Philips TAX5509/94 Party Speaker Review: Bass Lovers Rejoice, Audiophiles Stay Away

When a speaker stands nearly four feet tall and weighs close to 20 kilograms, it’s not trying to be hidden in the corner of your room. The Philips TAX5509/94 is a party speaker in the true sense, delivering not just room-shaking sound but also a dazzling light show, making up for a complete audiovisual experience. It claims to be the perfect entertainment hub for any gathering, but does it live up to the promise? Let’s find out.

Philips TAX5509/94 Party Speaker Review: Design & Build Quality

Standing at 110.5 cm (approximately 3.6 feet), the Philips party speaker makes its presence felt with a towering unit built from robust plastic (standard for the category) that feels sturdy and well-put-together.

Its 19 kg weight makes portability a major issue, but the party speaker unit includes a built-in handle at the back and a set of wheels on the base, allowing you to roll it from one room to another (moving it between floors is a different and slightly painful story). Given that the speaker doesn’t have a rechargeable battery, it’s actually a “movable” party speaker.

The command center is located at the top, with the giant volume knob in the center and a cluster of buttons around it, which includes controls for the bass, treble, microphone, and guitar levels, echo effects, and source selection, along with the buttons for the DJ effects and power on/off.

While the front side of the speaker comprises a durable mesh, the back side is plain and simple (except for the handle and the AC power input socket). At this price, you might get smaller party speakers with a rechargeable battery and a USB-C port, but this one doesn’t get that. I was surprised to see the dual-pin AC power socket on something after a long while, but it’s perfectly normal on party speakers this size. Check out the tech specs here.

Philips TAX5509/94 Party Speaker Review: Sound Quality

At the heart of the Philips TAX5509/94 Party Speaker are two 12-inch woofers (visible on the front), which deliver on their promise of powerful, thumping bass that can be felt. Press the Dynamic Bass Boost button, and the speaker will fill a large room or living room with deep, resonant lows. However, there are several instances when the bass feels overpowering (and slightly muddy).

Low-end aside, the party speaker also features one 3-inch midrange driver and another 4-inch tweeter, which helps prevent vocals and high-frequency sounds from being completely lost. Voices remain clear, and instruments are distinct, but there is noticeable distortion at higher volume levels. From what I feel, the speaker is tuned more for fun rather than critical, audiophile-grade listening, and that is precisely what it does.

While the total output (RMS) of the speaker is 130W, the maximum output is rated at 260W. Similar to how local peak brightness on smartphones applies to a tiny portion of the screen at any given time, 260W is the short-term maximum power that the driver units can handle for a brief time.

The 130W RMS output, on the other hand, is the average, continuous power that the device can handle, making it a better metric to gauge the loudness of the device. Speaking of loudness, the device gets loud enough for a living room or an open environment where the audience is seated close to a speaker.

Philips TAX5509/94 Party Speaker Review: Karaoke & Microphone Performance

A standout feature of the party speaker is the karaoke support. Yes! You can connect two 6.3mm microphones and one 6.3mm guitar, each with its own independent volume control. This makes the speaker an excellent choice for karaoke nights, whether at home or at venues such as hotels, lawns, and other public spaces.

The included microphone performs decently for casual use; you also receive a microphone in the box to get you started right away.

Philips TAX5509/94 Party Speaker Review: Additional Features

A noteworthy feature of the Philips party speaker is the full-speaker rainbow LED lights that pulse and shimmer in sync with the music, setting the party mood. You can choose from nine different light modes to match the song’s vibe or the occasion.

Then there are DJ Effects, another fun feature that includes six built-in sound effects, such as record scratches, air horns, and beat breaks. You can also assign the DJ Effects to the three preset buttons (with a short and a long press for different effects) for quick access.

While not essential for operation, you can also download and use the Philips Entertainment app with the device. It allows you to manage speaker functions, including music playback, sound control, light mode, and DJ effects.

Although I don’t remember the last time I listened to FM radio, the speaker can receive FM signals and supports 20 preset channels for those who still do. And yes, you can also connect two TAX5509/94 speakers for a true stereo setup.

Philips TAX5509/94 Party Speaker Review: Connectivity

The Philips TAX5509/94 Party Speaker offers multiple connectivity options, allowing you to play music from virtually any source. You get Bluetooth v5.3 for wireless playback (SBC), a USB-A port for MP3 playback from a flash drive, a 3.5mm audio-in port, two microphone slots (6.3mm), one guitar slot (6.3mm), and a TF or microSD card slot.

Review Verdict: Should You Buy the Philips TAX5509/94 Party Speaker?

Philips TAX5509/94 Party Speaker is an unapologetic party machine that sacrifices portability and audiophile nuance for raw power, thunderous bass, and a dazzling light show that makes a party more fun.

The speaker is a perfect option for buyers who frequently host parties, cafe owners, karaoke lovers, and anyone who needs to fill a large indoor or small outdoor space with loud music. However, if you need a portable speaker with its own battery or a perfectly balanced and rich sound signature, you may want to consider other options.

Smartprix ⭐ Rating: 7.6/10

• Design & Build: 8.5/10
• Portability: 7.0/10
• Sound Quality: 7.0/10
• Microphone Performance: 7.5/10
• Apps & Features: 8.0/10

First reviewed in October 2025.

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