The Melody speaker from SoundCast definitely looks like something that belongs outside and that makes sense considering that it is primarily a premium outdoor speaker. Easy some of the best things about this $449.99 device is that it is loud, balanced, and well-built.
Considering its price, it is not easy to recommend the SoundCast Melody to everyone in need of an indoor or outdoor speaker but for consumers that are able to venture into the $400-$500 price range, the Melody appears to be one of the best speakers on the market even if its controls can get a little bit annoying.
The Melody weighs in at nine pounds which may seem like a heavy load but with its built-in handle, it is quite easy to carry around the speaker without any trouble. Outside of the covered USB and audio connectors on the top of the device, the Melody is pretty much just a wrap-around speaker.
Even though there are a considerable amount of speakers that are capable of working outside temporarily (for a pool party or other gathering), the Melody is built to last with a UV ray-proof coating as well as a water proof design.
Of course, the Melody is built to work as a rechargeable speaker which means that you can use it for around 20 hours before having to plug it in.
While it may not be the best looking outdoor speaker on the market, the Melody is easily one of the best in terms of performance. When plugging an iPhone into the speaker and playing a track at medium volume, there was absolutely no distortion and the only time where distortion was noticeable was when both the speaker and media source were pushed to their respective limits and even then, the distortion was minimal.
There are a wide variety of speakers in the $400-$600 price range, all of which have their special set of features. Although some of its competitors may look a bit better, the Melody beats out most outdoor speakers when it comes to actual sound quality.
Rating : 9.5/10
Price : $449.99 (Soundcast)
