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A sound system is as important to your workshop as any of the tools in it. The right song, podcast, or audiobook playing in the background can set the tone you need to dial in. It’s a funny thing to think about, but something so simple works wonders for your craftsmanship.
I recently had the chance to test out two of Milwaukee’s 2954-20 M18 Bluetooth Jobsite speakers. Since their arrival, they’ve kept me sane while tearing into my project truck and prepping my ’69 Charger for the longest road trip it’s seen since the ’80s. Then, I took them for the long haul down the coast, using them as the primary sound system in my car and for entertainment on the beach.
Without a doubt, these Bluetooth speakers are awesome. The sound quality and battery life are great, and they’re really easy to set up and use. The only setback is the price for folks who don’t already have the M18 batteries on hand.
The Bottom Line
| Milwaukee M18 Bluetooth Jobsite Speaker | |
|---|---|
| Sound Quality | 8/10 |
| Value | 5/10 |
| Battery Life | 10/10 |
| Functionality | 9710 |
| Overall | 7.5/10 |
The Rundown on Milwaukee’s Jobsite Speaker
The Milwaukee 2954-20 M18 Bluetooth® Jobsite speaker is a really nice upgrade from the typical sub-$50 speakers I’m used to having around. It’s a Bluetooth speaker with a fairly compact footprint and simple interface. On the very top of the unit you do have some controls for power, Audio Linking, sound level, and the Bluetooth function along with some basic music controls. It also does have a USB-C port on the side, so it can function as a power bank. As for the Audio Link function, Milwaukee says you can pair up to 200 speakers together, which is absolutely insane considering the performance of just two is as good as it is. We’ll come back to that in a moment.
The speakers produce a full range of sound with the woofer and tweeter. Though I don’t have a decimal output to quote, I can verify that these are sufficiently loud for even some extreme environments, especially when they’re linked together using the Audio-Link function.
As for some of the other specs, these speakers have 200 feet of connectivity range, an IP64 rating, a carry handle built into the top and a platform to hold your phone. That handle also doubles as a hook and has an open cavity that allows rope or string to pass through. The idea being that you can set these speakers up absolutely anywhere. They use Milwaukee’s M18 battery, which can run for up to 18 hours at full volume on a single charge of the 5.0Ah battery. Retail is $179.00 apiece, and they’re backed by a 1-year limited warranty.
Road Testing the M18 Bluetooth Jobsite Speaker
I’ve been using Milwaukee’s M18 Bluetooth Jobsite speakers for a couple of months now and really like the performance all around. A single speaker is certainly adequate for most situations. In fact, I started testing with just the one since I had no idea Milwaukee was sending two out.
I’m no speaker head by any means, but I think the sound quality is awesome. A single speaker works very well in the shop and even around the campfire. I did try to use just one as my primary sound system in the Charger, but the drone of the 440 was a little too much for just one.
The second one arriving essentially supercharged performance. Linking the two together creates a sound system that’s perfect for any working situation. I just returned from a 1,000-mile round trip with the Charger and I used these as the primary sound system. While they aren’t quite on par with a high-end surround sound system, these worked way better than the existing speakers in the car, even with all of the windows rolled down.
This was my vacation trip. So I also used them on the beach, where they easily delivered crisp, clear tunes over the crashing waves and wind. Even from 50-100 feet away I could hear the music perfectly. And yes, they’re equally as good at overcoming the sound of power tools in the garage. I’ve wasted no time getting back to the ol’ grind.
Setup is also incredibly easy, and battery life is absolutely phenomenal. Over one 9-hour trip with one serving as a power bank for my phone while playing music nearly the entire time, it consumed less than half of a charge on a 6Ah battery. Maybe not the most scientific test, but that’s good enough for me.
The Verdict
Overall, Milwaukee’s M18 Bluetooth Jobsite speakers are great performers. Again, the sound quality is great, and having two of them really creates an awesome listening experience. The ability to connect even more makes them a great option to consider for construction sites and big shops, so long as everyone there likes the same music as you. Long battery life and ease of use are great bonuses.
The only thing that’s hard to get around is the price. $179.00 for a speaker without a battery is not exactly a great value. I know someone’s already in the comment section recommending a speaker that sells for less and rivals performance—it’s worth reading into. These aren’t worth buying as your way into the M18 line. However, excellent sound quality and battery life plus the Audio Link function really do make them worthwhile for Milwaukee power tool owners.
