Compare Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 Speaker 3rd Gen vs soundcore Rave 3S Speaker

The Bang & Olufsen app is widely praised as polished, stable and genuinely useful, with EQ, stereo setup, battery readouts and extra content. One review noted a radio feature hiccup.

The Soundcore app is repeatedly called stable and genuinely useful, with fast connection, firmware updates, lighting control, and rich audio/karaoke settings that are easy to navigate.

Battery life is one of its best features. The 24-hour claim is repeatedly praised and several reviewers found real-world endurance strong or even conservative at moderate volume.

Battery life is advertised around 12 hours, but multiple reviews call it average for the size; with lights, BassUp, and higher volume, real-world endurance is often closer to a single party session (roughly mid single-digits of hours).

AAC and aptX Adaptive support are appreciated, but Bluetooth 5.1 feels dated and the lack of Auracast comes up repeatedly as a missed opportunity.

Bluetooth audio codec support is limited (SBC is commonly cited, with AAC also mentioned), and reviewers explicitly call out the absence of higher-resolution options like LDAC/aptX.

Bluetooth stability is a strong point, with reviewers reporting dependable pairing and no meaningful dropouts in normal use.

Bluetooth performance is generally described as stable with low video lag; however, a few users mention occasional quirks (like multipoint handoffs or brief dropouts/behavior changes when powering mics).

Bluetooth range is solid for normal portable use, roughly room-to-garden or around 10 meters, but nobody describes it as exceptional.

Charging takes around three hours, which is acceptable but commonly described as leisurely or on the long side.

Charging is commonly described as slow for the category, with about a 6-hour full recharge cited by multiple reviewers.

Its presentation is repeatedly described as composed, unified and together-sounding, with strong musical organization.

Physical buttons are consistently described as clicky, positive and easy to use.

Design is the headline feature. Nearly every review describes the A1 3rd Gen as beautiful, premium, luxurious and unusually desirable for a portable speaker.

Build and styling are broadly praised as sturdy and modern, with a metal grille, textured housing, and thoughtful touches like mic holders and rubber rails for horizontal/spatial mode.

Detail retrieval is a major strength. Reviews repeatedly praise how much vocal texture, instrument separation and fine nuance it extracts for such a small speaker.

The A1 3rd Gen generally stays composed when pushed, with little change in character at high volume, though bass-heavy tracks and resonant surfaces can expose some strain or boom.

Cleanliness at high volume is mixed: some reviewers report it staying composed with BassUp, while others hear high-frequency fuzz or bass/sub-bass distortion when pushed to maximum levels, especially outside.

Build quality is excellent, but the aluminum finish can scuff and reviewers are less comfortable throwing it around than a rugged JBL-style speaker.

It handles dynamic swings capably for a small portable, but several reviews say larger or cheaper rivals still sound more explosive.

EQ customization is one of the best parts of the experience. The preset system and visual sound control are intuitive, effective and unusually enjoyable to use.

EQ is a strong point: reviewers highlight multiple presets, a detailed 9-band EQ, BassUp, and vocal effects controls that make it easy to tailor both music and karaoke sound.

Its tonal balance is warm, rich and polished rather than strictly neutral, with standout mids and vocals, controlled bass and smooth highs. Some listeners wanted more treble bite or deeper sub-bass.

Tuning favors party impact with strong bass and a forward, energetic sound; several reviewers note the deepest sub-bass and the very top end are less refined, but EQ and BassUp let you rebalance for different genres.

The leather strap looks and feels premium and makes carrying or hanging the speaker easy.

The built-in handle helps, and mic storage is integrated, but multiple reviewers wish for additional handles or wheels; a few note the single-handle carry can feel awkward depending on how far you walk.

Inter-speaker connectivity is a key feature: reviewers mention Auracast/Oracast for linking speakers and the ability to create a stereo setup with a second Rave 3S.

For video use, reviewers generally report low perceived latency over Bluetooth, and some use the speaker as a simple TV/audio source via AUX when needed.

