While I love tools, I happen to have a background in sound recording engineering and have even worked as a sound editor on several feature films. Over the years, I really began to develop an ear and a passion for great audio. Needless to say, it didn't take me long to become interested in finding the best construction site radio money can buy. I want to know which of these worksite radios sound good, which have really useful features, and which ones I want to pass.
We looked at and reviewed dozens of jobsite radios to put together this list. Since everyone has different needs, we've broken them down by standout features, size, and even picked a favorite from all the ones we've tested.
Best Workplace Radio Overall
Milwaukee M18 Radio
We chose the Milwaukee M18 Packout radio as the best job site radio overall because of its excellent combination of features, output, and sound quality. For around $299, you can get a real construction site radio. Additionally, it locks down your Milwaukee Packout system. This makes it easy for those already running with the rig to carry it around. It has ample sound output, and we like how easily it connects to Bluetooth. This has been our go-to radio in the store lately and it outperforms all previous models of Milwaukee Tool. There are also cheaper radios in Milwaukee if you want to skip the charging feature or Packout compatibility.
Best Bluetooth Work Site Radio or Speakers
Makita XRM11 Bluetooth Speaker
The Makita XRM11 Bluetooth Speaker is our pick for the best Bluetooth worksite speaker. It challenges the way we think about small speakers. It also bears little resemblance to the Makita XRM10 rechargeable radio—in its place a whole new shape and size.
We just stared at each other with wide-eyed eyes as we listened through a variety of music genres with these speakers. The Makita XRM11 Bluetooth Speaker Microphone breaks the world of small speakers and encourages others to try and do it better. They're not cheap, but at $129 each, you can daisy-chain 10 of them together to create your own Phil Spector wall of sound.
Best Portable Worksite Speakers (No Radio)
DeWalt DCR010 Bluetooth Speaker
We like the compact size of the DeWalt DCR010, which supports both 12V and 20V Max batteries. You can also plug the speaker into AC power using the included power cord. This Bluetooth speaker uses two drivers and an Extended Bass function (EQ) to help bring in some of the lower frequencies.
Unlike some other DeWalt construction radios, such as the ToughSystem Music+ charger, you cannot charge the battery on the DeWalt DCR010.
Plus, since there's no built-in AM/FM radio, you'll end up listening to this $99 portable construction radio. Check out our recommendations for the best small job site radios below.
Best Portable Job Site Radios
Milwaukee M12 Radio + Charger 2951-20
The Milwaukee M12 Radio + Charger delivers jobsite sound with a full-range speaker setup, multiple suspension options, and a versatile way to charge not only your M12 batteries, but your phone and tablet as well. Here are the best Milwaukee job site radios for those on a budget and looking for something small and portable. We like it because it includes a true AM/FM radio — many new bluetooth worksite speakers don't.
You can get the Milwaukee M12 radio (as a tool option only) for $129 or the 2.0Ah battery for $178.
Best job site radio for a large area (loudest and fullest sound)
Bosch PB360C power box construction site radio
Some product managers really went over their heads when they designed the Bosch Power Box PB360C. An upgrade to the original Bosch PB10-CD PowerBox that has just about everything you could want in a field or job site radio. Instead of traditional front-facing stereo speakers, the PB360C uses four drivers that fire up and out in all directions.
You also get a dedicated 4-1/2-inch recessed "subwoofer" that fires from the bottom of the worksite radio. While this isn't the loudest radio we've tested head-on, it manages to pump out more sound thanks to its multidirectional design.
Bosch Power Box radios are loud and clean, with truer bass than most of the competition. It also has pretty much every feature you can think of – bluetooth, USB charging, 120V outlet, battery charger – you name it. The only downside to this radio is that it weighs over 25 pounds with the batteries inserted.
Best Ryobi Live Speaker
Ryobi PAD01 18V Bluetooth Speaker
We like the value that the Ryobi PAD01 18V Bluetooth Speaker presents. It features dual 3-inch speakers that deliver crisp, clear sound without excessive distortion when pushed to maximum volume.
Plug in the 4.0Ah battery pack for over 10 hours of audio playback . If you want to charge your phone or tablet, the Ryobi PAD01 gives you a 2.1 amp fast charging USB port.
You can buy the Ryobi PAD01 18V Bluetooth Speaker at Home Depot. It's sold as a bare-bones unit and retails for just $79. That initially sounds like a good price for what you get.
