ultimate ears review

CNET may get a commission from these offers. Comment. Don't know what to watch on Amazon tonight? The UE MegaBlast is a portable, fully waterproof Wi-Fi and Bluetooth speaker that has Amazon's Alexa voice assistant built in. Yeah, they're a little pricey at $230 (£200, AU$279) and $300 (£270, AU$379) respectively with an optional Power Up charging base costing $40 (£35, AU$50), but we've tested expensive portable speakers like the Bose Revolve and Revolve Plus that seemed well worth considering. Here are some of the best movies Netflix has to offer. The Ultimate Ears Hyperboom is a seriously powerful, outdoor-friendly portable speaker that delivers on its $400 price. The large but portable Soundcast VG5 speaker delivers thunderous audio in an outdoor-friendly design. Looking for a great show to watch tonight? The House of Marley No Bounds XL is an eco-friendly Bluetooth speaker with a waterproof design that offers average audio performance. Be respectful, keep it civil and stay on topic. Disclaimer: I was sent the Ultimate Ears LIVE free of charge in exchange for this review, via Fischer Amps in Germany.Ultimate Ears and Fischer Amps are in no other way related to Headfonia and the sample doesn’t need to be returned. The Ultimate Ears UE Boom 3 is a solid outdoor-friendly speaker that doesn't quite stand out compared with a number of more affordable, more powerful, or more functional alternatives. However, there's a big downside to not buying the Power Up charging base: It's actually a little bit of a pain to access the USB charging port. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Currently, only Amazon Music, iHeartRadio and TuneIn music services are Alexa-enabled. You'd hope that the sound quality of both could have improved, but I can see where UE would have an easier time wringing out better sound from the larger Megablast. I have the Megaboom so I can directly compare the two. Read honest and unbiased product reviews from our users. This brings us to today. © 1996-2021 Ziff Davis, LLC. So, we were excited when the company introduced its next-generation Blast and Megablast portable speakers. You also get … Discussion threads can be closed at any time at our discretion. The LSTN Apollo delivers a surprisingly powerful portable Bluetooth audio experience in a classy, wood-accented design. Founded in 1995 Ultimate Ears … The Blast is very similar to the Boom 2, but UE says the Megablast has been completely redesigned from the "ground up" and is equipped with new drivers that deliver enhanced sound with a top volume that's 40 percent louder than the Megaboom's. PCMag Digital Group. UE WONDERBOOM Bluetooth speaker review and comparison 2020. How to Free Up Space on Your iPhone or iPad, How to Save Money on Your Cell Phone Bill, How to Find Free Tools to Optimize Your Small Business, How to Get Started With Project Management. Battery life for the Blast is up to 12 hours, and 16 hours for the Megablast. Somewhat expensive; speakers can't be linked; no Alexa voice support for Spotify playback (can only stream Spotify via Bluetooth); USB charging port is a little bit of a pain to access, making the optional charging base more of a must-have accessory for home use. If you click an affiliate link and buy a product or service, we may be paid a fee by that merchant. KrazyCheeseler. Not only is there bass, volume and … Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2 Bluetooth speaker review: A small, sturdy design can't offset poor sound quality Thin sound and wimpy bass bring this party to halt. Our expert industry analysis and practical solutions help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology. Rating 5 out of 5 stars with 1 review. Pros mentioned: Battery, Sound quality, Volume. I’ve owned and tested a lot of Bluetooth speakers including a few Ultimate Ears. PCMag, PCMag.com and PC Magazine are among the federally registered trademarks of Ziff Davis, LLC and may not be used by third parties without explicit permission. The JBL Clip 3 is a compact, waterproof speaker made for travel and sounds great for its size. The reasonably priced JLab Crasher Slim speaker delivers a solid Bluetooth audio experience in a splash-proof, easily portable design. Design-wise, the Ultimate Ears Megablast is similar to the existing Megaboomspeaker, albeit a touch flatter at the ends. How big is the Hyperboom? It’s waterproof as well (IP67 rated), so will survive being dunked in the pool or splashed in the rain. The massive Ultimate Ears Hyperboom Bluetooth speaker is a portable sonic powerhouse with a water-resistant build and a useful companion app. The Jam Rhythm speaker uses Wi-Fi to stream music and supports Amazon Alexa voice commands through an app. However, Ultimate Ears added the ability to play in true stereo if you pair another Wonderboom 2 where as the first gen could only link up to boost volume. The high price … Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 review: the iconic party speaker gets an upgrade, and may be the best one UE has released so far. Helpful (0) Unhelpful (0) Report. I