Listening to a radio on the job can often make your day go by a little faster. So when you have the opportunity, your radio needs to deliver. It should be rugged, easy to transport, have decent sound quality, and sometimes you want it to be loud. I am usually satisfied and often impressed with Bosch tools, so my expectations were pretty high for this compact Bosch Jobsite Radio (Model GPB18V-2CN). Let’s see if it is as impressive as their other products.

Bosch Jobsite Radio Overview

They call this a jobsite “radio” because it is after all a radio. However, I think more of us use these as a speaker to transmit sound from our phones, MP3 players, etc., and the fact that this has an AM/FM tuner is just a bonus. So, for this review, I’m going to call it a “radio”, but most of my review is using it as a Bluetooth-connected speaker.

I read through the manual to learn about all the features this radio has to offer, and then I tested out each of them. What I came away with is when using this radio on the job, I wouldn’t need to reach for my phone nearly as often. When connected via Bluetooth you can adjust volume, stop/change song selection, check the time, and answer a phone call all from the radio’s controls. If you need to make an outgoing call, you’ll just need to initiate the call from your phone and then you can put your phone in your pocket and conduct your conversation hands-free.

Bosch Jobsite Radio Features

This compact Bosch Jobsite Radio is 13.7″ x 6.1″ x 6.1″ and weighs 5.5 lbs.; 6.8 lbs. with the battery. The generous-sized hexagonal handles at each end make it easy to grab and carry. The formed plastic case seems durable; the overall construction is IP54 rated.

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There are two power source options: Utilizing a Bosch 18V battery allows you to be cordless. Or you can use the provided 120V AC/DC power cord. You can also charge your phone or other USB devices from this radio (USB cord not included).

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Two sides of the radio have “feet”. The feet on the bottom or base-side are rubber-tipped, providing a little slip resistance. The feet on the control panel side allow you to place the radio face down without damaging the two control panel knobs. The radio must be placed face down to open the battery bay door, which I thought was a bit awkward.

When the “Call” mode is set to “ON” you can conduct your phone conversations hands-free. Incoming calls can be answered by depressing the “forward” button above the green phone icon. Calls can be ended by depressing the “back” button just above the red phone icon.

The clock is always displayed, so you can see the time at a glance. There is a provided 3V coin battery for the clock so you don’t have to reset it every time you use the radio. The front LCD screen illuminates when you are actively working with the controls then after a few seconds of inactivity the screen goes dark. The menu information is still displayed, but it is just not as easy to read from a distance. I would have liked the option to keep the screen illuminated, especially while using the power cord. But it is worth noting that when you place or are receiving a phone call the screen illuminates automatically.

As I mentioned before this has an AM/FM tuner. The antenna can be lifted and pivoted to find the best reception. As with most radios AM stations came in well, but we had a hard time getting good reception for any FM stations from inside our brick building. As expected, the reception outside was a bit better. There are eight FM presets and four AM presets. You can select the station presets yourself or you can utilize the “Autosource” feature. Here’s how Bosch explains this feature: “…, the radio scans the active band (AM, FM1 or FM2) and stores the strongest four stations on preset buttons “1”, “2”, “3”and “4” on that band. This is especially helpful when traveling to a new area.” We tried it, and it worked as intended.

The Bosch Jobsite Radio utilizes Bluetooth 5.0. For those of you that are unfamiliar with Bluetooth 5.0 it is described as follows: “Bluetooth 5.0 supported devices can transfer data up to 2 Mbps, which is twice the speed as Bluetooth 4.2.” According to Bosch Bluetooth 5.0 also allows you to stream from your device to the radio from up to 100 ft. away. To test this out I connected my phone via Bluetooth and walked away from the speaker. I made it to just over 100 ft. before the signal started to break-up. This was with keeping the phone in my hand and always in a direct line to the speaker, not in my pocket or behind me. I then put my phone in my back pocket, still facing the speaker, and pretty much lost signal. It didn’t regain a good connection until I was within 30 ft.

An additional feature on this radio and part of the Bluetooth 5.0 technology is the ability to create a “True Wireless Stereo (TWS)” with two of these speakers. You pair them simultaneously (only available when Bluetooth is active source), make one unit a left speaker and the second a right speaker for a wider stereo sound field.

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The AUX IN, USB Port, and 18V DC socket are located under this watertight rubber flap. However, you cannot close this flap if any of these are being utilized, so any of the unused/open ports will be exposed and unprotected. I don’t care for this configuration, but it is fairly common. The radio comes with a 6″ auxiliary cable. There is not a designated storage space for this cord when not in use. I would probably store it in the battery bay.

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There are two front-facing “high-performance” speakers on the control panel side. The bass speakers are located on the bottom or base side of the radio. And Bosch touts that this radio has “enhanced bass response”. Total output is stated to be 15 W, but I’m not so sure (more on this below). The radio has a very basic equalizer with bass and treble settings from 1 to 5.

You can position the radio on its bottom feet (bass speakers facing down), standing up on end, or hanging from the integrated hook. It was loudest when sitting on end or hanging. To reach MAX volume you’ll need your phone volume at MAX and then the radio at its MAX setting of 30. But, I need to say this, when it is at MAX volume on both your phone and at the radio it is just NOT very loud. I mean my 16 W JBL FLIP 4 is almost twice as loud. To be sure I wasn’t missing something, I compared the sound output using both power sources, then Bluetooth vs. AUX IN, and also Bluetooth vs. AM/FM reception. None of these options offered any significant boost in volume.

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There is a convenient, integrated hanging hook on one end that can be stowed away when not in use.

Bosch Jobsite Radio Performance

Bosch Jobsite Radio Final Thoughts

As I stated at the beginning of this article, we want a jobsite radio to be rugged, easy to transport, have decent sound quality, and sometimes we want it to be loud. I’ve always been pretty impressed with Bosch tools, so would I consider this Bosch jobsite radio to be a great choice? The IP54 rating is more than adequate, the overall construction seems like it would be durable, and the handles are easy to grab, even with gloves on. The sound quality is decent, and the 100 ft. Bluetooth range is well above average. It can be controlled almost entirely phone-free, and the hands-free phone option is a real bonus. All that being said, it just isn’t loud enough, and that could be a deal-breaker for some people.

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If you have been following the tool world, you know Skil was recently bought out by a company called Chervon, which also makes Ego.   Normally we are a little weary of buyouts because we never know what the new company is going to do with the brand.  However, we know Chervon and this has been something we are excited about.  We know Chervon is going to take Skil to a new level with technology and the number of tools they offer.  We know Skil is going to be one of the competitive homeowner brands, which they have already started to prove.  So let’s take a look at their new addition, the Skil speaker.

Skil Speaker Overview

For me, a Bluetooth speaker is one of those products everyone needs to own.  Not only can you listen to tunes when you are working but it’s perfect for tailgating, camping or just hanging out.  So I am glad to see Skil didn’t wait on this addition to the Skil family.

Skil Speaker Features

The Skil speaker (RO5028-00) is a Bluetooth speaker that allows a user to hook up their phone or tablet and then a user can broadcast what’s on their devices, such as Pandora or other apps.

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While Skil offers a 12V version, this is the 20V version we tested out.  One notable feature of this battery is that you can charge an electronic device with the battery as it features a USB connection.

On top of the speaker, a user can access all the buttons such as on/off, volume, and more. This top area also acts as a phone cradle to keep your phone nearby while listening to music.

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There is a speaker on the front of the radio with a dual passive bass.

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On the back of the speaker, there is a USB connection along with an AUX jack in case you don’t have Bluetooth.

The speaker has a couple of different handles, two on the back and one on the side which allows you to pretty much set the speaker up on any angle to throw the sound in any direction.

Skil Speaker Performance

As you would expect with any Bluetooth, this speaker is very easy to pair, so no issues there.  All the controls are located on the top so it’s easy turning on, adjusting the volume, and more.  So the real issue or question is the sound quality.

