From WIRED · Harry Rabinowitz · · 2m
Soundboks Rider speaker review
A portable Bluetooth speaker that hits 118 decibels but costs $600 and might be overkill for your next party.
In brief
A portable Bluetooth speaker that hits 118 decibels but costs $600 and might be overkill for your next party. The Soundboks Rider is impressively loud and durable, but most people would be better served by cheaper alternatives unless they need concert-level volume. Originally reported by WIRED.
A speaker that scares you
The Soundboks Rider outputs 118 decibels, roughly as loud as a rock concert. The reviewer was genuinely afraid to turn it to maximum volume without disturbing neighbors.
“I was frankly scared to turn this speaker up to max volume”
Built like a tank
The Rider has a steel grille, rubber corners, and thick plastic cabinet. It survived a drop test so well the reviewer worried more about the speaker damaging stairs than vice versa.
“It's built like a tank”
Swappable battery lasts 35 hours
The Rider charges via USB-C and lets you swap the battery in seconds. This design choice suggests Soundboks expects the speaker to outlive most gadgets.
Awkward to carry alone
The Rider has only one carry grip on one corner, making it unwieldy. The reviewer wished for two handles like the Sony ULT Field 7 offers.
Clear sound at any volume
The Rider sounds great across all volume levels with detailed audio and balanced bass. Its understated design matches its professional, PA-style sound profile.
“it's clear. Across all volume ranges, it sounds great”
App connectivity was finicky
The Soundboks app required multiple pairing attempts and a firmware update forced a complete re-pairing. This felt less premium for a six hundred dollar speaker.
Overkill for most people
At $600, the Rider outperforms competitors like the Sony Tower 5 and JBL PartyBox Club 120. But cheaper options like the $330 JBL PartyBox Encore Essential 2 work fine for typical parties.
“it's a bit niche, especially for $600”
Perfect for big outdoor events
If your parties involve many people and large spaces, the Rider's durability and volume make it worth the investment. For casual backyard gatherings, it's excessive.
Rating: 7 out of 10
The Rider gets very loud with clear sound and excellent durability, but it's expensive and overkill for most buyers. The single carry grip and separate strap cost add to the drawbacks.
What it means
The Soundboks Rider is impressively loud and durable, but most people would be better served by cheaper alternatives unless they need concert-level volume.
