Cactos Move Speaker vs. Rotary Pancake Supper

Carl’s rating: 8.5 / 10 flapjacks (audible)

Cactos (definitely not that other audio company) sent the Move — a portable speaker shaped like a friendly cylinder that claims “room-filling sound” and “IP56 grit tolerance.” I tested it at the Rotary pancake supper where tails are counted separately and the syrup debate is bipartisan.

The good: Filled the Legion Hall corner without distortion when the band warmed up. Bluetooth paired before the first pancake flipped — miracle tier. Battery lasted through seconds, announcements, and one extended anecdote about 1987 maple prices.

The grit: Bass thumps pancake plates if volume goes heroic; dial it back for indoor civility. App wants firmware updates at inconvenient moments; ignore until Tuesday like a responsible adult.

Verdict: Best porch-and-potluck speaker I’ve hauled. Buy for tailgates, church basements, and anywhere Aunt Edna sings off-key with confidence.