Customer Ratings & Reviews

SOUNDBOKS 4 - Portable Bluetooth Speaker I am writing this review for the Soundboks 4 Portable Bluetooth Speaker. The Soundboks comes with a swappable battery that can be used to power other Soundboks’ speakers. I have to admit, I was not prepared for just how good the Soundboks really is. I have four other Bluetooth speakers, and I thought each of them were pretty good in their own unique ways. But the Soundboks put them all to shame. When the Soundboks first arrived, I was surprised at how large it was. I don’t really know what I was expecting, but it wasn’t something of this size. Yes, I read the specs and all, but reading and seeing are two different things. I was actually wondering if the delivery driver was making a mistake when he first unloaded it. But as soon as I saw “Soundboks” on the side of the box, I knew he wasn’t making a mistake. I unpacked it inside and as I took it out of its box, I could see the array of speakers inside of the metal grill. At that moment I knew I was in for an incredible experience. You know how it is, when you see something that is so well-made, and so well put together, it just resonates within you. And let me tell you, it was actively resonating. The speaker comes surrounded by a black cloth bag. Not a cheap, fall-apart-as-soon-as-you-take-it-off bag, but one that makes you stop and wonder what you can use it for, because you just don’t feel right throwing it in the trash. As soon as I had it all unpacked, I began to read over the included user’s guide. Perhaps to save trees, Soundboks decided on a 2 ½” x 4” User Manual, with one page actually dedicated to somewhat being a user manual. So, most of the information I was able to obtain about set up and usage came off the internet. The very first thing you need to do is to charge the battery. The battery is charged using a USB-C cable. Now, Soundboks says it takes about two hours to fully charge the battery, IF you use their 65W charger...which is sold separately. But I don’t have the 65W charger, so I had to charge it using a USB-C cable, also not included. It was getting a bit late, so I hooked it up and let it charge all night. I went ahead and downloaded the app, but the battery came completely drained, so I had to wait until the battery was charged before I could actually use it. Now, it is possible to use the Soundboks without the app, but you lose a lot of access to additional controls such as the equalizer presets and custom settings, auto-connect, as well as performance upgrades. It doesn’t make any sense not to get the app, really. The next morning, I was anxious and excited to test out the Soundboks! I love the way the battery is inserted into the speaker. It has its little cubby hole, and you just stick it in. Then you plug the battery into its power port. So, the battery was inserted, and I turned on the speaker. I connected using the app and decided to see just how good this speaker sounded. But first I decided to look over the speaker really close to familiarize myself with it completely. First, the Soundboks cabinet is made of Poplar. The experts say this gives the Soundboks 4 a richer and warmer sound. There are two 10” woofers, and one 1” “compression driver” tweeter. To help boost the bass, there is the pulse reflex port that runs all the way through the cabinet. I used to think those were for looks! The port runs from side to side. On the right side of the cabinet is the Power button, Volume knob, and a Team Up button that allows for Solo, Host and Join capabilities with up to five other SKAA enabled speakers. I at first thought this meant with other SKAA enabled Soundboks speakers, but I discovered that is the beauty of SKAA enabled speakers… they can connect ANY SKAA-enabled speakers, regardless of the brand. That is a game-changer in my book. I used to get aggravated because my other speakers can only connect to the same-brand speakers, and as you well know, not everyone who brings along a portable speaker owns the exact same brand, so you pretty much have to figure out which one is the best one to use, or figure out how to wire them directly with an auxiliary cable. Both the left