Ultimate Ears Boom Wireless Bluetooth Speaker - Black

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.

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.

Pros: decent sound quality, pairs & connects easily, pleasant drumming audio feedback, good wireless range, good battery life, out power down, auto-reconnect to last device on power up Cons: volume down minus button can be hard to find, micro USB charging on bottom of speaker I got this on clearance since version 2 is out. And version 2 adds water resistance and longer range, but doesn’t improve audio quality so this is a steal. After reading a ton of review and returning JBL’s flip, I was skeptical it would sound as good as reviewers said. I was happy that it does sound very good for its size. It uses bluetooth’s sub-band coding, which is a lossy codec. However the UE Boom is too small to take advantage of higher quality anyway. The overall balance and tonality of this is excellent for a speaker this size. Sure the audio is not audiophile grade—the fidelity is good, but lacking in fullness & nuances only present in larger home speaker systems—but such is physics of sound. But for portable applications, it is great. In fact it is the best portable speaker I’ve used to date. I can find room for it in my go bag (where my computer, tablet & electronics live while I’m on the road), and have a way to play small room filling audio for friends without having to apologize for “crappy” phone or tablet speakers. The bluetooth range is good too. I can leave this in my room & have walked into the kitchen (~35') and only when 4 walls AND a metal water heater or the fridge are in the way does it drop out. So, the stated range of 50' is probably accurate. The speaker’s audio feedback is pleasant: when you power it on a hand drum pattern greets you instead of beeping that’s common in most bluetooth audio devices. Then is connects, enters pairing mode and powers down other hand drum patterns play to give you distinctive feedback so you don’t need to guess what state the speaker is in. The battery seems to last the advertised time. I used it heavily for 2 days before running out of power. When the battery is low a quick female voice annnounces “the battery is low…please charge…” (paraphrased) and then within a minute it powers down. But you can avoid running out of power if you pay attention to the battery indicator that shows up on tablets and phones that are connected via bluetooth. There are only 2 minor things that bug me about this: First, the + and minus symbol for volume up and down, are elegant. The volume up button is under the intersection of lines and easy to hit reliably, however but the volume down minus sign button is difficult to find on first or even second press. Note: the “target” button is feels like it is about he size of a pinky finger tip, so easy to miss under that large minus sign. Second, the micro-b USB charging port is on the bottom next to the D-Ring. I’m not a fan of micro-b usb sockets because they wear out sooner than mini-b USB sockets and being on the bottom means you have to flip it over to charge, and if you want to listen to it while charging the on/off controls and pairing are on the bottom. Because these are both minor, I didn’t deduct any stars since the core functionality (the quality of the sound) is beyond what Beats, JBL and others are offering. Bottom Line: I would buy it again. (& I might buy another to pair them together using the free app)

