Klein AEPJS1 vs AEPJS2: Real Jobsite Test

I carry a speaker in my tool bag every single day. Music makes the day go fast. I used the old Klein AEPJS1 for years. Then I tried the new AEPJS2. I wanted to see if the new one was better. Here is what I found on the job.

Klein Tools AEPJS1 Review

I bought the AEPJS1 three years ago. I have the Klein Lighted Tool Bag. This speaker was made for it. It has a special lock on the back. You twist it onto the bag. It stays put. This was the main reason I bought it. I did not want to lose it.

For the first year, this orange box was great. It is small but loud. I tested it in a small room. I put it on a furnace. I turned it all the way up. The sound filled the room. The bass was okay. The voices were clear. This helps when fans are running nearby.

I really like the magnet on the back. It is very strong. I stick it to metal doors. I stick it to steel beams. I even stick it to my van. It never slides down. The buttons are big too. I can press them with gloves on. This is good when my hands are dirty.

Pros and Cons

After a while, I found some issues. The charging port is the biggest one. It uses an old plug called Micro-USB. My phone uses a new plug. My light uses a new plug. I have to keep one old cord just for this. If I lose that cord, the music stops. That is a pain.

It is tough though. I dropped it from a ladder once. It fell six feet onto concrete. It hit hard. It bounced and rolled. But it kept playing. The orange case got a scratch. But it did not crack.

I also look at the rubber cover. It covers the charge port. After a year, it got loose. It does not stay shut well now. This worries me in the rain. The box says it can take water spray. But I keep it dry just in case. The battery lasts a long time. It goes for about 10 hours. That gets me through a full day of work.

Klein Tools AEPJS2 Review

I bought the AEPJS2 a few months ago. I was tired of the old charging cord. The new one uses the same cord as my phone. That is a huge plus. The shape is different too. It is not a box. It is thin and flat.

The first thing I tested was the strap. The old one just had a magnet. This one has a strap with a magnet inside. I was not sure about it at first. I thought it might be weak. I was wrong. I wrapped it around a pipe. The magnet grabbed the pipe tight. The strap kept it there. I can point the speaker right at me.

I also used the nail hole. There is a hole at the top. I was in a room with wood studs. There was no metal. I put a screw in the wood. I hung the speaker on the screw. It worked great. You could not do that with the old one.

Pros and Cons

The sound is a bit better on this one. I played a podcast on both. The AEPJS2 sounds crisp. The voices are very clear. It is not much louder. But it is easier to hear. The noise does not get fuzzy when I turn it up.

Charging is so easy now. It has a USB-C port. I use my phone charger. It charges fast. It takes about two hours to fill up. This makes my life much easier. I do not need extra cords.

I check the strap hinge often. I bend it a lot. It seems strong so far. But it moves a lot. Moving parts can break. Also, the buttons are flat. They look nice. But they are hard to feel. I wear thick gloves. Sometimes I hit the wrong button. I pause the song by mistake. That can be annoying.

Detailed Comparison for Klein AEPJS1 vs AEPJS2

I have used both speakers a lot. I use them until they die. Then I charge them and do it again. They are both good tools. But they are different. Here is how they compare in real work.

Mounting Options

How you hang the speaker matters. The AEPJS1 is limited. It likes flat metal. It likes the Klein bag. If you have wood walls, it sits on the floor. That is not always good.

The AEPJS2 is better here. The strap is smart. I hang it on pipes. I hang it on door handles. I hang it on wire racks. The strap gives me choices. The magnet is still strong. But the strap helps it hold on round things. This is a big win for the new one.

Charging Speed

This is a big deal for me. The AEPJS1 feels old. It has the old port. I hate looking for that cable. The cover is hard to open too. I have to use a key to pry it open.

The AEPJS2 is modern. It uses USB-C. This is the new standard. I tested the range too. I left my phone in the truck. I walked away with the speakers. Both cut out at the same spot. It was about 30 feet away. The range is the same. But the charging is much better on the new one.

Toughness Test

I am hard on tools. I drop things. The AEPJS1 can take a 6-foot drop. I have done it. It sounds like a brick when it hits. It is heavy. But it survives.

The AEPJS2 can take a 9-foot drop. I tested this too. I knocked it off a lift. It hit a wood floor. It did not break. The flat shape helps. It does not hit as hard. But the water rating is lower. The old one can take a hose spray. The new one can only take rain. If you work in wet spots, the old one is safer.

Sound Quality

You need to hear it over work noise. The AEPJS1 has a lot of bass. But it gets muddy. Rock music can sound messy. The drums cover up the words.

The AEPJS2 is tuned well. It has less bass. But it has more clear sound. Voices pop out. I listen to talk shows a lot. They sound much better on the new one. I also used it for a phone call. The other person heard me well. The mic seems better on the AEPJS2.

Size and Shape

The shape matters for packing. The AEPJS1 is a cube. It is hard to put in a pocket. It sticks out. It takes up space in a bag. It is meant to clip on the outside.

The AEPJS2 is thin. It slides right into my back pocket. It fits in my leg pocket too. It feels lighter. It is easy to carry. When I mount it on a wall, it stays flat. I do not bump into it. This is good in tight halls.

Conclusion

If you have the specific tool bag, keep the AEPJS1. It fits the lock. That is cool. But for most people, the AEPJS2 is better. The strap is very useful. The sound is clear. The USB-C charging is a must. I use the AEPJS2 every day now. It is just easier to use.