I was checking up on availability for the new Dewalt DWST08820 ToughSystem 2.0 Bluetooth radio/charger, and came across a sponsored store placement for Home Depot, with a 3/5 star rating.
I thought the rating was odd, and clicked-through to take a look, thinking that maybe Home Depot mixed in reviews for other related products, which happens more than you might think.
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Looking at the most recent reviews, there’s a ton of negativity.
See Also: The BEST Jobsite Radio and Bluetooth Speaker: Dewalt Tstak vs. Milwaukee Packout
Some of the complaints are unique, but there are a lot of somewhat like-themed complaints about subwoofer defects or failures. Here’s some of what recent user reviews are complaining about:
within 10 minutes I would say of playing music the subwoofer stops working it has a burnt smell
The base speaker has quit already and I don’t play it load ether
Cant put your phone close to the display or it makes it go crazy.
The radio pops and jumps between stations
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I bought this radio and within 4 hours the speakers blew out so i exchanged it for a new one and again within 2 days the speakers blew
Put it into service about 9:30 am and by 10 the speakers sound like they’re blown and the BT keeps disconnecting
Cuts out all the time the woofer pops and sound quality is not as good as the original
Ive purchased 3 units and all didn’t last a week woofer blew and never turned it past mid volume
Haven’t had it 2 weeks and already one speaker sounds blown
Love the sound of it but every once in a while it’ll making a popping noise and then at least once a day it’ll just stop playing sound but the radio Is still on?!
The speaker blew out on the first use.
first use and woofer went bad.
finally get it and messed up 3rd day and radio signal is horrible. But the BT range is awesome but speakers blew 1st week
My wife had bought me one as a Christmas present and after about a week of usage on the job the sub-woofer seemed to be blown
Cuts in and out and no volume when its on
Also, it would make a loud “popping” noise every couple minutes which was really annoying. And finally, the bass would randomly drop out so it sounded like I was listening to my phone.
Was playing radio when all of a sudden we are hearing crackling sounds from the sub. Then the bass went completely out.
I also had the issue of the speaker blowing up and making loud, glitchy noises after purchasing 6 weeks ago.
Can I give it a negative review? Absolute junk. I have now been through 3 in less than 2 weeks. Randomly shuts off and two of them the woofer either blew or came loose.
User reviews on Dewalt’s website are pretty similar, and there’s also one user complaining about compatibility issues with existing ToughSystem products.
It’s possible that the user reviews are indicative of widespread issues or problems with this new model Dewalt ToughSystem Bluetooth radio/charger, or perhaps there’s just a small group of products that shipped with defective speakers or components.
Tool Nut is reporting that the music player is temporarily out of stock, and Acme Tools has an April 1st, 2020 shipping ETA. Home Depot still seems to have some in warehouses for shipping.
Buy Now via Home Depot
Buy Now via Acme Tools
Buy Now via Tool Nut
I have tested Dewalt’s 1st-gen ToughSystem Music player and their follow-up TStak Bluetooth radio/charger, and both seemed to be well-designed and well-made. The TStak player has been a wonderful performer.
Compare: Dewalt Tstak Radio via Acme Tools
I’m sure that Dewalt will sort things out. If there’s an issue with the speakers, other components, production, or design, they’ll definitely want to get things resolved before Father’s Day. Whatever the root issue might be, it should be fixable.
We reached out to Dewalt for comment, and will report back if we learn anything.
User reviews of the new Milwaukee Packout Bluetooth radio/charger seem to be off to a much better start. Home Depot has logged 59 reviews so far, with a 4.6 out of 5 rating.
Compare: Milwaukee Packout Radio via Tool Nut
Compare: Milwaukee Packout Radio via Acme Tools
Compare: Milwaukee Packout Radio via Home Depot
Ken
My original ToughSystem radio is still working great after lots of use for several years. I bought it the first day it showed up at Home Depot. Bummer that the new one has problems. I had been thinking about buying another one to leave in my race trailer.
Kirk
Dewalt or atleast depot discontinued it
Nathan
I have to say I know of nobody that uses those things.
200+ dollars there are better ways to get jobsite music setup. I see more and more people using headphone devices anyway. Which I do have some heartburn over with safety but minor.
David Boyce
I use one and have used since it was released, its always handled with zero care and spends a lot of its time flying about in the back of van. Still works and sounds great
David Boyce
PlaneGrain
I think HD has $30 off the packout. Not 100 percent sure, check the HD website yourself.
