I’m excited to tell you about a product I fell in love with, the moment I saw it. It’s called the ION Block Party Live and it’s literally a party in a box on wheels! It is a 50 watt speaker, includes a microphone, plays music via Bluetooth from your phone…and provides a disco light show! Oh, and did I mention it has its own app????
I first saw it during an evening press event at the Consumer Electronics Show a couple of years ago. We were in a dimmed ballroom with tons of companies showing off their latest tech innovations. The lights from the ION Block Party Live could be seen 20 feet up high on the ceiling as soon as I entered the room. They were magical.
Years ago I bought a similar speaker from ION…it had the microphone and speaker…on wheels, but no light show. The kids loved playing with it. But I’m telling you, the ION Block Party Live blows my old speaker away in terms of fun (the lights) and flexibility (Bluetooth).
Playing with the ION Block Party Live
Look at the patterns the Block Party Live projects onto the ceiling, the colorful lights really fills up the room!
We have had a blast playing with the ION Block Party Live. I have been coaching my daughter’s Odyssey of the Mind team and the kids decided to use the Block Party Live to depict “evils” coming out of Pandora’s box in the skit they are working on. Once they open their “box,” the lights go on, filling the room with multi-colored lights that add awe to their performance. It’s really quite brilliant.
Moving the Block Party Live is easy with the handle that extends out and the built-in wheels. We can easily move it around the house, into the garage, and outside to where it needs to be. And since the battery is rechargeable, we can even move it while the music is playing and the lights are on!
After our practices are over, the kids LOVE to turn off all of the lights and turn on the Block Party Live lights and project their music. Instantly, they have turned our garage into a disco! It becomes transformed, it’s really magical.
My daughter is turning 12 next month and having a sleepover with her best friends. You can bet that the ION Block Party Live will be a part of their activities. Perhaps even a little karaoke using the Block Party Live and You Tube for lyrics.
We also plan on using the Block Party Live when we have larger gatherings. Rather than increasing the sound of our voice, we can talk normally using the Block Party Live microphone to amplify our voice so that everyone can hear. It’s perfect for outside or large inside gatherings.
Party Rocker App
ION has created a free Party Rocker app to bring an extra level of fun to your Block Party Live. You can make the lights faster, turn on Beat Sync to have the lights match the music, or customize the lights and speed to your preference.
With the app, you can:
- Control the speed on how fast the lights swirl around the room
- Choose any combination of red, blue, green, or orange colors to display
- Turn lights on or off
- Create a strobe light effect
- Choose songs from your phone to play on the speaker
In this picture, we used the mobile app to keep the lights still, without flashing and swirling. Dependent upon your need you can mix things up and get creative with your Block Party Live!
Features:
- The speaker comes with built-in wheels
- A telescoping handle extends out to wheel the speaker around
- Has a battery you can charge so you don’t need power
- Powerful 50 watt 2-way speaker
- Stream music wirelessly from many Bluetooth tablet, smartphone, or other device
- Includes a mini-plug stereo input for laptops, mixers, MP3/CD player or other audio sources
- Pulsating light show can move to the beat of your music
- Custom app to control Block Party Live from afar
- Microphone with cable included
Pros:
- It’s rechargeable! The Block Party Live battery lasts up with 75 hours with music only or up to 6 hours with lights and music. No cords!
- Easy to wheel around
- Has great sound – can fill a room with music easily
- The light show steals the show – the multicolored light patterns fill the room with fun
- The app allows you to control the lighting modes remotely
- It really is a party in a box – roll this in a room and you’re ready to go
- Is great even as a microphone to amplify if talking in a crowded room or outside
- Kids love it!
Cons:
- It’s a bit heavy at 26 lbs. to load in your car, but it’s so easy to move around with the extended handle and wheels
- The Block Party Live is a bit pricey
- You can’t control both the music and the microphone sound from the app
The ION Block Party Live sells for $179.94 through Amazon with free shipping.
A Mom’s Perspective
The ION Block Party Live is a definite hit. It’s amazing how quickly you can transform an area into a fun festive atmosphere with the Block Party Live’s great sound and dazzling lights. Connecting via Bluetooth is easy, we have done with multiple phones and tablets. It is very user-friendly and easily adjustable. You can adjust the microphone separately from the music or only display red or blue, or green lights…or all together at once.
Whether you want to take your kids’ singing act on the road, liven up a dull night at home, make your child the star at their dorm, add pizzazz to your camping trip, or spice up your next gathering, the ION Block Party Rocker is the way to go!
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I bought a Party Rocker at Sam’s last year and we have gotten a ridiculous amount of use out of it. The kids LOVE it. We use it so much that I actually bought them for my cousin’s family and my brother in law’s family, too. Seems silly but it really puts out a lot of sound and the lights are a lot of fun!
What a great gift idea for a family present! It’s a gift that will get a lot of mileage!
You’re definitely the “fun” Aunt!