The 360-degree sound output of this radio is ideal for the workplace as not only you, but all of your colleagues will get to enjoy the soothing sound of music, being more productive as a result of a friendly work environment. It provides a total of 30 AM/FM presets to choose from, and as it can be connected to your smart device, you can even stream the exact songs you want directly on it. When the battery is full, it provides up to 8 hours of continuous music listening, which is exactly the amount you need to have an entire work day covered. Furthermore, it features 4-way speakers and a subwoofer that help output quality, crisp sound regardless of your position as opposed to it.
Design
It measures 13.5 inches in height, 13.5 inches in width, and 13.5 inches in depth, so it won’t be hard for you to find a place for it in your work environment. As it weighs only 24 pounds, changing its placement when you move won’t be a difficult task either. It is powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, and due to the fact that it is a hybrid model, you can either use it as a corded or a cordless device, depending on your specific needs at that moment. It comes with an aluminum and rubber roll cage that ensures it won’t receive any damage when dropped as it acts like a damper.
Technology
Obviously, the technology we are referring to is Bluetooth, its connectivity enabling you to stream music on it directly from your smartphone or tablet. As the range of the transmission is wide, more precisely 150 feet, you can walk around freely without worrying that the connection between the devices will be interrupted. This quality-enhancing technology adds to the device’s versatility, making it a worthwhile purchase to go for.
Mention Worthy Features and Specs
- Boasts an IP54 rating against moisture and dust that makes it ideal for harsh working environments.
- Separate bass and treble controls enable you to customize the sound output as you please.
- Illuminated LCD display makes the settings visible even in poor light conditions.
Warranty
If there is one thing we weren’t mad about when reviewing this product, it’s definitely the 1-year warranty that backs it. While the agreement is decent enough to have you covered for a sufficient amount of time when it comes to defective parts and faulty workmanship, the warranties provided for other top products on this market vastly surpass it.
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CONS
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- Four-way power outlets
- AM/FM radio with 30 total presets
- Digital media bay
- Digital media bay
- 1-year warranty
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- Not the longest warranty provided for it
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| VERDICT
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As its Bluetooth transmission range is of approximately 150 feet, this Bosch entry is the perfect buddy for those who work better when they listen to music. With it, you enjoy up to 8 hours of continuous music listening each day before recharging is needed, and the weather-proof design ensures that regardless of the conditions, you can use it. Boasting these wonderful traits and so much more, it is our top recommendation for you.
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Another hybrid model worth taking into consideration is the DCR015 from DeWalt. Being one of the biggest and most renowned manufacturers out there, DeWalt never fails customers when it comes to product durability and enhanced performance. Either plug it in or use it as a cordless unit, but never forget to leave for work without this music listening device. Its portability and the weather and dust resistant design make it the ideal solution for people who work in harsh conditions.
To power it, you must use a lithium-ion battery, that will take only 90 minutes to fully charge and provide an impressive 8 hours of continuous use. Unfortunately, it does not feature the useful Bluetooth technology, so you won’t be able to stream music from your smart device. However, you shouldn’t let this small flaw change your opinion of the music listening device as it provides clear, quality audio that is sure to make your workday better. Before we list some of the product’s highlights, know that it features a backlit LCD display that makes it easy to use even in low light conditions.
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CONS
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- Two power outlets
- AM/FM radio with 15 combined presets
- Charging light bar
- Pivot cord antenna
- 3-year warranty
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- Lacks Bluetooth connectivity feature
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| VERDICT
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Although it lacks Bluetooth, the design, portability, resistance, and audio output make it great for construction sites and other unfriendly work environments. It takes only an hour and a half for it to recharge, and on a full battery, it provides music throughout the entire day. Furthermore, it is intuitive and easy to use due to the modern LCD display it features.
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As aforementioned, DeWalt is one of the most important manufacturers out there. Thus, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that there is another entry from this brand in our top. The DC012 is capable of charging a 7.2V or 18V DeWalt battery is only 1 hour, and it can continuously run for 8 hours. Therefore, you’ll be able to listen to your favorite music and create a pleasant working environment where you’ll be more productive than ever as the device will entertain you.
