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A/C-powered bluetooth speaker

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rick carpenter

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Is there a reasonably-priced a/c-powered bluetooth speaker that I could put in my garage? I can find battery-powered bluetooth speakers anytime anywhere, but I want an one I don't have to charge. Reasonably-priced because I don't hear that well and it would be competing with power tools etc. I like KROQ2 out of LA and I get it via a phone app in my truck. Would like the same in the garage except a/c.

Thanks
 
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PCustoms

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rick carpenter said:
Is there a reasonably-priced a/c-powered bluetooth speaker that I could put in my garage? I can find battery-powered bluetooth speakers anytime anywhere, but I want an one I don't have to charge. Reasonably-priced because I don't hear that well and it would be competing with power tools etc. I like KROQ2 out of LA and I get it via a phone app in my truck. Would like the same in the garage except a/c.

Thanks
Click to expand...

What's your budget?

Do you have anything out there right now? They sell Bluetooth "dongles" to hook to stereo amps.

Cheapest option may be a generic Bluetooth cube speaker on sale somewhere permanently plugged in
 
OP
R

rick carpenter

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PCustoms said:
What's your budget?

Do you have anything out there right now? They sell Bluetooth "dongles" to hook to stereo amps.

Cheapest option may be a generic Bluetooth cube speaker on sale somewhere permanently plugged in
Click to expand...
I think the cube you're describing is what I want. Looking for somewhere around $30. I'll get what I pay for but no sense paying for high end sound when my hearing is low end.
 
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Tchicken

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THE Motor City
I've got a small soundbar in the garage that runs on AC, I use a phone app to supply the music. It has worked fine for a couple years, so long in fact that the brand has disappeared from my Amazon order history. It was $33 back then 10 watts enough for me, powered by a wall wart style converter .. but the prior poster is probably correct in that a wired BT on sale is probably the cheapest option
 
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PCustoms

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rick carpenter said:
I think the cube you're describing is what I want. Looking for somewhere around $30. I'll get what I pay for but no sense paying for high end sound when my hearing is low end.
Click to expand...

I've got some 4" square Husky branded one I picked up on clearance at Home Depot, other then it's the only thing I own that still uses USB mini it works great.

Have bought these in the past with good feedback:

Anker Soundcore 2 Portable Bluetooth Speaker with IPX7 Waterproof, 24-Hour Playtime, Wireless Stereo Pairing, 12W Stereo Sound, Bluetooth 5, Bassup, Electronics for Home, Shower, Outdoors, Travel https://a.co/d/iBbXTfQ

There's this too which appears to not have a battery:

Rockville RHB70 Home Theater Compact Powered Speaker System w Bluetooth/USB/FM, Cherry Wood https://a.co/d/dezlW6S

I've been researching some in ceiling options for my porch, but sounds like you want simpler/cheaper.
 
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DGersic

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I bought a kitchen “under cabinet radio”. Mounts up under the cabinet that’s over my fixed bench, has a radio and Bluetooth. Being aimed at the kitchen market, it’s just wall powered, no batteries. Not all that loud, you won’t fill a large shop with rockin tunes or drown out power tools at full roar, but it works for my one car garage.
 
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alinc100

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Dearborn,MI
I have 2 BT speakers one is a wonderboom the other an Insignia from Best Buy Insignia Speaker My son works at BB and gets them cheap. I use them portably at work but I would suspect leaving it plugged into its usb /wall wart would keep it functioning just fine. BTW KROQ is a great choice. I miss the old Kevin and Bean Morning Show
 
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Colin Len

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Long Beach CA
All the battery powered bluetooth speakers I've owned will run on AC power if you leave them plugged in. Probably not good for the battery but if you never plan to use the battery then that doesn't matter. I wouldn't omit something from my list just because it has a battery - it might open up more options.

I've used bluetooth dongles before and they're hit and miss, most of the ones I've tried have been a miss.

Like one of the others, I plan to use a soundbar in my garage once it's remodeled. These have great bang for the buck in terms of sound quality. Most will also take input via bluetooth, 3.5mm aux, HDMI, RCA...etc. If you have a TV in your shop the soundbar could be hooked to that AND used with bluetooth off your phone so it would do double duty.
 