I'll start out by saying that I'm a 20-something male that enjoys traveling and I wanted something that I could bring with me to various places including friends' houses, the beach, the mountains, etc. Essentially, I wanted a bluetooth speaker that is rugged and can take a little moisture and a decent level of bruising (for accidents), but also sounds great at all sound levels with any genre. I've owned this for approximately 4 weeks now, so I'll address a few common concerns first among people in the same boat that I was: Battery Life: Absolutely this has the longevity that it claims. I haven't measured to exactly 15 hours at half volume because I'm not a tester. I do use it about 1 hour daily at half volume (the range is 0-15, so I used '7'), as well as about 5-6 hours/night when I sleep at a lower volume. Normally I will charge it about once every 10-14 days. Charging from < 10% takes approximately 2.5-3 hours. Volume: Half volume (7-8) is plenty, unless you plan to rig the sound system at Dallas Cowboy's stadium. This speaker produces a surprising volume. I use 7 when I'm by myself in my apartment and it pretty much fills the place (in all honesty, it's sometimes too loud, depending on what I'm listening to). In more open environments, even 8 is generally plenty, but it still performs well at louder sound levels. Sound: I split this up into volume/sound because they're different things. Let's transition this by discussing sound distortion at higher sound levels: to be honest, I only tried to max out the volume a handful of times, and during those times, no distortion was noticeable at very high volume. Otherwise, the sound seems to be very full and rich. It delivers great highs, mids, and lows. Its lower threshold is probably around 50Hz, if I had to take a guess. All-around great sound for any kind of music. Ruggedness: I've dropped it a few times on my carpeted floor and tossed it around a bit. It's been at a blazing hot worksite and at the beach twice and at the pool twice. It also was in my checked baggage on two connecting flights across the country (we all know how gentle the kind airline staff are with our luggage). Of course, I've only had it for about four weeks, but it still sounds great and there's nothing noticeably different than the first day I bought it (cosmetically, audibly, or otherwise). As much as I'd like to test the limits of this device for testing purposes, I'd still like to see this speaker last a while. Connectivity: This is something that really impressed me. First of all, it pairs in literally under 5 seconds (including the first time it paired to my phone). With a clear line-of-sight, I've walked approximately 80 feet away before the sound dropped (they claim 50 feet). I've also walked around my apartment with my phone (player) in my pocket and it still played while in another room and through walls. However, I did notice that if it goes through too many walls, it seems to drop sporadically or altogether. All-around great connectivity, though. App: The UE Boom app is basic, which is great. You have four pre-set EQ settings and that's it. I'd much rather be able to choose which frequencies to amplify; the app doesn't even show you what is changing from setting-to-setting, and I generally can't tell much of a difference between any of them. In the end, your pairing device has specific EQ settings, too, so it's probably to change it on there anyways. You can double up with another UE boom (never tried this), check your battery (more on this below), and a few other misc things like alarms, etc. Speakerphone: This is something that I actually use frequently. My apartment doesn't have the best reception for phone service except near the windows. When I'm on the phone, I will often set my phone near the window and bring my speakerphone around my apartment so that I can have conversations while I'm walking around. This is one feature I truly enjoy, because my signal will drop completely about 15 feet away from my windows. Sound quality during calls sounds better than the speaker on my phone. Logitech claims dual microphones, but I don't know where they are (this would influence where I hold the speaker). Misc: You can check the battery by pressing the + and - symbols simultaneously. Power button and bluetooth pairing button top. Charging port, audio input (cable not included), and tripod hookup on bottom. Price is a bit much, but I would truly say that it's worth the price, as long as it continues to last for a few more years. ***** Conclusion: Has great volume, great sound, with a long-lasting battery, excellent build quality, and maintains connection with a reasonable distance from the paired device. In all honesty, I wasn't even considering this price range for bluetooth speakers, but I did a lot of research before purchasing this and chose this because of how well everyone had described the important factors listed above. While I haven't physically compared other devices, this speaker has met and exceeded my expectations in virtually all major areas. If you're in the market for a bluetooth speaker, and even if you've been thinking about buying a slightly less expensive one, I would definitely recommend this one. In the end, good luck with your shopping and decision!

