Soundboks has gone featherweight with the Soundboks Rider, a portable Bluetooth speaker built for people who want the brand’s signature outdoor volume without hauling one of its full-size party speakers along. At 6.5kg, it is by far the lightest speaker the Danish brand has ever made, and it is pitched squarely at cyclists, campers and anyone who would rather carry a speaker in one hand than wheel it around on a strap.
How Loud Can the Soundboks Rider Get
Despite the smaller frame, it still reaches 118dB, driven by two Texas Instruments Class-D amplifiers running in PBTL mode through a single 8-inch woofer and a 1.2-inch tweeter. That is a few decibels short of the larger Soundboks Mix and Soundboks 4, but it comfortably outguns most Bluetooth speakers in this size and weight class, and the frequency range still stretches from 40Hz to 20kHz. An IP66 rating means rain, dust and the occasional drop are part of the design brief rather than an afterthought.
Battery Life Built for a Full Day Out
A removable battery gives the Soundboks Rider between 8 hours at full volume and 35 hours at a more moderate setting, and it uses the same swappable battery pack as the larger Soundboks Mix and Soundboks 4, so owners of those speakers already have a compatible spare. A 10W USB-C output can also top up a phone in a pinch. Unlike its bigger siblings, it is designed to work alone rather than link up with other units through the brand’s TeamUp feature, keeping the control layout simple: a single volume knob with LED indicators and a power button.
App Control and Everyday Extras
The companion Soundboks app adds custom EQ presets, sound profiles tuned for different spaces, true stereo pairing when a second speaker is available, and a PIN-protected connection so a stranger’s phone can’t hijack the aux input. A detachable steel grille protects the driver and doubles as a mount point for the brand’s separately sold carrying strap, while a 3.5mm aux input covers wired playback when Bluetooth 4.2 isn’t an option.
Pricing and Availability
The Soundboks Rider is available now for $599 in the United States and €499 in Europe, and it ships with its battery included, though a charger is sold separately following the EU’s Radio Equipment Directive. It slots in below the €699 Soundboks Mix and €999 Soundboks 4 as the entry point into the Soundboks lineup, and it can be ordered directly through the brand’s website or its retail partners.
Key Specifications
- Max volume: 118dB
- Drivers: 1x 8-inch woofer, 1x 1.2-inch tweeter
- Amplification: 2x Texas Instruments Class-D, 72W/20W RMS in PBTL mode
- Battery life: 8 hours at full volume, up to 35 hours at mid-volume
- Weight: 6.5kg; dimensions 354 x 244 x 200mm
- Durability: IP66-rated, detachable steel grille
- Connectivity: Bluetooth 4.2, 3.5mm aux input, Soundboks app
- Price: $599 / €499, available now
Full details on the Soundboks Rider are available on the official Soundboks product page. For another recent portable speaker built around long battery life, see the Hisense FlexBoom.
