There’s nothing sexy to report here. No breakthrough tech. No “game-changing” features. Honestly, not much to talk about at all — and that’s exactly why it’s worth talking about.
The Dart 2.0 is a $65 Bluetooth speaker. That’s it. And for plenty of golfers, that’s all they want.
A lot of us like having music on the course. And a lot of us don’t like spending more than we have to on accessories. That’s called a match.
Here’s what you get with the Dart 2.0: Straightforward design, dependable function, and a price that makes it easy to say yes. No more, no less. And for the right golfer, that’s about perfect.
First Impressions of the Pinned Dart 2.0
The Dart 2.0 is a small circular speaker that fits easily in the side pocket of any golf bag. It’s got a solid, rubberized body that feels like it can take some abuse.
The controls are simple and obvious, and it comes with two mounting options that give it a legitimate place in any round: A built-in magnet for cart play and a detachable carabiner clip for walking.
That combination is more unusual than you’d think. Plenty of speakers give you one option or the other, but not always both.
Here, you can stick it to a cart frame and know it won’t move, or clip it to a bag without adding noticeable weight or bulk.
Pinned also doesn’t make you settle for “black or nothing.” You get nine colors: Black, Gray, Navy, Red, Green, Pink, Gray Camo, Black Camo, and a USA stars-and-stripes version.
It’s not about fashion for me — I went with Navy — but if you want something brighter or louder, the options are there.
If you like the idea of music on the course (or around the grill, in the backyard, at the pool, or wherever else), but you hate the idea of spending more than $100, here's a great option.
It’s Just as Easy to Setup and Use as You’d Expect
If you’ve paired a Bluetooth device in the last five years, you already know how to use the Dart 2.0. Hold the power button, open your phone’s Bluetooth menu, tap the name, and you’re in.
I went from out of the box to playing music in under a minute without once looking at the instructions. And I think you can do it too.
The Dart can run solo, or you can pick up a second one and pair them for stereo. That process is slightly more involved — you disconnect both from your phone, pair them to each other, then reconnect your phone — but it’s simple once you know the steps.
I’ve tested Pinned’s stereo setup before with their larger Sound Stick, and it works the same here. One becomes the left channel, the other the right, and if you place them on opposite sides of a cart, you get a surprisingly immersive soundstage.
And to get stereo sound on the course for $130 total? That’s a solid deal, even only a tiny percentage of you would be interested in this.
On course, controls are minimal but functional. Play/pause, skip, and volume are handled with physical buttons that are easy to find without looking. Volume adjustments carry through to both speakers in stereo mode, so you don’t have to fiddle with each one individually.
How Does the Pinned Dart 2.0 Speaker Sound? Pretty Good!
For a speaker this size, the Dart 2.0’s sound is exactly where it should be. Clear enough to make moderate-volume music sound good, with just enough bass to keep things from feeling flat.
It’s not a party speaker. This is music for you and your group. That’s not a knock. In fact, I’d argue that’s a good thing. The Dart delivers enough volume to fill a cart or carry a few paces down the fairway without pushing into “turn that down” territory.
If you want deep, room-filling low end, you’ll need a larger speaker. But for a walking round or a casual round where you want music as the background, the balance of sound quality and size here is just right.
Battery Life Seems Solid
Pinned claims “10+ hours” on a charge, and I think that’s likely about right. I’ll admit that I haven’t yet pushed the testing to the limit. But I did play a long, slow round starting at what I’d estimate was about three-quarters of a charge, and I had no issue at all.
Charging is via USB-C, which is increasingly the standard. That means no special cables to lose, and if you forget to bring one, the same cord you use for your phone or other devices will work.
There’s Magic in the Simplicity With the Dart
What makes the Dart 2.0 easy to recommend is how little you think about it once you start playing. Walking or riding, it just works. The clip keeps it steady on a carry bag without swinging into your leg, and the magnet holds firm to a cart post or golf club without any risk of falling off.
And, obviously, this kind of speaker has all kinds of uses well beyond the golf course. I love a small, portable speaker with a clip and magnet for grilling, tailgating, hanging around a pool, or whatever else. It’s just the kind of speaker that comes in handy.
This isn’t a home theater replacement. It’s a portable, go-anywhere background music speaker. Golf just happens to be where it makes the most sense. But it’s definitely not the only place.
How Does it Compare to Its Main Competitors?
When it comes to the best speakers for the golf course, there are three main competitors that come to mind for the Pinned Dart 2.0.
Since this is a smaller speaker, I’m not looking at full GPS speakers like the Bushnell Wingman or Blue Tees Player+.
The main other options are:
- JBL Clip 5 (or 3 or 4 for that matter)
- Bushnell Wingman Mini
- Precision Pro Duo
Each of these has slight differences.
I think the sound in all of those is marginally better than the Pinned. Not by much, and not to the point that most people will notice.
Pinned Dart 2.0 vs. JBL Clip 5
The JBL Clip 5 is $60, so 5 bucks cheaper – but, and this is a big but, it doesn’t have a built in magnet.
So if you want one speaker that you can easily use when both carrying and when riding in a cart – I think it’s worth spending the extra 5 bucks for the magnet.
If you only carry, save the 5 bucks and get slightly better sound from the JBL and just get the Clip. And honestly, the Clip 3 and Clip 4 aren’t that much different – and you can find those for even less money.
I haven’t reviewed the most recent JBL Clip models, but here’s what I had to say about the Clip 3 at the time.
If you always carry and just want a portable easy to use bluetooth speaker for tunes on the coruse? Look no further.
Pinned Dart 2.0 vs Precision Pro Duo and Wingman Mini
I’m including the Duo and Mini in the same section here since they are honestly very similar products.
Both cost $109. Both have GPS yardages. Both have magnets and carabiners for walking and cart golfers.
Build quality is a bit better on the Bushnell, but you get customizable faceplates with the Precision Pro.
Personally, I think GPS yardages in speakers is kind of a gimmick and I rarely use the feature.
So in this case, I’d probably save close to 50% of your money and just go with the Pinned over these two.
Are you someone who likes to listen to music on the course, and you switch off between riding and walking your rounds? Then this is the golf speaker for you.
A solid golf bluetooth speaker. If you carry and want GPS yardages? This is a great option. But if you don't need the audible GPS? There are cheaper speakers that do a great job also.
Final Thoughts on the Pinned Dart 2.0 Golf Speaker
Let’s be real: The real standout feature here is the price.
It’s a $65 speaker. It’s well-built. It works. It’s got a clip and a magnet. It’s useful both on and off the golf course.
And guess what? A lot of people don’t need anything more than that. And for them, this speaker — in just about whatever color you can think of — is kind of a no-brainer.
If you like the idea of music on the course (or around the grill, in the backyard, at the pool, or wherever else), but you hate the idea of spending more than $100, here's a great option.
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It's fairly basic. But do you really need more?
Small, affordable, and ready for both walkers and riders, the Dart 2.0 keeps things simple and nails the execution. It's not a feature-packed GPS speaker, but if you just want portable, dependable sound on the course without spending more than you need to, it's an easy yes.
The Good
- Versatile mounting: magnet + detachable clip
- Nine color options
- Simple setup
- 10+ hour battery life
The Bad
- Average bass depth (expected for size)
- Stereo pairing setup could be more streamlined
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Presentation
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Performance
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Price
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Personal Affinity
