DeWalt TSTAK Bluetooth Radio+Charger Review

DeWalt TSTAK Bluetooth Radio+Charger Stacks Up Nicely

The DeWalt TSTAK Bluetooth Radio+Charger (DWST17510) packs an almost identical speaker package as the DeWalt ToughSystem Bluetooth radio with an updated interface and even app controls. With the promise of premium sound in a market that’s pushing the concept of sound quality higher, I set out to see what you can expect from this TSTAK compatible radio.

Pros

• TSTAK compatible design
• Very good sound quality
• AM/FM/Bluetooth/3.5mm connections with USB charging
• Uses AC power or DeWalt 12V/20V/FlexVolt batteries
• Charges DeWalt 12V/20V/FlexVolt batteries
• IP 54 rating

Cons

• App controls can use additional development
• Sound quality degrades in the last third of the volume range

DeWalt DWST17510 Key Features

Power It, Charge It

All of DeWalt’s most recent batteries can power the TSTAK radio—12V max, 20V max, and even FlexVolt. You’re also welcome to use AC power with the included cord to run the radio and charge whatever battery you have in it. The charging rate is 1.5A, the same as DeWalt’s basic 12V max/20V max charger.

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IP54 Rating

The DeWalt TSTAK Bluetooth Radio+Charger is built with an IP54 rating. That means dust won’t be able to get in enough to affect the radio’s operation—an essential characteristic for jobsite use. On the water protection side, the radio should be able to handle rain and splashing water to an extent, but I wouldn’t leave it out in a storm intentionally.

Get Connected

All the major connections are available for the DeWalt TSTAK radio. You have AM, FM, Bluetooth, and 3.5mm auxiliary connections. The USB port is charging only (2.1A fast charge) and won’t play media from a USB drive.

Keep it Under Control

The control panel is pretty simple to navigate without reaching for the manual. The combination of tactile and touch screen buttons along with on-screen indicators are easy to follow. If you get stuck, just hit the home (house icon) button to get back to start.

Both AM and FM have 12 presets to work with. The arrow buttons on the control panel let you flip from 1–6 or 7–12 with a third section that simply has all 12 in a list.

You can also download the TSTAK Connect app for some phone-based controls. You can adjust the volume, scan for stations, set presets, access your music library, check for firmware updates, and view the manual.

It’s somewhat helpful, but quirky. The DeWalt DWST17510 provides no AM controls if that’s what you prefer to listen to for one thing. What I’m not so crazy about is that I can only access the channels it picks up on scan, so I can’t hit the channels that it doesn’t. Of course, you can always dial those in from the radio, just not on the app.

From my perspective, I’d like to see more of an app system that mimics the full physical controls.

More About that Screen

The color screen is bright and easy to read, even though the letters and digits aren’t as large as some of the other radios we’ve tested. It’s a big step up from the ToughSystem’s version, though.

One of the really cool features is that it automatically flips the screen when you stand the radio up. Whether you set it flat or tall, you don’t have to perform any gymnastics to read it.

DeWalt TSTAK Bluetooth Radio Sound Quality

The DeWalt TSTAK Bluetooth Radio and Charger has 4 full-range speakers, an active subwoofer, and an assisted bass resonator to produce its sound. In the settings, you have control over highs, mids, and lows as 3 broad ranges. There aren’t any EQ presets.

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The speaker combination on the DeWalt DWST17510 delivers a pretty full sound that’s agreeably rich for a jobsite radio. Listening to a wide variety of music styles, I can pick out different vocal and musical levels easily. There’s a little bit of crispness missing, though. I notice it most where I should hear the crack of a snare drum or when fast lyrics get just a touch of muddling to them.

While I seem to get slightly better sound from the DeWalt ToughSystem radio, overall, the sound quality is still very good.

How Much Volume Do You Get?

Volume is a little two-sided for the DeWalt DWST17510 TSTAK radio. On one hand, it gets very loud—uncomfortably loud to listen to at its highest volume in our 800 square foot office. In fact, the subwoofer and bass resonator hit with enough power to bounce the radio across hard surfaces.

On the other hand, the sound quality starts to suffer as the volume increases. The loudest third of the volume range really loses the richness of the sound at lower volumes as the mids and highs struggle to be heard against lows that seem almost out of control.

DeWalt TStak Radio Price

The DeWalt TSTAK Bluetooth Radio+Charger runs $229.99 and we’ve even seen it for close to $200 on Amazon. That’s dead-on with where the ToughSystem Radio+Charger is. That’s not a surprise considering DeWalt is targeting a premium-quality music source for both storage systems.

When it comes to other premium sound options, the price is pretty solid. Makita has a smaller Bluetooth radio that doesn’t charge for $179 and Milwaukee’s Packout charging radio is higher at $299.

The Bottom Line

The final verdict is a bit of a mixed bag for the DeWalt TSTAK radio. On the one hand, it has very good sound quality with a refined design and control system. On the other, the sound quality really suffers at higher volumes and the app can use some work. Overall, I think it has more Pros than Cons, especially if you understand its limitations.

Buy it if you’re looking for a TSTAK compatible music source that provides quality sound. Pass if you’re looking for a solution that carries high sound quality to volume levels beyond what it takes to fill a large room.

DeWalt TSTAK Bluetooth Radio+Charger Specifications

• Model: DWST17510
• Power Source: DeWalt 12V max, 20V max, or FlexVolt batteries, AC (cord included)
• Connections: FM, AM, Bluetooth, Auxiliary port, USB (charging only)
• Speakers: 4 full-range, 1 active subwoofer, 1 assisted bass resonator
• Dimensions: 14.5″ x 21.125″
• Weight: 13.6 pounds
• Warranty: 3 years
• Price: $229.99