Flex Integrates a New Jobsite Radio Into the Stack Pack Lineup
Music is an essential part of my workday, and most of the time, I simply reach for my earbuds. However, earbuds or headphones can present potential safety hazards on busy jobsites or around heavy equipment. This is where the Flex 24V Stack Pack Radio comes into play, but is it right for you? Let’s find out!
Pros
- Broad feature set
- 150-foot Bluetooth range
- Easily pairs with another unit for a more complete sound
- Pass through battery charging
- Good sound quality
- Simple Bluetooth pairing process
- Hybrid AC/battery power
Cons
- Poor reception indoors
- Heavy
Flex 24V Stack Pack Radio Performance
- Modes: AM, FM, Bluetooth, AUX
- Bluetooth Connectivity Range: 150 ft.
- Charging Ports: USB-A 1.0A, USB-C 2.1A
Sound Quality
The Flex FX5361 is equipped with AM/FM transmitters, a 3.5mm AUX port, and Bluetooth 5.0 so you can stream your favorite tunes. This radio sports a 5.25-inch subwoofer and dual full-range 1.5-inch tweeters, providing a smooth, balanced sound. The integrated equalizer lets you customize the bass and treble settings.
Overall, the audio quality is good, but it’s not as clear as some of the other speakers and radios I’ve tested. The lows and mids come through pretty well, but I ended up needing to increase the treble in order to get more clarity on the vocals. I won’t say the sound is muffled, but it’s not as crisp and clean as a premium audio system.
While the top-end volume is pretty impressive, I did notice some distortion starting to set in when listening to my local FM Rock station. Even while streaming Soundgarden’s “Black Hole Sun”, the audio started to crackle at max volume. With that said, this radio has 30 volume levels, and I found that level 10 was more than enough to fill our shop with sound, and level 20 was still audible from 100 feet away. You can certainly go higher, but once you hit level 25, distortion is more likely to occur.
One thing I like about this radio is that it produces nearly 360° sound because the speakers are on almost every side. This means you won’t need to reposition the speaker every time you walk around the jobsite.
Radio Reception
One of the key things we evaluate on jobsite radios is reception. While the FX5361 is Bluetooth and AUX compatible, many tradesmen still rely on good ol’ radio for the sheer simplicity.
To test the FM reception, I set the radio on the floor of the Pro Tool Reviews shop and then moved outside for comparison. Inside, Flex struggled to maintain a clear signal across a variety of stations and even cut out completely when I put my hand on the control panel.
Outside, the signal came in loud and clear, but I noticed some interference when I stood too close to the front of the radio. Another thing to be aware of is that the signal was slightly weaker when I put a few Stack Out boxes on top of the radio.
Radio Presets
Like most radios, Flex has five station presets for the AM and FM frequencies. Press and hold the play/pause button to store a station until the preset number flashes on the display. Then press either seek button to select which pre-set number you wish to assign to the station. Last, press the play/pause button to lock in your selection. You can always overwrite the stations by following the same steps.
Bluetooth Connectivity
The convenience of a Bluetooth connection cannot be understated, but the connectivity range is very important for radios and speakers. Flex gives you about 150 feet of range, which is pretty good compared to similar models.
During my testing, I backed away from the radio until the signal started breaking up so I could test the Bluetooth connectivity. Even at that distance, I was able to adjust the volume and connect to the radio without issue. I did notice that this signal was affected by obstructions, meaning that a clear line of sight provides the best reception. Regardless, it did well during this test.
You can also pair two FX5361 units using Bluetooth to become a True Wireless Stereo system. While we’ve seen this kind of connectivity in smaller units, it isn’t something most full-size jobsite radios are capable of.
Flex 24V Stack Pack Radio Design
- Model: Flex FX5361
- Power Source: Flex 24V battery or AC power
- Weight: 18.4 lbs (bare tool)
- Dimensions (L x W x H): 23 x 15.4 x 7.1 in.
Size and Weight
The Flex Stack Pack radio has a bare weight of 18.4 pounds. That’s slightly heavier than average, but for good reason. Flex built this radio to withstand the intense rigors of the jobsite by giving it reinforced corner handles that give it extra protection and make it easy to carry.
As the name suggests, this radio is compatible with select Flex Stack Pack boxes, so it has a similar size profile. It measures 23 inches across, 15.35 inches wide, and 7.1 inches tall. This is quite large for a jobsite radio, but the fact that it attaches directly to the Stack Pack boxes and you can connect additional pieces on top of it greatly outweighs any concerns about the size.
Control Panel
The control panel is pretty straightforward, but there are a few things to know before getting started. The power button requires a long press to boot up this radio. A short press puts it in standby mode when you want to pause playback or let it eventually shut off. The reverse contrast white-on-black LCD display is actually very hard to see unless you look at it from the correct angle, especially in direct sunlight.
Power Options
As we saw with the Milwaukee M18 Packout Radio, Flex offers two power options for this radio: a 24V battery or the onboard AC power cord. This setup is convenient because it gives you total freedom to take this radio wherever you want, regardless of available power. Additionally, the battery port doubles as a pass-through charger while using AC power.
Flex gives this radio an IP64 rating, meaning it’s protected from dust and water but should not be submerged.
Currently, Flex doesn’t list specific runtime estimates for cordless operation. However, based on our experience with similar jobsite radios, I believe all-day runtime is well within grasp with most of Flex’s batteries.
Additional Features
- Bottle opener
- Compatible with all Flex 24V batteries
Flex 24V Stack Pack Radio Price
The Flex FX5361 retails for $299 as a bare tool and comes with a limited lifetime warranty. Just be sure to register the radio with Flex within 30 days of purchase.
The Bottom Line
After getting some hands-on time with the Flex Stack Pack Radio, it’s clear that the design team put a lot of thought into developing it to compete against the best in the business. This radio offers good sound quality, reliable Bluetooth connectivity, and the convenience of dual power sources. While it did struggle with radio reception inside the shop, its durable design and broad feature set help make up for it. Whether you’re already using the Stack Pack system or simply want to add a durable radio to your tool arsenal, you won’t be disappointed with Flex’s flagship jobsite radio.
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