The LED light show is frequently praised as bright and customizable, with multiple presets and app control (including dimming/off options); lights are most visible from the front and can noticeably reduce battery life.

It gets impressively loud for a compact speaker and can fill a room or hotel space, but it is not the brute-force outdoor party option and some reviewers wanted more outright volume for the price.

Across reviews, the Rave 3S is described as extremely loud for its size (200W class output) and easily fills small-to-medium rooms; it is still capable outdoors, though a few testers found it less dominant in open spaces versus larger, wheeled party speakers.

Stereo pairing is a genuine strength. Reviews say it is easy to set up and useful in practice, including pairing with a 2nd-gen A1 in several cases.

It supports linking multiple speakers (Auracast/Oracast) and can form a stereo pair; direct long-term reliability reports are limited, but the feature is consistently present and straightforward to access in controls/app.

Multipoint support is a real plus and reviewers found switching between two devices simple and reliable.

Multipoint is supported in several reviews, allowing two devices to stay connected; switching works most of the time, though one tester reported occasional awkward handoffs in a busy party scenario.

Sound disperses broadly and works well for room or table listening, though not every reviewer agrees it is truly 360-degree audio.

The speaker does not function as a power bank; the USB-C port is for charging the speaker itself, not for charging phones or other devices.

Pairing and setup are straightforward, helped by Fast Pair or Swift Pair support and a clean companion app.

Setup is consistently described as easy: microphones auto-connect, on-speaker buttons mirror app controls, and most karaoke/light features can be used without deep configuration, aside from optional app tuning.

Gen 3 drops Alexa entirely, which reduces smart-speaker appeal versus Gen 2, even if several reviewers said they did not miss it.

Smart/party features are the headline: AI vocal removal with adjustable strength (and in some cases an auto guide mode), vocal enhancement/reverb controls, and a spatial mode for wider playback; some reviewers note minor artifacts or level changes when the AI is active.

Speakerphone performance is generally good, with clear calls and solid voice pickup, though some reviewers heard slightly processed edges to voices.

Multiple sources note there is no speakerphone/calling feature, which is typical for this kind of party speaker.

The status LEDs work, but they are fairly subtle, and a couple of reviewers wanted them larger or more obvious.

Several reviews appreciate the on-speaker battery/status indicators and the clear battery percentage readout inside the app.

Out of the box it is primarily a mono, front-firing party speaker; laying it on its side enables a spatial mode that widens presentation, and true left/right stereo is achieved by pairing two units.

Sustainability stands out for the category thanks to repairability, a replaceable battery and Cradle to Cradle certification.

Value for money is the most debated part of the A1 3rd Gen. Many think the sound, materials and longevity justify the premium, but value-minded reviewers still see better sound-per-dollar from cheaper JBL and other larger rivals.

Value is a standout theme: the price is repeatedly justified by the included dual wireless mics, AI karaoke features, loud output, and customizable lighting, even with compromises in codecs, portability, and battery.

Vocal intelligibility for music is generally good, but karaoke mic output varies by reviewer: some praise the included mics, while others note a noise gate/limiter, proximity sensitivity, or low-level hiss/static.

Its IP67 rating is consistently treated as trustworthy for poolside, shower and beach use, and several reviewers mention quick dunk-style tests without issue.

Protection is splash-level only (IPX4 in multiple reviews): fine for spills or light rain, but not intended for submersion or heavy weather.

It is portable enough for bags and travel, with reassuring heft, but it is not featherlight or pocket-sized.

At roughly 23 lb, most reviewers consider it manageable for short carries but not convenient for frequent transport; the lack of wheels is a recurring complaint.

USB-C works for both charging and wired audio, giving the A1 more flexibility than many Bluetooth-only rivals. USB-C wired playback is more than a checkbox feature. Reviews that tried it reported extra clarity, punch and definition compared with Bluetooth.

Connectivity is flexible for a karaoke boombox: reviewers cite a 1/4-inch mic/guitar input with gain controls plus a 3.5mm AUX input, alongside Bluetooth and USB-C charging; there are no TV-style ports like HDMI.