and right side of the speaker have a carrying handle. The left side of the speaker is where the battery is located. One of the coolest features is the removable grille. To remove it, Soundboks included a rubber-tipped hook tool that allows for quick removal. Well, quick as opposed to having to unscrew several screws. The grille is fitted very snugly into the cabinet which is a very good thing. The last thing you want is to have the grille fall out during transport, or during any other event where damage to the speakers is possible. One other thing Soundboks allowed for was the removal of the SOUNDBOKS emblem. This is to keep it from getting damaged. So with all that out of the way, the question begs to be asked, “How does the Soundboks 4 Portable Speaker sound?” And this is where I absolutely cannot do it justice. First off, most speaker companies recommend NOT turning the speakers up to full volume. One of the first things Soundboks encourages you to do is to crank it ALL THE WAY UP!! Before I was so bold as to do that, I cranked it up in increments of one level at a time. By the time I had it up to eight I knew I was not going to be able to crank it all the way up inside my house and live to talk about it. So outside I went. I chose a psychotrance track made just for dance halls. Sitting on my front porch, I cranked it all the way up. I live in the country, and neighbors are not close by. However, it did not take long for my closest neighbor to come outside and see who the miscreant was playing music so loud. After a brief intermission to explain to him what I was doing, I walked to the end of my driveway which is right at 300’ long and signaled to my friend to crank it up all the way again. It wasn’t the loudness that blew me away, however. Don’t get me wrong, it was loud…very loud. But it was the clarity of the sound that I was able to hear even at almost 300’ away. I just can’t properly describe just how unbelievably good the Soundboks 4 sounds! The bass was deep and sonorous, the highs and mids were crystal clear, and the singing was just as clear as the music. I experimented with it most of the morning, trying out different songs, different volumes. By the time we had finished playing around with it, I was convinced that the Soundboks was constructed using extraterrestrial technology. But alas, the tech specs detailed how the three 72W Class D amplifiers that power the speakers, coupled with the DSP (digital signal processor) combine to create the other-worldly sound experience I had been enjoying all day. And every day since. But my bragging is not done yet. One of the more amazing things I discovered is that the Soundboks 4 actually has two XLR ports, meaning I was able to connect a condenser mic. This is where it gets even crazier. As the music was playing, I talked and sang along with the music. This was just a straight plug-in the speaker without the use of a mixer. Other than a bit of feedback when I got too close to the speaker, my voice sounded just as crystalline as the music. In other words, this speaker is perfect for the DJs out there, especially with the ability to connect to a turntable at the same time. At this point I don’t know what else I can say about the Soundboks 4 Portable Bluetooth Speaker. Well, I do want to mention there are extras that can be purchased, such as a neat looking backpack that will allow you to “easily” carry the speaker from one place to another. Soundboks also offers additional battery packs and a 65W charger that allows for two-hours-till-fully-charged capability. I honestly cannot think of one single negative issue I can bring up about the Soundboks 4 speaker. My gosh, it delivers amazing sound, equally amazing battery life, durability and water resistance, the ability to connect to other SKAA enabled speakers, and the ability to connect to microphones, and other sound equipment. What more can you ask for? As far as I’m concerned, you will not find another speaker in this category that can come close to competing with the Soundboks 4. If you are looking for an exponential upgrade to your current portable speaker collection, this is the one to get. It is truly that good.

