The lodge Solar Speaker 4 Series 2 is a Bluetooth speaker with an internal battery charged using … [+] solar panels built into the sides of the speaker.
lodge Outdoors
Those of us in the northern hemisphere are about to enter the depths of winter, but if you live in the southern hemisphere or are simply dreaming of warmer climates, the lure of an outdoor party in the sunshine is irresistible.
Apart from a barbecue and ice-cold drinks, an outdoor summer party needs great music. This new speaker from lodge Outdoor, an audio company led by Sanjiv Lal, a former Bose executive, has been designed for outdoor use. It has a weatherproof design and is powered by solar energy, offering unlimited playtime during daylight.
The Solar Speaker 4 Series 2 is the latest version of this outdoor wireless speaker and uses Bluetooth to connect with a smartphone or computer. The speaker has an internal battery that can be charged during daylight because the speaker cabinet is covered in solar panels. Every two or three hours of daylight exposure provides up to an hour of zero-carbon charge for the battery.
They lodge Solar Speaker 4 Series 2 is completely weatherproof and can live outdoors all year round. … [+]
lodge Outdoors
Another great feature of this speaker is its ability to sound great outdoors, where acoustics often completely differ from an enclosed space like a living room. The speakers are rated IP66, meaning they can be kept outdoors all year round, whether they are enduring the rain of Seattle, the snow of Alaska or the blazing sun of Arizona.
The Lodge Speaker 4 Series 2 is as quickly set up as any Bluetooth speaker. An unlimited number of speakers can be linked wirelessly using something called lodgeLINK. The Bluetooth range of the speakers can be up to 20 meters with devices that support Bluetooth Version 5. Two speakers can be set up as a stereo pair to provide a wide and impressive soundstage.
The speaker’s construction is suitably solid for a life spent outdoors and it weighs just 3.4kg, making it easy to move around as required. As well as charging itself via its solar panels, the speaker also has a USB-C port in case you need to boost the battery when first setting up or if the speakers have been in storage for a while. Depending on the volume level, a fully charged speaker can play for up to 22 hours.
Two lodge Solar Speaker 4 Series 2 can be paired to play stereo channels. More units can be … [+] connected using lodgeLINK.
lodge Outdoors
Although there is an app for use with the Speaker 4, the app is mainly used to update the speaker with any new firmware. Lodge Sound says it has some exciting enhancements planned for future firmware updates. There are controls on the top of the speaker, including a power button, battery status display, volume controls, play and pause functions, etc. Most of those functions can also be controlled with a smartphone, tablet or computer via Bluetooth. A lengthy press of the play button will engage a Bass Boost function to deliver a bit more oomph from the speaker’s passive radiator.
The sound made by the speaker is excellent. I was wondering whether the weatherproofing and solar power might impact the audio quality, but no. This is a beautifully balanced speaker that does indeed sound great outdoors, thanks to a ¾-inch tweeter and a four-inch woofer. There’s no reflex port, but the speaker does have a 4-inch passive radiator for the bass frequencies. A 50W Class D amplifier provides the muscle to create the sound and there’s plenty of volume on offer.
The speaker can be mounted on traditional speaker stands or wall brackets, but each unit ships with a stand consisting of a stake and metal plate. The stake can be pushed into a lawn while the speaker sits on top of the metal plate secured by magnets in the speaker. The speaker can be located almost anywhere, although there must be enough daylight to keep the batteries topped up.
With its IP66 rating, the lodge Solar Speaker 4 Series 2 is waterproof and makes a perfect pool … [+] party companion.
lodge Outdoors
There’s very little to criticize about the lodge Speaker 4 Series 2. I’d love to see a version with Apple AirPlay or Google Chromecast. Wi-Fi would extend the distance between speakers, especially if you have outdoor access points. The manufacturer says that future firmware updates will offer battery level checks over Bluetooth and EQ adjustments. Another potential improvement could be an input for another source, such as a 3. 5mm stereo jack or a USB input. Apart from that, it’s hard to find anything to criticize about these incredibly well-designed and great-sounding speakers that are made for the big outdoors.
Verdict: The lodge Speaker 4 Series 2 weatherproof and solar-powered speakers are ideal for anyone who loves to use their outdoor space with friends and family. There’s no need for any wiring and so long as you are within Bluetooth range, you can have music in the great outdoors. The sound quality of this speaker is excellent and the solar charging works fine. With up to 22 hours of battery life you can party long into the night or even power using the speaker’s USB-C charging port. It would be good to connect that USB port to a smartphone or laptop. If you want a premium outdoor speaker and are happy using Bluetooth, the lodge Solar Speaker 4 Series 2 is the way to go.
Pricing & Availability: The Lodge Solar-Power Speaker 4 Series 2 is available now in North America. The company hopes to sell the product in the UK, EU, Australia and New Zealand. The price per speaker is $449.
More info: lodgesound.com
Tech Specs:
Amplifier: 50W Class D.
Tweeter: 3⁄4-inch tuned dome tweeter.
Woofer: 4-inch.
Subwoofer: 4-inch passive radiator.
Sampling rate: 24-bit/96kHz.
Bluetooth: Version 5.3.
Range: 20m/40-60ft.
Stereo mode: True wireless stereo mode.
Multiple speakers: Connect 30 or more speakers using lodgeLINK.
Solar panels: Four panels on the sides and top of the speaker providing 180 sq in.
Battery: 10,000mAh (internal Li-ion rechargeable).
External charging: USB-C.
Playtime: Daytime with full sunlight provides non-stop playtime. Up to 22 hours of playtime on battery power.
Dimensions H x W x D: 10.5 x 6 x 7 inches.
Weight: 3.4kg/7.5lbs.
Water and dust protection: IP66.