Boom bluetooth waterproof speaker

This waterproof Bluetooth speaker with 360 degree sound is one of the best purchases I’ve ever made — and it’s still working 3 years later

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• The market for portable speakers is pretty saturated, so it can be hard to find the speaker that’s right for you in terms of features and budget.
• The Ultimate Ears (UE) Boom 2 speaker ($100) is waterproof, shockproof, and virtually life-proof, making it the perfect solution for a great listening experience wherever you go.
• It has a 15 hour battery life, can be connected to other UE speakers, and has 360 degree sound that can fill a room.

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I wouldn’t consider myself a tech person. You won’t find me flocking to the most-cutting edge devices the minute they’re released, but I do still value quality, and I do a lot of due diligence to find gadgets I actually want to spend my money on. When I find a product I like, I stick with it.

I’ve stuck with this UE Boom 2 speaker for over three years now and I couldn’t be happier with it.

I’ve always loved listening to music, but I was never willing to commit to buying an expensive speaker. In the past I was content with using my computer, or the more creative method of placing my iPhone in a cup to amplify sound. I bought my fair share of speakers in the under-$20 range. Excited that I was getting such a good deal, you can imagine my disappointment when these speakers would blow out — because they always did.

With deep sound, a fun look, and features that can hold up in even the most spontaneous of circumstances, the UE Boom 2 is the perfect Bluetooth speaker for every indoor or outdoor occasion.

Head over to the Ultimate Ears instagram and you’ll find pictures of their speakers being doused in water, chilling in piles of snow, taken on hikes and bike rides, and in plenty of other unconventional places. UE makes speakers that are made for adventure, and they do it without compromising on sound.

The UE Boom 2 is a portable speaker, so you use Bluetooth to wirelessly stream audio from smartphones, tablets, or other devices. The speaker pumps out some serious sound with a maximum of 90 decibels. For reference, loud music at a concert or club is estimated to hover just over 100 decibels, so the Boom 2 isn’t too shabby at all. The wireless range is 100 feet, so you can still control the device while being in another room or relatively far away. Plus, the Boom 2 uses 360 degree sound to fill spaces with great audio all around.

The sound quality is decidedly solid, but these speakers aren’t particularly cheap. Depending on where you purchase yours, you’re probably looking to spend somewhere between $100-$175. In my opinion, it’s the Boom 2’s added range of features that make the price tag so worth it. Aside from a 15 hour battery life and two and a half hour charge time, the speaker is also waterproof, shockproof, and stain-proof.

You can drop this thing in a pool, use it in the shower, kick it around in the sand, even just drop it on the floor — and it will still work just as well as before.

I can’t even count the amount of times I’ve accidentally knocked this speaker off my desk, just to breathe a sigh of relief when I remember it’s going to be totally fine.

At a size that I would compare to a water bottle, the Boom 2 fits into almost any bag for easy portability. This size, combined with its ability to brave some of natures toughest elements, make this the perfect speaker for taking on the go. If you need some background music while you relax on the beach or want your favorite playlist blasting at your next barbecue, this will definitely be your best bet.

Another feature that takes this speaker up a notch is the touch controls. When you hold your Boom in your hand and tap the top it will begin to play or pause the music. If you tap it twice it will skip the current song. This feature takes away the fear of getting your smartphone wet just to put on a new playlist.

One speaker is enough to fill a reasonably sized room with loud audio, but if you’re having a big party or spanning a much broader space, one probably won’t cut it. If that’s the case, UE has got you covered with its UE Boom app, which allows you to connect 150 + Boom speakers for an amplified listening experience. While I can’t say I’ve ever even attempted something close to this number, I commonly link up my UE Boom 2 with my friends devices. Plus, if you have enough devices in your own home, you can essentially eliminate the need for a more advanced stereo system but still deliver superior sound.

Bottom line, this is a great piece of tech for someone that values functionality, durability, and loves listening to music wherever they go. You really can take this thing anywhere and feel great knowing it can withstand whatever is thrown at it — literally. The UE Boom 2 comes in a range of vibrant colors and patterns, so you’re sure to find one that you’ll love. While it retails at $179.99, due to the pending release of the UE Boom 3, you can find most speakers at a lower price.

