Soundboks Rider Review: Even the smallest Bluetooth speaker packs a strong punch

Soundboks is stepping it up. Following the spectacular Mix Bluetooth speaker, which delivered a robust efficiency in our take a look at, a smaller mannequin is now out there. The Soundboks Rider is designed to do precisely what the model’s bigger fashions can’t: journey with you on the go with out compromising an excessive amount of on sound high quality. Weighing 6.5 kilograms, that includes a detachable battery, and boasting an IP66 ranking, Soundboks guarantees a rugged outside speaker that, regardless of its compact measurement, can produce as much as 118 decibels. I examined the Rider and can inform you whether or not it’s value shopping for.

Technical Specifications of the Soundboks Rider

Design, Build Quality, and Portability

At first look, the Rider appears to be like like a scaled-down model of the bigger Soundboks fashions—and that’s precisely what it’s. The ABS and polycarbonate housing feels considerably extra strong within the hand than its plastic development would recommend, thanks primarily to the 4 silicone nook protectors designed to simply soak up the affect of drops and different accidents. The sturdy carrying deal with is centered on the highest and stays snug within the hand even after extended use, with out digging in.

At 6.5 kilograms, the Rider is noticeably lighter than its bigger sister fashions (the Soundboks Mix, for instance, weighed just below 10 kg, and the Soundboks Go round 9.2 kg), nevertheless it’s nonetheless not a light-weight that you just’d wish to carry round city by the strap for hours on finish. For shorter journeys to the park or to the automobile, nevertheless, the load isn’t any drawback in any respect. I discovered it handy that, because of its compact dimensions of 35 × 24 × 20 cm, the speaker truly suits on a motorbike rack and might be securely fixed with a few straps. On the opposite hand, I did miss a typical tripod thread: Although the Rider comes with an inside thread, it’s too small for normal speaker stands.

The detachable metal grille with the embossed brand might be swapped out if desired, which permits for personalisation but additionally means it could actually come free when you’re not cautious. Overall, the construct high quality makes a really strong impression in on a regular basis use. That’s precisely what you’d anticipate from a model that explicitly designs its audio system for festivals and outside use.

Features and Connectivity

When it involves connectivity, Soundboks has intentionally saved issues minimal with the Rider. Bluetooth 4.2 is on the market for connecting to a smartphone or laptop computer—not a present customary, however in my testing it proved sufficiently secure for on a regular basis use so long as I stayed inside the typical vary of about ten meters. The solely wired choice is a 3.5-mm AUX enter; you received’t discover an XLR or customary jack socket on the Rider, as provided by the model’s bigger fashions. So anybody who needs to attach the speaker to skilled DJ gear or a mixing console will probably be restricted on this regard.

I additionally seen that the Rider doesn’t help both the model’s personal GroupUp mode for pairing a number of Soundboks audio system or Bluetooth Auracast, options which have develop into customary amongst rivals like JBL, Marshall, or Sony. This is hardly a difficulty for a single speaker in a small setting, however anybody who needs to fill a bigger area with sound utilizing a number of audio system on the identical time should go for a special Soundboks mannequin. On the opposite hand, I discovered the USB-C output with as much as 10 watts (5 V/2 A) to be sensible: In a pinch, the Rider can even perform as an influence financial institution, permitting me to recharge my smartphone a bit whereas on the go.

Battery Life: Removable Battery

At the guts of the Rider is “The Battery.” It’s a detachable lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) battery with a capability of 99.84 watt-hours. Soundboks guarantees as much as 35 hours of playtime at medium quantity and as much as 8 hours at full quantity. In my take a look at, utilizing a medium-to-high quantity typical for a balcony or patio, I simply obtained by means of a whole day of a number of hours of music with out recharging, which makes the producer’s declare completely credible to me. At full quantity—say, throughout a party—the battery did certainly run out after about eight hours. That’s a determine I’m completely pleased with, given the compact design.

One element that stunned me at first: A charger (“The Charger”) isn’t included with the Rider—it’s a must to purchase it individually for round 59 euros. But that’s no massive deal, for the reason that Soundboks Rider’s battery might be simply charged through USB-C. If you’d like, you may also purchase a second battery for about 199 euros and carry it alongside as a spare. This is unquestionably a sensible funding for journeys lasting a number of days or festivals.

App Connectivity: Soundboks Companion App

I managed the Soundboks Rider utilizing the free Soundboks Companion app, which is on the market for iOS and Android. The very first thing you’ll see is a firmware replace, which, nevertheless, takes only some minutes to put in. The app focuses on 4 sound profiles: Bass+ for extra punch with dance, techno/home, and hip-hop; Outdoor, which boosts bass and treble whereas barely decreasing the mids to drown out ambient noise outdoor; Indoor, for a clearer, extra open sound indoors; and a freely adjustable Custom EQ.

