Looking for a waterproof, dustproof, portable, wireless Bluetooth outdoor speaker that looks great? Don’t look further than the Altec Lansing ALP-XP850 Xpedition 8.
The speaker is quite loud. It’s unlikely you’ll want to couple it with another Xpedition 8. There’s one thing I don’t like about the speakers though. The manufacturer is too optimistic when reporting how long the battery actually lasts.
Features
- Weight: 24lbs
- Dimensions: (28″W x 13″H x 15″D)
- Bluetooth and NFL enabled
- Rugged design with an IP rating of IP67 — waterproof and dustproof
- Battery life: About 14 hours with lights off (50% volume)
- Two 8″ subwoofers
- Three 1″ tweeters
- Strobe lights and multicolored speaker lights
- Output: 420W peak
- Bluetooth range: 100 ft
- Connections: Aux. and Bluetooth
- Recharge time: Roughly 5 hours
- Powering options: AC, DC input
Design
The speaker looks similar to the Sony XB90. However, it doesn’t seem as sophisticated. So, let’s dive deeper and learn more about the Xpedition 8’s design.
Protective Grille
The speaker’s angled up enclosure translates into great sound dispersion. The speaker’s 3, 1″ tweeters and two 8″ subwoofers stay protected by the speaker’s black grille.
Control Panel
The control panel is positioned in the middle of the front panel. There are strobe lights around the right and left part of the front panel. Also, there are lights that surround each speaker. These lights greatly enhance the overall attractiveness of the design, adding vitality to your night parties.
In the middle of the control panel sits a large polygon-like knob that helps you do two things. One: adjust the volume. Two: check how much battery life you still have left. To use the knob, simply press it just a little bit.
Top Panel
The top panel carries the NFC logo. Does your smartphone or tablet supports NFC pairing? Lucky you! Pairing takes only 2 seconds, and you’re streaming beautiful tracks like there’s no tomorrow. Simply hover the device around the NFC logo and tap it once (with the device) and voilà! you’re paired.
6 Buttons
There are 3 buttons above the knob and 3 below it. The first set comprises the power, speaker lights, and strobe lights buttons. Below the knob sits the Link, Beast, and Bluetooth buttons.
The link button helps you wirelessly link two speakers (Xpedition 8) together for louder sound. The so-called Beast button helps you get an enhanced bass response. And the Bluetooth button lets you pair your speaker to some other device, so you can stream music.
Handles
The unit features 3 handles. One of the handles is on the top panel, the other on the right, and the last one on the left one. Weighing in at only 25 lbs, the speaker is so easy to carry.
Rear Panel
At the rear panel, you’ll see 2 passive bass radiators sitting on either side of a waterproof cap. The plastic cap protects the DC and AC input, aux input, and the USB port. The waterproof cap completes the speaker’s rugged design.
Sound Performance
The Xpedition 8 is a veritable beast when it comes to sound generation. In fact, you won’t want to use the speaker indoors. It’s just going to be too loud for your liking. The bass is where it should be — deep and punchy.
You’ll love the speaker’s mids, but they’re far from detailed. The highs are more than noticeable, but clarity needs a bit more work.
Another thing is you can easily pair two Xpedition 8 speakers for louder sound. Bad news: you won’t leverage the stereo mode because it’s nonexistent with this product. If you go with this option, don’t expect to see a great stereo separation. But then expecting perfectly refined sound from an outdoor speaker would be asking for too much.
Ruggedness
With an IP rating of IP67, the speaker is both waterproof and dustproof. It’s the sort of speaker you want for the perfect beach, pool, and outdoor party. This speaker is a great option, and you’ll want to give it a thought.
Did you know that this waterproof speaker would actually float if you tossed it into a freshwater pool? It really does, and nothing will happen to it. Don’t go on a speaker-slinging spree though!
Battery Life
According to the manufacturer, consumers may expect 24 hours of playtime for each full charge. But at what volume level? Will you keep the lights on and still get 24 hours? The answer is emphatical no.
The best you can hope for is 12 hours if you set the speaker to less than max volume and keep the lights turned off. But if you prefer to keep the speaker lights and strobe lights on, you won’t see a minute more after 5 hours.
Pros
- Pairs with other Xpedition 8 speakers quickly
- Pairs with external sound sources in seconds
- Waterproof
- Dustproof
- Portable
- Great sound
Cons
- Battery life overestimated
- Not great for indoor use
- No stereo mode
Honestly, though, 5 hours of playtime doesn’t sound that bad to me. And yes, the product doesn’t crank out a perfect sound in closed spaces. But you’re interested in the loudest Bluetooth speakers for outdoor use, aren’t you?
Lack of stereo mode kind of peeves me. However, for outdoor use where loudness matters more than anything else, that may not be such a big deal.
What’s in the Box
Here’s what you’ll get:
- User’s manual
- 1 DC cable
- 1 AC cable
- The speaker itself
- Warranty card
Warranty
The speaker has a 1-year warranty. The warranty covers workmanship and materials defects.
Conclusion
Altec Lansing ALP-XP850 Xpedition 8 is easy on the eye. In addition, it can survive an accidental dunk in water. The product also enjoys full protection against the ingression of dust.
A black grille protects the unit’s three tweeters and two 8″ subwoofers. The speaker completely fills large spaces with loud sound punctuated by deep, punchy bass. Also, the vocals sound great.
While the mids are sweet, it’s not what you’d call detailed. The highs don’t deliver superior clarity, but they’re good enough. I wouldn’t buy the product for indoor use though. But it’s a great option for the outdoors.