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The Boom 2 from Ultimate Ears is one of the best Bluetooth speakers on the market. It is suited for outdoor use, it is waterproof and knows how to take a hit, literally! It is more powerful than the previous model, although you can still experience distortion if you blast it at the highest volume. It has a great, balanced and full sound and a useful app.
The UE Boom 2 is one of the most popular and high-quality Bluetooth speakers on the market. It is an upgrade to the first UE Boom, launched in 2013.
The speaker is manufactured by Ultimate Ears (UE), an American company based in California, which specializes in speakers, in-ear monitors and other audio devices.
Since 2008, the company is a subsidiary of Logitech.
The UE Boom 2 is a waterproof speaker with an IPX7 rating, which means it can be immersed in water up to 1m for up to 30 minutes. It has a cylindrical shape and a solid design.
Here are the main specifications:
The speaker comes in 8 colors: Yeti (white), Phantom (black), brainfreeze (blue), cherry bomb (red), green machine (green and blue), Marina (blue, turquoise and black), after hours (combination of red, black and blue) and cityscape (black and gray).
The Boom 2 has a clean and simple design and it looks very durable. It has a power button at one end and two big volume control buttons on top, which are impossible to miss. If you hold them both together a voice will inform you of the remaining battery life of the speaker. There is also a tap control that allows you to pause, skip or play.
The fact that the speaker is IPX7 certified makes it perfect for outdoor use, such as festivals, camping trips and so on. We can confirm you its water resistance, as we submerged the speaker in water for a test, although, to be fair, we only left it for a couple of minutes. However, no damages were done. In addition to being waterproof, the Boom 2 is also shockproof, which means it can also resist to impacts, if, for instance, you accidentally drop it from 1.5 meters. It can also cope with mud and dirt.
The Boom 2 is not just a great speaker. It allows you to take calls, thanks to its built-in speakerphone.
It is 25% louder than the previous model and it has some nice extra features. You can pair 2 speakers and obtain a stereo effect and a richer, louder sound. The overall quality has also improved compared to the last Boom model. The Boom 2 is not just louder, but also fuller and with a punchy bass and crisp highs. It offers a wider, fuller sound especially when upright, offering a 360 degree sound. However, even with the extra decibels, the Boom 2 still distorts a bit when used at its max. volume, but we’ve come to realize this is a common issue with almost all Bluetooth speakers. Also, in spite of its overall improvements (compared to the previous model), the Boom 2 doesn’t have the warmest sound we’ve heard. It is really good, but not the best, although, ultimately, it’s also a matter of taste.
The speaker’s app, which can be downloaded for free, offers more control: it lets you power it on and off, check the battery, set an alarm with a favorite tune and adjust the equalizer. If you have the latest version of the software you can also control the Boom 2 using Siri or Google Now.
The Boom 2 offers connection through both Bluetooth and NFC, which is an added bonus. The speaker guarantees a range of play up to 100 feet (33m). You can also use it with an audio cable, as it has a 3.5 mm jack plug.
The battery life is around 15 hours, which is really impressive and it takes two and a half hours to fully charge.
You can buy the UE Boom 2 speaker on Amazon for $115. On the official Ultimate Ears website, the Boom 2 is priced at $179.99. In the box you get the speaker, a Micro-USB cable and power supply, a removable D-Ring and a protective ‘weather door’ cover.
Phone: +1 646 454 3200
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Email support: https://support.ultimateears.com/en/email-support/
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The Ultimate Ears customer support staff can be reached via phone or email. The support section on their website includes useful resources: a getting started guide, forums, FAQ, warranty info and more.
Our editorial staff evaluates products and services independently, but Best Review Guide may earn money when you click on links. Read our advertising disclosure.
By: Matt | Last updated March 23, 2018 