Lots of reviews on this thing, with everyone focusing on some aspect (usually sound quality). So this review is for the people out there looking for a portable speaker for bike riding purposes. I own 2 of these. I use them as speakers for my bicycle. I use these every time I ride to provide music for myself and my friends. Headphones are dangerous on a bike, this lets me still enjoy my music, share it with my friends, and hear traffic / other ambient sounds. First, since everyone else focuses on this: SOUND: Highest quality out there? Beats every other speaker on the market? Who knows and who cares! For bike riders, we want sound that is clear, of good quality, and loud to overcome other ambient noise or city noises. That being said, yes the quality is very good, and except for audiophiles who obsess over these things, just know it's better than many other speakers, and great for bikers. The number one issue bikers will encounter is not the speaker itself, but the quality of the files you are playing if you use downloaded music. Some songs are quiet, some are loud, depends on your source and the quality of the music files themselves much more than the speaker. PORTABILITY: This things fits perfect in 95%+ of water bottle cages that come standard on many bikes. Even the fancy carbon ones. This works on my mountain bike with a cheap metal cage, on my fixie with a slightly fancier bottle cage, and on my road bike with a partial carbon cage. For metal cages, you can just flex/bend the cage if it's too loose or tight, however, I just use a tiny S shaped slide lock to hook it to the cage. Even better, I've started using a bendable Nite Ize Gear Tie set up (search on that term here on Amazon) to hold the speaker in place. Again, no need for these really, but some rides are bumpy and I like the extra security. DURABILITY: No problem! This thing is a little brick. I've ridden with them in a pouring rain, still pumping out the tunes. I've dropped one a couple of times, no issues. FEATURES: Here's where the UE Boom seriously disappoints us bikers... 1. The UE Boom has a mobile app! Awesome! It even lets you remotely power on and off the device. For a biker, fantastic! It also shows your remaining battery life on the app, yes, yes, we're on a streak now! And the most important feature, remote volume control! Oh, no wait, they left that last one out... What the heck man?!? You can power this thing on an off without having to reach down and do it while riding, but you can't change the much more important volume remotely while riding? Shame on you logitech, like seriously shame on you, that's a major 'D'oh' and minus one star for you. I turn it on when I first get on the bike, remote power on is not even that useful. I turn it off when done riding, remote power off also not super useful. (Both features still appreciated though). But volume needs to be constantly adjusted while riding!!! Side story: I called Logitech about this since their website, user guide, and mobile app store page clearly advertise remote volume control as well. Man I tore them a new one over the phone about false advertising claims about this. Result of that call? They removed the feature highlight from their website, guide, and app page. Haha! So they listened to me, just not in the way I wanted. ADD THIS FEATURE LOGITECH!!! 2. You can press the up/down volume buttons together to get an accurate statement on remaining battery life, or use the app. Awesome. Now let me just reach down here and press the volume up button and it will tell me what % of total volume I am playing at... Oh wait, now it doesn't. What the heck?!? There is no way to know what % of total volume you are currently listening to! So for bikers, here is what you have to do every single time you ride with one of these. Turn it on, start playing a song, then press the volume up over and over to get to the max volume (beeps when you hit it), then press the volume down the correct number of times you have calculated so that you hit the sweet spot of loud enough but not battery draining super fast (for me that is 4 - 6 times pressing down after hitting max). Sure you can find your sweet spot and just leave it there, but then you end up riding with friends and they want it louder, and then later you're riding alone through a neighborhood at night and know that grumpy gramps on the corner doesn't like to listen to the Stones, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Mos Def, Daft Punk, or Snoop Dogg/Lion at a high volume after 10pm and you need to turn it down some. 3. Volume controls on the device are big and I can press them while riding without looking at the device. Perfect, thanks! However, a >> and << button on the device for forward and back would be a nice improvement for anyone not using the device with the app. It's like they can't decide to make the device fully remote or not. I can't do volume control with the app, but I can't control the track being played from the device. I've done QA and SD work before, c'mon logitech, you're better than this. 4. The last feature I will touch on is the ability to sync 2 of these speakers via the mobile app. Love this feature. As I stated above, I have 2 of these, and 2 bottle cages on my road bike. I double up these bad boys to really crank out the music for my larger social cycling night rides and it works perfect. Sometimes it's a little clunky getting them to double up properly, but I just pair each speaker with my phone individually first, then power them both down. Then turn on 1 and wait for it to connect to my phone, open the app, go to double up, then turn on the second. It works most of the time. Sometimes it has trouble for whatever reason, but I use these with 2 phones, a laptop, a tablet, etc, so it's a mess to begin with based on my use. Once it does double up once, it usually never forgets for subsequent needs. BATTERY LIFE: Ugh... not so great. 15 hours? Ha! No way, not possible unless you have the volume at 1%. However, all companies inflate their battery numbers, and yes Logitech you are inflating, as I do not care that you can get 15 hours with volume at 1%, no one would ever use it that way, and you know that you and every other company out there should be required to state total life at 1%, 50%, and 100% at a minimum, so consumers have the true info on real life usage of these products! Anyway, at 100% volume on the speaker and the cell phone, you're lucky to get an hour or two out of these. However, that's some loud music. Now, here's my solution. I double up my speakers usually, but it works single use also. I power them up, get the music going, and then adjust the volume to usually around 75% (guessing since logitech doesn't include a volume readout... see above). That volume will usually last for normal rides, but I do a lot of longer rides (multiple times per week I ride for 3 - 6 hours at a time). So, I use a Ravpower or Anker external battery to keep the speakers going as long as I need. I put the speakers in their cages on the bike, and connect a cable to the power port on the bottom of each. I wrap that cable around the frame of the bike and connect it to the external battery that I keep in a saddle bag under the seat of the bike, and then I have music that lasts as long as I need. Other notes: My road bike is 90% black with some red and white accents, so I have the dull black with red accents version of the speaker (seriously, please buy a colored version unless you are trying to be invisible with your setup like mine). My USB cables (for power) are also black, my saddle bag under my seat is black, etc. Also my RevoLights on my wheels are black and shine white or red light (front / back). So for me this whole setup is virtually invisible, especially at night. I've been stopped well over a hundred times now (use these daily for the past year) by people who are like, where is the music coming from, there's no way your cell phone (mounted to the front of the bike using a Koomus mount) is that loud. It sounds great, and with your light setup, man that's awesome! 90%+ of people love the setup, the music, etc. Again, I ride daily and frequently in groups. Also in weekly open to the public city rides with 1000's and 1000's of people around riding. I get stopped so often because people want to know what brand speaker I use and where I got it (also, I use like 10 different lights on my bike at night, so many times it's for my light setup as well, check out Nori lights, RevoLights, Monkey lights, etc). The best part is, my setup is minimal in size and look. Many people I ride with have louder music, but they have to use a hitch and trailer for their full size speakers, or a rack on the back to carry a large speaker, with my setup, you don't even see where the sound comes from because at night it's invisible, and even during the day when I come to a stop, my legs block the view of the speakers in their cages. Occassionally (less than a dozen times so far in a year) you get the Debbie Downers, Negative Nancy's, and Grumpy Gramps who don't like that the music is contributing to overall ambient noise (yeah my other option is headphones and not going to kill myself because you get upset that you hear my music for the less than 2 seconds that it takes me to fly by you like a blur). I pause my music when stopped at a red light with people around, because I get it, no one likes the stereotypical late teen / early 20's wannabe in the modified car with all 4 windows down and music blasting, etc... I try to fit in with my surroundings, but at the same time, screw you overly negative people, life is short, I'm on a bike not contributing to the pollution problem, while also getting exercise, and arriving at my destination frequently before car users even. I am a educated and polite cyclist (stop for people, lights, stop signs, signal my turns, follow rules of road, don't go on sidewalks, use bike lane if one exists), but I also am aggressive and defend my rights as a road vehicle (own the full lane when I have a right to, don't let you come over on top of me or turn in front of me from another lane or tailgate me, etc; don't do something illegal or dangerous around me, because I will confront you on it immediately, not in a road rage way, but I won't let you get away with endangering me, and you probably will be on video). Ok done with the soapbox speech! Ride smart bikers, but enjoy your rides and be aware of your surroundings (and polite to the people our there), this speaker is a great add-on for a bike! Final rating: 5 stars for general use; 3.5 stars for bike riders (Add remote volume control logitech!!! And add a volume readout, be more honest on battery life, and for V.2 of the speaker, add track controls to the device.)