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no704

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Have a Bosch jobsite radio that I got for Christmas a couple years ago. Plenty loud for me. I use it with Bluetooth but it has radio too. It can run on a tool battery but I just use it plugged in. IMG_1785.png
 
M

My Old Tools

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Hamrick Lake, TX
rick carpenter said:
Is there a reasonably-priced a/c-powered bluetooth speaker that I could put in my garage? I can find battery-powered bluetooth speakers anytime anywhere, but I want an one I don't have to charge. Reasonably-priced because I don't hear that well and it would be competing with power tools etc. I like KROQ2 out of LA and I get it via a phone app in my truck. Would like the same in the garage except a/c.

Thanks
Click to expand...
Bose has some nice ones that aren't too expensive
 
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R

rick carpenter

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Huntsville, East Texas
alinc100 said:
I have 2 BT speakers one is a wonderboom the other an Insignia from Best Buy Insignia Speaker My son works at BB and gets them cheap. I use them portably at work but I would suspect leaving it plugged into its usb /wall wart would keep it functioning just fine. BTW KROQ is a great choice. I miss the old Kevin and Bean Morning Show
Click to expand...
I listen to their 80s 'side' station KROQ2, despite a little bubbly happy music here and there it plays a pretty good bit of new wave & post punk. I'm stuck in the alt-80s, man!

Colin Len said:
All the battery powered bluetooth speakers I've owned will run on AC power if you leave them plugged in. Probably not good for the battery but if you never plan to use the battery then that doesn't matter. I wouldn't omit something from my list just because it has a battery - it might open up more options.

I've used bluetooth dongles before and they're hit and miss, most of the ones I've tried have been a miss.

Like one of the others, I plan to use a soundbar in my garage once it's remodeled. These have great bang for the buck in terms of sound quality. Most will also take input via bluetooth, 3.5mm aux, HDMI, RCA...etc. If you have a TV in your shop the soundbar could be hooked to that AND used with bluetooth off your phone so it would do double duty.
Click to expand...
For years, on my way home from work, I'd pass a guy's open garage door in my neighborhood. He always had a tv going and a nice easy chair setup. I thought that was pretty cool so I duplicated it in my garage... and then just didn't use it enough for it to be worthwhile. :dunno: I hope you'll fare better than me!
 
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4x4Pete

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Marshall Acton. I think they are at version III now. 120v. Kinda pricey vs most other speakers. I have the first version. Sounds great. I use it in a rec room.
 
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gregs

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This what I used for my shop. I used a pair of older large bookshelf speakers mounted to the wall at the far end of the shop and an old iphone that I have the Pandora app on. Works great, has plenty of power to drive the speakers. No issues connecting to it. There are many versions of this. I just happened to settle on it because it was the best deal in the warehouse.

 
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Jgaz

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AZ
4x4Pete said:
Marshall Acton. I think they are at version III now. 120v. Kinda pricey vs most other speakers. I have the first version. Sounds great. I use it in a rec room.
Click to expand...
X2 for the Marshall speaker. My wife got me one for Xmas a few years ago and I love it.
 
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dave*99

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Assuming you have WiFi signal, consider a speaker that supports airplay and Google cast. BlueOs, Sonos, also use casting. With Bluetooth, you are tethered to the speaker. If for instance, you send BT signals to the speaker from your phone and wander away, you lose connectivity.

With casting, your phone would be the remote control. The speaker gets data from the WiFi network. You are not tethered.

Alternatively, some folks will leave an old cell phone or tablet permanently near a BT speaker so it is tethered to that device.
 
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cad70

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NE
I have this Pol Signa 2 soundbar/sub in the garage for music only using bluetooth for Spotify and XM. It sounds very good and can be plenty loud.
$179.00
I also have the "little" Bose and JBL bluetooth speakers, but the Polk S2 sounds way better, and louder.


Clark
 
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Colin Len

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rick carpenter said:
I listen to their 80s 'side' station KROQ2, despite a little bubbly happy music here and there it plays a pretty good bit of new wave & post punk. I'm stuck in the alt-80s, man!


