Home cinema sets, soundbars, stereo sets, speaker sets, headphones, earplugs, simply. Ways to listen to audio. We are busy with it in 2015. We would like to have a speaker that produces beautiful and clear sounds, a speaker that looks nice, a speaker that also has a hip image in addition to a professional appearance, and a speaker that is just a bit hard (because, let's be honest. That's the first question your friends will ask).
In short, you want to be in possession of the very best speaker that is not too heavy, compact, looks nice and sounds good to your ears. Difficult, difficult. But last week I came into contact with the Megaboom of the Ultimate Ears brand, and as it looks now I have found my perfect speakers. I will try to convince you of the powers of this compact beast.
Briefly. Ultimate Ears has been a producer of high-quality audio solutions for almost 20 years. Many artists and bands all over the world use their products (Van Halen uses the in-ear monitors that Ultimate Ears produces), so it is not an unknown player on the market.
Let me just be honest, I was previously unfamiliar with this brand. I've heard the name mentioned, but never thought about it because I was never looking for new audiovisual products at the time. We are now fast approaching summer. Nice weather, diving in the pool and long days / nights. And what could be more fun than having a nice summer song on by that pool?
I think I kind of made my point there. You are looking for a speaker that is solid, and if it is still possible, hip and powerful. And then you quickly come to the products of Ultimate Ears.
Just a few small points before I briefly discuss some features:
– The speaker offers 360 degree sound, this is because the speaker has the shape of a cylinder. Approximately 85% of the cylinder is visibly covered with speaker grills.
– The UE Megaboom can be linked to other Ultimate Ears products to produce Stereo or double sound, this is done via the app.
– The UE Megaboom is available in different color combinations.
– The UE Megaboom is IPX7-rated waterproof (so yes, it could possibly fall into the pool).
– The UE Megaboom has a range of more than 30 meters via bluetooth.
– The UE Megaboom comes with a powerful (rechargeable) battery that lasts for 20 hours.
There are probably still some points I'm forgetting, but here's my experience in short:
Design:
I have the Megaboom in the black/blue color combination. Personally, I think the design is very nice and minimalistic. The product feels robust due to the plasma coating. I also find it useful that the flaps can be closed with rubber (waterproof). Behind these covers are a charging port (for the included micro-usb cable) and a 3.5mm jack to connect the Megaboom to your phone, laptop or TV, for example.
Furthermore, the device only contains 4 buttons. The on/off button, the button with which you search for new Bluetooth devices and the volume control. In short, I am very pleased with this minimalistic approach to the speaker.
Sound:
The most important thing about the speaker is of course the sound. First let me say that the sound is great for a compact device. The sound is very loud even at 1/4th of the volume. The bass is in nice contrast with the tones of the music. Furthermore, I find it a huge advantage that the volume control can be controlled via your phone, but also that the app gives the possibility to choose preset profiles (e.g. more bass, better emphasis on vocal etc.), but also the possibility to create your own profile. After some playing you come very close to the perfect listening experience. Operating the app is very simple and the sound of the Megaboom is nothing short of brilliant (and that's no exaggeration).
Other:
Finally, I am very pleased with the fact that the speaker has a long battery life. I've only recently owned the device, but it definitely ticks up the 20 hours of playback time. Of course the battery will wear out over the months, but luckily Ultimate Ears (unlike many competitors) offers a 2-year warranty on their battery, and not just on the product itself. I would also like to say that connecting via bluetooth is a piece of cake and takes less than a minute. The app gives clear instructions if it really doesn't work. It is also possible to adjust the notification language of the speaker or to update the speaker software via Bluetooth. It is also possible from the app to connect another Ultimate Ears product (as mentioned earlier) for Stereo or double sound.
The app also offers an option to use the Megaboom as an alarm clock. It is also possible to play music from every conceivable music source. Your local phone, Spotify, Pandora, Soundcloud and, if necessary, YouTube.
Conclusion:
The Ultimate Ears Megaboom offers a surprising amount of sound for a compact device. The bass is powerful and the appearance of the device is hip. It is also a huge advantage that the speaker can take a beating and that it is waterproof. It is also a plus that the app is well developed. Furthermore, the functionalities are fine and the battery life is a relief. I can recommend this device to anyone looking for a decent speaker without too much fuss.
