It’s true that in the premium wireless speaker market, consumers often expect more than just music playback capabilities. Features like voice assistants, multi-room audio synchronization, and integration with various music services have become common. However, the Ultimate Ears Epicboom speaker takes a different approach. Instead of offering these smart features, it focuses on delivering a rugged and waterproof build, powerful 360-degree sound, and an extended battery life of up to 17 hours. It’s also worth noting that the speaker has a USB-C port, which is a notable addition. While it may lack some of the modern smart features, its emphasis on durability and sound quality might appeal to users looking for a robust and powerful audio solution.
Ultimate Ears Epicboom- Design and Build
The UE Epicboom bears a striking resemblance to the Sonos Move 2 in terms of size and shape, making it a worthy point of comparison. However, it distinguishes itself by being notably lighter, tipping the scales at 4.36 pounds, in contrast to the Sonos’ 6.6 pounds.
Both speakers share common features, housing dual tweeters and a single woofer. Ultimate Ears, renowned for its 360-degree audio effect found in the Boom, Megaboom, and Hyperboom, prioritizes wider sound dispersion in the Epicboom as well. The speaker’s exterior is coated with the same fabric mesh that graces other UE products, complemented by a robust rubber base that provides a degree of protection against accidental drops. To facilitate ease of transport, there’s a convenient carrying strap on the back, thoughtfully secured in place with a magnet to prevent unwelcome flapping.
Epicboom by Ultimate Ears – Controls
The Ultimate Ears Epicboom, proudly bearing UE’s signature, features its distinctive oversized volume buttons prominently on the front side. Additional controls for power, Bluetooth pairing, and play / pause are thoughtfully positioned on the top surface. Moreover, there’s an intriguing outdoor mode button that elevates the speaker’s volume output, making it an ideal choice for open-air settings such as camping, tailgating, and wide expanses.
ALSO READ: Sonos Move 2 Review – A Sonic Evolution and Smart Upgrade
For those who appreciate convenience, pressing and holding the play button activates UE’s ingenious magic button feature. This function allows you to enjoy a pre-set playlist from your preferred music streaming service. On the rear side, a USB-C port, protected by a secure flap, is situated. The flap is designed to keep water out effectively, making the Epicboom waterproof; it can even float in water. It’s important to note that the USB-C port serves exclusively for charging purposes and doesn’t support line-in audio. Additionally, the $350 speaker lacks Wi-Fi connectivity for high-fidelity music streaming. However, it does provide quick NFC-based pairing for Android smartphone users, ensuring a hassle-free connection process.
Sound Quality of Ultimate Ears Epicboom Speaker
During my extensive testing of the Ultimate Ears Epicboom Speaker, I encountered that one perfect track where it seemed tailor-made for the speaker’s tuning and drivers. In those rare moments, I found myself favoring the Epicboom’s audio output over the pricier Sonos Move 2. However, I must admit these instances were the exception rather than the rule. On the whole, the Sonos speaker outshines the Epicboom in terms of sound quality.
The Sonos Move 2 delivers a more detailed, distinct, and well-balanced audio profile, while the Epicboom tends to veer into a boomy and less defined territory, especially when playing specific tracks from Taylor Swift’s 1989 (Taylor’s Version). While some vocals on this reworked album might appear somewhat lackluster, the overall mix is undoubtedly superior to the original version. Unfortunately, the Ultimate Ears Epicboom Speaker falls short in fully showcasing this audio refinement, which is something you’d expect from a speaker in the over-$300 price range.
For those with a penchant for deep bass that can literally shake your living space, the Epicboom may not meet your expectations when cranked up to its maximum volume. At these higher volumes, you might notice audible compression and some bass crackling, which can be a drawback for true bass enthusiasts.
Ultimate Ears Epicboom – Sound that Adapts to Your Environment
Ultimate Ears proudly touts the adaptive EQ feature of their Epicboom speaker, a technology designed to fine-tune the sound profile based on your surroundings. As I experimented with the Epicboom, moving it from room to room, I must admit that I didn’t discern any dramatic shifts in sound quality. However, it was in an unexpected setting, the bathroom, that the Epicboom delivered a standout performance. Surprisingly, it effortlessly overcame the challenge of competing with the noise of a running shower, producing remarkably clear audio despite the echoing acoustics.