Stuart
Maybe, but their price is $30 higher than at other dealers right now.
Mr Weedley
HD has a 150.00 off 499.00 milwaukee purchase. packout rings up at 215.00 with vacuum and oscillating tool in my cart
Brian A
Pretty sure its a price increase and all retailers will have it soon for $329
evadman
I am still using my dewalt dc011 (18v pod batter charger), the first revision I believe. It annoyed me to no end that the radio was not battery powered, it just was a radio with a 18v charger on it. It has survived several very high drops (including off a roof), so i’m happy with the durability. 99% of the time, I’m playing music via my phone on the aux-in.
I keep meaning to get a new toughsystem one, I was hoping the 1.0 version would drop in price after the 2.0 version came out, but no luck so far. It’s very expensive for what you get, and comparing to my use cases.
Koko The Talking Ape
DeWalt might get the issues ironed out, but I have to say, that is an amazingly bad failure rate, and in more than one area. How did that happen?
Cr8on
Sounds like they need a different speaker supplier
Koko The Talking Ape
Maybe electronics and assembly too.
Chris I
Foreign made garbage. What else is new.
Thom
I’m surprised. My versastack radio, very similar to the ToughSystem 2.0 has been flawless so far.
PlaneGrain
Perhaps the Corona virus disrupted dewalt production, or caused some repair radios. Shipped by mistake. They claim Corona virus cousins SARS & Mers only survive on surfaces a few hours. The Corona virus is newer, so their not sure if that virus lasts longer on exported goods. According to a article I just read.
Stuart
These units were produced and shipped months ago. The bulk of January and February reviews usually stem from holiday season sales.
Chris I
WTF?
Jim Felt
I’ve had the Bosch 18V PB360C Job site Radio for, according to Amazon, just now for three years.
And have used it daily sometimes for weeks on end.
Never an issue. The Bluetooth always connects and in large areas we typically play it loud.
I’ve twice used it for 6-8 hrs. at pool parties with zero issues as well.
What’s so hard about a dumb boom box we’d have to ask DeWalt?
Johnny4
7 years abusive relationship with mine, pre Bluetooth model. Still perfect.
Mike
I have this radio amd sounds great better than my Bose radio
Sal Colon
I also have this radio. I bought it last year during Black Friday. The sound is awesome. I heard the Milwaukee at HD and I think the DeWalt sounds better. However, I have noticed that when I put my phone inside the charger bay, the Bluetooth starts to act wonky. It will disconnect, and the surface/screen buttons start to flicker sporadically. If I pull the phone away, it will reconnect but it does something to the app on the phone (Google Music Player) where the tracks I choose won’t play. I have to pick a song before it so it can play the one I want. Force closing the app brings it back to normal. Weird.
Bob
This is not good. If the new ones are a flop I’m not going to get a 1.0 version for under $100 now. Anything higer than $100 and I can’t/won’t justify it.
Guess I will stick with my circa 1986 boom box for a while longer.
ca
I guess I’m lucky this isn’t available to purchase apparently anywhere in Canada.
Floor Guy
Very disappointed. I ordered this Dewalt ToughSystem 2.0 radio online from Home Depot and it came broken/defective. Only 2 of the 4 speakers worked. I already own 2 of the 1.0 models and I’m very satified with them. So I thought this new model would have the same toughness and quality. Guess I was wrong. What a let down. Good luck to anyone else that purchases this product.
PlaneGrain
So do you take your damaged radio to an authorized service center? Repaired for free?
Floor Guy
I returned it immediately back to HD
PlaneGrain
YouTube reviews seem to show both radios have super sound, when they work right. So you probably can’t go wrong with either radio. Most pointed out con on both radios? The weight!The M-12 radio might work better for me. Certainly lighter to carry, and lighter on the wallet.
PlaneGrain
The M-12 version is about 8-10 years old. Just a basic radio.
FC
I just purchased one of these 2.0 radios and so far no issues and it’s pretty sweet. I read the poor reviews and was hesitant but figured if it is crap I’d just return it. Video reviews seem solid so the opinions are conflicting. I was wondering if DeWalt was being trolled.
Cody
I am one of those that was super excited about the 2.0 radio. Unfortunately the bad reviews are true. My first one the subwoofer blew, then returned for another one thinking it was a fluke..The second one would bounce all over the place even with the volume at 1/2 way and bass almost all the way down an eventually blew also. My guess is the DSP is over driving the sub woofer.
