The Lodge Solar Speaker 4 Series 2 is a portable, solar-powered speaker designed with outdoor use in mind. Its IP66 rating means it will withstand the elements, it comes with a stake so you can perch it above your lawn, and it'll recharge via its built-in solar panels or its USB-C port. Featuring Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity and LodgeLink (a proprietary wireless system that allows multiple units to sync without cables), the speaker is clearly making a bid to be your garden party or camping trip's best friend.
Our Verdict
The Lodge Solar Speaker 4 Series 2 is disappointing for music. Even though it's not a tiny device, it doesn't output much bass at all, so kick drums are robbed of thump, and basslines lack punch. The mid-range does an alright job representing instruments, but it's fairly uneven, so sounds like acoustic guitars can be rendered thin or honky depending on the notes being played. The treble range is also uncontrolled, meaning cymbals can sound a touch dull or sharp depending on their pitch. The speaker also downmixes stereo content to mono, so details like reverb tails are fairly quiet in the mix. On the plus side, the speaker doesn't compress your audio much at max volume.
80-hour battery life.
Disappointing bass output, given its size.
Downmixes stereo content to mono.
The Lodge Solar Speaker 4 Series 2 is poor for watching videos and movies. It lacks bass, so sound effects like explosions don't feel very immersive, and it downmixes your audio to mono, so orchestral scores lack immersive depth. On the plus side, if you do turn the speaker up, it won't compress your audio much at max volume. But perhaps more importantly, the speaker has high latency when connected to both Android and iOS devices, so you might notice lip-sync issues. That said, different apps and devices compensate for latency in different ways.
80-hour battery life.
Disappointing bass output, given its size.
Downmixes stereo content to mono.
The Lodge Solar Speaker 4 Series 2 is decent for listening to podcasts. The mid-range is balanced enough to reproduce voices accurately, though they might sound a little honky depending on the pitch of the speaker. The built-in handle makes the speaker easy to carry with you from room to room, but since it uses front-facing drivers, you'll want to make sure you're not positioned behind it if you want the best sound.
80-hour battery life.
Built-in handle makes it easy to carry.
Disappointing bass output, given its size.
Downmixes stereo content to mono.
The Lodge Solar Speaker 4 Series 2 doesn't have a built-in microphone.
The Lodge Solar Speaker 4 Series 2 is okay for outdoor use. It's obviously built for this use, as it comes with built-in solar panels and lasts a whopping 80 hours off a single charge, which is more than enough for a weekend camping trip. With an IP66 rating, it'll withstand both a downpour of rain and a dusty wind. Its built-in handle makes it easy to carry, and it feels tough enough to take on a camping trip, but we did notice a disappointing level of fit and finish (such as leftover pieces of glue), which makes us doubt the overall build quality. Soundwise, this speaker doesn't really produce enough bass to get a dance party started, but it'll be fine if you prefer acoustic music or spoken word content. Unfortunately, it downmixes your audio to mono, although you can pair it with another unit for stereo playback.
80-hour battery life.
Built-in handle makes it easy to carry.
Disappointing bass output, given its size.
Downmixes stereo content to mono.
Check Price
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Lodge Solar Speaker 4 Series 2 is available in one variant: 'Black'. This is the label of the unit we purchased.
If you encounter any other variants of this speaker, let us know in the comments, and we'll update the review.
Popular Speaker Comparisons
The Lodge Speaker 4 Series 2 is a solar-powered, portable speaker with an 80-hour battery life. Of the speakers we've tested, the only other one with solar-powered charging is the Alpine Corporation Solar Bluetooth Rock Speaker. The Alpine is much cheaper, though the Lodge is the better speaker overall. If you're not wedded to solar power and are just looking for a good outdoor speaker, we suggest checking out a couple of alternatives. First, the Ultimate Ears EPICBOOM is smaller, lighter, and cheaper than the Lodge, but it puts out a bit more bass and plays back audio in stereo. Second is the JBL Boombox 3. The JBL is a little more expensive than the Lodge and is twice the weight, but it offers stereo playback and enough bass to actually feel the thump of a kick drum when you turn the volume up.
Check out our recommendations for the best portable Bluetooth speakers, the best outdoor speakers, and the loudest Bluetooth speakers.
The Lodge Solar Speaker 4 Series 2 is a better solar-powered speaker than the Alpine Corporation Solar Bluetooth Rock Speaker, though it's many multiples more expensive. The Lodge is more portable, offers a more balanced frequency response that more accurately reproduces voices and instruments, and lasts four times as long as the Alpine. Still, the Alpine's 22-hour battery life is more than enough for a day at the park and might even make it through a weekend camping trip. If you don't have the cash for the Lodge, it's worth considering.
The JBL Boombox 3 is a better speaker than the Lodge Solar Speaker 4 Series 2, unless solar power is important to you. The JBL gets louder with less compression and also puts out much more bass, which will help to get those BBQ dance parties started. It also doesn't downmix your audio to mono.
That said, the Lodge's 80-hour battery life far surpasses the JBL's 30 hours, and the solar panels mean you can recharge it without a nearby power source. It's also half the weight of the JBL, making it a bit easier to carry around.
For most people looking for a portable, outdoor speaker, the Ultimate Ears EPICBOOM is a better pick than the Lodge Solar Speaker 4 Series 2. The Ultimate Ears is smaller, easier to transport, and a bit cheaper, although its 15-hour battery life can't match the Lodge's 80 hours. Still, the Ultimate Ears doesn't downmix stereo audio to mono, and it also puts out more high-bass, making basslines feel a bit fuller. It's not solar-powered, though, so if that's what you're looking for, the Lodge is the obvious choice.
Unless you're only in the market for solar-powered speakers, the Bose SoundLink Max is a better speaker for most people than the Lodge Solar Speaker 4 Series 2. The speakers have similar frequency responses, but the Bose manages to put out a touch more bass than the Lodge in a package that's half the volume. The Bose also gets louder and doesn't downmix your stereo audio to mono. Still, the Lodge's 80-hour battery life might see you through a whole week of camping fireplace hangs where the Bose's 15 hours would do well to last a weekend. The Lodge's solar panels also mean you can recharge it as you go.
Test Results
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