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ZDNET's cardinal takeaways
- The Turtlebox Original Gen 3 talker is disposable successful 5 colors, retailing for $430.
- It's considerably much durable beyond waterproofing capabilities, making it a coagulated enactment for outdoor enthusiasts.
- Despite its unthinkable durability, it lacks immoderate dependable customization features.
I often skip outdoor activities considered staples during the blistery Georgia summertime -- mudding, fishing, hunting, oregon water days. If it's not lying retired by the excavation oregon going down to the Gulf for a formation trip, I'll pass.
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But my friends and household who similar these excursions often inquire to get 1 of my Bluetooth speakers, and I don't emotion the thought of my beauteous Beats, Bose, oregon JBL speakers being slung done the elements, adjacent if they tin withstand it. So erstwhile I saw immoderate outdoor surviving TikTok creators praising their "ultra rugged" Turtlebox speakers, I had to effort 1 for myself.
If you've seen these speakers, you cognize their selling is geared toward outdoor enthusiasts searching for a talker that won't quit. I tried the Original Gen 3 and the Ranger speakers, and here's my take.
Turtlebox Gen 3
The Gen 3 is Turtlebox's flagship Bluetooth speaker. It sports a boombox-style signifier factor, a grip for portability, 25 hours of playtime, an IP67 h2o and dustproof rating, and reverse USB-C charging capabilities.
I've seen radical online dislike Turtlebox's dependable profile, mostly critiquing a seemingly hollow bass response. And I'll agree; I've heard smaller speakers nutrient deeper bass. But judge it oregon not, Turtlebox's dependable makes for a large outdoor soundscape. It's already harder to execute a considerably heavy bass effect successful an open-air environment, and you whitethorn privation to absorption much connected singing on than being overwhelmed by bass.
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If you're looking for deep, boomy bass, you won't get it with the Gen 3 speaker. However, it does person large mids and gets plentifulness loud, which helps you perceive your euphony intelligibly -- particularly the lyrics -- erstwhile outdoors.
A large drawback is that Turtlebox doesn't person a dedicated app oregon immoderate carnal controls connected the talker for EQ settings. So, you're stuck with its out-of-the-box sound. However, this talker is built for a existent outdoorsman, and you're apt to beryllium little acrophobic astir bass and treble erstwhile you're trying to drawback catfish oregon triumph a crippled of cornhole.
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At $430, Turtlebox asks a steep terms for a talker that has the aforesaid features arsenic its competitors from Bose, JBL, oregon Marshall, but its highly pugnacious plan sets it apart. Turtlebox's speakers are made from stainless alloy coated successful ABS, a polymer known for its toughness. It besides features a UV inhibitor for discoloring extortion and rubber feet for non-slip properties. And contempt its size, the Gen 3 floats successful water.
Turtlebox Ranger
The Ranger's magnetic broadside mounts are perfect for hanging retired connected a tailgate, four-wheeler, oregon play cart.
The Ranger is Turtlebox's astir portable speaker, and the 1 I would urge to astir people. It's much affordable, sporting a $250 retail price. It's conscionable arsenic rugged arsenic the Original Gen 3, but it's overmuch easier to lug around.
My favourite happening astir it is the beardown magnetic broadside mounts, which are cleanable for radical who would instrumentality the Ranger to a play cart, truck, oregon four-wheeler. Its lighter framework is besides much suitable for hiking, walking, biking, oregon sportfishing and hunting with a tiny group.
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Due to the Ranger's smaller size, it has little country for a larger artillery and interior audio components. It promises 12 hours of playtime, an IP67 particulate and waterproof rating, stainless alloy tie-downs and rubber feet, and reverse USB-C charging. Again, the Ranger stacks up arsenic to its similarly-specced competitors from Bose and JBL, but the other dollars are successful the much durable physique materials.
Both the Gen 3 and Ranger speakers are equipped with Party Mode, Turtlebox's proprietary audio grouping technology. You tin brace aggregate Gen 3 and Ranger speakers unneurotic for synced audio, oregon usage existent wireless mode for left/right stereo sound.
Another ailment I noticed online is that immoderate customers noticed a breakdown successful show aft putting their Turtlebox talker done mud, saltwater, sand, oregon dirt. Although these speakers committedness to grip the elements, similar each different rugged speakers, they necessitate immoderate aftercare. However, Turtlebox speakers request a small much emotion aft a agelong time outdoors.
You whitethorn request to lavation your speakers -- each rugged speakers, for that substance -- with freshwater aft exposing them to saltwater, chlorinated water, sand, oregon mud. Leaving the chemicals and particles wrong your talker tin impact its show implicit time.
ZDNET's buying advice
If you walk a batch of clip outdoors and haven't recovered a Bluetooth talker that tin withstand the elements, the Turtlebox Gen 3 oregon Ranger are coagulated choices. However, if amended wireless dependable prime oregon an outdoor talker that works conscionable arsenic good indoors are your must-haves, these speakers aren't for you.
If you specify "being successful the outdoors" arsenic lounging by the excavation oregon astatine a patio table, you tin get by with the Bose SoundLink Plus or JBL Charge 6.
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