love my Soundboxes...got 3's and now this 4...can make a host and join other speakers...

I was completely blown away with the audio of this Soundboks speaker. And it's not just because of how loud it can get. What makes a great speaker is being able to balance that loudness with a full, rounded sound and this knocks that out of the park. ::Unboxing:: Includes a Quick Start Guide/User's Guide; dual plug charger which lets you charge the battery while you're using the speaker (it's recommended you not exceed 50% battery while doing this); and tools to remove the speaker grill (which allows for easy cleaning after using the speaker outdoors). ::Initial Impressions:: This thing is STURDY. The cabinet is made of aluminum and exudes a very premium feel. There's steel handles on each side for carrying (it is quite hefty at a little over 35 pounds) and there's silicone in the corners to protect the speaker and reduce vibration at higher volumes. This is one of those devices where you can look around it and just get a gist of how it operates without having to consult the User's/Quick Start guides so it gets high marks for the intuitiveness too. ::Use Case:: We recently had a family reunion and a pool party so I got to take this through the outdoor paces - and yes you read that right - pool party - this is IP65 rated so it's perfectly safe if it gets splashed and it gets plenty loud outside - I'd be hard pressed to find a scenario where you would need to place this at max volume because even at a little over 50% we were worried about neighbors calling the 5-0 due to noise during the pool party. The reunion was outdoors at a park so we were able to crank it up a little more. What's also great about this speaker is the connectivity. At the reunion we had a talent show, so it was easy to connect mics to the back for karaoke, my sibling plays guitar and there's a connection for that as well. The mics were also great for games (i.e. when we played bingo) or when we did a raffle. ::Over the top:: The feature that really took this over the top for me is the hot swappable batteries. Technically, because you can charge and play at the same time, you don't have to have a second battery but if you didn't want to be volume limited you could easily swap the battery pack out. I didn't have a spare, but it was pretty easy to remove the included one. Personally, we usually have a generator so I would just charge and play with the volume limitation. ::The App:: It doesn't get any simpler than this. It's very cleanly laid out and gives you just what you need. Under "Sound" it gives you presets (Stage, Dancefloor, Lounge and EQ), the battery life at max volume and a description of the best environment for usage (i.e. parties/events or hangouts/solo listening). You can choose left, right or mono if you're stereo pairing another speaker. Under "Bluetooth" you can enable auto-pairing or if you want to keep just anyone from being able to connect, you can set a pin code. Under the "Pro Panel" is where you can control the volume for guitars, mixers, mics or active instruments. Under "SKAA Pro Mode" you can enable this setting if you're going to pair with another speaker to lower latency (note: this limits you to two speakers). And lastly there's an "Upgrades" menu for firmware updates which it's encouraging to see that they intend to push out future software updates to continue to improve this speaker over the life of it. ::Final Thoughts:: This speaker really brings the party to life and it does it while producing beautiful audio! It's not one of those speakers where the bass starts to get raunchy and the audio starts to sound trashy at higher volumes and in most cases, you'll find yourself comfortable at 75% volume or less. I do wish in the app it would show you a more dynamic volume/battery life ratio that's tied to the current battery condition and the current volume (kind of like how some EV's can tell you how much battery to expect based on how you're driving currently). I do also wish that they would make more decor-friendly grills for it too - it's sleek the way it is, but something more contemporary or modern to make it a statement that matches the sound quality. Both of these are minor wish list items and I still 1000% recommend this though!

It’s not as heavy as it looks. Surprisingly portable. Very well constructed. There’s a soft material around the edges to prevent scratching the device or anything else around it. (Will also protect knees lol) You can use it in portrait or landscape meaning you can stand it upright or lie it on its side. Either way is good for what ever setup you may have. One of the strangest things (and it works) is that it has a removable battery pack. In the back of the speaker there is a power pack that’s removable and I’m guessing the thinking behind this is not having to move the entire speaker box close to an outlet to charge. Instead of doing that, you can just remove the power pack and charge it anywhere. There’s an LED indicator that lets you know when the pack is fully charged. You can then insert it back into the speaker and have hours of music. Pretty neat. There’s also a usb 3 port to allow for charging of other devices which is an extra plus for versatility. The sound is crisp and clear. The highs are very crisp and voices are very clear. If it’s not to your liking you can adjust this with the Soundboks app. There are some presets (stage, dance floor, lounge, and custom) within the app that allows for different sounds depending on the music you’re listening to. I wish there were more than just three but the custom setting allow you to customize to your liking. To me the app leaves much to be desired so maybe they can beef it up with an update. I like that you can set a PIN code to allow others connection to the speaker. This way not just anyone can connect while it’s on. Permission must be given. I would imagine that a DJ would love this speaker. It gets loud enough for almost any party setting especially in a house or a small building. There’s 3.5 mm and other inputs that allow for outside connections. I connected my television via bluetooth and it sounded great. So this can even be used as sound for a theater. Whatever you choose to use it for you can’t go wrong. I would recommend this purchase if you’re in the market for a top of the line bluetooth speaker.