The backlit LCD display that it features makes it possible for you to use it with ease even in poor lighting conditions. Additionally, it displays the clock on the display so that you know exactly how much time is left until you can go home from work. It features a 3-stage charging system that helps prolong the lifespan of the battery and enhances its runtime as well. Additionally, it comes with an 11-inch dual pivoting antenna that provides enhanced durability and top-notch reception. Of course, we can’t overlook the water and dust resisting design that makes it ideal for such harsh work environments.
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CONS
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- Three power outlets
- AM/FM radio with 15 total presets
- iPod charging dock
- Bass boost capability
- 3-year warranty
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- Price is a bit higher than industry average
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| VERDICT
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It might cost you a bit more to purchase the DC012, but considering that it is made by one of the leading manufacturers on the market and that it is accompanied by numerous useful features, including Bluetooth, we recommend you spend the extra cash and purchase it.
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The cordless design of the XRM04B makes it the perfect companion on the job site. This world-class product allows you to listen to your favorite relaxing music while working so that you’ll perform better and you’ll feel like time is flying by. Powered by lithium-ion batteries, it charges the batteries in only 1-2 hours, and it delivers an amazing 20-hour continuous runtime in case you power it with 18V LXT Li-ion battery. It features a pivoting cord antenna that enhances its reception.
Of course, the most impressive highlight of this product, by far, is the Bluetooth connectivity that it boasts. Additionally, considering the fact that the transmission range is approximately 30 feet, you will be able to stream stations from the internet or listen to the music that you have stored on your smartphone without having to be in its immediate proximity at all times. For enhanced convenience in use, it also features a backlit LCD display and illuminated button controls. Additionally, the dial control that it comes with allows you to turn the volume up or down or shuffle through songs with ease.
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CONS
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- Highly portable cordless design
- Short 1-hour battery charge time
- Delivers up to 20 hours of runtime
- Pivot cord antenna
- 3-year warranty
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- Bulky profile when compared to other models
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| VERDICT
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With Bluetooth compatibility and a magnificent transmission range of up to 30 feet, this Makita entry is the right companion for job sites where people want to unwind when they are working. It is reasonably priced and it features a strong casing which ensures knock-overs or kicks won’t damage it, being the ideal budget option to go for.
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Safety is your highest concern when working in construction, so there’s no need to explain why DeWalt focused on safety the most when designing the DCR018. The storage box that the device comes with protects it from damage in case it accidentally falls off a high surface, and it doesn’t allow debris to enter interior pieces, causing any type of malfunction to occur. This heavy-duty design and the roll cage it is surrounded by increases its durability, so there’s no need to worry that the investment might be harmed in any way.
The hybrid model takes 1 hour to fully charge batteries, and it delivers up to 8 hours of continuous runtime. You can use lithium-ion or nickel-cadmium batteries to power the music-listening device. It comes with a built-in clock that tells you how much time is left until the end of the workday. Unfortunately, there is a downside to this product, more precisely the fact that it doesn’t offer Bluetooth connectivity. But overall, this is a great purchase to make, and we hope that the following highlights will convince you and make you forget about the few flaws that the product does have.
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CONS
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- MP3/WMA media compatibility
- AM/FM radio with 5 total presets
- Pivot cord antenna
- Cord wrap allows neat cord organization
- 3-year warranty
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- Lacks Bluetooth technology
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| VERDICT
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Despite the lack of Bluetooth, we still recommend you give the DCR018 a chance as it exceeds expectations, especially considering the small asking price it boasts. Providing up to 8 continuous hours of music listening and allowing you to charge power tool batteries with it, there are no limitations to its usefulness.
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You have to make the time fly faster when you are at work, and what better way to do it than listening to your favorite music. Reasonably priced and delivering a rich and clean music listening experience, the XRM08B makes for a perfect addition to a noisy jobsite. In terms of convenience, it is hard to top as it features an auxiliary port for MP3 connections, and a USB port that allows you to charge your mobile devices with it.
It is equipped with Bluetooth, which means that you can even connect it to your phone to directly stream music off of it. The control panel makes it one of the more user-friendly selections out there, which is good news considering that you need to focus on the actual work you have to perform, not on other surrounding elements. When the 18V lithium-ion battery is fully charged, it provides approximately 32 hours of continuous operation in auxiliary mode. Furthermore, it is backed with a 3-year warranty on parts and workmanship.