For me, the sound quality is more than I would expect from a speaker of this size.  What I like is how it sounds rich and not tingy like other speakers we have tested over the years.  Is this the loudest speaker we have ever heard? No, it’s not the loudest speaker but for the size of the speaker, it’s loud and clear.  When we compare it to other speakers of the same size, this does seem like it has an advantage in regards to clarity and sound quality.

Skil Speaker Value

You can pick this up on Amazon for about $55 for the bare tool.  If you own Skil batteries and a charger, this is a great deal.  You get a quality speaker with a great sound for the size.

Skil Speaker Wrap Up

Overall, this is a great addition to the Skil family.  The speaker is clear and easy to use.  While the speaker is clear and loud, don’t expect it to compete with the large job site radios.  That is not what this is designed for.  This is a great homeowner speaker for outside when you are working, camping, or tailgating.  For $55, it’s hard to beat.

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When it comes to Jobsite radios, what is your favorite radio or Bluetooth speaker?  For me, I have two favorites, the Dewalt Bluetooth speaker and the Dewalt T-Stack Radio.  I love the Bluetooth speaker because it’s small, lightweight and sounds great. The T-Stack is heavier but perfect if I want something loud and clear and weight doesn’t matter to me.  Well, today there might be something that I might be willing to switch over to, a new favorite Jobsite radio but it has to meet some criteria for me. So let’s take a look at the Milwaukee M12 Radio + Charger.

Milwaukee M12 Radio + Charger Overview

I have been working on my house for a long time and the one thing that makes the day more enjoyable is the ability to have some tunes playing in the background.  As I said, I have been using the Dewalt Bluetooth speaker for a while.  I love the small size, the long-playing times in between battery changes, the weight, and the loudness and clarity of the tunes.

For me, it’s more than just being a great speaker for the Jobsite.  I want a system that integrates with my life.  When I am outside grilling, coaching a baseball practice, just hanging out, tailgating and camping, I want a speaker that I can easily carry around and use in different situations. That is why I love the Dewalt Bluetooth speaker.

Milwaukee just came out with the Milwaukee M12 Radio + Charger.  Since I use a speaker all the time, I figure this would be a perfect fit.  The radio looked small enough where I can use it in all the locations I need but it offered more.  However, it still had to pass the test of being light, tough, loud enough to hear over noise or hear from far away and it has to be clear.  So how does it stack up?

Before we answer this question, let’s take a look at the features so you can better understand what’s inside the radio and if this is the right choice for you.

Features

The Milwaukee M12 Radio + Charger, model 2951-20 is a small Jobsite radio and Bluetooth speaker.  The radio has an IP54 rating which means it is water and debris resistant.

The radio only weighs 3.68 lbs and has the following dimensions: 5.39″ L x 9.21″ H x 5.67″ wide which means it’s easy to carry around and can even fit inside most tool bags when transporting.

One of the coolest features, besides being able to be powered with a battery, the radio will also charge a battery when plugged in.

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The radio is powered by a M12 battery.  The radio will allow the user to play tunes up to 10 hours when combined with a M12 2Ah battery.

If you want to use the radio without a battery or even charge a battery, there is an included power cord. Unfortunately, there isn’t a storage compartment to store the cord when not in use.

The radio features two speakers, a full-range speaker, and a tweeter.

On top of the radio, there is a well laid out user panel for mode selection, power, volume, and tuning.

On the front of the radio, the blue and white LCD panel gives large numbers for easy reading and also lets you know which mode you are in.

On top of the radio, there is a carrying handle.

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For those who want local radio, there is a foldable and hideaway rubber antenna.

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When you plug in the radio, the tool will give you feedback that has a legend on the bag to show what the colors or blinking colors indicate.

There is a removable door to access the 12V power plug and the USB charging port.

Performance

Considering that this is an article about a product that deals with noise, it’s hard to show off the clarity and loudness of the system, so you will have to take my word.

First, I love the size of this radio.  It’s perfect to fit in a bag, carry around or set up in a place that doesn’t get in the way.  So as far as size, I love it.

Second, is the sound.  While I was surprised that the actual radio stations come in (the first we have seen with any Jobsite radio), I listen to my playlist or Pandora.  This radio is not only loud but sounds extremely good and I think it sounds better than the Dewalt Bluetooth speaker I usually listen to.

Third, since this will also charge a battery, it offers a feature that the Dewalt doesn’t offer.

Overall this radio (speaker) is tough, I love the LCD screen, the way it operates, and the size.  So for performance, it’s a home run.

My only complaint is I wish the radio had a storage compartment for the power cord.

Value

You can pick this radio up at your local Home Depot for about $120.  For me, this isn’t a bad price considering I am a huge fan of the Dewalt Bluetooth speaker and that is priced at $100.  So for $20 more, I get a radio and not just a speaker, plus I get a charger.

So overall, the $120 is extremely fair for a small job site radio.

Final Thoughts

The bottom line, this radio is a great buy and my new go-to radio system.  What really sells me on this radio is the sound and how loud it is.  The charger and ability to listen to radio stations is just a bonus.  For a 12V small radio, it sounds great and is surprisingly loud for the size.  The radio does everything I need in a radio for work and for play.

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If you haven’t heard, Hart is now the official brand of Walmart.  And if you haven’t heard yet or don’t know anything about Hart, I would suggest reading our article on Hart as it addresses the company, the products and the technology such as the batteries. Today we are going to talk about the Hart 20V Radio.

Hart 20V Radio Information

• Name – Hart 20V Bluetooth Radio
• Model – 577305758
• Price – $39.77
• Where to Buy – Walmart
• Review – Hart Power Tool Reviews

Hart 20V Radio Features

The Hart radio is compact and is designed for small workshops, entertaining or just working around the house.  The radio is only 1.2 lbs and the handle makes it easy to carry from place to place.

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The radio is powered by the Hart 20V battery.

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The radio has 3 modes, Bluetooth, Aux and radio (FM & AM).

The radio features a single speaker.  I can’t find the watts anywhere but for a single speaker, it’s loud and has a decent sound quality.

The screen has a nice blue background which makes it easy to read the mode or the station.  You can set up to 10 FM and 10 AM stations.

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One cool feature is the foldable antenna.  The antenna folds into the handle so it’s out of the way when not in use.

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Above the AUX plug, there is a USB plug which means you can charge your phone while you’re sitting around or working around the house.

Hart 20V Radio Impressions

So here is the deal.  For the size, it’s a great radio.  Don’t expect this to compete with systems that have two or more speakers.  This is a perfect radio for a workshop area, hanging out on the back of a tailgate, sitting around a campfire and more.

For me, the radio is designed as a Bluetooth speaker only.  Sure it has Aux but do you really want to carry around a cord?  The radio reception is nonexistent.  I live close to Chicago and don’t get any FM stations and only a handful of AM stations.  That is not a knock against Hart as I have yet to find a radio this size get any stations around my area.

Hart 20V Radio Wrap Up

For the price, this is a great radio to add to the Hart line.  As a homeowner, if you need a small radio that is easy to carry around, connects to Bluetooth quickly and has a decent sound, this is the radio to own.  If you are in the Hart line, this is a perfect addition since it comes as a bare tool and will work off your Hart batteries.

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Let’s face it, music makes everything better.  Okay, sure it does depend on the music and the quality, but it’s always nice to have music on while you are working.  Over the years, power tool manufacturers have released a lot of different radios and each time I feel like they get better and better.  Which brings me to the Milwaukee Packout Radio Review.

Milwaukee Packout Radio Review Overview

I have been working on my house for a while and the first thing I do, well the second thing I do is turn on the radio.  My first thing is to make a cup of coffee.  For me, I love having music on.  Most of the time, it’s just background noise as I am working.

The Milwaukee Packout radio is one of the radios that not only has some power and good sound but if you own the Milwaukee Packout system or cart, this radio makes sense. So what does it have and what can it offer?

Milwaukee Packout Radio Review Features

The Milwaukee 2950-20 is built and designed to work with the Milwaukee Packout system.  The radio is a perfect solution for large areas or outdoor use.

