We've currently tested 12 Ultimate Ears speakers. Ultimate Ears is an American brand that manufactures audio products like speakers, headphones, and earbuds. Their speakers are very well-built and portable, making them well-suited for outdoor use. Also, many are compatible with the Ultimate Ears app, which has sound customization features like a graphic EQ. Ultimate Ears speakers often don't have voice assistant support or Wi-Fi compatibility.
Updates
- 02/10/2025 Ultimate Ears EPICBOOM updated
- 10/17/2024 Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM PLAY reviewed
- 10/09/2024 Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 4 reviewed
- 10/03/2024 Ultimate Ears EVERBOOM reviewed
- 09/27/2024 Ultimate Ears BOOM 4 reviewed
-
Best Ultimate Ears Speaker
Music7.6Videos/Movies6.9Podcasts8.0Voice Assistant3.1Outdoors8.1Battery PoweredYesSpeakerphoneNoVoice AssistantNoBluetoothYesWi-FiNoThe best UE speaker we've tested is the Ultimate Ears HYPERBOOM. It's a premium Bluetooth speaker with great sound quality for listening to your favorite tunes. Thanks to its hefty build, this speaker easily reproduces the deep thump and rumble in the bass, which is great for genres like EDM and hip-hop. Voices and lead instruments also clearly reproduce, making it suitable for many other genres. Like most premium speakers on the market, there's even a room correction feature that automatically optimizes its audio reproduction based on the unique acoustic characteristics of your room.
You can also manually adjust the speaker's performance using its graphic EQ. Traditional EQ preset modes like Bass Boost and Podcast are also available through the companion app if you want an easier way to switch up its sound. Plus, the speaker's portable enough to listen to your favorite tunes on the go. Its built-in carrying strap makes it easier to transport, and it's even rated IPX4 for water resistance, meaning it can withstand light exposure to the elements. No matter where you go, its over 23-hour battery life ensures you can keep the party going well into the night.
-
Best Upper Mid-Range Ultimate Ears Speaker
Music7.4Videos/Movies6.5Podcasts7.8Voice Assistant3.3Outdoors8.0Battery PoweredYesSpeakerphoneNoVoice AssistantNoBluetoothYesWi-FiNoThe Ultimate Ears EPICBOOM is a great choice if you're looking for a premium speaker at a more affordable price. It's another portable Bluetooth speaker designed for indoor and outdoor use, with an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance to protect it against the elements. Its sound quality isn't quite as impressive as the Ultimate Ears HYPERBOOM right out of the box, as it has a slightly warm sound profile that slightly muddies vocals and lead instruments. Still, it's more than suitable for listening to all your favorite music.
This speaker comes with lots of premium sound enhancement features. Its Adaptive EQ works as a room correction tool to optimize its sound based on the unique acoustics of your listening space. Plus, if you prefer manually adjusting its sound, there's a graphic EQ and presets. Its Outdoor Mode is even designed to amplify sound across larger, more open spaces, like a backyard. Compared to the Ultimate Ears HYPERBOOM, this speaker's battery life isn't quite as long, lasting around 15 hours off a single charge. However, that's more than enough for all but the longest days outside.
-
Best Mid-Range Ultimate Ears Speaker
Music7.1Videos/Movies6.4Podcasts7.2Voice Assistant3.0Outdoors7.8Battery PoweredYesSpeakerphoneNoVoice AssistantNoBluetoothYesWi-FiNoIf you're looking for a more affordable Ultimate Ears speaker, consider the Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 4. Despite its more budget-friendly price, it's still a versatile speaker, and its smaller and more compact size makes it one of the best UE speakers for bringing your favorite tunes with you on the go. This cylindrical Bluetooth speaker is available in several colors and has a solid and sturdy build, with an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance to protect it from the elements. It's small and lightweight, so you can easily carry it in one hand or use its built-in hook to attach it to your bag.
Unlike the Ultimate Ears EPICBOOM, this speaker lacks a room correction feature, so it may sound slightly different depending on the size and layout of your room. With its graphic EQ, you can manually adjust its sound profile or use one of its multiple preset modes to get the best possible sound. It brings a little extra boom in the high-bass and is loud enough to fill larger, more open spaces with sound. Its battery life lasts around twenty hours, too, which is great for longer days out and about.
-
Best Budget Ultimate Ears Speaker
Music6.8Videos/Movies6.4Podcasts8.0Voice Assistant3.2Outdoors7.9Battery PoweredYesSpeakerphoneNoVoice AssistantNoBluetoothYesWi-FiNoThe Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 4 is our pick for the budget category. This portable Bluetooth speaker will take the party with you wherever you go, with a small and lightweight design that's easy to transport. Use the built-in hook to strap it onto your bag or carry it in one hand on your next trip outdoors. It's rated IP67 for dust and water resistance, and the manufacturer even says it can float in water, making it an excellent choice for your next pool party. Its 13-hour battery life will also get you through a day in the sun. It's available in many colors, so you won't have trouble finding a style that suits your needs.
This speaker builds on the solid foundations set by the Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 3 by adding USB-C charging and a dedicated Podcast mode. It's smaller than our top picks, so it doesn't bring as much rumble in the bass as the Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 4. If you don't listen to music with a lot of bass mixed in, it's not a big deal, though. Voices and lead instruments remain clear in the mix, and there's even an Outdoor preset to make audio more crisp when you're in a more open space. You won't find a graphic EQ like on the more premium options on our list. However, it's great for a simple plug-and-play speaker that won't break the bank.
Compared To Other Brands
-
Bluetooth-compatible.
