Ultimate Ears - EPICBOOM

From best to worst 1. Soundcore motion + 2. Klipsch nashville 3. Sony ult field 5 & tribit stormbox lava (tie) 4. Marshall emberton 3 & Bose soundlink flex 2 (tie) 5. Kef muo 6.tribit stormbox blast (OG) & Earfun uboom x(tie) 7. Soundcore boom 2 & x600 8. Harman kardon onyx studio 6 9. UE everboom, wonder boom & epicboom Soundcore motion + has been discontinued and has no ip dust rating Klipsch nashville, kef muo, bose soundlink flex 2, and harman kardon onyx studio 6 are mono format speakers Sony ult field 5, tribit stormbox lava & blast, earfun u boom x, Soundcore boom 2 & x600, UE epicboom and HK onyx studio 6 are all pretty large. The Marshall emberton 3, UE everboom & epic boom are 360⁰ speakers this is subjectively worse than a forward firing speaker for soundquality.

Frankly, even the Epicboom, I'm not at all convinced that it's really up to par. It sounds good, yes, but we are not at all at the level of ambition that JBL is today. It still lacks this depth, this lively, controlled and warm side that we find in other brands today. UE could do so much better if they really reworked their acoustics.

I've been using it indoors and outdoors for a few days now, and honestly, I think it deserves more recognition than some reviews suggest. Seriously. Power & Sound Effect It really packs a punch. It's not just "loud," it's expansive and enveloping. The sound easily fills the room with a real physical presence—controlled yet solid. At high volumes, I expected more distortion given some of the criticism… but in my experience, it remains very well-controlled as long as you don't constantly push it to 100%. Sound Signature & Balance This is clearly a fun and immersive speaker, not a neutral studio monitor. The bass is deep and not overpowering, with more body than some other models from the brand that sometimes lack it. It's not muddy. Clear mids, vocals stand out beautifully (pop, rap, podcasts, especially female voices). Clean, non-aggressive treble. It's true that some details can occasionally be a bit subdued, but it compensates with other details that some speakers lack, and excellent immersion. It emphasizes energy and presence. However, at very high volumes, some micro-details (instrument textures, subtle background noises) become slightly buried. It's not a major issue, but you can tell it prioritizes sheer volume over precise, detailed sound. On very dense tracks (heavy rock, compressed electronica), the soundstage becomes a bit more compact. On more open tracks, it breathes much better and reveals its full potential. In short: it's made for feeling alive and enjoying the music, not for dissecting every tiny detail. Price & Value for Money: The base price of around €379 is clearly ambitious. But on sale for around €299, that's when we start talking about truly good value for money. At this price, it becomes much more competitive in its category. Regarding the tests: I understand the logic of lab measurements and strict benchmarks. But in real-world use, between 70 and 85% of the volume, it's genuinely pleasant and well-balanced. Some of the scores seem a bit harsh if we're talking about everyday use rather than benchmark testing. Format & Use: 360° sound, practical for groups Good spatialization outdoors Robust construction and easy to move Very cool. Conclusion: Subjective rating: 4 stars. Not perfect, but clearly a bit underrated. At €299, it's a real bargain. At full price, it's debatable, but the sound experience remains very satisfying. I will present a short audio preview in a future post.

I understand the price/power argument. But in real-world use, balance and sound signature matter just as much as watts.

I don't think we can really talk about better or worse here. Each speaker has its own signature sound. Some impress with their power and massive bass, others with their balance and spatialization. Ultimately, it's the ear and the intended use that decide.

If you like the UE sound and design style, I'd go for a MEGABOOM 4 (maybe an EVERBOOM or EPICBOOM if you want something a little larger). The 360-degree design of the UE speakers is a real benefit IMO. And they all play nicely together in Party mode.

Ultimate Ears makes rugged speakers. I've had mine fall around a bit though never from a bike. I am not sure if any other company makes speakers that rugged. Tribit Stormbox Lava floats on water but it's huge for a bike. A UE Wonderboom or Wonderboom 2 might be better I think? Check them and the other speakers out. They're also mud resistant, have some shock resistance and float. The Wonderboom also has this lovely ring so you can hang it. Maybe they're just what you're looking for.

I can't comment on the Hyperboom as I've never heard one. However, I have heard various generations of the Boom and Megaboom and I can tell you that these definitely don't sound good at all.

I bought one of the Ultimate Ears Boom 2 years ago and have never needed to buy another. Great bit of kit, maybe you can find one NOS? 

Not really, it’s the sound in general. It’s not a great sounding speaker.

The ratings are done mostly from people who are not aware of what a good sounding speaker is like. Also, it’s hard to rate something when you’re not comparing it to anything else - if you never put the UE Boom side by side against a JBL charge, you’d always think your UE sounds great

I don’t think it has a better design. Many would say it’s based on preference, but in reality, the UE Boom is much more compact and rugged (the whole point of a portable speaker), and its a shame really that they’re not pushing the sound of a JBL

That’s the thing. You think they’re amazing until you put your megabooms against a JBL charge. You’re of course going to think they’re insanely good. It’s like giving someone a sweet, and they think that’s the best thing ever, until you give them hardcore drugs like heroin, they’re gonna love that shit much more than they love sweets

It’s a shame really cause they have a great design and durability. Wish the sound was on par with JBL’s

I have 2 ultimate ears Booms (thought I lost the first one so I bought a second). I have had them for about 10 and 6 years respectively. They have the same sound quality and battery performance as they did the day I bought them. I use one for about 3 hours each day and it usually lasts about a week - a week and a half.

Yesss I’ve had my first one for 10 years, second for 7ish, and they’re stellar. The app is great too

I’m 10 and 7 years on my two booms respectively

Been using the Ultimate Ears Boom for a while now and they’ve been great! Got a second the a bigger one because of how much I liked them.