Introduction UE BOOM 2 is the 360-degree wireless Bluetooth speaker that blasts loud, insanely great sound with deep, powerful bass. UE...
Introduction
Specifications
- IPX7 waterproof - immersion in 1m for up to an hour
- Two 45mm drivers
- Bluetooth connectivity (A2DP) with a range of up to 33m
- Passive enabled NFC
- 15 hours play time with a recharge time of 2.5 hours for a full charge
- 67mm Ø x 180mm H
The Package
UE's styling extends all the way to the packaging. The big cylindrical boxes are somewhat of a trademark for BOOM speakers.
Bundle-wise, you get what is needed and nothing more. Just like the original, the BOOM 2 comes with a charger and cable.
App
When you first fire up the app, you are greeted by a clean-looking splash screen that allows you to quickly navigate to the most frequently used features, like double-up and the EQ.
The good thing about the UE BOOM app is that you do not have to use it much as the speaker stores all its settings, even though a lot of thought and design has gone into it. Even the double-up feature can be set to automatic, which makes doubling speakers up when they are within each other's proximity totally painless.
The EQ side of the app has been tweaked a few times since the BOOM was launched nearly three years ago, and it just works. The preset equalization options cover most scenarios, and you can even add your own custom option.
Inside the "More" tab are the deeper settings tab and some general information about the device. There are quite a few how-tos, and you can directly update the BOOM 2's firmware here. Updating the firmware used to be a bit bothersome as you had to hook it up to a PC, but UE introduced firmware updating via the app a while ago, which works perfectly on our Android 6.0 device.
You can fine-tune things in the app's settings tab, such as the name of the device and whether you want to burn some power in idle in favor of enabling power-on via Bluetooth (Bluetooth Smart).
The alarm is pretty standard, but useful.
Performance
The basic recipe for the BOOM's success has not been strayed from with the BOOM 2. The speaker configuration is the same as with the original, and eversince UE introduced a more advanced EQ in the app, you are able to get it to sound really good in a wide variety of situations.
Sound-projection-wise, the BOOM 2 equals the older model, which puts it a bit behind the bigger and badder UE MEGABOOM that is also way less wieldy. For a unit you want to carry with you, the UE BOOM 2 is pretty perfect as it is smallish at just 67mm Ø and 180mm high, which makes it very bag friendly.
Compared to the Creative Roar 2, the UE BOOM 2 is generally much better in terms of projection, and so is the MEGABOOM. The Roar 2 has the legs up in terms of how much deep bass it can pump out, but the benefits in projection and balance with the BOOM 2 make it a winner in all other categories. The midrange is less muddy on the BOOM 2 with even an odd EQ, and the fact that the BOOM 2 is largely unaffected by the shape and quality of the surface it stands on makes it a much better performer on the go.
UE's BOOM series speakers only feature Bluetooth (A2DP) and a mini-jack in. Fortunately, performance between these is pretty balanced since using the mini-jack in gives you roughly the same sound quality as going with Bluetooth and normal quality source material.
Another thing that is quite interesting with the BOOM 2 is that it will give you 15 hours of play time. In our tests with a full charge, we managed to do so with a normal mix of music at moderate in-door-type volume levels. With a charge time from completely empty to full of just 2.5 hours, it is pretty unlikely to run out of charge even when used for a full day. At a volume level that is more suitable for outdoor usage, you can expect around 10 hours of playtime depending on your EQ setting and type of music, which is really good.
Value & Conclusion
- The UE BOOM 2 sells for $199!
- Great design
- Lots of color and graphics options
- Good sound quality
- Portable and light weight
- Rugged
- Long play time (15 hours)
- IPX7 rated
- Expensive at $199
9.5 UE did a great job when updating the well-received BOOM to version 2. All the magic from the original is there and has been coupled with an app that has matured a lot since the launch of the original BOOM three years ago. The BOOM 2 is excellent at almost anything it does. It is light and has a size that makes it extremely practical while being rugged. The sound quality is more than good enough for both on-the-go use and for listening to radio and music while working around the house. The app allows you to tailor the sound to such an extent that it will work in pretty much any type of environment, be it in-doors or out.Since it is IPX7 (X is because it is not dust proof) certified, you can use it outside and in wet environments. It will survive submersion, but not much more than that. IPX7 should be more than good enough for handling the occasional heavy shower or drop into a pool, but do not forget to plug up its connectors at the bottom!Overall, the BOOM 2 is a brilliant little device that is available in a lot of good-looking colors.
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