I used the Soundboks with a Rane 4 Control board and a Shure microphone. I plugged both in as XLR after charging the battery all the way. It worked immediately, but audio from the Rane was really quiet. I connected via Bluetooth and cranked it to 11 as you do when the directions tell you to, it shook the windows in my house! Very good all-around sound. It didn't have quite the thump on the low end I was hoping for but not every speaker is going to be geared for house. I swapped the cables around and found my XLR cable was the issue, once I got the new cable hooked up it was golden and with the Rane 4 I was able to bring in the bass I was looking for. Very good sound through all of the ranges and it never crackled at me. The battery being able to charge through USB came in handy as I do not have room for another annoying power cord in my setup. The battery lasts awhile, we jammed with it off and on for three days on a single charge till overnight I forgot to turn it off. When I came back and only showed down to 80%. My other rechargeable speakers always die if I leave them on overnight. Not sure what magic makes these know to engage standby, but I dig it. It's not as heavy as you'd expect with it being metal. And at first, I was excited to have the metal case but that was kind of short lived. I didn't even make it through the unboxing, and it got a dent on one of the outer framing pieces. I am not sure how I did it or if it came that way. I lug around speakers as an entertainment host all the time, and this is the first one I've had dented the first day. Now it just looks like it belongs with all the others. All in all, I love it, and it is a very useful speaker.

I was first a little surprised by the sheer size of this thing. It's big. But even so, it's rather lightweight and easy to move around. The rubber corners, while quite adept at keeping it from scratching surfaces (and from subsequent scratches to itself), it does make it a tad difficult to scoot it around. You actually have to lift it to move it. I know, first world problems. As for the unboxing, it was uneventful. I mean, really uneventful. No accessories, no separate boxes of gadgets. However, I do wish it came with the combo power/charger adapter still. It was just the speaker, wrapped in a soft... envelope? Then wrapped in plastic and nested in a sturdy box with extra corner protection. Surprisingly easy to set this thing up via bluetooth. Turn it on, open your bluetooth settings, and there it is. Once the accompanying app was installed, connecting it to the app for additional control was a breeze as well. I haven't messed with the Skaa capabilities just yet but did connect a microphone to the pro panel and it worked just as I would expect. Easy peasy. I've used it at home and it works and sounds great. I am eagerly awaiting an upcoming opportunity to test it out in a larger venue and outdoors. Highly recommend (once you get around the price tag!).

In the box is the speaker with removal battery pack, a speaker cover, a users manual and a card with a QR code for the app. First impression - this is a huge and heavy speaker but there are handles on each side for proper lifting. The battery pack is removable and according the speaker packaging, you can charge the speaker and play at the same time. Another thing to note is the speaker does not come with a charge cord and it charges with a USB-C plug. There is a plug to add a mic and you can Bluetooth other similar speakers together for party mode. The App - The app is pretty simple and I appreciate that you can lock the speaker so that only one person can control the music. Per the app, to allow the party mode, there has to be multiple speakers connected. Battery Life - The battery pack is removable (there is a fabric handle to pull the battery from the speaker) and was charged immediately after opening the package. There are five white dots to indicate the charge level and after playing for up to 6 hours per day over the course of 3 days, the battery life currently shows only one dot missing from a full charge. You can also take the battery out and check the status of the battery without turning the speaker on and by pressing the lightening button. Sound - First off, the sound is incredible. Even at a low volume, you can hear and feel the bass. The speaker was played with all different genres of music and we could play the music throughout the house during our weekly house cleaning or just sit and listen to music with a low volume while talking to friends, playing games or reading. Please keep in mind that this speaker plays REALLY loud and I was really nervous to turn it all the way up in the house. The sound goes up to 11 and the highest I went was 6, indoors. My family (parents and siblings) do have outdoor get togethers and indoor family holiday events, so I can’t wait to use this speaker instead of my other speakers to play music for everyone to hear. I would also like to note that there is a speaker cover, is a thin cloth material, that you can place on speaker. It’s extra wide so that you can still pick up the speaker with it on. Overall, I would definitely purchase this item again because I love the sound and the long battery life and I would recommend this product to friends and family.