The Ultimate Ears speakers we've tested are Bluetooth-compatible, and many have low Bluetooth latency, which helps when watching videos. However, some apps compensate for latency differently, meaning real-world experience may vary. -
Long battery life.
Ultimate Ears speakers tend to have long-lasting batteries, making them well-suited for outdoor use. The Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 4 lasts for around 20 hours and is small and easily portable.
-
Sound customization options.
Many of the Ultimate Ears speakers we've tested are compatible with the Ultimate Ears app, which has a graphic EQ and presets that let you customize the speaker's sound profile. Some, like the Ultimate Ears HYPERBOOM, even come with a room correction feature Ultimate Ears calls 'Adaptive EQ' feature, which automatically adjusts the speaker's sound profile based on the room's acoustics. -
Wide soundstage.
Most of the Ultimate Ears speakers we've tested have open and spacious soundstages, immersing you in your audio. It's often thanks to their 360-degree design, which makes audio sound clear from all angles. -
Good build quality.
The Ultimate Ears speakers we've tested tend to be very well-built. Many also come with IP ratings for dust and water resistance, and Ulitmate Ears advertises that they float in water and that some are drop-proof from a height of three feet. That said, you need to rinse the speakers with fresh water after beach or pool water exposure.
-
Often no voice assistant support.
The Ultimate Ears speakers we've tested tend not to support voice assistants. However, the Ultimate Ears MEGABLAST has built-in support for Alexa over a Wi-Fi connection, which you can activate with your voice. -
Lack low-bass.
The Ultimate Ears speakers we've tested tend to lack low-bass, although many of them come with a graphic EQ in the Ultimate Ears app, which lets you adjust the sound profile to your liking. Some, like the Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 4, have boomy high-bass that may please some fans of bass-heavy music.
-
Not compatible with Wi-Fi, Apple AirPlay, or Google Chromecast.
The Ultimate Ears speakers we've tested don't often support these streaming options. However, the Ultimate Ears MEGABLAST has Wi-Fi support. You can also connect your device over Bluetooth, which usually has low enough latency for watching videos, though this can vary based on the app or device.
Ultimate Ears vs JBL
JBL and Ultimate Ears offer speakers at a wide range of price points. Compared to other brands on the market, their speakers are generally geared towards outdoor use, with sturdy builds and water-resistant designs to bring your tunes on the go. Ultimate Ears tends to offer more customization features, especially with its budget models, whereas JBL's lineup includes party speakers, a great option for those hosting big events.
Ultimate Ears vs Bose
Ultimate Ears is a speaker manufacturer with products generally geared toward outdoor use. With rugged designs and sturdy builds, they aren't quite as stylish as Bose's home-oriented products, but they're a great choice for listening on the go. They tend to come with more customization tools than Bose speakers. That said, Bose offers better voice assistant capabilities, with built-in support for smart speakers that are excellent for home use.
Ultimate Ears vs Sonos
Like Bose, Sonos generally manufactures smart speakers designed for home use, though they offer a few models you can bring outside. With stylish designs and built-in voice assistant support, Sonos speakers are also really easy to integrate into your existing Sonos ecosystem. However, Ultimate Ears offers more budget-friendly models, and their products are more geared towards outdoor use, which is great if you're an avid hiker or camper.
Ultimate Ears vs Sony
Sony and Ultimate Ears offer a wide range of speakers at many different price points to meet your needs. That said, Ultimate Ears products are generally more geared towards outdoor use, so you're more likely to find models that can float in water, even at lower prices. However, if you're looking for party speakers, Sony offers an extensive lineup that will likely be more suited to your needs.
Ultimate Ears vs Anker
Anker primarily produces budget-minded portable speakers that offer great value for money. They have a few speakers that compete in the same price range as the Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 4. As with most small speakers, Anker speakers generally lack low-end presence but often feature ratings against water and dust damage. That said, the cylindrical design of Ultimate Ears speakers means they usually have better directivity than their Anker counterparts.
Overall, Ultimate Ears makes speakers that are generally designed for outdoor use. Many of them have IP ratings for water and dust resistance and are typically well-built. Many of their speakers are compatible with the Ultimate Ears app, which has sound customization features like a graphic EQ and presets. However, the Ultimate Ears speakers we've tested generally don't support voice assistants, and many aren't compatible with Apple AirPlay or Google Chromecast.
Lineup
Ultimate Ears produces outdoor-oriented speakers at both premium and budget-friendly price points. They don't offer "lineups" like other manufacturers on the market, per se. Still, some of their models are available in first, second, or third generations with slight improvements along the way. Depending on your usage habits, these improvements may not be worth the added cost.
Recent Updates
-
We've ensured this text is up to date and accurate, but haven't changed our picks.
-
The Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 4 replaces the Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 3 as our mid-range pick because it charges via USB-C, which is handy.
-
Sep 23, 2024 : We've updated this article to feature the Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 4 as our 'Best Budget' pick. Otherwise, we've made minor changes to the text throughout for accuracy and clarity.
-
May 21, 2024 : We haven't tested any new Ultimate Ears speakers recently, so our picks remain the same. However, we've added a brand comparison to Anker.
-
Jan 22, 2024 : Added the Ultimate Ears EPICBOOM as the 'Best Upper Mid-Range' pick.
Conclusion
Ultimate Ears offers quite a few speakers for a variety of uses. Generally, they're well-built and designed for outdoor use, but they don't have voice assistant support. These Bluetooth speakers often have a wide and spacious soundstage. However, they lack some low-bass. Thankfully, quite a few speakers let you customize their sound profiles using the graphic EQ in the Ultimate Ears app.