The radio features a nice display for time, volume and stations.

On the front of the radio, you can change the mode, adjust the volume and EQ, along with music playback. The radio uses Bluetooth 4.2 and can stream up to 100′ away. You can set up to 18 stations in your preset.

The radio is not only powered by the Milwaukee M18 volt line but it also acts as a charge so you can listen to tunes while charging a battery. As you can see there is a USB charger for your phone which delivers 2.1 Ah.

If you would rather run it straight from the wall, no worries, you can power this with a plug.

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The radio has a nice interface to give you feedback about the status of the charger and the status of your battery.

One cool feature is the bottle opener on the side of the radio.

The radio has a total of 10 speakers.  Each corner has two speakers under the black cover.

On the back of the radio, there are two bass speakers.

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Milwaukee designed this with a foldable handle which makes it easy to carry around and store when not in use.

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As you can see, the radio can stand up and sit on top of other boxes or other Packouts can sit on top of the radio.

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On the back of the radio, there is a foldable antenna.

Milwaukee Packout Radio Review Performance

As far as performance, I love the sound quality.  It’s not as bassy as the Dewalt ToughSystem but I think that is because Dewalt has the bass on the bottom and it vibrates off the surface where Milwaukee has it on the back of the radio.

As far as reception, it’s nothing to write home about.  Most radios aren’t that great.  But again, I know most people don’t listen to the radio.  For me, this radio is easy to use and I love the Bluetooth connection so I can stream music.

Overall, I think the sound quality is awesome.  Very crisp and it still has some bass but overall, very impressed and pleased with the output.

Milwaukee Packout Radio Review Value

The radio runs about $300 at The Home Depot and that is without a battery. Personally, I think this is pricey for a radio.  But again you are getting a loud system, a radio that fits the Packout and a radio that charges a battery and your phone.  So I will leave that to you to decide if the price tag is justified.

Milwaukee Packout Radio Review Final Word

The bottom line, I love this radio for certain environments.  Yes, it’s bulky, but if you have a Packout system, this is a great addition.  If you like loud music with some bass, this is perfect.  If the size doesn’t matter, this is great.  However, if you are looking for something to toss in your bag and is not expensive, I personally like the Dewalt for a smaller radio.  However, this has some nice sound, love the charger and overall, a great radio for the job site.

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Dewalt is known for their professional power tools that are built for the Job Site.  While they make a wide variety of power tools, they also make a wide range of other products such as toolboxes, workwear and yes, job site radios.  Today we are going to cover their new speaker.  So let’s jump into the Dewalt Bluetooth speaker Review.

Dewalt Bluetooth Speaker Review Overview

When you’re on a job site, it seems like you are either dealing with loud noises of power tools and equipment, or you have the dead silence of nothing and only your thoughts because you are working by yourself.  Now, this speaker isn’t really designed for those loud job sites where trucks are running around but this is a perfect solution for those smaller, quieter job sites, even on a factory assembly line.  So if you need a little bit of music to get through your day or want to listen to your talk shows, the Dewalt is a great option.

Dewalt Bluetooth Speaker Review Features

The Dewalt speaker is just that, a speaker.  Hook it up to your phone and listen to your phone music or an app such as Pandora. The DCR010 is designed for Job Sites and other harsh conditions. Just connect to Bluetooth and start listening.  The Bluetooth will work up to 100′ away.

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A user can either use the included AC plug or run it off a battery.

One cool feature is you can use either the Dewalt 12V battery or 20V battery.

On the front of the radio, there is a metal mesh to protect the speakers from drops and bumps.

On top of the speaker, you can turn the speaker on and off, control the volume, move through your playlist and connect to Bluetooth.

While the unit is small, it does have a carrying handle for easy access to move it around.

The rubber sides protect the speaker from drops and other items around the job site.

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If you have an older phone and don’t have Bluetooth, you can use an AUX or USB cable.

Dewalt Bluetooth Speaker Review Performance

I love the size and weight.  It doesn’t take up a lot of room and it’s not going to be one of those items you don’t want to drag around because it’s heavy.  The most important item is the sound quality.  For me, I think it has great sound for the size.

Once connected to Bluetooth, I like how it stays connected even for the next time you turn it on.  I have used other Bluetooth speakers where you always have to connect it every time you turn it on and it’s very annoying.  The Dewalt connects right away without having to reconnect it.

The speaker seems to be built with the job site in mind.  The rubber corners help protect it from drops.

So it’s tough and sounds good, plus portable.  What else do you really want?

Dewalt Bluetooth Speaker Review Value

OK, sure there is one more thing you want, a good value.  The speaker retails for about $100 at The Home Depot.  Not a bad price for how good it sounds, the quality and the size.  For $100, I think it’s a good value.

Dewalt Bluetooth Speaker Review Final Thoughts

Overall, I love this radio.  While I won’t be using it on the job site, I will be using it for a place that will take more abuse than a job site, my kid’s sports.  I have used other radios for baseball season for it only to last half the season or shorter.  Either it gets rained on, juice boxes get spilled on it, the kids crank the volume and ruin the speakers or hit it with a ball and bat.  I am sure this will hold up but follow us on Social to see how it’s holding up.

The sound is decent, the prices are good so I am a buyer.

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Listening to music is very cathartic to me, and I can only assume it is just the same for others. Following suit of others, Craftsman has developed a Cordless Bluetooth Speaker for their V20 line of tools. Bluetooth radios and speakers have become quite common in recent years. Many manufacturers have released many different iterations. Currently, Craftsman just has the one, and it works beautifully. Read on in this Craftsman Bluetooth Speaker Review to find out all the info.

Craftsman Bluetooth Speaker Review Overview

Jobsite radios have evolved tremendously over the last few years with the addition of more and more features. They now include Bluetooth connectivity, USB charging, and even bottle openers. Because of this, they seem to be getting more expensive, bigger, and bulkier. To appeal to those who want less show and more go, manufacturers started making Bluetooth speakers. Although not as loud, they are smaller, less expensive, and easier to transport.

Craftsman Bluetooth Speaker Review Features

Controls are large, well laid out, and easy to see.

Sound comes from two speakers behind a sturdy grill.

All connections (power in, USB power out, and Aux. in) are located in the same place, protected by a rubber flap.

Craftsman V20 batteries (sold separately) attach securely on the rear of the speaker. The speaker does not charge the batteries when plugged into 120v AC power. There is an easy to grip handle above the battery socket.

Feet on the bottom of the radio are padded with a soft material that grips surfaces well.

Craftsman Bluetooth Speaker Review Performance

The performance was rather impressive. The speaker easily paired with both an Android and an iOS phone without any issues.

All of the controls on the face of the speaker worked with all of the music apps I tried on both phones.

The sound was impressively loud for the size of the speakers. Although the sound was not nearly as full as a larger speaker, this is just a Bluetooth speaker and not a full job site radio. The volume output was definitely was more than I was expecting.

Battery life is impressive as I used a 2.0 ah battery for a few hours at moderate volume while working on a couple of cars in the driveway and the battery still showed full after use.

The radio is compact, light, and easy to carry by the built-in handle. The battery fits flush in the back and does not obtrude.

My only real gripe is the AC adapter. Having such a small cord seems like it could easily get damaged by tripping on it or accidentally pulling on it too hard. Where the cord plugs into the speaker seem like it would put extra strain on the cord and plug. I would think that just a standard 120vAC appliance cord plugging directly in the back would be better. It is worthy to note that the included AC adapter does not charge batteries, it only powers the speaker.

Having a USB charge port and an auxiliary input will be helpful for connecting many different devices.

Craftsman Bluetooth Speaker Review Value

Pricing for this unit falls right in line with the rest of the market. Lowes offers this Bluetooth Speaker for $89. Most other Bluetooth speakers are right around the $100 mark, give or take $20. The quality of sound coupled with the features of this speaker makes it a serious contender for the top of your list.

