Ultimate Ears is a US-based earphones and Bluetooth speaker manufacturer with an excellent track record of marketing high-quality audio products priced affordably.
The UE Wonderboom is a portable Bluetooth speaker that is built like a tank to withstand any abuse you throw at it and still function like brand new without any degradation in performance.
Design and Build Quality
The UE Wonderboom has a rounded cylindrical design with a soft rubber layer on the top and bottom and the center portion covered by tough nylon fabric mesh.
The build quality is excellent and the entire speaker feels like it’s built to last a lifetime. You can throw it around like paintballs and the device will still work as expected.
One of the main USP of this Bluetooth speaker is that it floats on the surface of the water. The next time you take the speaker to the lake or any other water body, don’t be afraid to be careless.
The single UE logo button on the top of this speaker acts as a control button. It can play/pause the music and when double pressed, skip songs for you.
The volume buttons placed on the fabric material are very responsive and tactile.
Speakers and Sound Quality
The UE Wonderboom, even though is marginally compact, houses two 40mm driver speakers alongside two passive radiators for better bass reproduction.
“Passive bass radiators physically move to and fro, improving the depth of lower-end bass notes coming out from the speaker enclosure.”
These speakers get sufficiently loud enough to make you enjoy the music outdoors.
The bass radiators do a good job of delivering rich bass that feels just right with the mids and excellent highs.
Being cylindrically shaped, the UE Wonderboom has a 360 degrees audio throw, and no matter what the orientation is, this speaker delivers equally loud sound in all directions.
There is an option to pair up two UE Wonderboom speakers for better stereo separation but not that you need the Wonderboom and not any other speakers from UE for this to work.
Connectivity
UE Wonderboom uses Bluetooth v4.1 for wireless connectivity with devices such as smartphones.
The signal reception of this Bluetooth speaker is exceptional and within a range of 100 ft, the device works unhindered.
There is no 3.5mm jack or a microphone for that matter for wired connectivity and voice calls respectively.
Battery Life
The battery pack inside this premium Bluetooth speaker will last for about 10 hours of music playback at 60% volume level.
The battery takes about 2.8 hours to juice up from 0 to 100%.
Since the device is charged by a micro USB port, you can plug it into a power bank during your travel and continue using it for days.
Verdict
The UE Wonderboom is a delightful product that delivers excellent build and sound quality in a small form factor.
Barring the presence of a microphone for voice calls, if you’re into wireless music listening, this device is a great choice for a budget under Rs.5000.