soundcore - Boom 2 SE

Currently have the SE version and picked it up today. Didn’t know it was a thing. What in particular is wrong about it?

The SE model is 30 watts, and has no lights, and the speaker set up is completely different. Apparently with Walmarts buying power. They wanted a boom 2, but wanted it dirt cheap. So they got the SE. Then sometime later you could get it free at the Verizon stores. Its speaker set up is the same as the motion boom but doesn’t sound near as good, and that speaker is usually 60 bucks on sale on Amazon. The real boom 2 is 80 watts has a woofer and tweeter set up plus lights in the passive radiators. It’s got the bass! Also both sold for the same price. I have here lately seen the SE heavily reduced. I really like jamming out to it, but I guess there are a few that don’t like it. It gets loud as heck too.

I've been using the Earfun Uboom L for a long while now for ALL of my bluetooth speaker needs (work desk, on the deck, around the fire, camping, in the garage, etc.). I really love the speaker, especially when paired with another in TWS. However, **I have been looking for something with a little more bass and fullness, especially when outdoors. I really value clarity, fullness, bass, and neutrality, in that order.** After some research on this subreddit, **I decided to try the Soundcore Boom 2**. I saw a video on youtube comparing the Boom 2 to the Boom 2 SE (Walmart's version of the Boom 2). **For those of you that don't know, the Boom 2 SE has two 2.76" full range drivers, where the regular Boom 2 has one 3.54" x 4.72" racetrack woofer and two .79" tweeters.** In the video, both speakers sounded good, with the Boom 2 having more bass, but also sounding a little muddy (loss of detail due to the loud bass). I decided to purchase the SE, which I got from Walmart for $79. The SE arrived and I compared it to my Uboom L. Inside and outside, near and far, with all different types of music (mainly jazz, lofi, synth, acoustic, and rock). **I will say that the SE sounded better than the Uboom L for the most part.** The bass was better, it was fuller, and clarity was similar. It was decent at low volumes (which is how I listen to music most of the time), but the Uboom L is king at ultra low volume (10-20%)! **One thing about the SE though, is that it kind of sounded like the music was coming from inside of the speaker.** I know that sounds silly, because of course it is coming from inside the speaker, but one of the best things about the Uboom L is that it sounds really open and airy like the music is coming from the air rather than from the speaker itself. I really love that quality. I also tried the Soundcore Motion 300 against the Uboom L too and although it sounded really good (more bass, fuller), it also wasn't as open and airy. So after testing, I decided to keep the SE for outdoor use as it seemed better for those needs. But....I was just too curious to know what the regular Boom 2 sounded like. Was it better? I had to be sure I picked the right one. So I bought the regular Boom 2 off Amazon for $99. It arrived and I tested it against the SE (inside/outside, near/far, etc.) and **WOW, the regular Boom 2 is so much better.** Yes it's bass is boomy, but you can adjust the EQ to tame that down. Once it is tamed down, **it is actually a really clear sounding speaker with great bass** (just what I was looking for!). And another great thing, **it actually sounds open and airy, like the music is NOT coming from a box.** I'm also really happy with the form factor. It's not too big. I tried the Uboom X as well, which sounded GREAT, but it was just too big for my needs. The Boom 2 is between the Uboom L and the Uboom X in size. Plus the flat rectangular box shape works well for laying it flat (like the Motion 300 or Bose Flex) for more of a 360 sound (though it needs a LOT of adjustment to make the sound OK in that orientation, and even then, it doesn't sound super). **It's actually a pretty directional speaker that does not sound as well off axis or in this upward orientation.** I'm really happy with it so far (maybe I'll get another for TWS!) and my recommendation for anyone would be to spend the extra $20 for the regular Boom 2 as it's really a lot better.

Titles says it. Big Bladee listener here and want a good bluetooth speaker for this type of music (multi layered, sample & melody heavy) I bought a Soundcore Boom 2 SE and already returned it. Couldn’t hear a majority of the layers in the music as opposed to when listening with headphones. Sounded so muddy. (Should I have played with the EQ settings?) Thx for your expertise. If you aren’t familiar with Bladee or that type of music then need not reply :) [EXAMPLE TRACK 1](https://youtu.be/2pQ8HyuTwOg?si=CkOcbFTVlxXZxRAQ) [EXAMPLE TRACK 2](https://youtu.be/eQpQtg0JE-8?si=HqMmCxJTGy2kPQUq)

avoid the SE version. thats the walmart nerfed version down to 30w instead of the 80w that boom 2 has. check your local verizon store its on sale.

You can't get much JBL for that little money. You'd be better off with something like a [$100 Soundcore Boom 2](https://www.speakerranking.com/top-recommended/) at those price levels. It absolutely destroys a $180 Charge 5

Soundcore boom is a weapon of the speaker

I like the soundcore boom handles way more actually. The Sony xg300 handle is kinda flexible and doesn’t hold as nice to me. It wobbles. And the thicker soundcore handles are more round, I would choose them everytime. Though portability is a thing, soundcore handles are fixed

If you own the boom 2, try getting another boom 2 and pair it? I think that if you own a working boom 2 right now, then that's the most bass you will get with $150 possible (2 paired together) Also make absolutely sure you're trying out different custom EQs. My boom and boom 2 sounded LIFELESS before EQing

Ah fair enough! Yeah I havnt ventured into any options for the next size up. I do think the boom 1 and 2 are really special for their size, with the right eq and song it still blows my mind, but I'm glad that the bigger ones are in fact putting out real work. I havnt paired 2 boons myself actually, it was just random advice since he wants more bass for $150, and I think he already has one of them. It does sound like he'd be better off saving a little more money and shopping out larger models at the $180-$250 range, cus idk what will make him much happier than the boom 2 for $150 rn (that's really worth the difference over Boom 2 I mean)

The Soundcore Booms are great speakers for the size and weight and really great when you factor in the cost. You may just want to grab a second one for parties and wider stereo. The next big step up is the Earfun Uboom X. Not as portable as a Motion Boom because of the extra weight but the bass output is unbeatable for the money. Sounds nice and you can EQ it to sound even better. I would love a Brane X for the small form factor and deep deep bass but $500 is not chump change! You can get a pair of Motion Boom 2 's for $140 and pair of Uboom X speakers for under $300.

I have a pair of Felx 2s, just sent back my Charge 5, and thought my Soundcore Boom was just "okay." The Charge 5 may have gotten a bit louder (outside)), but the sound from my Flex 2 was good enough that I bought a second one to pair it with. Together, they're loud, detailed, clear, and have plenty of low-end. I'm currently using them on a sailboat (Ericson 30+), and they sound great in the cabin down below as well as up in the cockpit when I'm sailing offshore (Pacific) or in San Francisco Bay. There are likely other contenders you should consider... But what's your budget?