Yet, it’s worth noting that the Epicboom’s price tag, standing at $350, may make it a luxury bathroom speaker beyond the reach of many. If you’re particular about your sound preferences, the UE mobile app provides a solution by allowing you to customize the EQ settings to your liking. This versatile app can also be employed for stereo-pairing two Epicbooms or connecting it to a fleet of other UE speakers for a full-blown party mode experience.
Ultimate Ears Epicboom – A Solid Performer with Some Key Omissions
While there’s no denying the overall competence of the UE Epicboom, the elephant in the room remains its price. Positioned strategically within the company’s product range, it strikes a balance between the cylindrical Megaboom and the expansive Epicboom party speaker. However, it’s important to acknowledge the conspicuous absences in this package, some of which come with a hefty price tag. Here’s what the UE Epicboom doesn’t offer:
- AirPlay 2
- Amazon Alexa
- Chromecast
- Deeper multi-room audio support
- Google Assistant
- Line-in connectivity (via 3.5mm or USB-C)
- Speakerphone functionality
- Spotify Connect
These notable omissions could be significant for users seeking a more versatile and feature-rich audio experience.
Pros and Cons of Ultimate Ears Epicboom Speaker
| No. | Pros | Cons |
| 1. | Rugged and Durable: The UE Epicboom boasts a durable, waterproof build that can withstand rough conditions and even float in water, making it ideal for outdoor use. | Lacks Smart Features: It does not offer modern smart features like voice assistants, multi-room audio synchronization, or support for music services that are common in premium wireless speakers. |
| 2. | Extended Battery Life: With up to 17 hours of battery life, this speaker provides long-lasting entertainment on a single charge. | Sound Quality: While it delivers decent audio, it falls short of the audio quality provided by competitors like the Sonos Move 2, especially in terms of detail and balance. |
| 3. | Powerful 360-Degree Sound: It delivers robust and immersive 360-degree sound, ensuring a great listening experience for a wide audience. | Limited Bass at High Volume: At maximum volume, the Epicboom may exhibit audible compression and bass crackling, which could disappoint those seeking deep bass. |
| 4. | USB-C Port: The inclusion of a USB-C port allows for modern and convenient charging. | High Price Tag: With a price of $350, the Epicboom may not offer enough features and audio quality to justify its cost, especially considering its limitations compared to other options in the market. |
| 5. | Outdoor Mode: The outdoor mode button boosts the speaker’s volume output, making it suitable for open-air settings like camping and tailgating. | Missing Key Features: It lacks features like AirPlay 2, Amazon Alexa, Chromecast, in-depth multi-room audio support, Google Assistant, line-in connectivity, speakerphone functionality, and Spotify Connect, which may be important to some users seeking a more versatile audio experience. |
| 6. | Adaptive EQ: The adaptive EQ feature fine-tunes the sound based on your environment, ensuring a quality audio experience. | |
| 7. | Customizable Sound: The UE mobile app lets you customize the EQ settings, offering flexibility to tailor the sound to your preferences. |
UE Epicboom – A Shortfall in Features at a Premium Price
Investing $350 in an Epicboom might leave you feeling somewhat underwhelmed by the limited feature set it offers. While it doesn’t have to encompass every available feature, there’s room for improvement. The current pricing doesn’t quite align with the product’s value proposition. Perhaps if the audio quality was truly exceptional, it could justify the cost, but it falls short of being groundbreaking. It undoubtedly outperforms its counterparts, the Boom 3 and Megaboom, but if brand loyalty to UE isn’t a top priority, there are alternative options in the ever-evolving Bluetooth speaker market that offer greater value for your money.
The Ultimate Ears Epicboom Speaker does manage to deliver on UE’s renowned attributes, such as its rugged, lifeproof exterior, and it consistently produces decent audio. Yet, until a substantial price reduction occurs, the product’s value remains far from achieving epic status.
