REVIEW - Finally after what seems to have been a never-ending winter, the Spring season is in the air and it is almost warm enough to sit on the deck at night again warmed by the firepit and relaxed by my favorite smooth contemporary jazz playing in the background. I have been using very small iLive Bluetooth Speaker Review or my heavier JBL 300 speaker for the past couple of years. So, I think a nice and convenient compromise for size, sound, and weight will be this iLive Bluetooth Tailgate Party Speaker.
What is it?
The iLive Bluetooth Tailgate Party Speaker is a full-range speaker that features Bluetooth connectivity, a microphone input, a USB port for adding a drive with music, a line-in for playing from external audio devices, and LED lights for effects, and an ergonomic retractable handle and wheels.
What's contained in the box?
1 x iLive Bluetooth Tailgate Party Speaker
1 x USB Cable.
1 x User Guide / Instructions.
Design and features
Features
Color changing LED light effects
Voice prompts announce speaker functions
Easy transport with retractable pull handle and roller wheels.
Play/pause/pairing/LED lights button
Power/source button
Rotary volume control
Power / charging indicator LED.
Specifications
Supports Bluetooth v5.0
The wireless range: 60 feet
8' full-range speaker FM scan
Aux in (3.5mm audio input)
USB port: supports audio file playback
Microphone input
Built-in FM wire antenna
DC battery power: Lithium battery with built-in rechargeable function.
Battery life: ~6 hours at 50 % volume
Charge time: 4 hours:
DIMS: 9.84 x 9.25 x 16.93'
Lightweight: the iLive Bluetooth Tailgate Party speaker has controls on the top of its front face and the Speaker positioned on the rest of its front surface. On the bottom back there are wheels and on the top a retractable handle, both designed to make this device very portable.
Performance
Once completely charged, the speaker is all set for use. Pairing to Bluetooth is straightforward and easy.
When paired, you are able to then play music via your cell phone. The buttons on the front indicate you can either use a USB flash drive for playback or go for line-in. I tested the USB for playing music and it works without any glitches. I also tested the mic port and it works albeit that the voice output is a bit tinny. The echo works like any echo. I do not love that sort of feature, but I find the fun aspect. The volume is more than adequate for an outdoor get-together, and the full range sound does deliver bass, mids, and highs but not nearly in any manner for critical listening.
The following video is a brief demonstration of certain controls and the popular built-in FM radio function.
Overall, the iLive Bluetooth Tailgate Party Speaker is a portable practical, convenient, and adequate entertainment system for summer barbeques and visits to the beach, etc.
What I enjoy:
The features
The lightweight build
Telescopic handle
The wheels
The built-in FM radio
The ease of use.
Ability to play external music sources other than through a Bluetooth connection.
What I'd change
Better audio representation albeit likely at the cost of making the speaker heavier
Final thoughts
The iLive Bluetooth Tailgate Party Speaker is a lightweight and relatively compact portable speaker that will provide an easy listening experience on the go. While it is more like just listening to a full-range speaker, it does the job as long as you are not expecting great audio separation and defined and incredible bass, mids and highs. The FM radio is integrated into the device, and the USB port lets you conserve battery power if you store your music choices as well as playlist on a flash disk. As a whole I love it.