Bosch takes the jobsite radio up a notch with these two Power Boxes. They can recharge your tools and more while you enjoy music at work. Let’s look at them both to see which will be the best for you.
Bosch PB360C Power Box Jobsite AM/FM Radio/Charger/Digital Media Stereo
Our first review is the Bosch PB360C Power Box, a premium jobsite radio that can do a lot more than play music. It comes with Bluetooth for control by the Bosch app or for streaming media from a smartphone or tablet. The PB360 that we’ll review below lacks Bluetooth.
First off, the PB360C is cube-shaped, protected by sturdy rubber and aluminum roll bars that double as handles. Even the backlit LCD screen has thin bars to protect it from accidents. Plus, the design is resistant to water and dust, perfect for use at a worksite.
On the top of the box, you’ll see four speakers positioned on each corner. There’s also a subwoofer on the bottom. This combination allows the sound to broadcast in all directions.
You can play AM or FM radio and save your pre-set channels thanks to two AA batteries. Users says reception is better than they’ve experienced with other jobsite radios. And because it has Bluetooth, you can switch the source input to a paired phone or other device and play music from there instead. In fact, the Bluetooth on the PB360C has an amazing range of up to 150 feet so you can keep your phone secure in your pocket.
If you don’t want to pair a device over Bluetooth, you can plug it into one of the two aux ports or the USB port and still play music. Then you can leave it in the storage bay out of sight while you work.
While the box is plugged into an electrical outlet, you can charge a power tool battery and your cell phone with the battery port and the USB jack. Or it can serve as a power strip to share one outlet’s power between 4 corded tools. The only limit is that the maximum amperage is 10A.
If you unplug the PB360C, you can power it with 14.4V or 18V Bosch battery packs. A 14.4V slim pack will power music playback for up to 4 hours, plus charge a device plugged into the USB port.
When your work day is done, cleanup is easy. There is a media bay where you can store the power cord and charging cables.
More features of the Bosch PB360S Power Box:
- Covered by a 1-year warranty
- Weighs 24 pounds
- Measures 14.5 x 14x 13.5 inches
- 26W of power
- Built-in adjustable equalizer
Bosch PB360S 18-Volt Lithium-Ion Power Box Jobsite Radio and Charger
There is only one difference between the PB360C and this model, the PB360S. The 360S lacks Bluetooth. If you want to play media other than AM or FM, you’ll need to connect a device to one of the inputs. There are various options like a USB port, an SD/MMC card slot, and two jacks for mp3 or CD players. You can plug in a device, then nestle inside the storage bay while you work. At the end of the day, just store any power cords or charging cables inside the same hatch.
Just like the other Power Box above, you can use it to charge a Bosch 14.4V or 18V battery once it’s connected to electricity. Or you can simply power the Box with a battery. The fat 18V packs can run the Power Box for up to 8 hours.
If you’re short on power outlets, plug the Power Box into the wall, then use its four power outlets as a power strip for all your tools. Just keep in mind that the maximum current is limited to 10A so it may not adequately power four tools at the same time.
More features of the Bosch PB360S Power Box:
- Covered by a 1-year warranty
- Weighs 24 pounds
- Measures 14.5 x 14x 13.5 inches
- 26W of power
- Built-in adjustable equalizer, 20 FM presets and 10 AM preset channels
Recommendation
If you choose either Bosch Power Box for your jobsite radio, you’ll have a handy and versatile device. But if you prefer playing media wirelessly instead of plugging in a device, you’ll want the Bluetooth capability of the Bosch PB360C.
Click here to purchase Bosch PB360C on Amazon.com!
Click here to purchase Bosch PB360S on Amazon.com!