Craftsman Bluetooth Speaker Review Final Thought

I think Craftsman has come out with a real winner. Big sound without a big price. Just the right number of features to be great, but not too many to be confusing or difficult to operate. Professionals will enjoy the price point, sound and ease of use as much as your average homeowner. Without a doubt, this speaker can go from the job site to a campout without skipping a beat.

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If you are looking for a job site radio, you can get lost in the world as most power tool manufacturers offer some type of sound system to their cordless line of power tools. There is always that question, do I buy the best system out there or go with a sound system that is in my battery platform so you don’t have to invest in a new cordless line of tools.  While it’s hard to say there is a clear winner, there are some sound systems that do stand above the rest.  So let’s check out this system and dive into the Dewalt TStak radio review.

Dewalt TStak Radio Review Overview

Over the past couple of months, I have been working on my house and the one thing that I have to have is music in the background.  Over this time I have tried a couple of different brands of radios and have found there are differences between manufacturers.  Sure there is a clear difference among the clarity, but I have also found little issues that have annoyed me with a radio such as having to connect every time I turn on the radio.  For me, it should connect right away without me having to go into my Bluetooth and connecting each time.

In my garage, I have been using the Dewalt Toughbox and I absolutely love that radio.  The radio is clear, loud, easy to use and connects every time.  While the power button is a little backward and out of place, I love it.  So when I found out Dewalt was coming out with a smaller version, I knew this was something I would have to try out.

Dewalt TStak Radio Review Features

The TStak radio, model DWST17510, can be powered by a Dewalt battery or use the included power plug.  If you are using the power cord, you will also be able to charge your range of Dewalt batteries including 12V, 20V and Flexvolt. Dewalt designed this with the job site in mind and the radio earned an IP54 rating.

On the front of the radio, there is a color screen and touch-sensitive buttons.

The radio can connect via Bluetooth to your phone or tablet.

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The radio features 4 full-range speakers plus 1 active sub-woofer and 1 assisted bass resonator.  This not only makes the system loud but also extremely clear.

The screen will also provide you information such as artist and song titles.

On the top of the radio, there is a large compartment. You can store the power cord or other stuff such as your phone.

The radio also features a fast USB charging outlet and aux port so you can charge your phone or bypass Bluetooth and attach your phone to listen to music and not drain your battery.

Dewalt TStak Radio Review Performance

While there are a lot of job site radios in the marketplace, this is one of the best sounding systems for the size and money.  While the radio reception isn’t that great, I still haven’t found one that impresses me. If you are the guy who likes to listen to local channels, this might not be the best buy for you since the reception isn’t impressive.

For the rest of us who have music on their phone or stream music, this is a solid performer.  Besides having a great sound to this system, the front panel makes it easy to control volume and other functions you would find on a sound system.

Dewalt does have an app that works through your phone.  The app is pretty intuitive and also very easy to use. You can turn the radio on or off with your phone. You can use presets for your radio stations, you can control the volume and best of all, it has your songs from your phone.  This way you don’t have to have two apps open when using this app.  While it won’t bring in your playlist, it’s nice to be able to play songs right from the Dewalt app.

Dewalt TStak Radio Review Value

For those interested in getting a quality sound system for the job site, you can pick the Dewalt TStak Radio up on Amazon for about $225.  If you are in the Dewalt line and especially if you use the TStak system, this is a great buy as it sounds clear and being able to transport and store it on the TStak system is a plus.  Not to mention you can use Dewalt batteries or a power cord.

If you are not invested in the Dewalt line, I think it’s still a great buy.  However, you do have to compare it against some of the other manufacturers if you are looking for that corded option and decide if it’s worth having an extra battery platform for a single tool.

Dewalt TStak Radio Review Final Thoughts

Overall I think this is one of the best job site radios on the market.  When you compare the size and sound quality, it’s pretty hard to beat.  Also considering it has great build quality, you can be assured that it will last a long time under daily abuse.

The post Dewalt TStak Radio Review appeared first on Tools In Action - Power Tool Reviews.

The market has been flooded this year with options for job site speakers. Virtually every manufacturer has an option that allows you to take your music to the job site. With advanced technology like Bluetooth Connectivity and multiple cordless platforms, it can be daunting to weed through the options to find the one that is right for you. Today, we are going to look at the newest speaker offered from DeWalt. Let’s investigate all the reasons you may just have found your new speaker, in the DeWalt Jobsite Bluetooth Speaker Review.

DeWalt Jobsite Bluetooth Speaker Review Overview

There have been studies done on how music favorably affects productivity in office environments and learning in schools. There are even ways music can be used as therapy to treat some conditions. Now, for me, music helps me focus and keeps things a bit more interesting no matter what I am doing. So, while I can’t say definitively that a job site is more productive because of music, I can certainly say I think it’s more fun!

DeWalt launches their Worksite Bluetooth Speaker with a host of features and durability we have come to expect from DeWalt. We have looked at so many Jobsite Speakers over the years and to be honest, a lot of them are good options. More than anything, it comes down to what is most important to you. With so many options out there, what makes the DeWalt stand out?

DeWalt Jobsite Bluetooth Speaker Review Features

The DeWalt Jobsite Bluetooth Speaker features Bluetooth connectivity with a 100-foot range. This speaker weighs in at 4 pounds without the battery and measures six inches high and ten inches wide.

This speaker can be powered by DeWalt’s 12V and 20V batteries as well as the option to use the included power cord. The 20V battery is attached in the back of the unit and is also where the connection for the included 120V-AC power cord.

DeWalt included easy to navigate control panel that has the power button, track change controls, volume, and Bluetooth connection.

In addition to the Bluetooth connection, DeWalt included both an Auxiliary and USB port for versatility.

The robust handle is designed for job site durability and portability.

DeWalt included a cell phone cradle in both the handle as well as a tray just under the handle for multiple cell phone storage options.

Wall mounting slots are located for easy anchoring on the bottom of the speaker.

DeWalt Jobsite Bluetooth Speaker Review Performance

This speaker can jam. I have several portable speakers, from brands like Bose to no-named speakers so I feel that I am a fairly good judge of sound quality. Is this the absolute best? No, it isn’t but guys its dang good. The only knock I would give its sound quality is that the bass isn’t altogether that strong. The Bluetooth connection and controls are intuitive and easy to use. I have never had such a simple time pairing my phone to anything as I did with this speaker. With sound quality that exceeds most vehicle sound systems and easy to use features, what’s not to like?

What stands out about the DeWalt speaker is also the ruggedness that is inherent in the speaker. You can tell that this speaker wasn’t designed to look pretty set up in a garage but meant to hold up to real worksite conditions. I appreciate the dual power option as well, providing much-needed versatility where professionals need it most. Not every job site will be the same, as such planning for multiple power conditions gives the assurance this unit will function no matter what your power availability is. While this speaker is directed towards the professional user,  homeowners will love the versatile features and quality as well. To me, this speaker really hits the nail on the head.

DeWalt Jobsite Bluetooth Speaker Review Value

What could be more impressive than this speaker? Well, it’s price. Model # DCR010 comes in at $99.00 bare tool and can be found at The Home Depot. Like anything, value always comes down to perspective. Not everyone is willing to spend several hundred dollars to provide music to a job site. This speaker provides great sound and quality that isn’t a budget buster. If you’re on the DeWalt Battery platform, this job site speaker is a no-brainer.

DeWalt Jobsite Bluetooth Speaker Review Final Thoughts

Several new launches have come from DeWalt recently, and like the DeWalt Cordless Jigsaw, this tool is an amazing addition to their lineup. DeWalt combines great sound quality with easy to use controls. The dual power options are a welcome addition for versatility and the rugged construction provides the durability you need from a job site speaker. As I said before, there are a lot of job site speakers on the market, but this is one that stands out to me. This model combines all the quality and performance you would expect from DeWalt and won’t break the bank.

The post DeWalt Jobsite Bluetooth Speaker Review appeared first on Tools In Action - Power Tool Reviews.

