Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

UE’s Epicboom is a powerful, portable, pool-proof speaker

By Simon Cohen September 6, 2023

Ultimate Ears Epicboom in two color options. — Ultimate Ears

Ultimate Ears (UE) has added another Bluetooth speaker to its portable family of Boom products: the $350 Epicboom, which hits ultimateears.com on September 6, and then additional retailers on September 22. Available in two color choices, The new speaker fills the size and power gap between the Megaboom 3 and the giant Hyperboom, while boasting impressive ruggedness.

Like the rest of the Boom family, the Epicboom is designed to offer 360-degree sound and the company says the speaker’s oval shape helps by offering a larger internal acoustic volume than the cylindrical design of the Boom 3 and Megaboom 3. It has two 1.5-inch active mid-high frequency transducers and a 4.6-inch woofer, which UE claims will deliver loud, bassy sound.

Ultimate Ears Epicboom floating in a hot tub. — Ultimate Ears

With an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, the Epicboom should be able to survive any beach party, including being submerged underwater (as long as you rinse off the saltwater afterward). Plus, it floats, making it a good pool companion too.

The speaker offers tap-to-pair via NFC if you’re using an Android 8.0 or higher phone, and the free UE Boom app for iOS and Android gives you several additional features. You can combine the Epicboom with any Boom, Megaboom, or Hyperboom speakers using the PartyUp option, adjust the speaker’s EQ presets (Signature, Bass Boost, Game/Cinema, Podcast/Vocal, and the new Deep Relaxation mode), manually adjust the sound with an equalizer, and choose Outdoor Boost mode for additional bass response when outside.

Ultimate Ears Epicboom seen with other UE Boom speakers. — Ultimate Ears speakers, (from left): Boom 3, Megaboom 3, Hyperboom, and Epicboom. Ultimate Ears

Speaking of EQ, you can choose to let the Epicboom do the heavy lifting. Using its onboard mics, the speaker’s adaptive EQ can constantly monitor surrounding conditions and choose the best settings automatically.

It looks like the Epicboom might be one of the more sustainable choices when it comes to portable speakers. UE says it’s made of 100% post-consumer recycled polyester fabric and 59% post-consumer recycled plastic, in addition to being packaged in fully recyclable material.

The one area where the Epicboom doesn’t quite outshine its Boom family siblings is its battery life. Rated at a claimed 17 hours, it can still get you through a full day, but it’s not as robust as the Megaboom 3 (20 hours) or the Hyperboom (24 hours).

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Tech News

Contributing Editor, A/V

Simon Cohen covers a variety of consumer technologies, but has a special interest in audio and video products, like spatial…

Audio / Video

Soundcore’s new Motion speakers are tough little portables with hi-res sound

Anker Soundcore Motion 300 in black.

Anker Soundcore Motion 300. Anker Soundcore

Anker Soundcore has two new portable and rugged Bluetooth speakers that fall under the Motion family of products: the $80 Motion 300 and the $60 Motion 100. The metal-clad speakers come in three color choices and feature support for hi-res audio. They will be available later this fall -- you can buy the Motion 300 on October 9 (black only), with the other two colors coming in November/December. The black version of the Motion 100 will be available in November, with its two other colors coming in early 2024, according to Anker.

Audio / Video

Sonos Move 2: Sonos’ biggest portable speaker gets a big update

Sonos Move 2 in olive.

Sonos has unveiled the latest version of its Move portable smart speaker -- the Move 2. It looks nearly identical to the original Sonos Move, yet contains several updates that bring it in line with the company's recently released Era 100 and Era 300 speakers. The Move 2 has been priced at $449, a $50 increase over the previous model, and will be available starting September 20, 2023, in a wide selection of countries. The Move 2 replaces the first-gen speaker, though Sonos will continue to sell the original Move while inventory remains, so you may want to keep an eye open for some deep discounts.

At a distance, you can't tell the Move and Move 2 apart, well, unless the Move 2 shows up in its new color option -- olive. The Move 2 is a hair bigger, but it still weighs the same 6.61 pounds. Sonos has kept the same rubberized no-slip base as well as the integrated carry handle on the back. As with the original, the Move 2 is built for the outdoors with an IP56 rating for dust and water resistance.

Audio / Video

B&O’s picnic basket speaker pumps out 280 watts of power while it charges your phone

Bang & Olufsen Beosound A5 in natural aluminum/light oak.

No, the iconic Danish audio company Bang & Olufsen (B&O) does not refer to its new Beosound A5 portable speaker as a picnic basket, but one look at the photos and the comparison becomes unavoidable. Still, picnic basket looks or not, the A5 packs an impressive array of design and technology, which given its starting price of $1,049, you'd hope would be the case. You can buy the Beosound A5 starting April 27 in stores and online at bang-olufsen.com.

B&O says the A5, which comes in two colors (natural aluminum/light oak and black aluminum/dark oak), is the result of a collaboration with the Danish-Italian design team, GamFratesi. It's got an IP65 rating for dust and water resistance, and most of the parts -- including the exterior grilles and the handle -- can be easily replaced or swapped out. As part of B&O's Mozart family of products, even the A5's communication module can be upgraded over time.