its predecessor’s excellent sound and build quality, throwing in some brand new features and improved battery life.

You will immediately notice how similar it looks to the original SoundLink Mini, albeit with an updated bevelled accent and a micro-perforated steel grille. The look is classic and timeless, and the new version now comes in two different colours, carbon and pearl.

Like its predecessor, the Mini II is incredibly durable thanks to its anodised aluminium housing. Regardless, I would not want to drop it. While the speaker will certainly survive, there might be some scuffs on its shell. You can save yourself some heartache by buying soft covers (in five different colours) at S$39 each.

For a speaker of its size (weighing about 680g and measuring just 5.1x8x5.8cm), the Mini II delivers impressive bass response. Bass tends to be a problem for most small speakers, but the Mini II is able to reproduce a relatively well-balanced, detailed and powerful sound stage.

While the Mini II outperforms most of its competitors in the same size range, do not expect it to match up to your hi-fi system. At higher volumes, you will hear some distortion, especially with extremely bass-intense songs such as Caribou’s Can’t Do Without You or Rush’s YYZ. The sweet spot for volume is within the 70-80 per cent range before you notice any dip in quality.

Features-wise, one of the most notable additions to the Mini II is the speakerphone. You can now answer calls via the speaker and the music automatically resumes once you are done talking. Phone calls are clear enough and the handover from call to music is near seamless. Also, Bluetooth connectivity on the Mini II is better than before.

Pairing your music player to the speaker is effortless. There are voice prompts to walk you through the steps and I was ready in less than a minute. You can connect two Bluetooth devices at a time and the speaker remembers the eight most recently paired devices, so you do not have to waste time re-pairing.

Battery life is about nine to 10 hours, about two hours more than its predecessor. You can also charge the speaker via micro-USB.

The main drawback of the Mini II is its price. At S$329, it is pricier than your average Bluetooth speaker. However, its enhanced portability, luxurious design and solid sound quality make it one of the best ultra-compact speakers you will find on the market.

The Bose SoundLink Mini II is now available at Atlas e-store, Atlas Showrooms and selected resellers across the island.