iLive Wireless Tailgate Party Speaker review
The iLive Wireless Tailgate Party Speaker is solidly ok, with a couple of features I actually dig.
I’d like to preface this review with you’re getting me nitpicking on several aspects of this because it looks like something that it is not. I’d also like to point out I get money if you buy this thing, so reviews of solidly average performance tend to not do me any good. This is solidly average. That’s ok.
This is a solidly average speaker and sound quality that is sitting in something that looks so much cooler than it is. The coolest thing I think this brings is it has the ability to play FM radio. Having lugged around a few speakers that looked like this and weighed 30+ pounds, I was hoping for similar performance. Mostly just looks like them.
Let’s talk about the body… it comes with a convenient handle because you might think you need a handle to haul around a large speaker… and as Bluetooth speakers go, it is large. But, I can lift the thing with my pinky. The unit is listed on Amazon as 5.4 pounds. That’s about right, I weighed it at 5.2 but my scale isn’t calibrated. The handle probably is 1/5th of the weight of this unit. I bend over to grab the handle. It’s about right for my 7 and 9 year olds.
The unit can get reasonably loud, but it’s not in danger of shaking the roof. I did a bass test with some tinfoil in front of it and you know, it shook the foil a little but it was nothing particularly stunning. The bass that was coming out sounded like bass, didn’t feel like it. As noted, solidly ok speaker, but no oomph.
The iLive Wireless Tailgate Party Speaker looks good
Going to state I’m not bashing this. Just pointing out a couple of things I discovered.
See those two tweeter spots above the big speaker? it’s just plastic. I pressed a pen and a screw in just to verify that wasn’t two little speakers. See that little vent looking thing in the middle? Solid. As far as I can tell this is one speaker and that’s the main. This is OK, but this isn’t what it looks like. The reflector in the center – not a reflector – I sort of think it was a light at one point in production but either what I’ve got isn’t lighting up due to defect in my unit, or that was abandoned.
This unit is about half the size you’re thinking it is.
Ooooh it’s electric!
Doesn’t seem to play nice with my USB-C GaN chargers – probably not a concern for most but something I noticed. Battery life as stated is 2.5 hours at 100% volume which I honestly think you’re going to stick at to hear it outside. While it does appear you can run a charge while it’s playing, I sort of think for tailgating 2.5-6 hours may be a little short.
In actual use
Took it to a kid’s school event last night as I was the DJ somehow. I ended up turning it off and going with a different speaker, and it wasn’t because it wasn’t loud enough but it was just directing sound in a very limited area. Not sure if it was the environment or what but the noise was only brought to one narrow area.
I’d assume the use case for this is actual tailgate. Pointed at 2-4 people at approximately the same ear height. I mean there this thing shines as… well, average sound.
What the iLive Wireless Tailgate Party Speaker has that others don’t
So I know it sounds like I’m bashing this thing. I really am not. It’s average sound, not much in the bass category, average life, decent Bluetooth range, has USB and SD card slots you will never ever use. What it brings that very few others do is a microphone input, line in, and FM radio and tuner.
You want to listen to the game and not waste your phone’s battery streaming? This is your 5 pound bundle of joy. You want to make an announcement or karaoke? There you go.
I’m not impressed by the sound quality or battery life, but yeah this thing is useful for portable boom and nor particularly expensive. Probably good for kids or tailgating when you’re not spending all day in a parking lot with no power options.
Get the iLive Wireless Tailgate Party Speaker is on Amazon or iLive.
iLive Wireless Tailgate Party Speaker
The iLive Wireless Tailgate Party Speaker is a solidly average Bluetooth speaker in a very cool body that deceives one into thinking it's a lot cooler than it actually is.
Product Brand: iLive
Product Currency: USD
Product Price: 59.99
Product In-Stock: InStock
3
Pros
- FM radio
- Mic/Line in
- Light
- Extremely portable
Cons
- Not particularly loud
- Battery life
- Doesn't play well with many chargers
- Looks cooler than it is