Almost every power tool manufacturer has some type of radio or Bluetooth speaker in their line up. While a lot of them have the theory of “go big or go home”, it’s hard to find a decent small speaker that is durable, sounds decent and still has good runtime. Sure you can pick up a decent small speaker on Amazon, but usually, they aren’t durable enough for the job site or outside, plus you have to plug them in to charge them. Ridgid released a small radio that tries to accomplish these four objectives, portable, durable, good runtime, and quality sound. So how did they do? Let’s check out the Ridgid Compact Radio Review and see.

Ridgid Compact Radio Review Overview

I know a lot of people like the bigger, louder systems, but for me, I like small speakers. Sure if I am in a loud place, I would rather have the loud sound of music over the sounds of saws and impact drivers. But most of the time, I need a smaller speaker.

For me I need it when I am tailgating, camping, hanging out, working in smaller spaces- the list goes on. For the plumbers, electricians, HVAC guys who may be working by themselves, this is a perfect solution because you can toss it in your tool bag, set it up and start rocking quickly.

Ridgid Compact Radio Review Features

The Ridgid radio (R84086) is a small radio that can also play music from your phone. The radio has a single speaker and can be used with the Ridgid App. The size of the radio is fairly small coming in at 8.75″ high and about 6″ deep. One of the pluses for this model is that it is weather resistant to provide protection during use.

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The radio is only powered by a Ridgid 18V battery and does not offer an option for a plug to run the radio. I really couldn’t see why someone would want a plug since even with the 2Ah battery the runtime is insane. Now attach a 5Ah battery and you will be rocking for a long time.

There is a single speaker located on the front of the radio.

The top is where you access all the function such as on/off, volume, modes and preset. I think Ridgid did a nice job with the layout of the control panel.

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For the modes, you can change it to FM, AM, AUX and Bluetooth with a push of a button.

The radio has a foldable rubber antenna. The antenna folds onto the back of the radio when not in use.

One cool feature is the USB charging port and it also has an auxiliary port for those who don’t have Bluetooth on their phone.

The battery is located on the back of the radio so you can pretty much use any of the Ridgid batteries to power this radio.

Ridgid Compact Radio Review Performance

While this has a radio and presets, I don’t use it for those items. For me, it’s a Bluetooth speaker and that’s it. For those who want the radio, the reception is lacking as we are 40 miles from Chicago and can’t get most stations in my basement. When I go outside, it’s better, but not clear, at least not the stations I listen to, such as rock and country.

The front of the radio is well laid out. I would like to see the volume button protrude more so it’s easier to turn up and down with gloves, but it’s still decent. The Ridgid app is a nice addition as well. If you are listening to the radio, you can change stations and inputs. You can also adjust volume and mute. I am not one to use the app, but it does have two cool features that I would use. First is the microphone, seriously who wouldn’t want to use that. Second is the sleep timer. I would use this if I was camping and just wanted the music to turn off so I am not waking up in the middle of the night to turn it off.

Now don’t get me wrong, I am not saying it’s the best Bluetooth speaker in regards to sound because it isn’t. If you’re comparing it to a high-end speakers sound, this probably won’t thrill you. It is plenty enough loud to push the noise level and music far though. Sure it won’t drown out job site noise, but it’s not meant for that use. But for what I use it for, this is the perfect speaker.

I would personally use this for a number of things. From tailgating or at a picnic, to working in smaller areas where it is nice to just have some background noise. If you are using it in these areas, it’s a great system as the runtime is great, it’s weather resistant, small and light to carry around and the sound isn’t too bad for a compact radio. When it comes down to it, I only care about four things in a radio. I look for size, durability, and runtime, and overall sound and this radio fits the bill for all four.

Ridgid Compact Radio Review Value

The radio retails at The Home Depot for about $70. I would be more excited of a price around $50, but it does have a lifetime warranty, I can change the battery instead of plugging it in to charge, it’s rugged and the sound isn’t bad for a radio this size. So I would still be a buyer at $70, but still seems a little high for a Bluetooth speaker. Yes, it has a radio, but who really listens to radio anymore.

Ridgid Compact Radio Review Final Thoughts

Bottom line, this is a great radio. Well, let me back up. I use this as a Bluetooth speaker and that’s all. I don’t use the radio function as the reception isn’t the best. However, I will turn on AM radio to listen to the Cubs game every once in a while. If your part of the Ridgid line, I think it’s a decent buy. For a portable speaker that is rugged, can get wet and dirty, has a lifetime warranty and runs a long time, this is the perfect speaker for tailgating, small areas, camping, picnic, and just hanging out.

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Having a radio on the job site can mean the difference between a good day and having an insane day.  The reason I say that is because I remember when I first got into construction I was working at the Merchandise Mart in Chicago.  I was an apprentice labor at the time. The first day, I and another guy walked into the place, we were handed a scraper and told to remove this 50-year-old floor tile off the whole floor.  Now it might not sound like a lot but if you know the size of the merchandise mart you know it is one of the largest buildings in the world in regards to square footage.  Now we didn’t have to do the whole building, but let me tell you that the floor was huge and it felt like it was the whole building.  It took weeks and the tile didn’t come off easily.  During this time we went crazy and here is where a radio would have been huge.  You can only talk so much, you can only think about the same things so much and you can only sing a song in your head so many times.  Well, I may not be doing that now, but for the people who like to listen to tunes, the new Hilti radio charger is a welcome addition.

When Hilti designed this radio they did it right.  First, they started with a quality sound system.  They have 2-20watt speakers that not only produce a loud sound but a clear sound.  Yes, when you raise the level really high for some songs you can get it to distort. The one thing I really like about this unit is the knobs.  To change the volume or radio station you can use one of the two knobs.  I love this setup and always hate when companies go with a push button as it always seems to be a pain in the butt when you want to change the volume or channel.  So I am glad Hilti went with the knobs.  In regards to station quality, I think it does a decent job.  We have yet to find a radio that brings in every station without some static, but the Hilti was one of the top performers for station quality.  We were able to get the top stations to come in crystal clear.

You can power the radio two ways.  Either by the power plug (which has a nice wrap-up feature when not in use) or you can power it off a battery.  Here is the cool thing.  You can power this with either their 12V, 14V, 18V, 22V or 36V.  So basically any of their batteries will power this radio.  Now if you plan on using a 12V to power this, you will need the adapter.  Not only can you power this off a battery, but if you have it plugged into the wall, the radio will charge a battery.  I always thought that was a cool idea and wish all manufacturers did that with their radios.  Not only can you charge batteries, but you can charge an electronic device with the USB port.  Now if you don’t have Bluetooth on your phone, don’t worry, you can still connect your phone with the AUX feature.  Connecting the system to your Bluetooth device is easy.

One thing you will notice is that Hilti decided to put their battery on the outside.  Some manufacturers have a battery that is in a closed compartment.  Not a huge deal to me as the battery is still protected against drops or stuff hitting it.  I think the closed compartment keeps dust and water out more.

Bottom line, Hilti did a great job with his radio.  The sound is good, the radio is tough and I love how easy it is to change the channel or volume.  Even if you are not into the Hilti battery line, this is a great radio to own.  Plenty enough sound even for those loud job sites.

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Since I first heard about the Milwaukee Wireless Jobsite Speaker 2891-20, I have been wanting one so bad.  See, I am the guy who likes to jam out or at least have some background noise at all times.  I think when things are quiet and I am alone with my thoughts, I get too scared.  So when Milwaukee announced the wireless speakers, I was excited.

Now before I go on I want to clarify something.  Read the title again, this is a Milwaukee Wireless Jobsite Speaker 2891-20, which means it’s just a speaker and speaker only.  There is not a radio tuner, charger or anything else.  It’s a plain simple wireless speaker.  This means you can control it straight from your phone from any app you want.  In fact, there are only a couple of buttons on this unit.  You have a power button, a Bluetooth button, Aux button and volume, that’s it.  So if you are expecting more, you might want to check out their M18 Jobsite Radio which has a tuner and other functions.  For me, I love having just a speaker.  I rarely listen to the radio because there is never anything on except commercials.  The only thing I ever listen to on the radio is the Cubs game, which I can now get online.

