Ultimate Ears Everboom: Good Speaker, Tough Sell

August 22, 2024:

Most people won’t be listening to the Everboom on their desktop, of course, so I did most of my testing outdoors, where the speaker really steps up. I particularly enjoyed its sound from around 10 feet or more, marked by full-bodied punch in the bass and midrange and refined clarity in the higher frequencies, with a touch of stereo separation. There’s a pulpy warmth that hits just right when rendering snappy percussion, jangly strings, or crisp vocals.

You can crank it pretty heartily to fill a large space, including engaging the Outdoor Mode for a bit more punch, though you’ll likely notice some digital compression at top volume that can tamp down the excitement. The Everboom easily serves up a fuller sound out in the open when compared to the smaller Boom 4 and my aging JBL Flip 5, as well as the brawnier Beats Pill, which tends to sharpen up in the higher registers outdoors.

It’s much harder to differentiate between the Everboom and Megaboom 4. Over several hours of critical listening, the Everboom revealed a smoother touch, with warmer and fuller midbass and slightly more power, while the Megaboom is more focused in the mids and less refined in the treble. It’s a difference that’s unlikely to make a big impression, especially when you’re kicking back a few drinks at a barbecue or outdoor gathering.

Back view of a cylindrical portable speaker showing the holding clip and port cover

Neither speaker can dig into the sub-bass regions with much authority. If you want bigger bass, you’ll likely need to jump up to larger options like the Epicboom (which I have yet to test) or something even pricier like the physics-defying Brane X (9/10, WIRED Recommends), though the latter doesn’t offer the same kind of go-anywhere, do-anything security that Ultimate Ears provides.

What really makes UE’s “Boom” speakers so appealing is their balance of high performance and top-notch durability. Like its cheaper siblings, the Everboom serves up a great cocktail of sound, features, and battery life in a frame that feels like it could be tossed into a wood chipper and come out the other end (please do not do that). Then again so do a lot of options on our Best Bluetooth speaker list, many for less money.

I never found a strong enough argument for the Everboom’s heftier price, leaving me pointing to the tried-and-true Megaboom 4, or JBL’s Charge 5 if you want a speaker that charges your phone. Those on tighter budgets will find similar spoils in the Boom 4 or JBL Flip 6. Barring a good sale, that’s where I’d put my money.

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