A few years ago, there weren’t any Bluetooth-connected jobsite radios. I think Milwaukee’s M18 behemoth was the first. When I wrote about Makita’s then-new jobsite radio in 2013, it had an iPhone dock featuring the outgoing connector style.
Nobody really wants to leave their phone on/in/near their radio or music player, at least not when working tools. Right? I keep mine in my pocket.
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A lot of people still listen to radio stations on their cordless music players, but Bluetooth-transmitted music, podcasts, or internet radio stations have become far more popular. That’s my assumption, I have no data on this, but it seems to be true.
Bluetooth radios are fully-featured music-playing devices, with multiple source options. This new Makita model is a Bluetooth speaker, which is a little less featured, but still packed with some nice bells and whistles.
In addition to Bluetooth connectivity, it also has an auxiliary input port, in case you do want to directly connect an audio source. There’s also a USB charging port and DC adapter in case your battery pack is needed elsewhere.
Makita claims up to 32 hours of runtime in auxiliary node, and 31 hours of runtime with Bluetooth enabled.
In terms of sound, Makita equipped the speaker with two-way speakers featuring a woofer for low sounds and tweeter for high sounds.
There are some surprises as well. The speaker can be powered by Makita slide-style and pod-style Li-ion battery packs, from 10.8V to 18V. In other words, you can use 12V Max or 18V battery packs. The runtime specs are likely for a 6.0Ah 18V battery pack.
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From the description, it seems that the speaker is compatible with Makita’s older 12V Max battery packs as well.
It’s constructed to be water and dust resistant, and with protective bumpers to soften rough handling. From the product photos, there’s also a device bay that’s sized for today’s larger smartphones.
Price: $118
Buy Now(via Amazon)
First Thoughts
This looks to be a nicely featured cordless Bluetooth speaker. I like the multi-size battery compatibility, and that there’s a built-in USB charging port. The aux input is a nice touch as well.
Makita describes this as a Bluetooth speaker, but it seems to me like it’s more of a full-fledged jobsite/robust music player, with only the radio tuner being absent. When I think Bluetooth speaker, I usually consider a much simpler no-frills device.
Assuming the controls are intuitive and the speakers sound great, this looks to be one of the better compact cordless music options out there, at least as far as power tool brands are concerned.
BoltBolter
Looks a little small for a jobsite speaker but then I guess that there’s no telling without something to judge the scale. But if it is bigger I’d like it to have a plug for running it without a battery.
Oh and i was at Home Depot and Ryobi has a oil pulse driver http://www.homedepot.com/p/Ryobi-ONE-18-Volt-1-4-in-Cordless-Quietstrike-Pulse-Driver-P290/206955184
And they refreshed their palm router http://www.homedepot.com/p/Ryobi-ONE-Palm-Router-P600G/206887046
Greg
Pretty impressive little unit! I’ve recently been starting to look into bluetooth speakers, started with the less rugged consumer grade music oriented models like you find at best buy. I rather quickly learned, I’m in over my head.
Is it safe to assume this doesn’t include a battery?
jtr165
I don’t work ‘in the field’, but i’ve yet to find any construction grade bluetooth speakers that were that much better than some of the ‘tough’ rated speakers from more regular brands…
Anker, a brand pretty popular with camping equipment on Amazon, makes a ~20w stereo BT speaker w/ bass ports that is waterproof up to in-ground pool depth, shock proof, dust proof, etc. with a built in 5ah li-ion cell arrangement for like $40. USB charging, and double radio’s for extended range…for like $40. It has the standard bluetooth control layout (this makita has more options, but compatibility can be an issue depending on the app used anyway). The anker does not have radio connectivity, but the way this is worded I don’t know that this makita does either.
Either way…I’ve messed around with construction sound systems and few of them ever impressed me all that much. The sound quality is always an after thought, and how indestructible they are doesn’t outclass some other options as much as I originally thought. I’m still using an older camp/outdoor grade logitech little speaker that has survived everything i’ve mistakenly done to it over several years…It has great sound for its size (can easily noise up our back deck), but device range has always been poor. I’ll probably be ordering that Anker thing soon, as these tool brand speakers haven’t really broken many barriers imo…and cost way more overall.
Louis
My friend has the anker one.
It is not loud.
The quality is not nearly as good.
Played them both for a party the makita one filled the room.
The anker one sounded like a loud cell phone speaker.
jason. w
The first hyperlink about the millwaukee radio takes you to a Makita review.
I’m a big fan of all the brands Bluetooth speakers. Its a great addition to any lineup
Stuart
Whoops, thanks!
Steven
I love bluetooth like alot of other guys….
Is it so difficult to adda a radio tuner?
I have an m12 radio with dewalts bluetooth adapter that lasts about 8hrs of continuous runtime per charge.
Its a great mix of musical options without using cellular data for internet radio/sirius etc etc.
Stuart
With a tuner, you need more circuitry, an antenna, user controls, digital presets, and so forth.
It costs extra.
Makita makes several full-fledged jobsite radios, include a semi-recent Bluetooth model: https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/makita-18v-bluetooth-radio/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
Steve
Why won’t makita make a radio that doubles as a battery charger? i dont care if its not a ‘fast charger’ it just seems dumb if it can accept AC power that it wont charge the battery. they have the connection there, why can’t they slap in a PCB for the charge circuit?
i get that this one seems more compact than the old style, but they definitely had space in the old one.
Steve
– correction to above comment : the old charger took a AC/DC wall wart, so they would just need to add a DC/DC charging PCB, which should be even more compact
Ryan
It’s due to dewalt holding the patent on the charging radio. Bosch and Milwaukee licensed it to include that feature in their radios.
julian
Why does everyone want a radio that charges? I had the Bosch radios and they charged, but when it was charging, the reception was messed up…. Plus – it made for a crappy charger. Who wants to wait 1-2 hours for a charged battery when they make a very good charger that does it in 30-45min?
The beauty of the jobsite radios is they don’t need cords. Just throw in a battery and take it with you wherever you’re at.
After having the Bosch and now have both the Makita and the smaller M12 MIlwaukee, you realize that size is king. Smaller the better that is. I for one would have no interest in having my existing Makita radio any bigger or heavier than it is.
JT
Toolaholic
I have been testing this speaker and Im impressed. Great sound quality, solid build, good price point. The only downfall so far is the bluetooth range is limited, much like Makitas full size jobsite radio. If anyones wondering about scale, its about half as high as their current radio but a little chunkier.