Volume controls are slightly hidden but can be found on the top of the deck.
Volume controls are slightly hidden but can be found on the top of the deck.

With the recent emergence of portable speaker systems, SOL Republic joins the ranks with Deck, one of our favorites so far.

The Deck is simple, the exact reason we dig it so much. It’s got bells and whistles but not in a frightening, I don’t know how to use this damn thing way.

It’s a rectangle box that could fit in your pocket for easy travel, that is if you don’t wear extremely tight pants. Sorry hipsters. But if you do, the Deck is so lightweight you wont even notice it’s in your bag.

So what’s so awesome about this new system that others, like the Beats by Dre Pill or the Nixon Blaster (30-foot range), don’t offer? How about a 300-foot wireless range with the ability to pair with five devices at the touch of a button. Yeah, we see your jaw dropping. By teaming up with Motorola, SOL Republic gives you great distance through both NFC and Bluetooth.

From left to right you have your bluetooth multiple device pairing switch, aux in/out jack, charger and power button.
From left to right you have your bluetooth multiple device pairing switch, aux in/out jack, charger and power button.

The five device pairing feature is something we’ve never experienced until now. Say you’re kicking it at chill kegger on the beach and your homie just isn’t crushing the tunes. Yeah, we know the feeling. The dude just sucks at DJing and chicks are starting to get creeped out. All you have to do is whip out your smart phone, pair up with Deck and hit play to overtake your buddies vibe killing notes.

But beware, once the secrets out, you can be left battling for who gets to control of the music when you should just be relaxing. If you’re the owner, we suggest you flip it into single pair mode.

When it comes to sound quality, Deck’s outdoor mode helps boosts the highs and cuts the lows to fill open areas with crisp sound. Its battery lasts roughly 10 hours on a full charge and you can link it up with the traditional 3.5mm input/output jack if your not into the whole technology thing. If you are, you’ll dig being able to use it as a speaker phone when placing calls.

My favorite part, the voice prompts that alert you about battery life and pairing modes: “Deck is ready to pair” or “Battery Full” are cool ways to keep you informed when you don’t even expect it.

For only $200, Deck makes a worthy bid for a small portable speaker system that everyone can enjoy.

And yes, Deck comes in multiple colors.
And yes, Deck comes in multiple colors.
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