Edit: The events which transpired over the last couple of weeks and the customer support I received from Logitech has been nothing short of amazing. Rory from Logitech promptly got in touch with me (My previous review is below) and after determining, that it was indeed a H/W problem, issued me a no charge replacement for my unit although Logitech doesn't retail this model in my country (India) yet. What more, it was an expedited shipment so I din't really have to wait. About the unit: As you can make out from my previous review, I was (and still continue) to be a fan boy of this set. Sound is crisp, clear and if you're one of those audiophiles who likes to really discern between lyrics and melody and not be hung up on muddled lows they pass as bass (especially in this form factor)- this is the BT set you need to go for. The sound gets pretty loud and for some reason, I felt this speaker really performs when played outdoors as compared to playing in closed environments. Couple that with the fact that it fits in any standard car cup holder, supports HFP 1.5 (calls are pretty clear and microphone does a decent job), has great battery backup, is life-proof and that the bluetooth tech implementation especially on iOS (Persistent battery indicator on top panel, Multi Host and fast pair+detect) nears perfection- its a winner indeed. I have been testing out the new set over the last few days, and suffice to say Logitech + Ultimate Ears definitely impressed me again not just with a great set but also with the terrific after sales support I recieved so far. Cheers. My Last review: I was a typical fanboy of this set, till the damn thing started distorting bad. Battery life was great, sound quality is (was) pretty amazing and I had quiet a few people convinced about getting one despite the fact that the warranty is pretty much useless back in India. I mean seriously, if a company's convinced about selling a 2 year warranty claim with their product, you expect it to last atleast a year right? Well wrong. 10 days of indoor-sy usage at volumes no greater than 70%-80%, I start getting heavy distortion from music played via all sorts of sources. Same audio files which played beautifully at no matter what peak I set the volume to, started sounding like you usually get when there's a malfunctioning driver involved. Instant heartbreak. :( I don't know if I was just plain unlucky to be handed over a bad product, but it was a risk I took and pretty much regret it now. Will be unsubscribing from your fan pages now, UE and returning your product. Thank you so much.

