Whether you’re rockin’ the jobsite, campsite, or maybe the garage, a stereo is an asset. That’s what the folks at Ryobi thought when they produced the 18V VERSE LINK Stereo (PCL601). In our latest review of the best jobsite radios, Ryobi got our nod as the radio providing the most volume on the jobsite. It does a number of other things really well, and I’ll go over the features of this radio as well as my take on its sound quality.
Ryobi VERSE LINK Stereo Design and Features
In my past life, I was a recording engineer and sound designer. We’re the guys (and gals) who add and edit the sounds you hear in feature films. I also served as the editor-in-chief of a once-popular home theater review publication. All that is to say that I know the difference between good and bad speakers and I’ve become rather good at spotting products that do well on a budget.
Ryobi gives you a 4-mode EQ with settings for Hi-Fi, Bass+, Treble+, and Voice. You don’t get any custom EQ capabilities, but overall I preferred the HiFi mode for the best sound quality when streaming audio from my phone. if you like audiobooks, the Voice setting might be your favorite. You toggle through EQ modes by pressing and holding the settings button on the front of the radio.
The LCD display uses a medium blocky font, which I found very visible with its bright green backlight. It dims to a lower level after 15 seconds of inactivity.
Power is supplied to this hybrid jobsite radio either by a Ryobi 18V battery or the 120V input using any extension cord. The battery port is exposed to the elements, though it does have a recessed port to protect against vertical water.
AM/FM Radio and Bluetooth Streaming
If you want, you can tune in FM (with 10 presets). More likely, you’ll want to stream audio via Bluetooth audio. When using it, the system reconnected near-instantly without having to revisit the settings on my iPhone 15 Pro. Ryobi gives you an integrated 2.0A USB charger on the front, which works regardless of whether the radio is being powered off 120V or battery (though it times out after 1 hour on battery power.)
Stereo Plus Subwoofer
Ryobi offers up more info than most on the specs behind their PCL601 jobsite radio. For example, it includes a 50W subwoofer. If you’re not already familiar, this type of speaker is designed to reproduce the lowest parts of the music—the bass and kick drum, for example. The two primary drivers run off a 15W amplifier—another spec most companies fail to divulge.
Ryobi LINK Compatibility
Physically, the Ryobi Verse Link jobsite radio lacks a roll cage but does integrate into the LINK system. It connected easily to our rolling toolbox and can also attach to a LINK wall system. A locking lever sits just below the side handle.
Ryobi VERSE Technology
As the name indicates, this stereo utilizes Ryobi’s VERSE technology. That means you can connect up to 100 of the platform’s related products without an app. You can, for example, connect to other VERSE LINK Stereo units, including the Ryobi Verse Clamp speaker. This lets you synchronize sound across multiple locations.
Listening Tests
The Ryobi Verse Link jobsite radio has crazy loud output. I actually couldn’t bear it at max volume inside the shop. No other radio I’ve tested plays this loud.
When streaming audio, the radio exhibits very punchy highs and bass with clear, though somewhat boxy, mids (you can hear this mostly clearly in male vocals). Ryobi also did the best in our testing at producing at least the harmonics of ultra-low bass frequencies. That means it offered something when bass frequencies dove below the practical ability of the speakers to reproduce.
Ryobi demonstrated the widest soundstage of all radios tested, with a nice, expansive stereo sound. Bass on Stevie Wonder’s Superstition really sounded awesome with bass and brass that carried with both clarity and volume.
The overall tonality of the Ryobi Verse Link speaker reflected emphasized treble and bass—much like the Rock mode on the Bosch radio.
Specs
- Model: Ryobi PCL601
- Battery: 18V (6.0Ah)
- Estimated runtime: 12 hrs
- Midrange wattage: 15W
- Subwoofer Wattage: 50W
- Weight: 15 lbs
Ryobi VERSE LINK Stereo Price
The PCL601 will retail as a bare tool for $199 and comes with Ryobi’s 3-year warranty.
Final Thoughts
Overall, Ryobi has a winner with its Verse Link jobsite radio. At $199, it represents a premium spend for those on the Ryobi 18V One+ platform, but the radio delivers where it counts. You get decent sound quality, lots of volume, and reliable connectivity for streaming and radio playback.
