The Bottom Line
Despite their compact form factor, the Bose 251 produces high-quality sound, with pristine clarity that can cut through wind in outdoor environments. While their design is subtle, the speakers have a durable build that can last for years. Their built-in Wi-Fi connectivity also facilitates a multiroom audio setup and lets you connect to them via your phone.
Despite being released almost two decades ago, the Bose 251 remains a relevant and effective solution for outdoor installations. Whether you’re looking for music by the poolside or around your patio, these speakers offer a reliable choice for those unwilling to compromise on quality.
Design, Build, & Durability
Summary: The Bose 251 have a relatively compact design with a unique curved shape. The slimmer design choice makes them ideal for under eaves which don’t have much room to work with. Still, they’re capable of covering a patio with full sound. The durable construction ensures they last for years in outdoor conditions, but should still be installed to minimize exposure to the elements.
These speakers have an impressive build quality with durable plastics and sturdy metals used. The grille consists of a tight fabric mesh which helps to keep out pests and debris, giving them a longer lifespan. Because they are available in both black and white, they can be matched to the color of your home. Remember that while a white outdoor speaker can lend a lot to the aesthetic, it may require more frequent cleaning if you want to keep up appearances.
The bass is present in a way that isn’t overturned but can still provide a good thump, significantly when the bass is dialed up on the amplifier. The mid-tones are warm and clean, with the higher frequency also crisp and bright. Overall, their tone connects to outdoor use and even larger social gatherings.
Even if something were to go wrong with the speakers, you could rest assured knowing that Bose provides a 5-year warranty. This promise makes it a lot easier to invest in the product because it is a bit more expensive than your average outdoor speaker.
Sound Quality
Summary: Because they’re designed for outdoor use, the 251 has dominant upper mids and treble. This is because wind can often lower the presence of these frequencies and make outdoor speakers sound flat. This is the type of tuning one wants for the outdoors. The bass has a good punch to it, but doesn’t extend very deep, owed in part to the smaller design. Still, the sound quality is excellent with rich details and clarity that is maintained even at higher volume.
These speakers have excellent sound quality, with a tight, punchy bass that is accurate and powerful. While it’s not the deepest bass, one should keep in mind that these have just 5.25″ woofers, substantially smaller than some alternatives. Too much bass can be a problem for outdoor speakers though, and cause further loss of the finer details in tracks.
If you like watching movies outside on large project screens, these speakers can easily and conveniently complement that. They deliver powerful audio that’s up to par with large entertainment speakers, particularly in how they deliver vocals and other midrange frequencies. You can watch movies easily and even hook them up to an amplifier when you have a lot of people over.
Because they’re turned for outdoor conditions, they’re going to sound better in the garden than indoors. However, they are also a popular choice for semi-enclosed areas.
Wireless Connectivity
Very few outdoor speakers support Wi-Fi connectivity right off the bat, usually requiring the addition of a more expensive amplifier or receiver that adds Wi-Fi support. That’s not the case for the Bose 251 though, these speakers have built-in Wi-Fi, meaning you can connect them directly to your Wi-Fi network.
Using the Wi-Fi feature is a great way to play music directly from your phone to the speaker, and because it uses Wi-Fi and not Bluetooth, there is also a reduction in latency. Having low latency is essential for outdoor speakers that are being paired to a TV, and that’s where these speakers shine.
In addition to that, Wi-Fi also means you get multiroom support, where you can connect them to existing speakers on your home network, allowing you to also control the speaker from any room in your house, as long as it’s within your Wi-Fi range.
Bose Brings Quality
Overall, the Bose 251 Environment is a great outdoor speaker that, even years after its release, is still as relevant as the day of release.
The sound is relaxed yet powerful, and it can do some damage if you have subwoofers. These are by far the best 80 to 120-watt speaker products; by now, you should have more than enough reasons to try them at least.
I purchased my first set 15 years ago. One speaker is starting to sound distorted. I love the sound and volume on my back deck and yard. I have purchased a newer set and awaiting their arrival. Will send I my original set to Bose for refurbishing.