I think Milwaukee did a spectacular job with the design of the speaker, it’s plain, it’s simple.  I love the fact I can power this off of either an M12 battery or M18 battery, brilliant.  Don’t worry if you don’t own any Milwaukee batteries or have a dead battery as you can also plug this into the wall and power the unit that way.  The layout is great as it is shaped in a long Hexagon with one end having a handle to carry it around.  With the Hexagon design, it can lay on its side or stand it up.  The battery area is nice and big which means you can even fit a Milwaukee 9Ah battery on the unit and it will still sit flat.  Taking out the M12 battery is a little tight, but not impossible.

On the back of the unit, there is a small door that has three plugins.  Here is where you can plug the provided power cord into.  You can also plug a USB cable into it or an Auxillary cord to listen to music instead of Bluetooth.

Milwaukee designed this with 2 High Definition Mid-Woofers, 2 High Range Tweeters, and 2 Passive Radiators.  While the unit is a hexagon, the speakers are located on three sides of the unit and not wrapped around the speaker.  I am sure if they had more speakers to make this a true 360° speaker, it would have been much bigger.

So let’s talk sound.  I have to say that I love the sound that comes from this unit.  Is it the loudest speaker I have ever heard? No, it’s not the loudest I have ever heard.  However, this little speaker jams.  I love the quality and depth of sound that comes from it.  How does it compare to the Bosch or the Dewalt?  We will be having a fight against each other and let you know.  I do know that I would much rather carry this unit around from place to place over the Bosch or the Dewalt as it’s lighter and smaller and has a great sound.  Not that I am knocking the Bosch or Dewalt because they are great systems, but they are different as this is just a speaker.  If you are looking to jam out on the job site and want a great sounding system, that is rock solid and can take some abuse, this is the speaker to have.  I think Milwaukee did an awesome job with the design and implementation of this speaker.  I am sure we will be seeing this speaker on just about every job site in the near future.

Milwaukee Wireless Jobsite Speaker 2891-20 Specification

• Stream high definition music wirelessly with Bluetooth® from over 100ft
• Compatible with M12 and M18 Batteries
• 2 Passive Radiators (Bass)
• 2 High Definition Mid-Woofers
• 2 High Range Tweeters
• IP54 water and dust protected.
• Impact resistant roll cage.
• Protected 2.1A USB power outlet.
• Length 7.5″
• Weight 5.3 Lbs
• Height 6.5″
• Width 13.75″

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As you know, we love to have fun at Tools in Action.  We don’t take ourselves seriously and we love destroying things.  So we thought about it and decided that destroying some radios would be a blast.  So we reached out to some manufacturers and got our hands on some of the most popular cordless radios on the market.  Now before I go on I want to get a couple of things straight.  First, this isn’t scientific.  This is just something we wanted to do and have some fun with.  We knew that no radio would survive to the end.  Yes, we still picked a radio, but deep down, these radios aren’t made to be put through the abuse we were going to give it.  The second thing you have to remember is this is all done by chance.  Since we only had one radio, we couldn’t retest it if it broke.  We knew there would be a chance that a radio might fail because it got a bad bounce.  We could do this test again and have completely different results.  Maybe a radio just happened to bounce the right way and it broke.  Or maybe it bounced the wrong way and hit the perfect spot and didn’t break.  But again, this is all in good fun.  If you are serious about getting a radio, all these radios are great options.  Each one is designed to produce a great sound and take the abuse of a job site.  I know the designers weren’t thinking it has to take the Tools in Action abuse test.  So what were the tests and what is the best cordless radio out of the bunch?

Radio Test Order

1. Push off a 3′ tool chest
2. Radio Reception – Local Stations
3. Sound Quality
4. Dust Test – Mulch Test
5. Bucket Test 10′ Drop
6. Grapple Test 25′
7. Water Test
8. Cherry Picker Drop 50′

Radios We Tested

Notes About The Radios

Heaviest Radio – Bosch 24 lbs

Most Expensive – Milwaukee at $229 (The Home Depot)

Most Features – Bosch

Best Warranty – Ridgid

Let’s Get Started

Again this test is for fun.  Our goal was just to take them as far as we can.  Yes, the first couple tests are very important and all the radios should be able to pass with flying colors.  So here is how it works.  For any radio that didn’t pass a test, didn’t get a chance to move on to the next round.  So with some of the radios, it was unfortunate that we didn’t really get a chance to see it’s full potential.  So let’s get started and see which one was the best cordless radio.

Test 1 – Radio Reception (Features) – Local Stations

For me this isn’t a huge deal as I tend to hook my phone up and listen to Pandora or another online radio station.  However we know a ton of people still listen to their local stations on the radio.  For this test, take this with a grain of salt unless you are in the Chicagoland area and listen to some of the stations we tested.  Maybe a radio didn’t fair well for our test, but in your area, it could have been the best test.  Again, we are in the Chicago area and tested some of the popular stations such as 99.5, 79.9, 63.3 (Not sure who listens to this except for Dan) and 95.1.

Bosch PB360C

The Bosch is jam packed with features.  There is a ton of things to love about this radio.  In regards to the reception, it was so, so.  Some of the stations came in clear, but there were a couple that didn’t.  However the Bluetooth works up to 150′ which is the largest out of all the radios.

Makita XRM04B

We have never tested this radio by itself, so this was our first experience with this radio.  I have to say this is one of my favorite radios, well I do have a couple in the fight that I love also.  I love how light and compact this radio is.  As a bonus, this has great reception.

Milwaukee 2792

The Milwaukee radio had the best reception for any of the radios we tested.  The stations came in clear and it’s very easy to quickly tune to the station of your choice.  As a bonus, it has a bottle opener.  Do I really need to say more?

Dewalt DC012

This is one of Dewalt’s older radios.  In regards to reception, it was one of the worst we tested.  I can’t say I was too impressed with the reception of the radio.

Dewalt DCR015

Yes, another Dewalt radio.  This is one step above the DC012 radio.  As far as reception, it’s also a step above the DC012.  Not bad, but also not great.  Thankfully it has Bluetooth.

Dewalt ToughSystem

This isn’t only the newest radio to the Dewalt line up, but one of the newest radios to market.  Dewalt took a different approach with the design of this radio.  This is sleek looking and can be part of your Tough system storage.  One thing they lacked was an easy way to tune to a station and as a matter of fact, most of the channels we tried, it wouldn’t pick up a good signal.  Again, it has Bluetooth, so you’re still in luck if you have a smart phone.

Ryobi P746

The Ryobi is considered a homeowners brand, but it didn’t stop us from including it in our tool fight.  At $99, we were pretty impressed by the reception of this radio.  While some of the other radios had a better reception quality, we have to remember this is only $99.  Nice Job.

Ridgid R94087

Ridgid is just one of those quiet brands.  They built something and it always seems to beat your expectations. However with the reception, it was just okay.

Test 2 – Sound Quality

For me, this is the most important aspect of a radio, the sound quality.  We all buy a radio so we can jam out at work, the campground, tail gating or wherever you desire.  It doesn’t matter if you are using your radio as background noise or to jam out to, it’s important that not only the radio sounds good, but you can hear it no matter where you are in the room.  For the most part, all of these radios perform great with sound.  However some of the radios stand out above the rest.

Bosch PB360C

Bosch touts their radio as 360° sound quality.  Personally I think they have one of the best speaker set ups for all the radios.  On top of the radio sits four speakers, which are placed at each corner.  So this truly spreads the music in any direction.  On the bottom of the unit, it has a bass speaker that does a decent job giving you great sound quality.  This was one of the best sounding systems we tested.

Makita XRM04B

Looking at the Makita, the size and the speaker placement, you might not expect much.  However this radio really surprised us.  Not only was the sound quality good, but the sound spread out extremely well.

