Your Neighbors Will Hate You

The Rockster AIr 2 in a nutshell

Anybody searching for a high-quality get together speaker won’t be dissatisfied with the Rockster Air 2. It is likely one of the strongest and versatile fashions out there available on the market proper now. Nevertheless, we needed to deduct factors within the overview because of the lack of IP certification and a lacking companion app. If you wish to use a celebration speaker at residence, you’ll run into points together with your neighbors as you get together late into the wee hours of the morning. Keep in mind that the Rockster Air 2 is unavailable Stateside, therefore the pricing in €.

Design & construct high quality

Tipping the scales at 14.2 kg whereas that includes a kind issue the dimensions of a journey backpack, the Rockster Air 2 is instantly recognizable as a celebration speaker. Due to a complete of 4 handles, transporting the speaker round is not any downside. Sadly, the system lacks castors for simpler transportation. The number of connectivity choices and the connection for typical PA stands additionally point out the Rockster Air 2 is just not solely meant for it to pump out music.

Professionals:

Easy, timeless design.
Is definitely carried round.
Excessive number of connectivity choices.

Cons:

No IP certification.
No wheels or castors.
Backpack is simply too costly for an extra €120 ($130)

Within the press materials and on the homepage, Teufel markets the “Rockster” with a sure “rock-and-roll aesthetic”. When unpacked and positioned in the lounge, nevertheless, not a lot could be seen. I think about this to be constructive as a result of the Rockster Air 2 is a moderately easy but giant get together speaker. The design all the time jogs my memory of PA audio system, as they’re usually widespread within the music trade.

With the Rockster Air 2, you solely understand how the speaker is supposed to pump out music whenever you flip the speaker round or the wrong way up. It’s because there’s a slot for PA stands on the underside, permitting the speaker for use as an energetic speaker in a DJ setup. On the again, you’ll discover the mandatory connectivity choices together with:

XLR output to attach further audio system
XLR enter for a microphone
6.3 mm jack for guitars and devices
3.5 mm jack for aux-in
IEC plug for charging
Bluetooth 5.1 for wi-fi connection

What Teufel additionally does properly with the Rockster Air 2 is how simple it’s to hold the speaker regardless of its heft. There’s a thick rubberized deal with on the prime which makes it simple to tote round. Due to a recessed grip on the underside, the Bluetooth speaker may also be comfortably carried by two individuals. Two additional recesses on the left and proper of the housing are additionally very sensible to put the speaker on stands or to make minor positional changes.

There are additionally a number of buttons and a big rotary management on prime of the Rockster Air 2. The latter controls the quantity, whereas the buttons allow you to join gadgets and swap the speaker on and off. There are additionally two buttons to manage the treble and bass and act as a easy equalizer.

The construct high quality of the Rockster deserves a constructive point out. Teufel makes use of each high-quality plastic and steel for the chassis, however sadly, there is no such thing as a safety towards water and mud. With out IP certification, I’d be cautious of utilizing the speaker within the rain or by the poolside. I’d additionally favor to keep away from beer or champagne showers as properly. In view of the costly MSRP, I discovered this omission to be just a little disappointing. It turns into much more stark at events, the place it’s fairly widespread for audio system to come back into contact with liquids.

I additionally need to criticize the truth that Rockster didn’t set up any wheels or castors on the 14 kg speaker. The backpack holder, which lets you carry the Bluetooth speaker in your again, can be too costly with an asking worth of barely beneath €120. Because the finish of 2023, Teufel has additionally provided a protecting cowl and a alternative battery. Nevertheless, these equipment are additionally too costly for his or her operate.

App and comfort capabilities

Teufel doesn’t provide an app for the Rockster Air 2. Since there aren’t any different handy capabilities comparable to multi-pairing or lighting results, we’ll skip this section!

Sound high quality and know-how

You could have jumped straight to the sound high quality on this overview, just because the Rockster Air 2 is primarily about pumping out good get together sound. The Bluetooth speaker presents a most output energy of 80 W, has an enormous cellulose woofer with a diameter of 25 cm, and a tweeter with a diameter of two.5 cm. In case you like, it’s also possible to use the Rockster Air 2 as a pair for stereo sound.

Professionals:

Numerous energy, does not crack even at excessive volumes.
Nice capabilities for musicians.
Particular person inputs could be individually combined.
Helps aptX.

Cons:

No energy limitation, subsequently moderately unsuitable for residences.
No streaming capabilities.
Stereo sound solely out there in pairs, making it a whopping €1,400.

On this overview, I wish to consider the Rockster Air 2 each as a celebration speaker and for residence use. For my part, with an asking worth of €700, you possibly can undoubtedly count on patrons to judge the speaker not just for use in get together basements or in giant crowd contexts on the whole. Let’s begin with the know-how.

Teufel geared up the Rockster Air 2 with a 2-way speaker configuration. A 2.5 cm tweeter is liable for the treble and a 25 cm woofer for the bass. The latter is claimed to supply a “Mariana Trench-deep kick bass with excessive impulse constancy”, whereas Teufel additionally speaks of a multifunctional setup for music, phases, events, and speeches. Because the connectivity choices already recommend, it’s also possible to hook up different devices and microphones. Teufel makes use of Class D energy amplifiers with 32-bit DSP for these inputs. The producer depends on Class D amplifiers from Texas Devices.

It is rather welcome that Teufel enables you to combine the assorted inputs — Bluetooth, aux, devices, and a microphone through separate rotary controls. This allows you to exhibit your guitar expertise à la Buckethead over a backing monitor or make bulletins within the most interesting patois over dancehall beats. Or you possibly can select to take a seat down with the Rockster Air 2 within the pedestrian zone and canopy indie rock songs after puffing away a pack of cigarettes.

