There are plenty of times when we’re hanging out by (but not in) the truck and we want some tunes, be it at a campsite, wrenching in the driveway, or tailgating at a concert… Enter the GoalZero Rock Out 2 portable speaker which we recently had a chance to try out.
Before we talk GoalZero – let me remind you why you don’t want to be using your truck’s stereo for music around your campsite/tailgate:
- Your truck’s speakers are designed for your enjoyment INSIDE the vehicle – the sound usually will suck outside
- It is a very power-inefficient way to listen to music, if you’re inattentive, you can drain your starting battery!
So, on to the Rock Out 2, which, as evidenced by the “2” is a revised version of GoalZero’s original Rock Out. In a pretty crowded market for portable speakers, there’s a few things that make GoalZero’s offering stand out:
- Designed for active outdoor use – the speaker comes in a tough, padded zipper case and is designed so that you can store your phone within the protected case – out of harms way.
- Convenience and Versatility – The case itself has exterior audio controls as well as webbing and connection points for creatively mounting the Rock Out 2 where you want (bike handlebars, side of roofrack, tent awning, etc.)
- Battery Life – It can play for over 20 hours with its internal Li-ion battery and doesn’t pull power from your phone. Fully recharges from a USB in 2 hours.
- Compatibility – You can also recharge the Rock Out 2 from GoalZero solar systems, and can chain multiple Rock Outs together to amplify the sound (disturb the peace).
So, what’s my take? I’ve played all kinds of music, from instrumental Bluegrass to Rock to Top-40, and everything sounds acceptable to me and gets to a volume loud enough to work in outdoor spaces up to 20-30 feet away from the speaker (which I think is “good” considering the $49.99 price tag). I also appreciate the rugged case and durability and I believe it’ll hold up.
I only have one gripe: bluetooth connection ability, why isn’t it built in? The only way to connect your phone is via the audio jack, which is a pain in the butt if you’re running a Lifeproof phone case (like many outdoorsy folks do) and have to remove the case to plug the phone into the audio jack. Because of the audio jack connection, your phone is tethered to within ~8” of the speaker while music is playing. I’d rather connect via bluetooth and be able to “roam” within 10-20 feet of the speaker with my phone.
Overall, I’m a fan and the Rock Out 2 fills a good gear niche for me, but I’m hoping to see a Rock Out 3 in the near future with Bluetooth!
You must be logged in to post a comment.