Milwaukee 2792

The Milwaukee was also great for sound quality.  While they have their speakers placed at the front of the unit, it sounds great.  Walking behind the unit, you do lose a little bit of the noise level, but that is expected.  Overall the Milwaukee produced a deep rich sound anyone can enjoy.

Dewalt DC012

Again this is an older model, but the sound wasn’t too bad for it’s time.  Wasn’t the top performer, but again it wasn’t too bad.

Dewalt DCR015

Now this radio is loud, very loud.  The only problem is while it’s loud, the quality is sub par.  It’s great to have the loudness, but without the quality, what is the point?  I have to say I was a little disappointed with the sound quality of this radio.  However there is good news, they have the ToughSystem.

Dewalt ToughSystem

This is the Dewalt radio that shines.  The sound quality is awesome, crisp and clear.  Dewalt took one from the Bosch book and placed the speakers in prime locations.  On the top of the radio sits four speakers, two in the front and two in the back.  So no matter where you are, you don’t lose the loudness.  On the bottom of the radio, Dewalt placed two bass speakers to give this a full, rich sound.

Ryobi P746

We weren’t expecting much from this radio since it’s small and has a $99 price tag.  However this radio surprised us.  While it’s not a top contender, this will make any homeowner’s work day more enjoyable.

Ridgid R94087

Last, but not least is the Ridgid.  In regards to sound quality, this radio was in the middle of the road out of the radios we tested.  The overall sound isn’t too bad.  Does have some rich sound to this little unit.

Test 3 – Push off a 3′ Tool Chest

After we had a chance to check out the reception, feature and sound quality, we pushed them off a 3′ tool cabinet.  This is a no brainier, they should all be expected to survive this fall since this is really something that can happen.  They all survived as we expected, oh wait one did fail.  The most expensive radio failed a simple 3′ fall.  Now let’s be fair.  I really doubt the Milwaukee would fail from a 3′ fall.  They are designed to be on the job site and be tough enough to take abuse.  Here is my thought on this.  I believe we just had a unit that was bad and am going to give them the benefit of the doubt.  Normally in this situation we would reach out to the manufacturer, get feedback and try again, but that wasn’t going to happen today.  When we do these fights, it takes a ton of time and most of all, I had a buddy of mine put a half of day aside to help us with this test.  Which means he took away time from his work and ability to make money that day.  So I couldn’t really ask him to reschedule and lose another day of work.  Again, I think the Milwaukee would be able to handle this fall no problem.  I don’t care who the manufacturer is, everyone has a defective product and that’s why they offer warranties with their products.  No one is 100% accurate.  We would have really loved to see Milwaukee move forward as I am sure it would have been one of the top contenders.  But unfortunately it wasn’t Milwaukee’s day. So one down and seven to go.

Milwaukee Note – Milwaukee Test Update

We reached out to Milwaukee and let them know what happened.  They were quick to respond and sent us another unit to try.  Unfortunately we couldn’t put it through the same test.  However we still had to try and see if the Milwaukee would hold up.  We did the bench drop a couple of times without any issues.  We then stood on a ladder and dropped it, again, it survived.  Then we tossed it high in the air and yes, it survived that.  Next I got on my garage and dropped it from the ridge line, it still took a beating and kept on working.  It wasn’t until we threw it off the garage with extreme down force is when it failed.  This is much more abuse then any job site would give a radio.  In the end, this proved to be one tough radio.  We really wished it could have competed on the day of the event, but oh well, things happen.  Take a look at the end of the video below to see the full Milwaukee torture test and how it held up.

Test 4 – Dust Test – Mulch Test

After we finished up at Dan’s house, it was time to head over to my buddy’s place.  Speaking of that, anyone in the Chicago area needs a great arborist, check out Bode Tree Care.  If you need a dust test, what better way then dumping a pile of mulch all over the radios?  Not only did we dump mulch over the radios, but we had to dig them out and move them around.  This isn’t your normal mulch where there are big pieces of wood, this is more of a fine mulch.  The mulch we dumped on top is mulch that is finally ground up and is designed to decay in a year to feed the soil of gardens and flower beds, while the big mulch is more decorative.  So after all this, we knew that this would be a great dust test for these.  So who failed?  Not a single radio.  They all pasted with flying colors.  We are also pretty sure this is more dust and dirt than any job site can throw at these radios.

Test 5 – Bucket Test 10′ Drop

Next in the line up is a 10′ bucket drop.  We loaded up all the radios in the front loader, went to a place that Bode could drop it on a hard surface, raised the bucket and let them go.  I have to say I would have put money on it that a couple of the radios would have broke, but to my amazement, they all made it through with flying colors.  Not a single radio was out for the count.  (Sorry abut the first couple of pictures.  I was trying to take pictures with one hand and record a video with another hand.  I guess I am not what you call a multi-tasker).

Test 6 – Grapple Test 25′

Okay, so they survived a 10′ drop.  While I was surprised that they all made it past this point, we just had to see what they would do at a 25′ drop.  Now to be fair, this isn’t a realistic height for a drop test.  Yes, I understand that a radio could fall from 25′, but a majority of radios purchase will never have to experience this.  So this is a little overboard and I take this with a grain of salt for any radio that fails.  So what were the results?

And the survivors are Bosch, two Dewalt’s and the Ridgid.  As for the other Dewalt (DC012), Ryobi and Makita, this really doesn’t put them in a bad light because again, it’s a 25′ fall.  But this is Tools in Action and only the radios that survived get to move onto the next test, which is the water test.

Test 7 – Water Test

We should have probably done this test right after mulch test since most of these radios are IP54 rating which is dust and water resistant.  However this is Tools in Action and we don’t always think clearly.  Now for this this test, we didn’t dunk them into water.  We just took a hose and gave them a pretty nice bath, simulating a very heavy rain.  As you would expect, the Bosch, Ridgid and both Dewalt’s didn’t have a problem.  Well actually the Dewalt DCR015 did have a problem that we found out as we were waiting for Bode to set up the next test.  We noticed the Dewalt radio would not turn off unless we took out the battery.  Once we took out the battery, there wasn’t an issue.  However when we put the battery back in, the radio would turn on with no way of turning it off.  Normally this radio would have been out of the test, but what fun would that be for the next test?

Test 8 – Cherry Picker Drop 50′

Okay let’s face it, no radio is designed to take this abuse.  A fall from 50′ in the air onto asphalt, seriously do you think any of the remaining four would survive?  Well, not a chance.  All four radios failed after this insane drop.  One by one, Bode threw them off the bucket.  One by one, each one busted and no longer worked.  The Bosch hit in a perfect spot to destroy it, so we knew right away that was going to be out of the running.  The Ridgid did well in regards to the housing holding up, but it really doesn’t matter since it wouldn’t turn on.  The Dewalt ToughSystem landed perfect in order to protect the housing, probably the best spot without the housing being destroyed.  The last Dewalt, broke apart.  So in the end, none survived the Tools in Action Insane Test.  So we had to give them all a proper burial.

Bosch PB360C Drop

Dewalt DCR015 Drop

Ridgid R84087 Drop

Dewalt ToughSystem Drop

Final Test – Destruction

Now I understand manufacturers do not use this type of test, but we just couldn’t resist.  We had a huge tumbler in the yard that takes huge pieces of wood and turns them into mulch, so we just had to see what it would do with the radios.  Well we knew what it would do, but it was more about the fun.  Can you guess what radio survived?  You’re right, none.  This thing took the radios and turned them into dust.  I have to say it was pretty cool to see and just hear this big machine destroy them.

Final Thoughts and Outcome

As you guessed we did take this a little over board.  These radios weren’t designed to take this type of abuse.  But as you saw with the first couple tests such as the 3′ test, the dust and water, all the radios did awesome.  Those couple of test, I can see as real world things that can happen to your job site radio.  While the Milwaukee failed, it was probably just a bad radio we had.  It would have been nice to have another radio to test, but because of our timing, we just couldn’t.  Bottom line, any of these radio are great radios.  If you already own a certain battery platform, the radio that is offered is a great radio.  As with Milwaukee, I own that radio and love it.  Besides that is why companies give a warranty in case a product is defective and again, every company has defective products.

