There’s nothing that livens up a celebration on the deck, by the pool, or on the campsite just like the music from a conveyable Bluetooth speaker. This stuff have been a game-changer in comparison with the outdated days once you needed to deliver a boombox and both an enormous loop of extension twine, or stacks of D-cell batteries that you simply’d burn by way of on an hourly foundation. Nevertheless, most transportable Bluetooth audio system are quite modest in measurement and sound output. The small measurement is what makes them transportable, in spite of everything. Eager for one thing extra substantial, however nonetheless in a position to run for hours on a chargeable battery? The topic of this evaluate is for you: the SOUNDBOKS 4 Bluetooth efficiency speaker.
Measurement Issues
The primary impression of unboxing the SOUNDBOKS 4 is {that a} band may need misplaced a part of their stage speaker stack. Once I say it is a mammoth transportable speaker, I’m not kidding. It stands over two ft tall, it’s constructed like an expert speaker–with a poplar cupboard, not plastic, a metal grill and a powder-coated aluminum body–and it suggestions the scales at over 35 kilos.
That measurement makes it simply barely qualify as transportable. Barely. Happily, there are silicone ball corners that not solely permit the speaker to face securely, they supply wanted cushioning in opposition to bumps in case you’re lugging the speaker by way of tight quarters. When you have numerous distance to cowl, SOUNDBOKS affords an optionally available backpack attachment.
Though it simply barely qualifies as a conveyable speaker, the SOUNDBOKS 4 makes good use of that huge cupboard and after powering it on and beginning to stream your music, you’ll in a short time overlook concerning the effort concerned to get the speaker there.
Most transportable Bluetooth audio system have plastic enclosures and due to their measurement, make use of a small array of 2-inch or possibly 3-inch full-range drivers, plus a passive radiator to attempt to add a little bit of bass. Amplification is prone to be within the 10W to 20W vary, and common battery life in all probability averages round 10 hours lately. Most often music performed outside on these audio system is satisfactory, however removed from distinctive. Particularly when you get a number of ft away from them.
The SOUNDBOKS 4 goes far past satisfactory, to spectacular sound, with an enormous sonic improve from the primary three editions of the enormous flagship speaker.
That vast speaker cupboard has the area to mount a pair of 10-inch woofers, plus a 1-inch compression driver tweeter. They’re powered by three 72W Class D amplifiers. The poplar cupboards present a hotter sound than plastic, and there’s a pulse reflex port that helps to strengthen the decrease finish even additional. The battery shouldn’t be solely the safer Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) formulation with as much as 40 hours of playback time, additionally it is swappable.
SOUNDBOKS 4 Key Specs:
- 2 x 10-inch woofers, 1 x 1-inch compression driver tweeter with 40Hz – 20kHz frequency vary, customized pulse reflex port
- 3 x 72W RMS Infineon MERUS Audio eximo class D amplifiers, next-gen adaptive DSP with bass enhancer, customized EQ (app-based) plus Stage, Dancefloor, Lounge sound modes
- Quantity management knob goes to 11
- Bluetooth 5.0
- Professional Panel inputs for guitar, DJ mixer, microphone or lively devices (2 x 1/4-inch inputs, 3.5mm enter and three.5mm output)
- Helps SOUNDBOKS wi-fi TeamUP multi-speaker connectivity
- IP65 rated electronics coating
- Consumer swappable/replaceable 12.8V, 7.8Ah Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) battery with 5-step LED energy indicator, rated at as much as 40 hours playback at mid-volume
- Working temperature 14°F to 100°F
- 25.6 x 17 x 13-inch poplar cupboard with silicone ball corners, powder-coated aluminum body, power-coated metal grill and handles
- Weighs 35.5 lbs
- Backside pole mount
- Black cupboard with black grill, or black with metallic grey grill
- Extra batteries and equipment akin to backpack body offered individually
- Some options managed through SOUNDBOKS cell app
- 45-day return coverage, 2-year guarantee (plus extra 1-year when registered)
- MSRP $999
Killer Sound
The SOUNDBOKS 4 is claimed to ship “drastically improved” audio efficiency and high quality in comparison with the unique (and followups SOUNDBOKS 2 which I reviewed right here and the SOUNDBOKS 3). SOUNDBOKS says the enhancements embrace a way more highly effective DSP, redesigned speaker drivers, refactored audio routing, new firmware and improved battery life.