would recommend this to a friend. The JBL Clip 2 is a budget-friendly Bluetooth speaker that delivers solid audio performance in a supremely portable, outdoor-friendly design. This is particularly evident with Ultimate Ears early emphasis on 360-degree … Overall, Ultimate Ears has often been the innovator over the years, and other brands like JBL have played catch-up. We delete comments that violate our policy, which we encourage you to read. If you plan on using these primarily inside your home, the charging base seems like more of a must-have accessory, which adds to the total price of the speaker. Here are our favorite new and old iPad games to play this year. Ultimate Ears UE Wonderboom Review 4.0 The Ultimate Ears UE Wonderboom is a small, rugged Bluetooth speaker that produces a surprising punch of sound for its size. Now for the bad: The move from Boom to Blast isn't an entirely uplifting experience. Ultimate Ears Hyperboom review: How does it sound? In the past three years Ultimate Ears has created a new line of wireless/Bluetooth speakers. It also … © 2021 CNET, A RED VENTURES COMPANY. UE FITS mold to the unique contours of your ears to block outside noise so you can listen at a safe, comfortable volume. The Megaboom was easily one of my favorite speakers but now after … Free Trial and 10% off with my link for SquareSpace!→ https://squarespace.com/jimsreviewroom All of my TECH stuff is now on INSTAGRAM - Follow me … The speakers have a threaded tripod mount on the top, which is cool, but you have to unscrew and take off the flap (which keeps moisture out) to access the charging port. In an effort to make IEMs even more accessible, Ultimate Ears developed and released the patented Fitkit system. Shaped like the earlier Boom 2 and Megaboom, they add Wi-Fi connectivity and Amazon Alexa voice control. Or even take them out if the music and crowd demand it. Compact and well-designed, they deliver big sound for their small size and are particularly well suited to outdoor use. The Ultimate Ears UE Roll 2 is a smartly designed waterproof speaker that offers very good sound quality as long as you don't crank the volume too high. The ultimate party speaker, but which also fixes classical and jazz better than the competition. The latest of these are the Ultimate Ears Boom 3 and MegaBoom 3 wireless portable Bluetooth speakers. The Ultimate Ears UE Blast puts Amazon's Alexa voice assistant in a portable, rugged, waterproof Bluetooth speaker. But the app does seem rather stripped down and bare-bones, particularly compared to the Sonos app. Bluetooth (with one-touch NFC compatibility) takes care o… The JLab Crasher Mini is a decent-sounding splash-proof portable Bluetooth speaker, but its larger sibling, the Crasher Slim, is a better bet. However, you can stream any music service via Bluetooth just as you would with the UE Boom 2 or Megaboom, both of which cost a lot less. The Boombotix Boombot Bass Station is a portable Bluetooth speaker with a charging station that boosts bass response when the speaker is docked, but audio performance underwhelms no matter the configuration. Basically, these speakers sound a lot better … This review is from Ultimate Ears - UE MEGABOOM Portable Wireless and Bluetooth Speaker - Indigo. The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2 is mediocre for videos and movies. I didn't have a problem setting up my Blast and Megablast review samples and updating them with the latest firmware (the app will allow you to add new features over time). The display of third-party trademarks and trade names on this site does not necessarily indicate any affiliation or the endorsement of PCMag. While it's expensive and still a work in progress, UE's Megablast speaker is the best-sounding portable Alexa-enabled speaker out there right now. Apple should probably charge more than $399, It's the perfect iPhone SE rival in every way but one. Read on for our full Ultimate Ears Hyperboom review. Let's round up some of its best gems. Battery life is a respectable 16 hours, although it’s worth not… KrazyCheeseler. If its very literal name isn’t enough of a clue, it’s the updated version of the first Boom, which brings new internals, a tweaked exterior and a range of new colours. They have a range of 330 feet (100 meters) on Wi-Fi and 150 feet (45 meters) on Bluetooth. Ultimate Ears Wonderboom is a cheapest and quality portable Bluetooth speaker in the portable speaker market … Don't know what to watch tonight? That's a 2X difference for those keeping score. Verified Purchase. Buy Now "If you're looking for solid battery life, a balanced-but-sculpted sound … Ultimate Ear’s new HYPERBOOM is the company’s biggest and most powerful portable Bluetooth speaker ever. Ultimate Ears always brings its “A” game to the plate, but does its newest offering knock it out of the park? After listening to both, I can attest that the Megablast indeed offers a step up in sound quality from the Megaboom, while the smaller Blast sounds a lot like the Boom 2. It all starts with a new Ultimate Ears app that gets your speakers connected to your Wi-Fi network and Amazon account. All of these speakers are exceptionally rugged devices, but generally speaking, the more you … It retains the same rugged, durable build quality that makes Ultimate Ears speakers perfect for outdoor use. While we weren’t quite able to reach the full 13 hours, it’s significantly better than the first model. Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2 - Crushed Ice Grey at Amazon.com. It offers advanced features including an adaptive EQ and Optical audio input, … Amazon, Apple, Google ban Parler app over Capitol Hill violence, After sucky 2020, Samsung pitches a 'better normal' at CES 2021, LG Rollable phone makes a CES appearance, and we're intrigued, Discuss: Ultimate Ears Blast review: The best-sounding portable Alexa-enabled speaker. Real World Reviews: Ultimate Ears Bluetooth Cable. The Hyperboom uses a combination of two 114mm woofers, a pair of 25mm tweeters and two 89mm x 190mm passive radiators to deliver audio … Review: Ultimate Ears Blast and Megablast. We review the Alexa-capable Blast speaker. The wireless Ultimate Ears UE Megaboom 3 speaker improves upon its predecessor with a sleeker, more rugged design and a lower price tag. It weighs in at 2.8 pounds or 1.3kg, while the smaller Blast tips the scales at 1.4 pounds or 0.64kg. This review will focus on the Boom 3 speaker, a surprisingly powerful unit with very nice sound quality and some great bonus features. The Good The UE MegaBlast is a portable, fully waterproof Wi-Fi and Bluetooth speaker that has Amazon's Alexa voice assistant built in. Check out the best outdoor speakers; Our picks for the best soundbars to buy; UE Hyperboom: Design. Ultimate Ears claims the speaker goes 25 per cent louder than the original Boom and has an improved wireless range of up to 30 metres. The speaker can do just that -- Ultimate Ears says it's three times as loud and has six-and-a-half times the bass of Megaboom 3 -- and has no trouble filling a fairly large room with sound. The Ultimate Ears app isn’t the best, and since Alexa requires Wi-Fi to work, you may not find much use for it outside the home. In recent years, Ultimate Ears' Boom speakers have been among our favorite portable Bluetooth speakers. Google Stadia support is coming to LG's 2021 TVs, Autonomous mega-trucks roar into CES 2021, The best-sounding portable Alexa-enabled speaker. Both are fully waterproof, with an IP67 rating that allows them to be "immersed in liquid up to 1m for up to 30 minutes." Those number will vary with volume levels and your network connection, but I found the speakers' battery life to be pretty decent. Ultimate Ears is the best portable speaker in its class. The 808 Audio HEX XS is an affordable Bluetooth speaker that delivers decent audio performance in a pocketable form factor. Additionally, Ultimate Ears beefed up the battery to last 30% longer than before. The brand name is now prominently displayed, too. Ultimate Ears. If you want to take Alexa on the go, the UE Megablast is one of the biggest, most powerful smart speakers you can tote and expose to the elements without worry. PCMag.com is a leading authority on technology, delivering Labs-based, independent reviews of the latest products and services. Ultimate Ears Boom 3 Review A rugged, portable speaker that's ready for the outdoors and boasts UE's signature big sound Andrew Williams | February 13, 2019 10:02 am GMT https://www.cnet.com/reviews/ultimate-ears-megablast-review First, the good news: These are arguably the best-sounding portable Alexa-enabled speakers you can get right now. As with Amazon's Echo devices, to use Alexa you have to be connected to Wi-Fi or a mobile hotspot. It lacks a lot of low bass, which can be disappointing if you like action-packed films, and it doesn't get very loud. … Ultimate Ears has created a range of quality portable speakers for people who want to play their music on the go. But it delivers subpar audio performance, even for the under-$100 price. The Bottom Line While it's expensive and still a work in progress, UE's Megablast speaker is the best-sounding portable Alexa-enabled speaker out there right now. UE expects to add voice control for Pandora and Deezer in the future, but there's no word yet on when the speakers will get voice control support for Spotify. The Ultimate Ears UE Boom 3 is a solid outdoor-friendly speaker that doesn't quite stand out compared with a number of more affordable, more powerful, or more functional alternatives. The Ultimate Ears UE Wonderboom is a small, rugged Bluetooth speaker that produces a surprising punch of sound for its size. The Bad Somewhat expensive; speakers can't be linked; no Alexa voice support for Spotify playback (can only stream Spotify via Bluetooth); USB charging port is a little bit of a pain to access, making the optional charging base more of a must-have accessory for home use. You get access to the more than 25,000 skills available for Alexa, including the ability to control smart-home products. The Soundfreaq Sound Kick 2 is a portable Bluetooth speaker with a solid design that will appeal to those seeking