The Victrola Rock Speaker Connect blends in with my backyard and plays my Spotify playlist so my neighbors can finally enjoy some good music. These speakers are ideal for someone who wants to leave their outdoor speakers outside and not have to worry about rain, charging them, or an item looking out of place in their backyard aesthetic. It does come with some caveats that people should be aware of. Regardless of the cons, these speakers don't have a lot of competition, and I'm certain in the right backyard, they'd be a great addition. That said, if you're looking for a single premium portable smart speaker that you can take outside, I recommend the Brane X.
First impressions of the Victrola Rock Speakers
The Victrola Rock Speaker Connect has three color options. I went with the "Stone" color, which I personally think looks the best. It actually does look like a rock and if you want something that blends into your landscape, it'll do a decent job. It has a hefty weight that makes it feel like it's packing some solid batteries and speakers. The solar panel at the top is the main giveaway that this is more than just a rock.
The speakers can withstand the elements without any issues. I live in Atlanta, Georgia, where it gets hot, humid, rainy, and cold. These speakers have been able to withstand it all thanks to their IP65 water and dust-proof rating. The control panel in the back is protected by a rubber barrier, as you can see from the pictures above. Just be mindful that if you forget to close the panel and it gets wet, the speaker will malfunction. It also has a USB-C port in the back, which makes it convenient if I need a quick charge at night or just want to leave it plugged in.
The setup was incredibly easy. As this video explains, you can set up the speakers individually with the push of a button and find them on your phone's Bluetooth. Once I paired the first one, I made it the "host" speaker, and I was able to chain the second speaker to it. This way, they play the same audio in stereo, which sounds much better than mono with a single speaker. Once I'm done, I just turn off the host speaker, and they all turn off. Pretty handy, but I wish I could turn them all on the same way: If I had multiple speakers (up to 20 max), I would still have to turn on every individual speaker manually. Since they can go up to 66 feet apart from each other, this can be a painful process. Once you power them on, they do remember their last setting, so there is no need to re-pair the multiple speakers. They'll also remember the last device. I have mine set up with my portable outdoor projector and use it as a stereo system that connects automatically once I turn it on.
Solar power and battery life
The solar panel doesn't need to be in direct sunlight to charge. My speakers are facing south, with the panel angled to the north, and they're also next to my garage and under a massive oak tree. In other words, they don't get direct sunlight for long—I would estimate about four hours max per day. Yet this was enough to leave them fully charged every time I used them during my testing. Even when it rained and the solar panel got dirty, it was still always charged. I wish there were a way to see a battery percentage—but with no companion app, it's sadly not an option.
Victrola claims the battery lasts 22 hours at 50% volume and up to seven hours at 100% volume. These numbers seem about right, from my experience.
Sound limitations
The Victrola Rock Speaker Connect are directional, so they'll project the sound wherever they're facing. They won't project a 360-degree sound unless you're bouncing the sound off some wall. When you connect it to at least a second speaker, the sound is much fuller and crisper. However, these speakers are not made to be fully blasted at 100%. I could hear the upper register sounds compressing at max volume, although they get decently loud just with two speakers. It is enough to cover my whole 1,000 square feet backyard.
Bottom line: A great outdoor casual speaker for the right backyard
I've been enjoying not having to bring my speakers up and down my stairs to listen to some music in my backyard. Knowing that I don't have to worry about charging my speakers when I want to listen to music in my yard or have an outdoor movie night is nice. Their design is made well enough that if you're not paying attention, they might actually look like just a rock. So far, they've been able to withstand the elements in Atlanta well enough that I'm not concerned about leaving them outside all year round. If you're looking to get multiple speakers for your yard, this can be a great option.
There is no companion app, so you don't know how much battery they have. You'll also have to turn each one on manually (you only need to turn the "host" speaker off to turn the rest off). If you're looking for speakers you can just forget about and leave outside that will be reliable, the Victrola Rock Speaker Connect could be great. However, they did get a $50 price hike while I was writing this review. They sound like $100 speakers, not $150 ones.
Specs
Battery Life: 22 hours at 60 %. 7 hours at 100 %. USB‑C recharge 3.5 hours. 3 W solar panel.
Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3; links up to 20 speakers
Bluetooth: SBC codec (standard)
Inputs: USB‑C charging port
App: No companion app; settings via Bluetooth device only
Drivers: Unspecified full‑range driver(s)
Power Output: Not officially specified
Water Resistance: IP65 water & dust resistant
Size: 12 "W × 10.03 "H × 9.64 "D
Weight: 7.36 lb
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