Bosch Power Box

By Tab Olsen

The Bosch Power Box™ radio/charger/digital media stereo is a high-performance, portable, weather-resistant entertainment system/power strip in a cube. When it comes to either sound or charging capabilities, they don’t call it a Power Box for nothing. Think of your dad’s old boombox, updated for a new generation. This is an awesome radio, rugged and geeky at the same time! I keep thinking it looks like something from Portal.

The Power Box is meant to be a jobsite radio, but it has a multitude of uses. We are keeping ours indoors right now. It’s great for the family room, basement, garage or workshop, as well as outside gardening or playing in the backyard. We were using it over the weekend, both inside and outside, for listening to Mannheim Steamroller while putting up Christmas decorations. You can use it to play music at an outdoor wedding or birthday party. You can even take it camping or on picnics.

The Bosch Power Box measures about 14 inches square, and the power cable is 6 feet long for plugging into a 120 V outlet or connecting to a heavy duty outdoor extension cord. You won’t want to carry the radio around a lot, because it’s quite hefty, but when you do need to move it the roll bars double as sturdy hand-holds. Wherever you set it, you won’t have to worry about it getting knocked over, because this radio is built like a tank! With its protective aluminum and rubber roll cage, the Power Box is practically indestructible.

Besides being extra sturdy, Bosch has really engineered this radio well. Its four tweeters and a subwoofer provide excellent sound in all directions, making it easy to hear no matter which side you are on. This means that when you’re working outside you won’t miss anything, even when walking back and forth – whether you’re listening to music or Rush Limbaugh. The 360-degree stereo has good bass quality and plenty of power even when running on the lithium-ion battery (not included / sold separately – but if you have any Bosch power tools, you probably already have a battery). The radio’s weather-resistant design keeps out moisture and dust. Plus it’s much more than just a radio!

The built-in digital media bay has a powered USB port and SD/MMC card slot for compatibility with digital memory card devices, as well as two auxiliary inputs for MP3 players and CD players. Small devices like cellphones or MP3 players can be safely cradled and charged inside the compartment which has a flip-up cover to keep out dust and moisture. The Power Box will even charge a backup lithium-ion battery so you’ll always have a spare one ready to go! Note: it does not supply external charging power unless the radio itself is plugged in.

We’ve had our Bosch Power Box for a few years now, and we’ve gotten a lot of use and enjoyment out of it. Now there is a newer version that’s even better! The Bosch PB360C features Bluetooth connectivity (with a range of up to 150 Ft.) to pair with smart devices, stream internet radio, and play stored music, giving you even more freedom. You can buy the Bosch Power Box on Amazon, or see if your local hardware store has it on sale.

Here is the list of specifications for the Bosch Power Box™ Model PB360C:

• Bluetooth® connectivity for internet radio and stored music with range of up to 150 feet

• Four-way speakers and a subwoofer project 360° sound

• Protective aluminum/rubber roll cage with multiple carrying handles

• Four 120-Volt outlets for electric power tools and other devices

• Runs on Bosch 18 V Lithium-Ion batteries or plugged into a 120 V AC outlet

• USB charging port with 5-volt /1.0-amp rating – for charging Apple and other phones and devices – works when Power Box™ is powered by a 120 V AC outlet or by a Bosch battery

• Free Bosch PB360C App available thru Apple App Store or Google Play

• Four preset equalizer settings plus equalizer customization

• AM/FM radio with 20 FM and 10 AM presets

• Separate bass and treble controls

• Advanced digital tuning

• Built-in battery charger

• USB charging port

• Play your device through auxiliary input port

• Digital media bay with secure storage

• Weather- and dust-resistant design

• Illuminated LCD display

• Weighs 24 lbs.

This product was NOT provided for free or at a discount in exchange for a review. The above item was purchased by a homeschooling family at their own expense.