Audio I was deciding between a Bose mini Soundlink and the UE Boom. I was able to look at and listen to both at my local Best Buy and the sound is superb on both devices. For me personally, I preferred the UE Boom's sound overall because it offers 360° sound, unlike the Bose. It really does make a difference if you have multiple people in a room, and I also think that the UE Boom offers a fuller sound. The 360° sound really shows off when the speaker is placed in a small room because the sound waves bounce off of every wall. When the device is turned on or pairs with a Bluetooth device it makes a pleasant sound that shows off its range. I haven't pushed it to it's limits, but I have turned it up very loud (louder than anyone would listen to it who is not using it to entertain a party) and it never got distorted. It honestly sounds even better the louder it gets. Boom. The bass is about as good as you can get on a battery-powered portable Bluetooth speaker. If you really want it to pound you can place the speaker in a corner, or play with the position because at different angles the sound is slightly different (more bass facing one way, more treble the other way). To stress how good the audio is...I have an RCA surround sound system in my kitchen (5 satellite speakers and a sub) and the UE Boom sounds better sitting on my kitchen table than the RCA system. Design The design of this speaker is phenomenon. I didn't fully appreciate it when I saw it in Best Buy, but when it arrived in the mail from Amazon I got to fully appreciate it. The packaging it comes in is even beautiful; it's a cylinder with a cover that slides off and it is like a case. It is good quality plastic that opens like a hot dog bun, if you will. The case isn't technically a "case" but will definitely be saved and used to transport the speaker when I'm going on long trips. As for the speaker itself; the design is of extremely high quality. My favorite thing about it, which you notice as soon as you pick it up, is that it has nice weight to it. I'm a sucker for gadgets that have some weight to them; I like to know the manufacturer used quality parts. The speaker weighs a few pounds, but not enough to make it tedious to carry around short distances. I would say it weighs a little less than one of those police-style metal flashlights with the long handles. The design is very aesthetically pleasing (I got the black) with its slightly rubberized top/bottom and strip that goes across it. The water resistant cover feels very high quality and looks super nice. The buttons are under a layer of rubber because it is water resistant, and they have a nice feel and "click" to them when pressed. Overall When it first showed up in the mail and I opened it I forgot all about how good it sounded in Best Buy because I was too preoccupied with admiring the packaging and the design of the speaker itself. As soon as you pick it up and play with it you will agree that it is a beautiful and high-quality design made with quality parts. The sound quality is top-notch as well. The 360° fills up a small-medium sized room in every direction which is great for listening with multiple people. I haven't bought a second one (yet), but I very well might so I can take advantage of the ability to pair them together for stereo sound. The speaker gets very, very loud and does not distort at the volumes I tested it at (probably around 80% volume). It has good weight and feels high-quality to the touch, pairs quickly, has a solid 15-hour battery life, is water resistant and most importantly sounds amazing. Highly recommended.

