Bluetooth speakers
CHF899.–
Teufel Rockster Neo
36 h, Rechargeable battery operated, Electrical connection
Speaker review: the Teufel Rockster Neo delivers gut-punching sound
26.7.2025
Translation: Katherine Martin
Weighing almost 18 kilos, measuring 65 centimetres tall and reaching 130 decibels in volume, Teufel’s latest speaker has plenty of party potential. Especially if you’re a bass head. Why Teufel calls it «extremely portable», however, is a mystery to me.
Teufel already includes several large-format speakers in its range in the form of the Rockster series. The Rockster Neo is the latest, slightly smaller addition. Along with the Rockster and the Rockster Air 2, it’s part of the Berlin-based company’s party speaker line. The main difference between the Neo and its fellow speakers is that it boasts the typical characteristics of a traditional Bluetooth speaker. Not only does it have a rechargeable battery, but it also has Bluetooth and can connect to other speakers.
An outdoor party speaker
Unlike a classic, smaller Bluetooth speaker, the Neo’s suitable for large outdoor areas. However, since it measures in at 44 × 65 × 32 centimetres and weighs 17.4 kilogrammes, it isn’t built to be carried over long distances. So, Teufel’s definition of «portable» relates to the few metres between your car and the party location.
My concern that uneven ground (the bumpy pasture next to our mountain hut) and dodgy weather might be the Rockster’s downfall proved to be unfounded. The housing’s made of a mix of plastic and wood, the speaker’s very angular and its weight distribution makes it super stable. A large, protective grille on the front protects the components inside the speaker. Even the pasture’s dustiness and an inevitable beer spillage were no match for the Neo; the speaker’s protected against splash water and dust to IP44. If a storm were to start brewing, however, things would get dicey.
Controls: less is more
You can either use the controls directly on the Neo or operate it remotely via the Teufel Go App. I’m quite taken with the simple, clear control panel and its large, rubberised, lit-up buttons. This includes basic controls, such as the volume and play/pause, as well as the party link function and outdoor mode.
Source: Florian Bodoky
Party link allows you to connect several compatible Teufel speakers wirelessly – up to 100, apparently. The app gives you an overview of all paired devices. This allowed me to have the Neo blaring outdoors while the Boomster was blasting out the tunes indoors. Cool! Incidentally, the Neo can get considerably loud, emitting up to 130 decibels. Fortunately, we had plenty of space and not many neighbours. Even so, continuous exposure to that noise level doesn’t just take a toll on your hearing – it’s bad for battery life too.
The mountain button controls the outdoor mode. In defiance of my initial misgivings, the function does more than simply crank up the volume. Instead, it stops the sound from turning into droning, indistinguishable bass in noisier, less controlled places i.e. outdoors. It reduces the bass while pumping up the mids and highs. There are a few additional settings in the app, including an equaliser boasting various sound profiles. You also set and save your own ones.
Sound: Teufel is still bass-heavy
In true Teufel fashion, the Rockster Neo’s most striking feature is its bass. With a diameter of 30 centimetres, the subwoofer delivers powerful, room-filling bass, especially when playing electronic music, hip-hop or techno. The bass is so strong that I can really feel it in my body. The effect’s especially pronounced when I put the Neo on a surface that causes sound to resonate, such as a wooden floor. Although this is pretty fun, high levels of bass sometimes overpower the mids and highs. Depending on the style of music, this can be annoying. Sophisticated jazz or classical enthusiasts should go for a different speaker entirely or do some serious fine-tuning in the equaliser. When I tested the speaker, I used Windowlicker by Aphex Twin as an example track. In this song, ultra-deep basses blend with complex beat structures – and Rockster Neo brings them out in full force:
At the same time, this reveals a potential sticking point. At high volumes, the bass can get so dominant that it overpowers the mids and highs. In detailed, acoustic-heavy songs, the overall balance suffers, forcing me to adjust the equaliser before listening. A good example of this is Take Five by The Dave Brubeck Quartet. Although the piano and sax do come through in the track, they’re very low-key compared to the bass. The mids are slightly on the restrained side too.
At a subtle or medium volume, the trebles are surprisingly precise, differentiated and rich in detail. In Taro by Alt-J, the delicate hi-hats and percussion clearly stand out. This gives the piece a sense of lightness and transparency. At maximum volume, I can hear a certain sharpness or harshness.
I notice that in noisy environments, outdoor mode gives the treble an extra boost, ensuring you can still hear the music above wind, traffic sounds and background noise.
The battery just keeps on going
The Rockster Neo has a replaceable, lithium iron phosphate battery. It gives the speaker a runtime of up to 36 hours at medium volume. Bear in mind that you’ll lose runtime if you play music too loud for too long. If you do have the volume cranked up permanently, expect to get about half the specified runtime before you need to find a plug socket.
Source: Florian Bodoky
The cool thing is, the integrated eco mode reduces the maximum volume and bass, but allows runtimes of up to 56 hours. That’s seriously good. A compartment on the back of the speaker means the battery’s easy to replace. This is particularly handy if you want to use it for a long period of time and don’t have access to a plug socket. Replacement batteries will soon be available separately from the manufacturer.
Fancy singing? No problem
The speaker doesn’t just give you the chance to listen to music. The Rockster Neo also has a range of connections that make it more than just a Bluetooth speaker. Two XLR combo sockets on the back can be used to connect microphones or instruments. That way, you can either sing or play your own live music through the speaker.
Source: Florian Bodoky
There’s also an XLR output for connecting additional speakers. Plus, you can charge your mobile phone with the Neo via USB-C. The speaker has enough charging power for those kinds of devices, but it’s no substitute for mains power if you’re using them heavily. So, if I’m looking to give my devices a quick boost, I use a typical mains adapter.
In a nutshell
Heavy, pricey and awesome
The Teufel Rockster Neo is a large-format Bluetooth speaker with a big emphasis on high volume, strong bass and versatile connection options. It’s particularly well suited to being used outdoors, at events or as part of a larger setup made up of multiple speakers. The sound’s particularly pronounced in the bass range. Provided you don’t crank up the volume too loud, it does a good job of representing other frequency ranges too. With its long-lasting battery, it’s for people who’re keen to make serious noise and listen to music that heavily relies on bass. If you’re a jazz or classical fan, the Neo might not be your best choice. The speaker’s hefty weight is a limiting factor when it comes to portability, while its steep price tag poses another downside. However, if you’re looking for a speaker for stationary or semi-portable use and want high volume as well as numerous connection options, the Neo will be a good option for you.
Pro
- Loud
- Good battery
- Well made
- Decent sound
Contra
- Heavy
- Expensive
- Bass too dominant for delicate music
Header image: Florian Bodoky
I've been tinkering with digital networks ever since I found out how to activate both telephone channels on the ISDN card for greater bandwidth. As for the analogue variety, I've been doing that since I learned to talk. Though Winterthur is my adoptive home city, my heart still bleeds red and blue.
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