For years, on my way home from work, I'd pass a guy's open garage door in my neighborhood. He always had a tv going and a nice easy chair setup. I thought that was pretty cool so I duplicated it in my garage... and then just didn't use it enough for it to be worthwhile. :dunno: I hope you'll fare better than me!
Click to expand...
Funny you mention that. I've had a TV mounted on my garage wall for a couple years now mainly because it was the best place to store it, lol. When we replaced our home TV I figured I could use our old one in the garage. But I haven't even hooked it up or had reason to use it. Once I finish my little garage remodel I'll need to decide if I want to use it or not. Seems like it can't hurt to have it since it's free and I have wall space for it. But I think, for me, a soundbar is the right audio solution regardless of whether it's hooked to a TV or not.

dave*99 said:
Assuming you have WiFi signal, consider a speaker that supports airplay and Google cast. BlueOs, Sonos, also use casting. With Bluetooth, you are tethered to the speaker. If for instance, you send BT signals to the speaker from your phone and wander away, you lose connectivity.

With casting, your phone would be the remote control. The speaker gets data from the WiFi network. You are not tethered.

Alternatively, some folks will leave an old cell phone or tablet permanently near a BT speaker so it is tethered to that device.
Click to expand...
Interesting! I wasn't aware about that difference between AirPlay and simply connecting via BT. I will have to keep this in mind. The disconnecting BT is definitely annoying. And if I play via my computer rather than my phone I don't get the disconnecting but have to return to the computer to use the "remote" rather than being able to use the phone in my pocket.
 
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dave*99

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Colin Len said:
Interesting! I wasn't aware about that difference between AirPlay and simply connecting via BT. I will have to keep this in mind. The disconnecting BT is definitely annoying. And if I play via my computer rather than my phone I don't get the disconnecting but have to return to the computer to use the "remote" rather than being able to use the phone in my pocket.
Click to expand...
BT is a WPAN - Wireless personal area network. Casting rides on a WAN - Wide Area Network if the data (music) is on the web, or on a LAN - Local area network if the data is stored locally (your phone or computer.)

I use BT for ear buds and headphones, but not for wireless speakers etc. I often run into folks using the BT connectivity of a wireless speaker and suffering the annoyances of disconnection. Many times their speaker is capable of receiving casting and they didn't know it.


1742842232169.png
 
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e-rockin-it

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Kemptville, ON, Canada
There are a few ways to get to what you want. You could take a normal stereo from a thrift store and plug in a logitech (or any offbrand) bluetooth adapter that will plug in with RCA cables from amazon (about $40 CDN so like 6 Freedom dollars). Or go higher end bluetooth speaker, I use a JBL charge 4 in the shop always plugged into the USB charger. You can use any bluetooth speaker (even from a bud light promo in a beer case years ago) always plugged into the charger if you want AC power.
 
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Aspen RT

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kansas
I bought a sound bar at Sams Club. Listening to it right now at work, it rocks pretty good for a bar and a sub woofer. Got it on sale for $89. I can still listen to Sirius too because of the AUX plug in.
I'm really quite impressed with the sound. By the way it's a Vizio.
 
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PCustoms

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reader2580 said:
Did anyone even read that the OP wants to spend $30. Most of the recommendations are over $30 with some way over $30.
Click to expand...
I did.

And then I reposted it.

I don't think anyone else did. Lack of reading (or lack of comprehension) seems to be worse then ever...
 
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CJ7VFR

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In my garage I have an Amazon Echo Pop speaker. I paid $18.00 for it during one of their sales. Normally they cost $39.00 but right now they have the Echo Pop on sale for $29.00 which is right at the price point the OP wants to spend. And they get their power by being plugged into an AC outlet.

The nice thing about all the Amazon Echo speakers is that they have the capability to work with wifi or bluetooth. If you don't want to attach your Echo speaker to wifi (or there is no wifi where you want to put the speaker) you can pair it up via bluetooth to a cell phone or bluetooth capable device and play your own music thru the speaker.

I have a bunch of the Amazon Eco Pops around my house and they have pretty good sound to them for such a small speaker. Not the same quality sound that you would get out of speakers that cost hundreds of dollars that are hooked up to sound equipment that costs bug bucks obviously.

But they are good enough for most people who just want some background music playing in the garage or basement while they work on stuff. You can also pair two of them together if you want in order to create a stereo pairing (left and right) set up. That is what I have in my basement for when I am working down there. I got those two when they were also on sale for $18.00 each.

Jim
 

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F

finn

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Tchicken said:
Just be careful with the Amazon stuff lots are only battery powered, or require USB charging
Click to expand...
I’ve been randomly replacing duplex outlets with the newer style that incorporate USB plugs so I can charge or run Bluetooth devices most anywhere.

Menards frequently has the USB equipped outlets on sale.
 
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