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If you search for “Lodge” on Google, you’re going to get a bunch of links to the famous cast-iron cookware followed by Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge and the Great Wolf Lodge. What you won’t see are any links to a solar-powered Bluetooth speaker. That’s a shame because the Lodge Solar Speaker 4 Series-2 speaker deserves to be near the top of Google’s search list. Let me explain why. What is it? The Lodge Solar Speaker Series 2 speaker (Lodge uses the lowercase “lodge” for their name—I won’t) is a waterproof, solar-powered outdoor (and indoor) speaker made to be left outside in the elements. The Lodge speaker is as close to a set-and-forget setup as possible. The Lodge speaker is not large but weighs a hefty 7.5 lbs. Its size is 10.5” X 6” X 7” HxWxD. Only one color choice is available—black with tasteful jade/gray trim bordering the edges. The reason black is the predominant color is that the sides, back, and top of the speaker are made of 180 sq. inches of solar panels. Solar panels ensure that power is available at all times. If left outdoors, there will be enough sun from day to day to max out the internal batteries for hours of listening. One hour of solar charging provides 2-3 hours of playtime (depending on volume, range, and other factors). Four small LED lights in the top panel indicate battery life. If there isn’t sufficient sunlight and the batteries are drained, the Lodge speaker can be recharged using an included USB-C to USB-B cable. The USB-C port sits at the rear of the speaker just under the rear solar panel. A small rubberized plug keeps water out. Lodge strongly recommends that the plug is in place at all times except when recharging via USB. The Lodge speaker can be placed outdoors and never be brought inside. The water and dust rating is IP66, meaning the speaker can endure a dust storm and hours of hard jets of water with no ill effects. However, after the speaker has been exposed for weeks, it may not look so great, but it should still perform great. Lodge provides a way for many Speakers to be connected in an audio chain. Up to 30 speakers can be set up using their proprietary “LodgeLink” mode. Connecting that many speakers will run into thousands of dollars, but I could see a case for connecting that many speakers in a commercial setup, such as hotel grounds or public gardens. Two Lodge speakers can be set up in true wireless stereo (TWS). Lodge did not provide two speakers for this review, so I can’t say how well it works. Note that LodgeLink mode is not true stereo, but it’s a party mode for connecting more than two speakers. Lodge also has a built-in bass boost feature. More on that later in the review. Lodge states that their speaker has the latest Bluetooth tech, but they don’t say what version of Bluetooth they use. The good news is that they have incorporated Auracast, the newest BT broadcasting technology, scheduled to be launched later this year. Auracast allows Bluetooth to be used in public places—for instance allowing the listener to hear a specific TV in a sports bar. Specifications • Weight: 7.5 lbs. • Size: 10.5” X 6” X 7” HxWxD • IP66 water/dustproof rating • LodgeLINK connection • Bluetooth • Auracast (when available) • 50-watt amplifier