Jokes apart, this versatile orientation is, for my part, the wonderful thing about the Rockster Air 2 as a result of musicians can use the speaker in a very versatile method. Not like many cell guitar amplifiers with an built-in battery, we’ve got Bluetooth and an insanely lengthy battery life. This could be a main benefit if you happen to wish to play your individual music in addition to different individuals’s songs in a celebration.

With a most quantity of 115 dB (at a distance of 1 m), the Rockster Air 2 is extraordinarily properly fitted to get together contexts. The woofer, particularly, makes partitions, flooring, and the get together crowd reverberate and the Teufel nonetheless sounds actually good when turned as much as the utmost. For my overview, I drove to a rehearsal room to show the speaker all the way in which up. In a room measuring round 15 m², I would not have been capable of face up to the utmost quantity for greater than 5 minutes. That is no shock as Teufel advertises the Rockster Air 2 for crowds of as much as 80 individuals in a stereo setup.

Nevertheless, this monumental energy turns into an issue if you wish to use the Rockster Air 2 in your individual residence. It’s right here I wish to draw one other comparability with guitar amplifiers. Many highly effective amps have a operate with which the facility could be lowered to some watts. That is precisely what I’d have preferred to have with the Rockster Air 2 in my residence.

Even the sign upon turning the speaker on, which is a moderately low tone that will get louder, is simply too loud for me in an residence constructing. Though the bass could be simply eliminated utilizing the two-band equalizer, the ground rattles even at low volumes. In case you stay in an residence and wish to use your Bluetooth speaker which prices virtually €700 to take heed to music at residence, you actually need to watch out in order that the neighbors don’t knock in your door after some time. I believe that is a disgrace and I’d have preferred to have had extra choices to cut back the facility for residence use.

It’s a pity the Rockster Air 2 is troublesome to tame, particularly as music sounds actually good even at low volumes. The background noise is low regardless of the excessive efficiency and because of AptX, music may also be delivered to the speaker at sufficiently excessive decision.

All in all, the Rockster Air 2 is likely one of the strongest and versatile Bluetooth audio system/get together audio system out there proper now. Sadly, I can’t suggest it for personal use on account of its issue in controlling its efficiency degree.

Battery and charging

The Rockster Air 2 comprises a robust high-performance LiFePO4 battery, which ensures a protracted battery lifetime of as much as 58 hours at medium quantity. In response to the producer, as much as 31 hours are attainable in Eco mode at most quantity. You may as well join a automotive battery for longer use. Due to an influence financial institution operate, you possibly can cost exterior gadgets through USB-C.

Professionals:

Very lengthy and party-ready battery life.
Detachable battery out there and automotive batteries could be linked.
Energy financial institution operate through USB-C.
Extra battery is comparatively inexpensive at €80 ($86). 

Cons:

Ideally, you need to be capable of take a celebration speaker with you to a pageant or on a tour over the weekend. That is actually attainable with the Rockter Air 2. With a runtime of as much as 58 hours at medium quantity, you possibly can play music or make bulletins for an viewers from morning to nighttime for nearly 5 days. At most quantity, you possibly can nonetheless obtain 31 hours.

I used to be shocked by the MSRP of the speaker and the backpack holder: an extra battery for the Rockster Air 2 solely prices round €70 ($76). This lets you conveniently prolong the runtime when the battery begins to run low. Sadly, Teufel failed to offer backward compatibility with the primary Rockster Air mannequin. What’s much more annoying? You can’t cost the extra battery externally through USB or utilizing a DC connection. As an alternative choice to the spare batteries from Teufel, it’s also possible to use typical automotive batteries to function the Rockster Air 2.

One other sensible characteristic contains charging exterior gadgets through a USB-C port on the Rockster Air 2. The get together speaker thus takes on a twin function as a robust energy financial institution and even as an influence station (learn our comparability).

Last verdict

In comparison with the primary model of the Rockster Air, the Rockster Air 2 is now just a little extra manageable. The design is extra paying homage to traditional, energetic PA audio system and because of the brand new carrying handles, the speaker is straightforward to move regardless of its heavy weight of 14.2 kg. The non-obligatory backpack in collaboration with Deuter can be a sensible addition, even when it is extremely costly with an MSRP of just about €120 ($130).

As a celebration speaker, the Rockster Air 2 is a very good companion. With a most quantity of as much as 115 dB, the speaker can be appropriate for bigger rooms. In case you want extra energy, you possibly can join two audio system wirelessly and function as much as ten fashions through XLR cable. Nevertheless, because of the excessive MSRP, we’re speaking about worth ranges the place it could actually make extra sense to spend money on skilled PA tools.

As a high-performance Bluetooth speaker, nevertheless, the Teufel Rockster Air 2 presents a number of benefits. Due to its big range of connectivity choices for microphones, devices, and aux, the Rockster Air 2 can be appropriate for road musicians. On the similar time, the connection through Bluetooth 5.1 is appropriate for handy, wi-fi music playback due to AptX.

Too loud in your neighbors? These are one of the best Bluetooth audio system available on the market

Nevertheless, the most important downside of the Teufel Rockster Air 2 is the shortage of IP certification. Though the development of the housing is of actually high-quality, the speaker is just not protected towards rain, beer showers, or different “get together accidents”. Additionally it is annoying that there is no such thing as a companion app to manage the equalizer. The producer included an infrared distant management with the predecessor, however sadly, it’s lacking this time round.

So: If you wish to spend cash on a premium get together speaker, the Rockster Air 2 is likely one of the strongest fashions out there right now. Additionally it is very versatile and dependable due to a variety of inputs and a superb battery system.

Teufel Rockster Air 2

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