Ridgid R84087 Construction Site Bluetooth Radio
The Ridgid R84087 Gen5X construction site radio may be a little old, but it still holds its own. Whether you're an outsider, a contractor, or just looking for some great sound in your garage, we've found this to be an easy recommendation to make. Also, if you are already on a Ridgid 18V battery system.
Even if you don't have other Ridgid cordless tools, it's still worth a look as a plug-in radio option, and might convince you to pull the trigger on something like the Ridgid Cordless Trim Router.
It can also get loud, and with adjustable bass and treble, you can adjust how the sound comes through the speaker. Only on a few occasions did I notice that the music started to distort. The sound quality is much better than most other job site radios I've heard.
Best Porter-Cable Construction Site Radio
Porter Cable PCC771B Radio
After reviewing the Porter-Cable PC18JR, we thought the radio sounded like it was trying to play audio from a submerged speaker. Step back a bit and it gets better. The Porter-Cable PCC771B radio addresses some of these issues while simplifying the look and feel. The previous job site radio resembled an '80s 'boombox' and the new…well, it still looks like something from Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo …just smoother.
When it comes to the best Porter-Cable construction site radios, you don't have a lot of options. Still, they do a good job of giving users of their tools a way to add music to the job site. For $129.99, you get AM/FM radio, Bluetooth, and a working roll cage.
Construction Site Radio Buying Guide
After testing all of these job site radios, it was discovered that each has its strengths and limitations. These recommendations should point to the main products you want to try for yourself.
At the end of the day, you have a lot of options. Reading through this review, I hope we've helped you narrow down your options when it comes to choosing the best jobsite radio for your needs. However, one thing is for sure: if you don't already own any of these tools, start shopping now!
Clean Audio vs. Distortion
In order for job site radios to be good, they have to do several things well. First, the radio must be loud. And by "loud" I mean without a ton of distortion. There's nothing worse than turning the radio up to maximum volume and hearing audio play from the speakers while submerged underwater. In my opinion, the volume knob shouldn't push the radio beyond its ability to reproduce decent-sounding audio.
Whenever you look at audio equipment or speakers, you've probably heard the word "distortion." Distortion occurs when you push a driver (speaker) beyond its limits. This is definitely a jobsite radio problem.
When you play audio through their small "full-size" speakers, your music has both loud parts and soft parts. These can change in frequency and intensity over time. This can be represented by a waveform. You've probably seen waveforms before—on TV and in movies, they analyze the waveforms of recordings to track down sonic cues.
When the speaker exceeds its capacity, this waveform is pushed directly into the "ceiling". The ceiling couldn't be higher. Like anything that is pushed too hard into an immovable object, it will start to flatten. Now, instead of a nice smooth waveform with high resolution, you get an annoyingly flat sound.
Some radios won't push their volume past the point where a lot of audible distortion occurs. The others drove directly off the cliff! We prefer the former—and you should, too.
durability
The best job site radios need durability. It won't do any good if the radio can't withstand splashes, getting dusty, or being dropped from a sawhorse onto concrete. Without adequate build quality, a construction site radio is just a nice cordless battery powered radio that won't last long.
You really want something that can be tossed in the bed of your truck, put in a large tool bag, or left outside when it drizzles. If you have to pet it, you're not buying the right radio!
Size and Portability
Size and portability are important for worksite radios. You want your radio to meet your needs. You probably want something really small and portable because you're a tradesman and don't want a 96 dB output flooding your entire job site. The last thing you need is a full-size radio with 6 speakers and a built-in subwoofer.
Buy a smaller portable radio that runs on the same batteries you already use in your cordless power tools. But if you're working outdoors with your team and want to provide tunes for framing, siding, paint, or roofing—go for it. In any case, look for something that produces enough volume no matter where you put it.
feature
While I rate sound quality as the most important quality of the best job site radios, having the right features is of course important. Select Bosch, Milwaukee and Makita models have an integrated battery charger. This can save some room in your work truck.
You may also need a hybrid site radio that includes some outlets to power additional low-amperage tools. Bosch and DeWalt may be the only games in town with this feature.
Or maybe you just want something that will hold your smartphone securely so it doesn't get wet. These are the features to look for when shopping for the best construction radio. It needs to fit your intended use. Everyone's preferences are going to be different, so make a list – double check – and browse our selection to see what works best.
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