Built tough, Turtlebox created the ultimate outdoor and adventure speaker—fully waterproof, drop-proof, and with incredible volume and clarity. We first heard about Turtlebox back in 2020 when we took a look at the Gen 1 speaker. Since then, we saw the release of the Gen 2 and Turtelbox’s rise into a household name in the fly fishing, water sports, and hunting communities. We’ve been putting the speakers through the wringer—saltwater, rain, snow, and more. With a bombproof design and a community of passionate consumers behind them, Turtlebox was off to the races—so much so that the brand experienced 200% year-over-year growth in 2024. That begs the question, what’s next for a company pushing the bounds of outdoor speaker technology?
Recently, Turtlebox has been teasing its customers with a new, bigger version of its already popular waterproof speaker. The day has come when that speaker is finally here: enter the Grande. The Turtlebox Grande takes inspiration from its standard speaker and upsizes everything. This means a bigger woofer, bigger sound, and, of course, a good time on the water. We’ve seen this speaker pop up since AFFTA in 2024, when we got a first look at it, and have eagerly been waiting for this moment. In this first look, we dive into the new Turtlebox Grande and where we see this new speaker fitting in.
Turtlebox Grande Tech Specs:
TurtleBox
Grande
Key Features
- Speakers: 10-inch waterproof subwoofer, two class D amplifiers, and a 1.25-inch titanium tweeter
- Max Output: 126 decibels
- Bluetooth: Bluetooth 5.4 (“Party Mode” pairing with up to 100+ devices)
- Battery Life: 158 Watt-hours
- Weatherproofing: IP67 waterproof rating and ABS crush-proof rating
- Price: $699
Turtlebox took everything the original speaker does well and upsized it in the Grande. The result is a 10-inch woofer that produces up to 126 decibels of crisp and clean sound. In addition, the Grande’s release sees the much-anticipated Bluetooth 5.4. This technology allows users to seamlessly connect and enable party mode, connecting 100+ speakers simultaneously (previously, this was two speakers). With a bigger speaker comes increased battery life. Powered by a lithium-ion battery, users can expect 158 watt-hours, nearly double the Gen 2. Lastly, it wouldn’t be a Turtlebox without reliable weatherproofing. The Grande comes with an IP67 submersible shell and an ABS crush-proof exterior for rugged reliability.
First Impressions:
Over the past few years, seeing and playing with the Turtlebox Grande and its prototypes in the wild, we’ve come to a few conclusions. The first thing is size. The Grande is big, essentially double the size of the Gen 2. While you will get better volume and sound out of the Grande, if space is limited, choose carefully. That said, this is the only downside we see. The sound quality and output create an incredible user experience. With the added “Party Mode” pairing, you can create surround sound-like effects with a handful of speakers. In fact, it is so seamless we’ve found ourselves walking between speakers to make sure they were all connected—a good problem to have. The bigger size also comes with a much larger battery. While the Gen 2 has decent battery life, we anticipate no issues with the Grande. Just like its predecessors, the Grande comes ready to battle the elements. We’ve put Turtlebox speakers through the wringer—salt, sand, water, and ice with zero issues to speak of.
So, where does this beast of a speaker fit in? After careful consideration, here is where you’ll be seeing us with the Turtlebox Grande.
- On the Boat: Whether a drift boat, flats boat, or offshore boat, good tunes between spots can make a trip. We all know that one guy who has a knack for playing the right song at the right time. On boats with an engine, the added size and volume output have a crisp sound over engine noise.
- Camping Trips: Heading into the mountains with some friends to chase fish? We never leave home without a Turtlebox, and the Grande fits that bill. Nothing goes better than good music, laughs with friends, and some storytelling. With that said, the Grande does get loud, so be considerate of others.
- Backyard BBQ: If you want to be the king of backyard BBQs, a Grande should be on the top of your list. Its extended battery life and sound output mean you can set the tone for the entire event. Just make sure you have your playlist dialed in beforehand.
Final Thoughts
Turtlebox’s expansion of its product line is a refreshing site to see. The new Grande is certainly a beast of speaker, which is what it was designed to be. Users get impressive sound quality, output, battery life, and the same rugged design Turtlebox is known for. With a price point of $699, it is certainly an investment. However, there are plenty of speakers on the market with similar price points that are not waterproof and dropproof. All in all, the Turtlebox Grande is an exciting addition to the line-up and one we can’t wait to get out in the wild with.
