Ultimate Ears Boom Wireless Bluetooth Speaker - Black

I will throw out my disclaimer and just say that I do not consider myself an "audiophile" or tech junkie. I'm just your average music lover. I was looking for a wireless speaker for toting around the house in the rooms that don't have surround sound, as well as to take when traveling and/or camping.Wow! When I first turned it on, it was at full volume and it made me jump. This baby is LOUD! I tried a few different genres of music, from bluegrass to hip hop to hard rock, and they all sound great. Better than my car stereo, in fact. :)I love the construction; it seems really durable. The design is nice and sleek. It's a tad heavier than expected, but that just means (to me) that it's really sturdy. I plan to take this camping with me, and the water resistant feature was what made me choose this over the Bose Soundlink Mini. I love the fact it has a hook to hang from a tent or canopy, and while I doubt I'd attach it to a tripod, it's a nice little feature.I've only had it one day but it's evident that this is a high quality speaker with really well balanced sound. I'm pretty happy with my choice, and feel like it's probably worth what I paid for it, though time of course will tell.**EDIT: 09/30 - So I have used it a lot these last few days. I have about a solid 8-9 hours of use at the upper mid level volume, and it says I still have a 60% charge on it. Not bad!**EDIT: 10/07/13 - I took this camping with me last week and everyone was asking where I got it, and three people went out and bought one the next day. Battery life is pretty amazing - not really sure why there are some reviews toward the opposite because my experience has been really great. I am incredibly happy with this purchase, and feel like it is well worth the money.**EDIT: 12/31/13 - After having this for a few months, I am still really impressed with this speaker. Side by side with the Bose Sound Link Mini, in my opinion this has the better overall sound (though yes, they are quite comparable). The quality of the sound on this speaker means that anywhere I take it, someone will ask me where I got it. I took it on a backpacking trip and, while it performed great (batter life doesn't seem to be affected by the cold at all and was able to use it three consecutive days on the trail), it is a tad heavy for that application. Enter the UE MINI BOOM. Yes, I love this original Boom so much that I bought the smaller version. (see separate review) I was pleasantly surprised to find that with the UE Boom app, I was able to double up both the large and small version. I knew you could pair each one with its same version, but when we tried (just for kicks) to put both the Boom and Mini Boom together it was super easy. Very cool!To sum up, if you are the sort that would be likely to travel with a speaker and want to be able to toss it around a bit, this won't let you down. Very sturdy, great sound, love the battery indicator too.***UPDATE 08/11/17 - So I have had this for four years now and it's still going strong. It sounds as good as ever, holds a charge as well as it ever did, and has taken some hard knocks over the years. I've taken it rafting with me a few times - this thing has gotten drenched in the boat, plus I left it out one night in the rain... still going. It seems virtually indestructible. Still pairs well with the mini-boom as well. I know that since I bought this speaker, others have come out that are waterproof, (insert element)-proof, etc. but I have no desire to buy a new speaker as long as this one keeps performing as it has. No regrets whatsoever and it has more than paid for itself over the years. HIGHLY recommend!!***UPDATE 04/10/18 - I keep adding updates because this thing continues to amaze me. It has been nibbled on by a dog, left out in a two day torrential thunderstorm (battery port side up and open), soaked in a raft, dropped from 20', run over by a golf cart.... It has a lot of character by now, being a little battered and bruised. And still it's going. I feel like eventually it is going to stop working but so far nothing seems to affect it. Still sounds great, too. I'd like to see Bose perform so well for so long.

I have waited a number of months after purchasing this Bluetooth speaker to ensure a thorough and detailed review of this product, with actual experience to back up any claims.Let me begin by saying that, prior to making this purchase, I did....well let's just say "a lot" of research on other comparable Bluetooth speakers. After scouring all but the deepest recesses of the internet in search of professional and consumer reviews on nearly every speaker under the sun, and doing some preliminary testing in my local electronics stores, I came to this little beauty...and boy am I pleased that I did. I'll split my review up into a few categories to easily navigate, since I have a feeling it may end up being quite lengthy.Sound: I'll admit that I am a huge fan of Bose products. In general, I've found them to give the best sound and build quality for the money, even if you generally spend a bit for the name on top of the quality, so I was a bit skeptical when I first read all the reviews saying that this unit produces as good or even better sound quality in comparison to the Bose Soundlink line. I have found those claims to be borne out by my experience with this product though. The sound quality for such a compact portable speaker is truly impressive: admittedly it is slightly lacking in low end punch, but that is not entirely unexpected with a speaker this size, and the bass can be slightly bolstered by customizing the equalizer with the companion UE Boom app (more on this later). Additionally, I would argue that it actually provides a bit more quality low end sound than the Soundlink Mini and is close to on par with the Soundlink III (a larger and significantly pricier unit). The mids and highs are clear and crisp, without sounding tinny or forced. At max volume, I can guarantee you'll be surprised with how loud it plays, while still maintaining audio integrity. I noticed very little in the way of distortion, even at max volume (which you most likely won't need often if you use this indoors). As a final note, the "360 degree" sound thing is a nifty design element that does give a bit more freedom in placement when compared to unidirectional speakers, but it shouldn't influence your decision too much.Battery: Having used the UE Boom for a few months now, I feel confident that I can comment on its battery life with some authority. As some other reviewers have noted, you're unlikely to see the claimed 15 hour battery life if you use it at max volume the whole time. However, listening at a relatively comfortable volume (50-%70%), I consistently get 15-17 hours of playtime, which I find to be very impressive for a unit this size. Even at max volume, I can easily get 10+ hours on a single charge. Overall, battery life is as good or better than manufacturer's claims.Connectivity and app: Initial connection with any Bluetooth device is simple and quick. Once a device is connected, it is remembered and connects automatically when the UE Boom turns on. Additionally, two devices can be simultaneously connected, with playback being seamlessly transferred between connected devices when the audio stream is paused on one device and started on the second device (this comes in extremely handy when you have friends over). The UE Boom app is also extremely useful. It allows you to link up multiple UE Booms for stereo sound, or just doubling the sound with double mono speakers, and lets you tweak the equalizer settings for more audio control. With the most recent update, you additionally have the option to remotely power on/off the UE Boom with your Bluetooth device (very very nifty)Build Quality/Miscellaneous: Overall, the Boom feels quality right out of the box, with a pleasing heft. Also, the water resistance comes in handy: I can't think of many other ~$200 speakers I would feel safe taking to the beach or having outside where it might rain (for the record, I have taken mine to the beach multiple times. Cleanup is simple since the sand will wash right off)Overall: In summary, I would strongly recommend this to anyone looking for a portable Bluetooth speaker, with great audio quality, battery life, reliability in connection, and durability. The UE Boom is absolutely the device to beat at this price point in the portable Bluetooth speaker market.