In follow, I truly seen an audible distinction between the Outdoor and Indoor modes relying on the surroundings. It’s a pleasant, simple function that doesn’t require you to delve deep into equalizer settings.

In addition, the app presents a Bluetooth safety PIN in addition to a distant lock function (Speaker Remote Lock) that protects the speaker from unauthorized entry. This is helpful when the Rider is left unattended at a celebration. During my testing interval, firmware updates ran quietly within the background. I used to be barely bothered by two temporary connection errors when pairing the app and the speaker for the primary time, however these had been resolved every time by merely reopening the app.

Sound Quality: The Sound of the Soundboks Rider

From a sound perspective, the Soundboks Rider doesn’t maintain again and actually kicks into gear even at medium quantity. The most vital impression first: It’s arduous to imagine simply how loud this little speaker truly will get. With digital music (techno, home, hip-hop), the Rider performs with a vigor that, given its compact measurement, I truthfully wouldn’t have anticipated. The 8-inch woofer delivers a strong, direct punch with the Bass+ preset, which creates an incredible ambiance at a small backyard occasion or within the park. With driving tracks which have a variety of sub-bass, nevertheless, I seen that whereas the Rider does push a good quantity of strain out of the enclosure, it naturally can’t match the wealthy, bodily “rumbling” of bigger fashions just like the Mix or the Soundboks 4 with their 10-inch drivers—the one 8-inch driver is just too small for that. What it does ship, nevertheless, is a crisp, forward-driving bass that conveys vitality moderately than depth.

The three EQ presets truly make an audible distinction in on a regular basis use, which I straight in contrast throughout a number of listening periods. In Bass+ mode, the bass vary is noticeably boosted, which is essentially the most enjoyable for dance, tech-house, and hip-hop tracks, however rapidly pushes the small woofer to its limits on bass-heavy tracks. Outdoor mode boosts the treble along with the bass and barely reduces the mids—a helpful adjustment when wind and ambient noise outdoor would in any other case drown out a part of the sound, although I discovered it unpleasantly shrill indoors. The Indoor mode was essentially the most balanced and, to my ears, essentially the most nice for prolonged listening; it brings the mids again to the forefront and delivers a extra open, clear sound total.

With acoustic or vocal-heavy music, nevertheless, the draw back of the party-oriented tuning turns into obvious: The important enhance within the bass and decrease midrange meant that, in my take a look at, vocals and particulars on quieter tracks may sound considerably muffled and veiled, as if a lightweight veil had been draped over the recording. I seen this notably with Latin pop or R&B productions that includes a variety of vocal presence within the decrease register, whereas extra clearly blended pop songs with crisp highs had been noticeably much less affected. In the higher frequencies, nevertheless, the Rider stays pleasantly restrained and by no means shrill, which is actually nice throughout prolonged listening at events, but additionally implies that cymbals, hi-hats, and particulars within the very excessive registers lose a few of their brilliance.

At very excessive volumes—roughly the final 15 to twenty % of the quantity management—I additionally seen rising distortion. While the Rider stays loud, it noticeably loses management and readability, particularly within the bass vary, which then begins to rattle moderately than ship a punchy affect. At round 80 to 85 % of most quantity, I discovered the purpose the place the sound was cleanest for my private style—the speaker nonetheless performs confidently and with loads of headroom, with out slipping into distortion. For impromptu events, barbecue nights, or a motorbike journey with music, that is greater than sufficient; nevertheless, anybody with audiophile expectations for sound constancy, wealthy sub-bass, or a very balanced soundstage at low to medium volumes shouldn’t anticipate miracles right here.

Soundboks Rider Review: Conclusion

The Soundboks Rider is a strong, compact occasion speaker that delivers precisely what its title guarantees: it’s straightforward to take with you, can face up to a good quantity of tough on a regular basis use, and will get surprisingly loud for its measurement. In my evaluation, I used to be notably impressed by the mix of rugged IP66 development, lengthy battery life, and the detachable battery.

On the opposite hand, anybody anticipating most sound constancy for quieter, acoustic music, skilled connectivity choices, or options like GroupUp and Auracast will probably be reminded of the Rider’s deliberate limitations in a number of areas and also needs to remember that a charger isn’t included. However, for anybody primarily on the lookout for a dependable, great-sounding companion for spontaneous outings on the go, the Rider stays, in my expertise, one of the vital compelling choices in its class.

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