Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM Review: Immersive, Portable Audio

Last updated on 2022-09-19
By Yvonne

Ultimate Ears Wonderboom Review: Portable, Immersive Audio. We tested the Ultimate Ears Wunderboom, which is a Bluetooth speaker capable of blasting sound everywhere you go.

Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM

We like this

360° sound
Audio of the highest quality
Battery life of 10 hours
Waterproof design

The Things We Hate

Button for invisible play/pause
There is no speakerphone

Although the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom is an excellent portable speaker, it is quite expensive.

This article explains.

Expand

Design
Installation
Audio Quality
Prices
Concurrence
Final Verdict
Specifications

The Ultimate Ears WOWBOOM was purchased by us so that our reviewer could fully test it and evaluate its quality. Continue reading to see our complete product review.

Bluetooth speaker, the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom, is waterproof and can be easily carried from one place to another. The device is sure to become the focal point of attention at every party it's brought to. You can also take it camping or to the beach.

Related Reading: JBL Charge 4 Review: A Stellar Waterproof Speaker

A Musical Orb

The Bluetooth speaker is all audio. The cylindrical shape of this Bluetooth speaker allows for sound to be projected all around the device, rather than just from the front.

However, the controls could be a bit more intuitive. The plus and minus buttons at the top of the speaker control volume. It is also easy to find the power button and Bluetooth button. There is an invisible button at the top which allows you to play/pause once you press it, and to skip forward one song if you push twice. (There's no way back). Although it's easy to use once you become familiar with the button, guest or friends might find it difficult to access if they need to pause a song.

You can also take your camping gear to the beach or to your backyard barbecue.

Ultimate Ears claims about a 10-hour battery-life are true. The battery was fully charged, the computer was paired, then it played until it died. It stopped working about 10 hours after we started it in the morning. It can be used intermittently for a few months before it needs to be recharged.

The device can withstand a drop of up to 5 feet. But you still won't want to drop this speaker—it's about the size of a softball and heavier than it looks. It can cause serious damage if it falls onto something fragile, such as your feet.

We submerged the model in water for 3 minutes to evaluate its waterproof claim. The WONDERBOOM remained undamaged after it was submerged in water for three minutes. It is IPX7-rated and can be submerged in water up to 1 meter for 30 minutes. It is unlikely that the device would ever be completely submerged due to its natural buoyancy.

The device can be dropped tested up to 5 feet so that it can withstand a fall.

This Bluetooth speaker can be paired with a Bluetooth device up to 33 feet from it. That's the minimum possible under the Bluetooth Core Specifications—and in line with the rest of the similar products we tested—but we expected a little more out of a device this hefty.

The only thing the device does not have is the capability to be used as a speakerphone. Some Bluetooth speakers have microphones built in so that you can make calls from another device. Although it's not an issue, this would have been a great feature at this price.

You can pair two speakers together if you purchase them. Although this is useful for large parties, it doesn't make the speaker any more impressive than one.

Installation Process: Subpar instructions won’t slow down

It is not very useful and the documentation included in this package is quite short. There's not even a proper user manual—just safety and warranty information. The instructions inside the box will be sufficient to set it up in less than one minute. Although it might take longer if you have never used Bluetooth to pair a device, the procedure is usually straightforward.

Related Reading: Polk Boom Swimmer Duo Review: A Rugged Little Speaker

Quality of Audio: The centre of attention

The sound quality of the speaker is simply outstanding. Its cylindrical shape allows for 360-degree audio. The speaker has a decently loud bass and crisp vocals. It also produces a clear sound. You're sure to find every high and cymbal on an album that you have listened to a lot.

This speaker's cylindrical shape delivers 360-degree audio.

Indoors the sound can fill a room quickly, particularly if it is coming from one central point. This compact, powerful device is ideal for outdoor ambience.

Pricing: A fair but not great deal

Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM is available for purchase at $99.99. It is definitely worth the money, however it can be difficult to justify purchasing two of them at this price if they are to be synchronized.

If you can get them at some kind of discount or promotional price, do that—you'll definitely feel like you got more out of your dollar.

Competiton: Ultimate Ears Wondoom vs. JBL Charge 4

The WONDERBOOM was tested side-by-side with the JBL Char 4 for $149.99, but you can sometimes find it for much less. Its shape is what makes the biggest difference.

WONDERBOOM, an upright orb, sits vertically while Charge 4 sits more horizontally and is bar-shaped. Although the sound quality is similar, the Charge 4 does not produce 360-degree sound. The choice between the two comes down to where you plan to put it—the Charge 4 is great for a shelf or anywhere that it backs up against a surface, which the WONDERBOOM is a better fit for a table or open space with lots of room around it.

The device can be carried outdoors, so you can bring your favourite tunes along to the ocean or the mountains. This is a speaker for pool parties and camping, a waterproof and portable device that makes your music sound great—from every angle.