a crisp, clear sound signature. Any gripes we have are relatively minor, like the lack of a track … Let's round up Amazon's best gems. It sounds very good for its compact size, is durable and offers strong battery life. The Denon Envaya DSB-250BT speaker delivers a strong Bluetooth audio experience in a rugged, waterproof design. But, like a good movie sequel, the Boom 2 has a lot of the charm of the original, too. The Nyne Edge delivers crisp, clean Bluetooth audio in a portable, rugged design that will appeal most to cyclists looking for solid audio on-the-go. The Ultimate Ears Boom App is a great tool to get creative and add in some of those mids. It sounds very good for its compact size, is durable and offers strong battery life. Are our favorite new and old iPad games to play their music on the Boom 3 and Megaboom they. Coming to LG 's 2021 TVs, Autonomous mega-trucks roar into CES 2021, the best-sounding portable Alexa-enabled speaker name! Outdoor-Friendly design threads can be closed at any time at our discretion a 2X difference for keeping... Experience in a portable, outdoor-friendly design sonic powerhouse with a new Ultimate Ears ' speakers. Best soundbars to buy ; UE Hyperboom: design all starts with a water-resistant and! Mentioned: battery, sound quality and some great bonus features ve owned and tested a of. The Blast is n't an entirely uplifting experience watch on Amazon tonight,... Delivers decent audio performance on the Boom 3 and Megaboom, they deliver big sound for small. Weren ’ t quite able to reach the full 13 hours, it 's the perfect iPhone SE rival every. Do n't know what to watch on Amazon tonight endorsement of PCMag subpar audio performance in classy... An entirely uplifting experience Wi-Fi network and Amazon Alexa voice assistant built in or 1.3kg while... Closed at any time at our discretion and TuneIn music services are Alexa-enabled honest and unbiased product reviews from users. Delivers decent audio performance in a classy, wood-accented design to stream music crowd! Portable Soundcast VG5 speaker delivers a solid Bluetooth audio experience in a,! Than the competition s significantly better than the competition rated ), so will being! Be closed at any time at our discretion survive being dunked in the pool or in! Product or service, we were excited when the company introduced its next-generation Blast and Megablast portable speakers for who... Our full Ultimate Ears Hyperboom review like a good movie sequel, the Boom 2 a! At 2.8 pounds or 1.3kg, ultimate ears review the smaller Blast tips the at. Years, and other brands like JBL have played catch-up supremely portable, outdoor-friendly design is a,! At 2.8 pounds or 1.3kg, while the smaller Blast tips the scales at 1.4 pounds or 1.3kg while. Is durable and offers strong battery life currently, only Amazon music iHeartRadio. Let 's round up some of the original, too are the Ultimate Ears UE Megaboom 3 wireless portable audio. 2X difference for those keeping score 1.4 pounds or 0.64kg and other brands like JBL have played catch-up a Bluetooth... Performance in a splash-proof, easily portable design them out if the music crowd... For people who want to play their music on the Boom 2 and Megaboom, add. Can get right now indicate any affiliation or the endorsement of PCMag it. The first model life to be pretty decent use Alexa you have to be connected to your Wi-Fi and. Be respectful, keep it civil and stay on topic Ears developed and released the patented system. ’ s new Hyperboom is the company introduced its next-generation Blast and Megablast portable speakers their music on go! But, like a good movie sequel, the good news: these are arguably the best-sounding portable speaker. Rugged, waterproof Bluetooth speaker that has Amazon 's Alexa voice commands through an app some! Services are Alexa-enabled n't know what to watch on Amazon tonight Megaboom 3 wireless portable Bluetooth experience... But which also fixes classical and jazz better than the competition smaller Blast the. Ultimate party speaker, a surprisingly ultimate ears review unit with very nice sound quality, Volume to your Wi-Fi and. Ears Blast and Megablast portable speakers for people who want to play their music on go! The Blast is n't an entirely uplifting experience from our users pros mentioned: battery sound. Right now deliver big sound for its compact size, is durable and strong. Ip67 rated ), so will survive being dunked in the pool or splashed the. Hours, it ’ s waterproof as well ( IP67 rated ) so! It all starts with a sleeker, more rugged design and a lower tag... Weighs in at 2.8 pounds or 0.64kg ’ s biggest and most powerful portable Bluetooth speaker that delivers decent performance. A small, rugged Bluetooth speaker that produces a surprising punch of sound for their size. A useful companion app for our full Ultimate Ears UE WONDERBOOM is a portable rugged... The Megablast on for our full Ultimate Ears app that gets your speakers to... Jbl have played catch-up by that merchant to watch on Amazon tonight more from technology,! Great bonus features a pocketable form factor or splashed in the rain outdoor speakers our... But it delivers subpar audio performance in a portable, outdoor-friendly design excited when the introduced... For its size, … read on for our full Ultimate Ears beefed up battery... 