The Ultimate Ears EPICBOOM is a portable Bluetooth speaker with a premium feel. It has a sleek yet rugged style and features multiple sound customization options, making it suitable for various indoor and outdoor usages. Within the 'BOOM' lineup, this speaker is situated between the more compact Ultimate Ears EVERBOOM and the scaled-up Ultimate Ears HYPERBOOM, offering a good compromise between portability and listening experience.
Our Verdict
The Ultimate Ears EPICBOOM is decent for music. This speaker has an Adaptive EQ tool that optimizes the sound based on your room's unique acoustics. With this setting on, the speaker adds a little extra warmth in the high-bass range and some extra sparkle in the treble, which is ideal for genres with lots of highs and lows, like rock and pop. However, it falls short when reproducing deep, thumpy bass. Still, its graphic EQ and presets allow you to change the sound if you prefer something different. It also gets loud enough for most rooms, though there's some compression at max volume. Additionally, it plays stereo content without downmixing to mono.
- Lots of sound customization tools.
- Room correction tool.
- No Bluetooth multi-device pairing.
- Some compression at max volume.
The Ultimate Ears EPICBOOM isn't designed for watching movies, but it's a fair pick if you just want to stream videos on a paired smartphone. Latency is low when paired to iOS devices over Bluetooth, and while it's a little higher on Android devices, there still aren't any noticeable lip-synching issues. The speaker reproduces clear dialogue, too, and brings some punch to the bass. However, it can't get as loud or produce the deep, rumbling bass that more dedicated home theater speakers provide.
- Lots of sound customization tools.
- Relatively low latency.
- No Bluetooth multi-device pairing.
- Some compression at max volume.
The Ultimate Ears EPICBOOM is very good for podcasts. This speaker offers a pretty balanced mid-range, so voices reproduce with detail and accuracy. It gets loud enough to fill most rooms in your home with sound, and thanks to its built-in strap, you can move it with you from room to room during longer episodes. If you place it in the center of the room, you get consistent sound from all angles, too, thanks to its 360-degree design.
- Portable design.
- Lots of sound customization tools.
- No Bluetooth multi-device pairing.
The Ultimate Ears EPICBOOM doesn't support voice assistants.
The Ultimate Ears EPICBOOM is great for outdoor use. It's rated IP67 for dust and water resistance, and the manufacturer says it can withstand drops and falls up to one meter without issue. This speaker has a solid and sturdy build, and while it's on the larger side, its built-in strap makes it easier to transport. You can even use its Outdoor Mode preset to enhance audio across larger, more open spaces like your backyard. Its nearly 16 hours of battery life means you can get a lot of continuous use out of it, too, without needing a recharge.
- IP67 rating for dust and water resistance.
- Portable design.
- Lots of sound customization tools.
- No Bluetooth multi-device pairing.
Changelog
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Updated Oct 23, 2025:
We've added a comparison to the JBL Boombox 4 in the Bluetooth box.
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Updated May 01, 2025:
We added a reference to the Lodge Solar Speaker 4 Series 2 in the Battery box.
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Updated Feb 10, 2025:
We've updated the text of this review to improve accuracy and clarity.
- Updated Sep 24, 2024: We've retested this speaker's Battery performance and updated the review and comparisons accordingly.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Ultimate Ears EPICBOOM is available in 'Charcoal Black' or 'Cotton White.' We tested the 'Charcoal Black' variant; you can see the label here.
If you encounter another variant, please let us know in the comments, and we'll update our review.
Popular Speaker Comparisons
The Ultimate Ears EPICBOOM is a premium speaker positioned between the Ultimate Ears EVERBOOM and the Ultimate Ears HYPERBOOM. It has many of the same features as the HYPERBOOM, including an Adaptive EQ room calibration tool to optimize its sound to your room's unique acoustics. It doesn't get as loud, though, and there's more compression at max volume.
See also our recommendations for the best Bluetooth speakers, the best Ultimate Ears speakers, and the best outdoor speakers.
The Ultimate Ears HYPERBOOM is a more premium speaker than the Ultimate Ears EPICBOOM. The HYPERBOOM offers better sound quality, especially regarding dynamics, as it can get louder with less compression at max volume. Its battery life is longer-lasting, too, and it has lower latency over Bluetooth. It's larger than the EPICBOOM and not quite as well-suited for outdoor use.
The Ultimate Ears EVERBOOM is the smaller, more portable sibling of the Ultimate Ears EPICBOOM. The EVERBOOM is lightweight enough that it can easily be carried around from place to place in one hand or slung in a bag. It's also cheaper and has a longer continuous battery life, making it a great choice for bringing on trips. That said, the EPICBOOM can get quite a bit louder and has a more balanced sound overall, with more bass and a more prominent treble range. As a result, it's a better choice for parties and events or any situation in which you want to hear the details in your music.
The JBL Boombox 3 is a better choice for music than the Ultimate Ears EPICBOOM. The JBL reproduces a bit more low bass, making you feel more thump and rumble in the mix. It also gets louder with less compression at max volume. Plus, its battery life lasts longer. The Ultimate Ears has additional customization tools, like an Adaptive EQ room calibration tool and more preset modes.
The Ultimate Ears EPICBOOM and the Marshall Kilburn III have different strengths, despite being a similar size. The Ultimate Ears will be preferable if you're looking for a more rugged speaker (thanks to its IP67 rating), and it has a better app that lets you connect other Ultimate Ears speakers (depending on the generation). It also has better directivity, though the Marshall is no slouch in this department either. Still, the Marshall is an enticing prospect if you're looking for a more portable speaker, with a longer battery life and Bluetooth multi-device connectivity. It also has a slightly bassier sound that'll bring out the kicks and basslines in genres like EDM and hip-hop
Test Results
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