I couldn't find any reviews comparing the speakers I was interested in, reviewing the features I cared about...so here it is! I was looking for a speaker to be 'portable' (size and battery life, more on this later), rugged (or at least replaceable), and loud enough to fill a reasonable outdoor area with sound without distorting. I compared: - Logitech UE Boom, $180, 2100mah battery http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CM0XHNS/ref=cm_cr_ryp_prd_ttl_sol_1 - Braven BRV 855s $234, 8800mah battery, http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DP3QE90/ref=cm_cr_ryp_prd_ttl_sol_0 - Fugoo Tough, $230, 4400mah battery, http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IBJ3OBO/ref=cm_cr_ryp_prd_ttl_sol_0 - Sharkk Mobile Boombox, $64, 4400 mah battery, http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ES2BQ7M/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 RUGGED: The UE Boom, BRV855s, and Fugoo are all plenty ruggedized. I could buy 4 Sharkk's for the price of 1 Fugoo, so it's replaceable enough for me to not mind that it's not rugged. Everyone scores even! COST: The Sharkk is litterally 1/4th the cost of the BRV 855s and the Fugoo, 1/3rd the cost of the Boom. Sharkk wins for price/value by a mile. SIZE: The BRV855s is much larger than the other 3. The UE Boom, Fugoo, and Sharkk are all about the same size, while the round soda can shape of the Boom makes it more portable and versatile, I feel like. The D-ring on top is nice, I could clip it to my pack or something. UE Boom wins for size. https://www.dropbox.com/s/6ihz2t88hs18uxf/2014-12-20%2013.27.49.jpg?dl=0 https://www.dropbox.com/s/cj7x23w8zcpkr3w/2014-12-20%2013.28.31.jpg?dl=0 BATTERY: The UE Boom claims 15hr battery life, but that doesn't seem likely given the tiny (by comparison) battery. I hear reports of less than 4 hours on a full charge. The Fugoo and Sharkk have a 4400mah, while the Braven rocks 8800mah and a 3A charging port to top off your phone. Braven wins for battery by a lot. A side note, only the Braven requires a proprietary DC adapter to charge, the other 3 can charge from standard USB. LOUDNESS: Here's where it gets good, this is really what I cared about. I want to fill up an outdoor area, and get people moving! To compare, I cranked all the speakers to 100% and switched them back and forth on the same track. The Fugoo Tough was sorely disappointing. I updated the firmware and started it in 'loudness' mode, and even then it was by FAR the quietest, and had by FAR the most distortion. Yuck. The Sharkk sounded much better (still a little distortion, but not bad), and got much louder as well. Not quite as loud as I'd really like, but very loud. The UE Boom got a little bit louder than the Sharkk (it was noticeable, but not huge), while distorting less. The Braven blew them all away! WAY louder, very minimal distortion, and then putting it into DTS mode seems to make the speaker really project the sound even further. VERY impressed with the Braven, this thing gets LOUD. SOUND QUALITY: The Fugoo is pretty much disqualified from this category due to all the distortion at max volume. That said, it sounds reasonably well balanced until it begins to distort. The UE Boom seems to lack mids, and completely lack bass on some more bass-heavy songs. It's helped by the EQ in the UE Boom app, but not a ton. The Sharkk sounds surprisingly good! A bit tinny, but plenty of bass, present mids, good clarity. The Braven blows them all away again! Bass is punchy and extends low and tight, sound is balanced, mids are present, highs are crisp and not sibilant...shocking how good this thing sounds! DTS mode kicks it up another notch by offering a surprising amount of soundstage from a couple speakers placed inches away from each other. Braven wins hands down again! NOTES ON 'DOUBLE-UP': The UE Boom and the Braven 855s allow you to pair two of the same speakers together for a L/R stereo pair (yes, this would be $360 for a pair of UE Booms and $470 for the pair of Bravens...a ton of $$). I have used two UE Booms in double up mode extensively - DO NOT BOTHER BUYING TWO UE BOOMS. There is a serious bug with the Boom that causes audio to speed up and drop out when paired in double-up: http://forums.logitech.com/t5/Logitech-UE/UE-Boom-audio-drops-out-every-few-seconds-while-in-Double-Up/m-p/1333545/highlight/false With how much sound one Braven puts out, the idea of having two working as a stereo pair is really exciting...but also really expensive. CONCLUSION: I'm keeping the Braven! This thing gets significantly louder, sounds better, and has more battery life than the other units, while being able to charge my phone. It is larger, and requires a proprietary adapter to charge, so it gets docked a couple points for that. 5-stars in my eyes :) If the size is hard to stomach and you don't need quite as much sound, the UE Boom would be a good choice if you can deal with the shorter battery life. The fact that you can charge it from any USB should help with that. It's got a good shape, the d-ring is handy, it sounds pretty good, and gets nice and loud too! 3 stars, due to poor battery life, sound/loudness, and failure to support double-up If you simply want to be amazed at how much quality you can get for $65, get the Sharkk! This thing is surprising at every turn. Plenty loud for most people (any indoor setting, etc), good battery life, small enough to tote around, and CHEAP! If you're worried about damaging it in the rain or something, buy two! 5 stars due to value! I really wanted to like the Fugoo Tough. It's easily the most rugged of the speakers, and seems really well designed, with all sorts of cool accessories to clip it to bikes and poles and things. Unfortunately, it just doesn't sound good at the volume levels I need, and so I can't recommend it. Also, the voice prompt dude is REALLY annoying. 2 stars, not usable as a speaker for me, despite how much I wanted to like it :(

Turns my Apple phone into a excellent device for a conference call

Love this. Great distance. When my phone is in range it automatically connects!

V Good speakers. Excellent sound, the high and mid are V good and most Indian film songs fall in that range, I couldn't raise vol. to more than 50% inside the house. Tried for 4 hours after full charge now it's 87% so battery life is great and all this for 7.9k

This speaker is compact and has an amazing sound! I definitely recommend the UE Boom products!

Great sound I will be buying another to complete the pair.