Drum Roll – The Winner of Best Cordless Radio Is

Some of the radios surprised us during this test.  Bosch has been the power house of radios in recent years, but I think they have a little competition with the Dewalt ToughSystem.  While the Dewalt sounds great, the Bosch still has a couple legs up, such as the ease of use, the outlets and a farther Bluetooth range.  Both sound great and will make any buyer jump for joy with their purchase.  The Ryobi at $99 really surprised us with it’s small size, small price tag, but pretty decent sound.  As always, the Ridgid made it to the end.  This is a small, quiet company that never touts about it’s toughness, but time and time again, it takes a beating and lasts.  Our first experience with the Makita was a success.  Nice in size, easy to see the display and just a great all around radio.  We love the Milwaukee and wished it would have had a chance to compete in all the rounds, but while it didn’t get to compete, we still put it through some tough tests and it held up well.

Did you really think there was going to be a winner?  The only real winner was us getting to have some fun and the TIA Crew being there to witness it all.  We will let you be the judge of everything.  In the end all the radios did a great job.  We hope you enjoyed this episode of Crazy TIA.

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Yes, Milwaukee already has a lot of radios in their line up, but really what is one more?  Just in case you’re wondering, no it’s not replacing the Bluetooth 2792.  This is an update to the 2790-20.

You have to understand this radio.  This radio is not designed with all the bells and whistles of their 2792.  This radio doesn’t have Bluetooth and it won’t charge your batteries.  This is just your standard tough, rugged, work radio.  Since it doesn’t have all the bells and whistles, the price point is much lower which is only $119.  Now while some people might miss the Bluetooth, there are plenty of guys who just want a radio. Something they can hook their phone up to or listen to some local stations.

The radio is loud and for the most part it doesn’t do a bad job with reception.  The radio has dual speakers hidden behind the metal protection grills and shock absorbing end caps.  You can plug your phone into the 3.5 mm aux jack to jam to your favorite songs on your phone or iPad.  Inside the weather sealed compartment, there is also a USB charging port.  On the back of the radio, you can slide your 5 Ah battery to get up to 12 hours of run time or you can plug the radio into the wall for 24 hours of fun.  The radio also has a customization EQ with 10 presets for your favorite stations.

While this doesn’t have all the bells and whistles, I really love this radio.  It’s a plain, Jane radio that sounds good and just feels tough.  I like the box design and all the protection it has to offer.  It’s just one of the radios you know you can take around and beat the heck out of and it will just keep on playing.

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There are a lot of products we show off on Tools in Action and sometimes it’s really hard to say whether one drill is better than another or one saw is better.  However with this radio, it’s a no brainer.  When it comes to a Radio or whatever the kids are calling it now a days, no one compares or even comes close to the Bosch Power Box.  If you desire quality sound for tough conditions and practical features, this Power Box is for you.  We did a review of the Power Box PB360S back in 2012, we loved it then and love it now.  In fact, that radio is still hanging tough.

Bosch Power Box Overview

If you’re not familiar with the Bosch Power Box, let me give you a quick rundown.  This radio box is protected by a rubber, aluminium roll cage.  So yes, it will with-stand pretty much any job site condition.  As far as sound, Bosch did this right.  Since this is a cube design, Bosch put 4 speakers on each top corner which means you can hear it in any direction on the job site.  Under the cube is where they have a premium sub woofer.  Hence that is why they call it the Power Box 360.  It’s a powerful, tough box that sends sounds in 360 degree directions.

Around The Bosch Power Box

Besides this Power Box being a radio and media player, it is also a charger.  When you have the unit plugged in, you can not only charge your Bosch batteries, but also your cell phone or other electronic devices such as an iPad.  On the back of the radio is where you can insert your Bosch battery (18V or 14.4V slide packs).  When you plug in the unit, it will automatically start to charge your battery or what ever is on the USB port.  As soon as you unplug the box, it will kick right over to using the battery as a power source without any interruption.  On the left side of the box is where you have your media bay.  Inside the media bay is where you AUX or USB port is located.  There is even more than enough room to store your AUX or USB cables when not in use.  On the opposite side, is where you have the cord management.  When you’re not using the power cord, you can store it here.  There are also four outlets where you can plug stuff into.  Now before you get too excited, the total max amp is 10 Amp.  At first I was a little disappointed because a 20 amp on each side would have been nice, but after I thought about it, it wouldn’t make sense.

On the front of the box is where all the magic happens.  Bosch uses a nice blue LCD screen to show your station or other information.  Even this screen is protected by two metal bars.  Just below the screen is the power on/off button.  You will notice two knobs which control volume, tuning and are used to select how much bass or treble you desire.  In between the knobs are four buttons.  One for EQ (There are four preset EQ settings), your custom button, memory and clock.  Below all that is a blue light to indicate your Bluetooth connectivity. The next set of five buttons deal with your music playing. You have a play/pause button, a pairing for your Bluetooth device, a seek/scan and also a source mode which just lets you pick if you want radio, Bluetooth or something else. The radio has 20 FM and 10 AM presets which are kept in place even when the radio is off by using the two provided 2 AA batteries.

In regards to radio reception, Bosch attached a pivot antenna.  One thing I have noticed about all the radios we have tested, the reception isn’t good.  However Bosch seemed to figure this one out because this is the only radio that I get my favorite stations with no static.  The other radios always give me static, but not with this.  The other note is when I am charging a battery, I don’t get any whining noise like I have seen with other radios.

As a side note this comes with a one year warranty and as you probably would expect, the unit has a weather and dust resistant design.  As for weight, this Power Box weighs 24 lbs, but it surely doesn’t feel like it.  They have a carrying handle on the top or you can just grab any part of the aluminium protective cage points to carry it around.

Bluetooth and the Bosch App

While everything I already pointed out is what makes this really shine, there is even more that puts this on top of an already great system.  First is the Bluetooth capability.  You already know it has Bluetooth, but did you know it has a range of 150′.  That’s pretty awesome.  Okay now on to something that I haven’t seen on a radio before, but it makes all the sense in the world, it’s an App.  Yes, Bosch has a specific app for this radio which makes it even more user friendly.  If you have ever downloaded any of their many apps, you know whoever is in their app development group, they are truly the best designers out there.  While Bosch is known for their tools and accessories, they just always make awesome apps.  These aren’t just apps that are thrown together, they are thought out and planned out.  They all have a nice layout with easy to use and practical functions.  You can download this app for IOS or Android and yes it’s free. So what will this app do?

The first obvious thing is control your music.  The music library is where you can pick your songs.  When you do click this button, you will leave the app.  I do wish they were in this app, but I am sure it would eat up memory or some other reason they don’t do that.  Next is the announcement button.  How cool is this?  You can record a message on your phone and play it through your speakers.  Not sure exactly what that would be used for, but it’s pretty cool you can do that.  Okay, the next cool item is the alarm.  Besides the Music Library, the alarm is the next most important item on the app.  You can set an alarm to let you know it’s break time, time to go home or any time you want.  The next button is streaming.  Here you can pretty much stream anything you want.  They have preloaded services such as Pandora, YouTube and a bunch of others.  Again, this will take you to that app.  The other two are for Bosch Toolbox and to select your audio device.  If you haven’t seen or used Bosch Toolbox, I would suggest downloading it and giving it a shot.  While I wish you could do more inside the app instead of just opening another program, the app is pretty cool.

I am sure I sound like a broken record, but I really don’t care.  If you want the one radio system that stands above everyone else, it’s the Bosch Power Box.  This thing is tough, the sound is great and the features are awesome.  I don’t care if you’re on the Job site, camping, tailgating or just hanging out in the yard, this system stands by itself.

Bosch Power Box

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