Sometimes you just need to rock. Sure, the peaceful sounds of nature can create a wonderful melody, but when the campfire is burning bright, I don’t mind an electric guitar riff or two. So how are you going to pump up your jams? We all know someone who’s run their car battery dead after a healthy tailgate session (I’ve been that guy, and it sucks), and no one wants to lug around a 1980s ghetto blaster on their shoulder. The real solution to your audio dilemma: a tough as nails speaker that won’t run out of juice until long after you and your crew have burned down the last coals. Enter the Hercules WAE BTP04 Outdoor Speaker, a powerful little unit guaranteed to rock your socks.
Hercules sent me the WAE BTP04 for testing, and I set forth to bring the noise. WAE stands for Wireless Audio Experience. I have more than a few friends who have speaker systems that you simply plug your portable device into and press play. However, dealing with wires can be a pain in the butt, so why not jump into the future? The Hercules WAE is a bluetooth ready device that pairs easily with any music player on the market. I used it mainly with my iPhone, and getting the tunes bumping was as easy as going to my settings, pairing up the devices, and letting my DJ skills take over.
I used the WAE BTP04 Outdoor Speaker in as many scenarios as I could: jamming out while doing yardwork, streaming sporting events, tailgating, and of course while car camping. The audio blasts out clean and crisp with more treble than bass, but an overall good sound. Since it’s a bluetooth device, you will have to deal with the occasional interruption from a text tone or phone call, but that’s to be expected. The unit does come with a single line input that allows you to connect it via a wire, but I found the bluetooth range of 10m to be plenty sufficient. Rocking and rolling around the house was all well and good, but the Hercules WAE really shined in the great outdoors.
“Where is that music coming from?” was the question asked more than once on a recent camping trip in Moab. I had stashed the WAE Outdoor Speaker in the crook of a tree near our fire pit, and was controlling the jams via my phone. It was an impressive show: I kept the music going from before sunset until well into the night. Because the WAE speaker is water and dust resistant, I had no qualms leaving it stashed in the tree overnight. It was rather chilly, but much to my delight the battery wasn’t phased, and the next morning we enjoyed more music as our coffee brewed. I was pleased with the speaker’s performance, though there are a couple issues worth mentioning.
My first beef is the on/off switch. A rubber flap keeps the switch concealed (and keeps the elements out). When set to the “on” position, it seemed that sealing up the rubber flap would often mean accidentally shutting down the speaker. More than once I was perplexed when the jams stopped, only to find this was the issue every time. Also, I wish the volume went just a bit higher. I couldn’t quite shake the house down when I went full hesher mode.
These issues aside, I give the Hercules WAE BTP04 Outdoor Speaker a big thumbs up. If you are looking for a solution to your outdoor music woes, this little speaker is a good solution. If you’re ready to rock, but don’t want to be reaching for your jumper cables after a long night, do yourself a favor and grab the Hercules WAE speaker. Your ears will thank you for it.
The Good: Hercules WAE Outdoor Speaker is tough, super portable, has a long battery life and puts off a decent sound.
The Bad: On/off switch issues, volume doesn’t go to 11.
The Verdict: A solid little wireless speaker unit that won’t get hurt in the outdoors and has enough battery to power an all-night affair.
To get your own, check Hercules out online.
It offers surprisingly good audio performance, and it has nice features, including the built-in battery and light systems, but I am a bit bummed that it can’t be turned up louder, especially for the price.