PlaneGrain
It certainly looks like something is going on with the Dewalt radio. Thanks for your info.
Drew
I have the DCR025 Dewalt radio and it is awesome. Doesn’t work with tough system, but the Bluetooth works over the whole job site. The radio gets very loud without sounding distorted, usually I only use about half the volume capability. I love the compartment for storing my phone while it’s charging, and it charges 20v/60v dewalt batteries fairly quickly. Also unlike the “Tough System” it is actually very tough, I’ve had mine since last summer and it has been dropped and rattled around in the tool box with other cases and still works like a champ.
Todd
Does the new one still have the same crappy cord?
Adam McClurg
I have a 1st and 2nd series of this radio. I prefer the older one. The subs are blown on the newer one. I blamed my employees but perhaps I was wrong. They never injured the older one. The advantage of the newer one is it will charge 60v batteries and the Bluetooth has better range.
Marty Austin
I have both the tstak radio and the new 2.0 TS radio which I bought thanksgiving at HD.
No problems with either one and I drive both really hard. The 2.0 does thump harder on the Bass and sounds a bit louder and clearer when cranked than the Tstak.
So far so good. Maybe there was a bad batch?
Dan
I bought the new TSTAK radio and I am now on my third radio in about 9 months. Every single one has had the exact same issues from day one: constantly dropping Bluetooth.
If I turn it on and start streaming music immediately, it stays connected, but as soon as I pause the music it drops the connection and then will constantly connect for half a second, then drop again forever until I turn it off and back on again.
All three radios have done this which is ridiculous for the price they are. I finally got tired of driving to the DeWalt service center to get new radios so I just bought the new Milwaukee packout. Never been happier.
Albert Rivas
DEWALT needs to come out and say something about this radio/ charger. Obviously their are numerous issues. I like the design but, the quality is not up to par with the original 1.0. I purchased the 2.0 hoping to not have any problems. I purposely lowered the bass after the initial setup because of all the reviews and right out of the box blown sub. When ICON tools had issues with their ratchets at least they owned up to it. DEWALT has been silenced on this and it’s frustrating. I’m waiting on the 2nd radio if it does the same thing, I will purchase the Packout Radio. In all fairness, all my other DEWALT tools have been great.
Joe
Any update from DeWalt here?
Stuart
I’ll ask.
The last I heard was that they are “looking into these reviews but don’t currently have additional information.”
Kirk
Discontinued
https://www.homedepot.com/p/DEWALT-ToughSystem-2-0-Bluetooth-Radio-Charger-DWST08820/310114470
Tommy Crump
I’ve had one of every radio dewalt has made we use them on the job sites every day. The new tough system is a piece of junk. Had 2 within a month and speakers blow out and pop. VERY Disappointed in this product. Dewalt should refund everyone’s money. Do not buy this radio
tere
i bought one for my husband back in November. i have exchanged it 3 times becasue the sub woufer does not work. i bout the last one at Homedepo and it does not work. i tryied getting my money back because this thing is $200+ and it doesnt work, and they say they cant do anything because they dont sell in store. i bought it in that homedepo
Kirk
Dewalt or atleast depot discontinued it
Goat
Purchased the Dewalt Toughsystem 2.0 just before Christmas and it lasted two months! It’s now been in for repairs since February. They’ve now had it longer then I was able to use it. Couldn’t get ahold of anybody for weeks. Now they claim it had the 1.0 motherboard in all of them and they have no idea how long it will be to replace the unit! Claiming 8-12 weeks to get my money back if I go through their 3-5 week process. Won’t be purchasing Dewalt again. Shame on them. And I’m still waiting! Was great while it worked,
Hoser
Anybody heard any updates on this thing?
Stuart
Nothing yet.
Hoser
Thanks Stuart.
Lindsay
It’s been discontinued-
https://www.dewalt.com/product-repository/products-dewalt/2019/11/06/10/35/dwst08820
Hoser
Thanks Lindsay, but it was actually discontinued a year and a half ago. More precisely, I meant any news on the updated 2.0 to replace the problem plagued version 1.
Sirkensirlot
Took mine to my local dealer for repair last week was told cant get the parts and I would be given a replacement in May 2022. as that’s the release date of the 2.0. lucky i still have my old bosch radio