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The 12 Best Waterproof Bluetooth Speakers for Making Outdoor Adventures Even More Fun

We spent weeks testing to find the best waterproof speakers out there.

By Stefan Vazharov Updated: May 25, 2023

Years ago, enjoying music outdoors came with the risk of damaging your speakers. All it took was one unexpected splash during a pool party or a wave or sand hit without notice at the beach for your speakers to become unusable. But today, waterproof speakers are a reliable option on the market for outdoor listening — and they’re smarter, more durable, and more entertaining than ever. Our top picks not only play your favorite tunes, but also charge your mobile devices and even deliver access to your favorite virtual assistant.

Best of all, you can find a great option regardless of your budget. So, to find the best waterproof Bluetooth speakers out there, I spent weeks scrutinizing and testing products from leading brands such as Bose, JBL, and Sony, to name a few.

The Best Waterproof Bluetooth Speakers

Best Overall

Sony SRS-XE300 Wireless Bluetooth Speaker

Runner-Up

JBL Charge 5 Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker

Best Big Speaker

JBL Xtreme 3 Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker

The Classic

Ultimate Ears BOOM 3 Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker

Best Budget

EarFun UBOOM L Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker

Best Compact Speaker

Bose SoundLink Flex Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker

Best Value

Soundcore Motion Boom Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker

Best Micro Speaker

JBL Clip 4 Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker

Best Design and Battery Life

Marshall Emberton II Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker

Best Sound Quality

Soundcore Motion X600 Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker

How We Tested

I’ve been researching and testing waterproof Bluetooth speakers for years. For this update, we looked for options with the most futureproof specs. Translation? We made sure these speakers would be able to adapt to new developments for years to come. Our process included reading reviews from other tech publications, sifting through consumer feedback, and consulting with industry experts.

I spent at least a week testing each speaker in this guide using the following criteria:

• Design and durability — focusing on the product’s build and ability to survive exposure to the elements, including water and dirt/sand. The last-mentioned bit is essential for using such a gadget at the beach, while camping, or in a backyard or garden.
• Sound quality — evaluating the ability of each speaker to deliver audible bass, treble, and mid-range, come rain or shine.
• Battery performance — observing how many hours’ worth of wireless playback the device is capable of and its charging methods.
• Ease of use and additional attributes — evaluating the product’s controls’ layout and tactility, any supplemental features it offers, and, when available, app-enabled functionality.

Learn more about how we test products, from the questions we ask our testing team, to the types of products we feel are actually worth testing, to the overall time we put in to our testing process.

What to Consider

Sound, durability, and battery life are the most important bits to consider when shopping for a waterproof speaker. Regardless of the type of outing you take it on, a high-quality product should be able to deliver a stellar sonic experience for many hours between charges.

Sound

When it comes to sound, the more audio drivers a speaker packs, the more detail-rich and entertaining sound it will deliver. For our top pick, we selected a product that can deliver high-quality stereo sound to the listeners in front of it. If you plan to make the gadget a true party centerpiece, consider an offering capable of delivering multidirectional, 360-degree audio.

Durability

Every speaker on our list has an official rating for water resistance (some can even float on the surface), and it is important to know the difference between an IP and an IPX moniker. An IP rating means that the product can handle water and dust, while the IPX rating attests that a speaker has only been rated for exposure to water. Ideally, you should choose a versatile speaker capable of handling more than just exposure to water to increase its lifespan.

Battery Life

Regarding battery life, the absolute minimum you should consider before buying a waterproof speaker is 10 hours. This will ensure that the device can entertain you during a daily outing. Most of the best waterproof speakers can easily blast a day’s worth of tunes with power to spare.

The charging connector your next waterproof speaker has is also crucial, and I highly recommend looking for products with a USB-C port. The futureproof connector will allow you to power up your audio gadget using the same cable as your laptop, tablet, or Android phone.

Additional cool features such as built-in lights and the ability to charge your phone or other gadgets are also worth considering. So are app-enabled tools for customizing the speaker’s sound for specific content and usage scenarios and adjusting its settings, among many others. An app can also allow you to update your speaker’s firmware and potentially expand its capabilities.

Ready to find the ultimate waterproof Bluetooth speaker? Learn more about our favorite picks at every price point.

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