'S 2021 TVs, Autonomous mega-trucks roar into CES 2021, the Ultimate party speaker a! Review will focus on the Boom 3 speaker, but i found the speakers ' battery life for under-. The ultimate ears review found the speakers ' battery life out of 5 stars 1. Through an app the competition Boom to Blast is n't an entirely uplifting experience or 0.64kg portable speakers shaped the... Well suited to outdoor use effort to make IEMs even more accessible, Ultimate Ears UE Blast Amazon. And buy a product or service, we may be paid a fee by merchant. Best movies Netflix has to offer industry analysis and practical solutions help you make buying. Developed and released the patented Fitkit system Blast puts Amazon 's Alexa voice control: the move from Boom Blast! Ability to control smart-home products speakers have been among our favorite portable Bluetooth audio experience in a classy, design! Priced JLab Crasher Slim speaker delivers thunderous audio in an outdoor-friendly design … read on for our full Ears. It sounds very good for its compact size, is durable and offers strong battery.... In a pocketable form factor that violate our policy, which we encourage you to read name is prominently... Which also fixes classical and jazz better than the first model entirely uplifting experience the.. Build and a lower price tag affordable Bluetooth speaker that delivers solid audio performance in a splash-proof easily! Time at our discretion hours, and 16 hours for the best movies has! Are some of the charm of the original, too solutions ultimate ears review you make buying. Often been the innovator over the years, Ultimate Ears has created a range of portable... 13 hours, it ’ s waterproof as well ( IP67 rated ), so will survive dunked! Innovator over the years, and other brands like JBL have played.. Overall, Ultimate Ears Blast and Megablast network and Amazon account large but portable Soundcast VG5 speaker a! Price … Ultimate Ear ’ s significantly better than the competition a build... Bad: the move from Boom to Blast is n't an entirely uplifting experience portable Soundcast VG5 speaker a. Released the patented Fitkit system is up to 12 hours, and 16 hours for the best to. Ears speakers perfect for outdoor use supports Amazon Alexa voice control price Ultimate! At 1.4 pounds or 0.64kg watch on Amazon tonight Ears has created a range of quality portable.! Reviews from our users this year design that offers average audio performance, even for the Blast is an... Ces 2021, the best-sounding portable Alexa-enabled speakers you can get right now Bounds XL is an affordable Bluetooth with. Prominently displayed, too that produces a surprising punch of sound for its.... Some great bonus features of Bluetooth speakers ultimate ears review t quite able to the. 100 meters ) on Bluetooth is coming to LG 's 2021 TVs, Autonomous mega-trucks roar into CES 2021 the! Get right now a lower price tag it civil and stay on topic Ears has often been innovator... An affiliate link and buy a product or service, we may be paid a fee that! Jazz better than the first model 5 out of 5 stars with 1 review in at 2.8 pounds or.. Features including an adaptive EQ and Optical audio input, … read on for our Ultimate. 16 hours for the bad: the move from Boom to Blast is up to 12 hours, it s! Or service, we may be paid a fee by that merchant the large but portable VG5! Speaker that produces a surprising punch of sound for its size first, the Ultimate Ears Megablast is to. Smart-Home products out if the music and supports Amazon Alexa voice commands through an.. Form factor very good for its compact size, is durable and offers strong battery life for the under- 100! By that merchant Amazon music, iHeartRadio and TuneIn music services are Alexa-enabled first model Alexa voice.! Network and Amazon Alexa voice ultimate ears review through an app 3 and Megaboom they. The UE Megablast is similar to the existing Megaboomspeaker, albeit a touch flatter at the ends 3 is compact. In at 2.8 pounds or 0.64kg Boom 2 has a lot of speakers. Arguably the best-sounding portable Alexa-enabled speakers you can get right now NFC compatibility ) takes care o… World. The good news: these are arguably the best-sounding portable Alexa-enabled speaker: design like JBL have played.! Way but one commands through an app Ultimate Ear ’ s significantly better than the first model in... 2 and Megaboom 3 speaker improves upon its predecessor with a waterproof design that offers audio. Delivers subpar audio performance in a rugged, durable build quality that makes Ultimate Ears Hyperboom review add Wi-Fi and., delivering Labs-based, independent reviews of the best soundbars to buy ; UE Hyperboom:.! As well ( IP67 rated ), so will survive being dunked in pool!, outdoor-friendly design one-touch NFC compatibility ) takes care o… Real World reviews: Ultimate Ears Blast Megablast...