Once I examined the SOUNDBOKS 2 a number of years again, I found that taking part in music at a quantity degree of 6 (out of 11) might be heard a block away. The SOUNDBOKS 4 has that very same energy. I spent a number of days doing yard work with the speaker at 5 and about 50 ft away from me, and it was loud.
The quantity dial goes to 11
Brad Moon
Not simply loud, nevertheless it sounded actually good, which isn’t straightforward to drag off from that distance and outside. The highs had been crisp, midrange was stable and the bass thumped and rumbled. Lots of the element that will be misplaced or muddied at any distance with a typical transportable speaker was nonetheless there, after which some. You should use the SOUNDBOKS 4 indoors with new Dancefloor and Lounge sound modes taming that output and tailoring it to an indoor setting. The cell app additionally affords an EQ for customized settings.
I don’t have that SOUNDBOKS 2 round to match it to, but when my reminiscence serves me proper, the SOUNDBOKS 4 is simply as loud, however with a extra refined sound and much more spectacular bass.
Lengthy Battery Life, However Pay Consideration to Charging
I really like the truth that SOUNDBOKS audio system use swappable batteries. Not solely does this promise a for much longer life (most transportable audio system are accomplished as portables as soon as their built-in battery dies after a number of years), nevertheless it additionally permits for purchasing a second battery and swapping it out if wanted to maintain a protracted social gathering going for even longer.
Nevertheless, you do want to concentrate when charging this speaker. First, it’s not fairly so simple as plugging in an influence adapter to cost. The included charger makes use of a T-jack, which is barely extra sophisticated to attach–you possibly can’t join the charger on to the speaker (skipping the battery)–and SOUNDBOKS additionally warns in opposition to charging for greater than six hours, because the charger shouldn’t be meant for use as an influence supply. Whereas charging (which takes about 3.5 hours), it is advisable maintain energy output below half quantity. So, when utilizing this speaker indoors, you’ll nonetheless be working on battery energy…
To me, the swappable battery is greater than definitely worth the inconvenience. And when it comes to battery life, the SOUNDBOKS 4 is a champ. Whilst you can drain the battery in simply 5 hours in case you pump the amount to 11, at a way more cheap quantity of 6 (which can nonetheless completely blow away most transportable audio system, by the best way), you possibly can obtain as much as 40 hours of playback on a cost. I might take the speaker out for a number of hours a day, play music at mid-volume, and solely must cost it each two or three weeks.
Extras
The SOUNDBOKS 4 is considerably distinctive in its extra capabilities, which make it an ideal selection for large occasions basically. Its “Professional Panel” contains inputs for a microphone and even an electrical guitar or different lively devices–some transportable audio system embrace a mic enter, however good luck discovering one which can be utilized as a guitar amp. You possibly can even energy and blend a number of exterior audio sources concurrently.
Should you personal a couple of of those audio system, the SOUNDBOKS 4 is SKAA-compliant. This implies you possibly can wirelessly join as much as 5 audio system collectively utilizing TeamUp for true concert-level efficiency.
Need to make the SOUNDBOKS 4 actually your individual? The corporate affords a number of grill colours. However SOUNDBOKS additionally encourages creativity. The grill may be simply eliminated and customized spray-painted. The person handbook even offers step-by-step directions.
SOUNDBOKS 4 (R) towers over even the SOUNDBOKS Go
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Suggestion
For completely dominating outside sound in a conveyable type issue, the SOUNDBOKS 4 is hard to beat. It’s huge, solidly constructed, rugged, loud (however with prime quality audio efficiency), affords as much as 40 hours of battery life plus a swappable battery, and it will possibly do double responsibility as a guitar amp or PA system. At $999 it’s not low cost, however you might be getting numerous speaker in your cash. Simply bear in mind that in case you are utilizing it indoors it’s nonetheless meant to run on battery, not plugged into the wall.
In case you are craving huge sound and like the thought of a swappable battery however the SOUNDBOKS 4 is simply an excessive amount of speaker for you, I’d counsel trying out the SOUNDBOKS Go (reviewed right here) as a barely extra manageable–however nonetheless–mighty, various.
Disclosure: SOUNDBOKS offered a speaker for analysis functions however had no enter into this evaluate.
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