This solar Bluetooth speaker solved my biggest issue with backyard entertaining

Lodge Solar Speaker 4 (Series 2)

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• The Lodge Solar Speaker 4 Series 2 is disposable present for $399.
• It's a Bluetooth talker that charges via 4 star panels, is weatherproof with an IP66 rating, and sounds stunning.
• It's bulky, weighing successful astatine 7.5 pounds.

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I've tested a assortment of portable Bluetooth talker brands implicit the past 2 decades. Most of the time, I connected these speakers to my smartphone and streamed euphony for backyard gatherings, formation outings, drive-in movies, and different events with household and friends. 

The astir communal contented I had with these speakers was uncovering retired the hard mode that they're dormant -- each due to the fact that I forgot to complaint them successful advance. 

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For the past fewer weeks, I've been investigating an astonishing caller talker that solves this occupation and besides takes the full audio acquisition to the adjacent level. The Lodge Solar Speaker 4 Series 2 is covered successful star panels and has a monolithic 10,000 mAh battery, removing the request to physically complaint it.

In afloat sunlight, according to Lodge, you volition acquisition infinite non-stop playtime; however, investigating these during the wintertime hasn't allowed maine to verify that claim. With indoor usage -- oregon nary star charging -- the talker is designed to supply 22 hours of playtime, which is inactive apt to past acold longer than your event. 

The talker comes installed with 4 star panels for a full of 180 quadrate inches of star capturing surface. The Lodge talker besides charges via USB-C connected the little backmost panel.

Also: Finally, a portable talker that delivers creaseless and glorious dependable for immoderate genre of music

The retail bundle contains the speaker, a USB-C cable, and a three-piece outdoor mounting pole. The rod includes 1 extremity that is designed to penetrate a writer aboveground down astir six inches. Another portion extends supra that and past a circular metallic portion attaches to an opening successful the bottommost of the speaker. The circular portion magnetically attaches to the bottommost of the talker with a azygous securing screw besides provided to support it successful place.

The talker has an IP66 dust/water resistant standing truthful you tin usage it without worry. The star panels are besides shatterproof and chip-resistant, and they're protected by the talker grill connected each sides.

Matthew Miller/ZDNET

An opening connected the apical of the backmost that extends astir the full width of the talker serves arsenic the carrying handle. Although it's not precisely light, it's casual and convenient to prime up the 7.5-pound talker and transportation it to your destination. I utilized it for a 50th wedding day party and acceptable the talker down successful the country of a ample rental hall.

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Along the beforehand of the apical sheet you volition find a rubber portion with icons indicating the relation of the fastener nether the protective material. There are functions for power, artillery status, measurement control, play/pause, LodgeLink, and Bluetooth connection.

Matthew Miller/ZDNET

Connectivity is provided via Bluetooth 5.3 and if you acquisition aggregate speakers you tin link them utilizing the LodgeLink diagnostic built into each speaker. Up to 30 speakers tin beryllium connected via this diagnostic truthful you tin person extended sum and bask euphony everywhere.

Matthew Miller/ZDNET

Regarding its audio quality, the Lodge Solar Speaker 4 Series 2 sounds incredible, delivering precise large volume, fantabulous clarity, and coagulated bass. 

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I whitethorn not beryllium an audiophile, but it's surely the best-sounding talker I've tested. It has a 50-watt class-D amplifier, a three-quarter-inch tuned dome tweeter, a four-inch tuned driver, and a four-inch passive radiator. Party attendees could not judge that the euphony astatine the lawsuit was being provided by a azygous Bluetooth speaker.

ZDNET's buying proposal

After utilizing assorted portable Bluetooth speakers for 2 decades, my furniture is littered with the dormant bodies of talker tubes with abbreviated artillery lives. The Lodge Solar Speaker 4 Series 2 has raised the barroom for Bluetooth speakers acknowledgment to its star charging capacity, monolithic interior battery, and utmost audio performance. 

Although it's a small pricey, this is the talker to bargain for backyard entertaining, household picnics, and different events wherever you request your ain music.