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CONS
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- Features Bluetooth connectivity, thus providing a convenient manner to connect to your mobile devices
- Presence of USB port enables you to charge mobile device with its help
- One of the more reasonably priced entries on the market
- On a full charge, it provides up to 32 hours of operation in the auxiliary mode
- Woofer delivers clean low sounds, while tweeter provides clean high sounds
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- Doesn’t provide the best noise output out of the entries on this market
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| VERDICT
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Although it isn’t the loudest model out there, the rich and clean music listening experience it delivers makes it a viable option to go for. Taking into account the fact that it is quite reasonably priced as well, it would be a shame to skip on this option.
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Ratings – How We Ranked the Products
There are a few rating elements that we took into consideration to rank these products, and in this section of the article, we will list them and explain their importance. Knowing what determined us to create
the ranking system presented in the comparison matrix above will help you understand what makes these job site stations of a superior quality. Also, you will get more familiarized with what is important to look for when you go shopping.
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Weather and Dust Resistance
Seeing how these devices are intended to be used in harsh working environments, providing entertainment for people while they are performing their jobs, we had to make sure that all of the products in our top are weather and dust resistant. Their resistance, when confronted with improper conditions, makes them reliable and ensures the fact that your purchase will be enjoyed for a long time.
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Time is of the essence when you are at work, we know that. For this precise reason, we only selected models that have a rapid battery charge time. Of course, one model reigns over the others from this point of view, more precisely the DeWalt DC012 that charges the battery completely in only 1 hour.
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Another important element that affected the ranking system was battery life as it shows how long it can provide relaxing music before battery power depletes and requires recharging. The longest battery life, by far, is boasted by the Makita XRM04B. Although it takes approximately 1-2 hours to fully charge the battery, when it comes to continuous runtime, it offers an impressive 20 hours.
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Bluetooth Connectivity and Transmission Range
If it features Bluetooth connectivity, it allows you to steam stations off the internet and listen to the music stored in your smartphone. Thus, it is easy to see why this was an important rating element as it makes the device more convenient to use. The Bosch PB360S and the Makita XRM04B are the two models that feature Bluetooth connectivity and that we gave more points to when it came to functionality and versatility in use. Obviously, the Bosch PB360S received a higher rating as it offers a more generous transmission range, more precisely 150 feet.
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Undoubtedly, the most important feature that a work site radio can come with is the capability to charge power tool batteries. Except for the DeWalt DCR018, all the models that we have ranked as being the best on this market can charge the batteries that your power tools require to work. Thus, you will not have to carry additional charges with you when you go to work as you will be able to recharge depleted batteries of essential tools with its help.
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Even if you love your job and the music that plays on the radio makes the time spent at work more pleasurable, you still feel the need to check what time it is. To make it more convenient for you to be up to date with what hour it is and how much time you have left until you go home, all of the products listed in our top come with a built-in clock. On the display, you can rapidly check time and move on with your work without having to get your phone out or ask someone else.
Do you work in constructions or spend a lot of time on DIY projects that keep you in a messy environment? Do you feel the need to relax and unwind to better focus on the projects that you are taking up? This is where the job site station comes in to save the day, giving you the chance to listen to your favorite songs when working so that you will finish faster, be more relaxed, and create a better quality working environment for yourself.
Wondering what makes it different from normal ones? Well, the difference lays in the design of the devices, actually. In wood shops, auto shops, or construction sites, the environment is too harsh for traditional units as there is a lot of dust in the air and other environmental issues can appear. Job site models are specially designed to resist these harsh conditions as they generally feature protective designs that make them weather and dust resistant, or special roll cages that prevent real damage from occurring when objects fall on them or when they are dropped from high surfaces.
Some even buy these specialty stations due to the fact that they can charge power tool batteries as well, thus proving to be real lifesavers in situations when you forget to charge the batteries yourself and you really need specific tools to finish the project that you are working on. Therefore, depending on the purchase that you make, it can play a more important role than simply entertaining you during a tiring day of work.
Although it is normal for one model to differ from another, we will give you some general instructions that usually apply to job site stations and that you must follow to ensure proper use of the device. Of course, it is best for you to check the user manual that comes with the device to make sure that you follow all steps in it, thus preventing improper use that might end up voiding the warranty.
- Storing stations as preset: In the comparison table at the beginning of the article, you have probably noticed that there is a number of preset stations that the devices come with. To put your favorite station among this preset list, you have to turn on the device, tune in to the station that interests you, press and hold on the preset button where you want the station to remain stored, and when the number appears on the display, you can stop as it means that the station has been saved.
