Ultimate Ears has just released the latest addition to their lineup of beloved portable bluetooth speakers and it’s the loudest one yet! The new Epicboom is thundering onto the scene, making its presence distinctly audible. This power-packed speaker is designed to render immersive 360-degree sound with superior acoustics and big bassy sound. It sits in between the UE Megaboom 3 and Hyperboom, offering an awesome balance of portability and large sound. We put it to the test to see if it lives up to its name.
Design
The Epicboom is the largest of UE’s Portable Speakers, weighing in at 1.98kg and measuring 162mm x 119mm x 241mm. It sports the classic signature Ultimate Ears look, featuring mesh fabric made from 100% post-consumer recycled polyester fabric and a minimum of 59% post-consumer recycled plastic. The base is made of a rubber material that offers grip so that it won’t slide around. On the top of the speaker, you’ll find buttons for Bluetooth, Power, and Outdoor Boost mode, and of course, the two big volume buttons on the front of the speaker. It also has a hand loop built-in with a magnetic puck attached to the end to keep the strap flush against the speaker when not in use. The speaker is available in two colours: Cotton White + Lipstick Red or Charcoal Black + Lime.
The Epicboom isn’t just designed to look good. It’s also super functional and sturdy! It has a rounded oval design that offers 360-degree multidirectional sound. I put this speaker at the center of my living room and it sounded just as good from every direction. The speaker is also super rugged meaning it’s awesome for fun and adventures! Whether you’re hosting a pool party, heading to the beach, or in my case, going on a hike/outdoor picnic, the Epicboom is made to be there with you. It has an IP67 rating which means it’s fully waterproof, dustproof, and it even floats! Although I'm generally put off lighter coloured speakers (such as the Cotton White version) due to the potential for them to look dirty over time, the fact that this speaker is so rugged and waterproof offers peace of mind that any dirt collected on your adventures out can actually be washed away.
Sound
So how does it sound? It’s definitely loud, that’s for sure. With a max volume of 95dCB, it gets louder than the Megaboom 3 (which has a max volume of 90dCB) but not quite as loud as the Hyperboom (max volume of 100dCB). Even at loud volumes, the Epicboom has nice clear audio that's bound to get you immersed in the tunes. However, it’s big on bass and mid-range frequencies so I found that certain songs sounded a bit muddy. This is where the customisable EQ on the updated BOOM app comes in handy, allowing you to adjust the different frequency bands to suit! It is here that you can also turn on/off Adaptive EQ or choose preset EQs including Signature, Bass Boost, Game/Cinema, Podcast/Vocal, and the all-new Deep Relaxation mode.
If you’re heading outdoors, make use of Outdoor Mode (which can be turned on via the app or on the speaker itself) to crank up the volume even louder. It really does make a noticeable difference, making music clearer and travel farther. I even found myself using it indoors at times for some extra oomph. While the Epicboom alone won’t quite reach the levels of the beast that is the Hyperboom, the good news is that with PartyUp, you can pair up multiple UE speakers to create a booming surround sound experience. Using the BOOM app, you can connect as many UE Boom, Megaboom, Epicboom, and Hyperboom speakers as you like!
Battery & Connectivity
The Epicboom has a solid battery life, allowing up to 17 hours of playtime on a single charge. When it comes time to charge the speaker, it does so quickly too. Previously, the Ultimate Ears portable speakers came with a microUSB connector. That has changed with the Epicboom which features a USB-C connector. When charging, an LED battery indicator appears on the front of the speaker to show the status and charge.
The Epicboom has Bluetooth connectivity that reaches a range of 55 meters. With quite a range, this means you don't have to worry about music breaking up and crackling when the person with the tunes leaves the vicinity/room! It also has a one-touch NFC feature available for NFC-compatible smartphones with Android 8.0 or later. The sensor establishes a Bluetooth shortcut that allows you to simply power on, pair, connect, and play, also making it easy to switch between multiple people’s playlists within seconds.
Price & Conclusion
As UE’s largest and loudest portable speaker, it should come as no surprise that the Epicboom comes at a premium, sitting just under $600. This is roughly $100 short of the next speaker up in the lineup, the Hyperboom, that while louder, falls short when it comes to portability and ruggedness. If you’re after a speaker that offers epic sound that's loud, powerful, and great for parties - while being small and portable enough to take on outdoor adventures and rugged enough to take a beating from dust, sand, and water - the Epicboom is definitely a choice worth considering! Check it out below or head to the Ultimate Ears brand store.
