We decided to launch the original lodge Solar Speaker 4 on Kickstarter and IndieGogo because we wanted to leverage the community of backers to provide us feedback on the design and functionality of the product. We believed in the product and knew that the crowdfunding community of tech-enthusiasts, early adopters and music lovers will help us to get the product ready for retail.

Thankfully, our assumptions about the crowdfunding community were spot on. Using the feedback from the backers we were able to make a series of updates to the speaker. The list of changes by category are listed below.

Battery & Charging

Since the speaker is a solar charging speaker, we want to do everything possible to reduce the drain on the battery and extend the playtime for the speaker. We made the following modifications to the hardware design of the speaker”

• Hardware changes to the circuit board to allow longer battery life in the “off” mode
• Hardware changes to provide longer shelf life (200+ days) in “ship” mode
• New LED’s that are more efficient and use less power

Weatherproof Design

The speaker is meant to be left outside all year round, under all types of weather conditions. We made additional changes to the design to improve the weatherproof design of the speaker. 

• Overall improvement of the fit and finish of all plastics
• Addition of extra polymer UV/water barrier to improve the longevity and waterproofing of the woofer
• Improve tweeter design for better weatherproofing
• Added rubber cover for the USB-C input for added protection
• Passed enhanced testing for both UV & water exposure confirming IP66 rating

Additional Enhancements

• Modify the firmware to provide ‘true stereo’ and ‘bass boost’ features
• Update the packaging suitable for retail while maintaining sustainability and protection

Yes! Every lodge™ Solar Speaker 4 Series 2 has 180 square inches of solar panels covering four sides, ensuring consistent sun exposure throughout the day to keep its 15 hour battery charged. To play music from the lodge speaker, just sync your phone or other Bluetooth enabled device and start streaming wirelessly.

We have created an App for over-the-air (OTA) updates.  Find the lodgesound app on the Apple App Store and/or the Google Play Apps depending on the device you have. Download the app and follow the simple instructions to connect and update your speakers. 

Please note: The lodge Solar Speaker 4 series 2 has many improvements from the previous unit we launched for our crowdfunding campaign. These improvements have already been incorporated into the retail version available for sale on our website and with select reseller partners.

Yes! We are constantly working to improve the performance and quality of the speaker. We are excited to announce that ‘bass boost’ and ‘true stereo’ settings are now available for you to enjoy. On October 21st, a new firmware update will be available via the lodgesound App. Make sure you download the app and update your speakers to start enjoying the stunning soundstage with ‘true stereo’ (2 speakers required) and ‘bass boost’ (designed to enhance bass frequencies at low volume listening).

The lodge Solar Speaker 4 series 2 comes with the latest Bluetooth chipset that maintains a connection between your phone or other Bluetooth device with a single lodge Speaker up to 100 ft away.

When you connect multiple lodge speakers (2 or more) using the built-in BT broadcast (lodgeLINK™) mode, the range can vary between 30-70 ft depending on speaker location and obstructions. 

Future proofing the speaker: The lodge Solar Speaker 4 Series 2 incorporates the newest BT broadcasting technology (Auracast). This new technology is scheduled to be launched later this year. We expect that everyone will experience increased range when this new technology is available for phones and other devices.

Yes, if these devices have the ability to pair with Bluetooth speakers. However, Lodge does not incorporate a microphone or Wi-Fi so the lodge speaker cannot directly communicate to the above-mentioned devices.

The lodge Solar Speakers are Bluetooth only; a decision we made early on to ensure quick and easy connectivity, so you can start rockin’ in no time at all. WiFi signals coming from your modem and router (likely located inside the house) will give you a very weak signal outside in your backyard.

Absolutely! That is one of the top benefits of owning lodge speakers. Connect two or more speakers to create an immersive soundscape in your backyard.  You can connect an unlimited number of speakers together. Just remember, the speakers connect in a hub and spoke arrangement using lodgeLINK, with the speaker you connect to your device designated as the hub speaker and all other speakers designated as spokes. Be mindful of the fact that the more speakers you connect, the distance between them decreases. 

The lodge Solar Speaker 4 Series 2 has a MAP (Minimum Advertised Price) of $449. Periodically, we will offer special pricing on bundles of 2 and 4 speakers.  

In short: amazing! We spent countless hours comparing different drivers, tweeters, subs, and amplifiers, as well selecting a Bluetooth chip-set not only optimized for streaming high quality audio, but doing so over a large distance across multiple devices. And it all paid off! Everyone who has heard Lodge speakers in real life have been blown away by the quality of the sound they produce.

Because each speaker is covered in 180 sq in of solar panels, the speaker is always charged. As long as you have them outside and the solar panels are capturing sunlight, the speaker is capturing charge at a rate of 2-3 hours of playtime for every 1 hour of sunlight. 

When you play the speakers in the evening or after sunset, depending on how loud you like to listen to your favorite tunes, the battery in each lodge Solar Speaker can support 15-30 hours of continuous play.

No. However, every lodge Solar Speaker has a USB-C input in the back. You can charge the speaker using the USB-C input (use the supplied USB-C cable with a charging block (not supplied).

We built the lodge Solar Speaker to live outside. That means withstanding a variety of environmental conditions, for the freezing cold of the Northeast region in the winter, to the sweltering heat of Arizona and Texas in the summer. You never have to worry about your lodge Solar Speakers being bested by Mother Nature; they were built to last.

The lodge Solar Speaker 4 series 2 has a 1 year parts and labor warranty. Please refer to our complete warranty and repair policy in the footer of the lodge website.