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The right way to connect a Bose Wave radio depends on its exact model and what you want to connect. A Wave SoundTouch IV can receive Bluetooth audio directly from a phone or computer; some older Wave radios can receive it through a compatible Bose Bluetooth music adapter. Neither setup automatically lets the radio send its audio to another Bluetooth speaker.

Identify your Wave model first

Check the product label before following pairing steps or buying an accessory. Wave generations differ in controls, software requirements, and compatibility. In particular, the Wave SoundTouch IV is distinct from the earlier Wave SoundTouch system. Bose lists the IV as sold from 2015 to 2021 and the earlier system from 2013 to 2015; those dates identify the product generations, but do not establish whether current apps or services remain available.

Use the guide and compatibility listing for the exact model rather than assuming that instructions for one Wave radio apply to another.

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How do I connect my phone to a Bose Wave SoundTouch IV?

The Wave SoundTouch IV has a Bluetooth source. To pair a phone or computer, use the remote to put the system in its Bluetooth-ready state, then select the Wave system from the device’s Bluetooth menu. Bose says the system saves paired devices and may reconnect to the most recently used device when it is available; reconnection can take a minute or two. See the Wave SoundTouch IV owner guide for the model-specific pairing and recovery instructions.

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  1. Use the Wave SoundTouch IV remote to select the Bluetooth-ready state.
  2. Turn on Bluetooth in your phone or computer’s settings.
  3. Open the device’s Bluetooth list and select the Wave system.
  4. If the system does not appear or pairing fails, follow the guide’s instructions to clear its Bluetooth pairing list, then pair the device again.

Clearing the pairing list removes saved pairings, so you will need to pair your device again afterward.

Selecting Bluetooth after pairing

On the Wave SoundTouch IV remote, the SoundTouch source button cycles among SoundTouch, Bluetooth, and AUX. The RADIO button selects AM or FM, while CD selects disc playback. The SoundTouch app also provides source selection and speaker settings. Refer to Bose’s Wave SoundTouch IV support guide and SoundTouch IV support information for model-specific controls and support.

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Can an older Wave radio receive Bluetooth?

Some older Wave models can receive audio from a phone using Bose’s Wave Bluetooth music adapter. The adapter connects to a compatible Wave host; it is not a general-purpose Bluetooth transmitter. It is intended for sending phone audio to the radio, not for transmitting radio audio to a second Bluetooth speaker.

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Bose lists these compatible hosts and qualifications in its Wave Bluetooth music adapter compatibility information:

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  • Acoustic Wave II: software version 02.x or later; some older units have power-supply conditions.
  • Wave Music System: software version 03.x or later; some older units have power-supply conditions.
  • Wave Music System III and Wave Music System IV.
  • Wave Radio II: manufacture date 9293 or later. Bose says software cannot be updated on earlier units.
  • Wave Radio III and Wave Radio IV.

Bose also identifies manufacture-date conditions for some adapter revisions. Check the current compatibility information against the radio’s model, software, power supply where applicable, and date code before purchasing. Do not assume every Wave Radio II qualifies.

Can I connect two Bose speakers together?

Ordinary Bluetooth pairing links a transmitting source, such as a phone, to a receiving device. A Wave radio with the Bluetooth adapter receives audio; it does not relay that audio onward to another Bluetooth receiver. Bose states: “When using the Wave Bluetooth® adapter, your product will receive Bluetooth audio but will not send Bluetooth audio to another device.”

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SimpleSync is a separate Bose feature, not a general capability of Bluetooth receivers. Bose’s SimpleSync compatibility information includes the Wave SoundTouch Music System IV and describes synchronized playback with qualifying Bose smart speakers or soundbars and compatible Bluetooth speakers or headphones. Check the current supported-product list and the other device’s compatibility; do not assume SimpleSync works with every Wave radio or any arbitrary pair of Bluetooth speakers.

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What if I want to connect wired external speakers?

Wired-speaker connections depend on the exact Wave model, and the Bluetooth and adapter guidance does not establish the wiring or output behavior for every generation. Consult the manual for your specific radio and inspect its labeled connections. Do not treat a headphone jack or AUX input as a speaker output; an AUX input is for audio entering the Wave, not an output for driving external speakers.

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Which connection should I choose?

Goal What to use What to check
Play phone or computer audio on a Wave SoundTouch IV The radio’s built-in Bluetooth source Use the SoundTouch IV pairing instructions and select Bluetooth as the source.
Play phone audio on a compatible older Wave radio Bose Wave Bluetooth music adapter Confirm the host model, software requirement, applicable power-supply condition, manufacture date, and adapter revision compatibility.
Send Wave audio to another Bluetooth speaker Neither ordinary Bluetooth pairing nor the Wave Bluetooth music adapter does this SimpleSync applies only to listed compatible products and is a separate feature.
Attach wired external speakers Follow the exact radio model’s manual Verify that the connection is a labeled speaker output; do not infer this from a headphone jack or AUX input.

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