- Using the AC power adaptor: To use the AC power adaptor, you must insert the adaptor plug into the DC socket. Afterward, plug the adaptor in a socket outlet that has the appropriate voltage. Do not worry about removing the batteries if you have a hybrid model as the power mode is automatically switched when turning to AC power, the battery operational mode being disengaged.
- Setting the clock: All of the products in our top feature a built-in clock that displays what time it is on the display. To set the clock in case it has not been displaying the right hour for whatever reason, you must turn it on, and press on the time set button for a few seconds. Stop when the flash time set symbol appears and rotate the dial control or push control buttons to set the right hour. Press the time set button again and repeat the procedure to set the minutes. When you’re done, press the time set button one last time to save the desired setting.
- Display illumination: If you want to change the illumination setting of the radio’s display, you must first turn it on, and press any button or rotate the volume/tuning dial control. With most models on the market, this action results in the display being illuminated for approximately 15 seconds. Also, know that the display will automatically illuminate whenever you’re scanning stations or changing settings.
Guidelines for Clueless Shoppers
Has the functionality convinced you to make the purchase? Considering the fact that these music listening devices come at rather high prices when compared to traditional radios, it is important to know what you must look for before you hit the stores or go online, spending the money on a product that you will actually enjoy using..
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Of course, considering the fact that the work environment is not a friendly one in the sense that there is a lot of dust, you have to first pay attention to the design of the device. Purchase a model that is weather and dust proof and that will not be damaged by the typical conditions in your workplace. Also, you should consider buying one like the DeWalt DCR015 that features a protective roll cage. The role of the cage is to prevent any damage to it when it is accidentally dropped off a tall surface. As you are working, it is very likely that you will accidentally knock the unit off the table or surface that it is lying on, so this is a design element worth checking out.
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Another important element that you must pay attention to is the device’s portability. You will likely move it from one location to another as you will walk around the workplace, so you need a light and compact device that is not hard to move. The portability aspect is important as it ensures you will not have a hard time carrying it from home to work and vice versa every day as well in case that is what you plan on doing.
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It must be easy to use as you do not have time to waste on an intricate device when you are working. Therefore, make sure that the controls are easy to understand and use. Also, it is preferable to go with a model like the Makita XRM04B that features illuminated controls as you will be able to see what buttons you are pushing even in poor lighting conditions.
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An illuminated display is necessary as it allows you to see what song is playing, volume settings, the clock, and other elements that are on the display with ease. If you happen to work in an environment where there are poor lighting conditions, it is practically essential for it to come with this feature.
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If it features special compartments where you can store items like your phone, for example, it is a plus as you will have a convenient storage for valuables that you cannot afford to carry with you when working as you might accidentally damage them. This is not one of the most important features that it can come with, but it is a feature worth taking into consideration as it makes your life easier.
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Equalization represents the ability to change bass or treble levels. For a job site model, this is an important feature as it allows you to listen to your favorite music exactly as you like, making your work environment and experience more pleasant as convenient conditions are created.
Making your day at work as pleasurable as possible has to be one of your main goals as you are more productive when you have a positive attitude, meaning that the quality of your work is better. For those working in messy environment, especially for those who work in construction, listening to music can be quite the luxury as the messy workspace and the loud tools do not really create a proper habitat for radios and other music listening devices. However, job site models, with their special highly-resilient design, provide a method of rejoicing while listening to music. The
Bosch PB360S, as you have already concluded on your own by this point, is the most desirable option to go with as it boasts a durable design which makes it resistant to elements like water and dust, and it provides a lengthy 8-hour music listening session on a full battery. Furthermore, as it can be used to charge power tools, it actually serves as an aid at the workplace. The
DeWalt DC012 is another mention worthy model, one that impresses as it only takes 1 hour for its battery to charge, a point after which it provides with up to 8 continuous hours of operation. It might be a rather costly acquisition, but it is one worth making nonetheless as it is backed by a 3-year warranty. In terms of convenient pricing, the
DeWalt DCR018 is your best choice as it comes at an affordable price. Not only this, but it boasts MP3/WMA media compatibility, and it features a roll cage design which increases its durability by making it withstand even impact with the floor, in case it falls.
