View source for UE Boom

{{Short description|Portable Bluetooth speaker}}
{{Infobox product
| title         = UE Boom
| image         = File:UE Boom speakers.jpg
| alt           =
| caption       =
| company       = [[Ultimate Ears]]
| launch year   = 2013
| url           = {{official website|http://www.ultimateears.com/}}
}}
'''UE Boom''' is a portable [[Loudspeaker|speaker]] manufactured by [[Ultimate Ears]], supporting [[Bluetooth]] and wired connections.<ref name=PCMAG>{{cite web|last=Greenwald|first=Will|title=Ultimate Ears UE Boom|url=https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2420573,00.asp|work=PC Magazine|access-date=23 May 2014|date=19 June 2018}}</ref> UE Boom has been praised for its [[industrial design]], loudness, battery life, speakerphone capability, and its suitability for outdoor use, but criticized for its comparatively high price.
The speaker was first on May 21, 2013, and went on sale in the United States and Europe later that month.<ref name=UEBoomAnnouncement>{{cite web|title=Ultimate Ears Unveils World's First Social Music Player: UE Boom|url=http://www.ultimateears.com/en-us/press|website=Ultimate Ears|access-date=28 October 2015}}</ref>
On September 15, 2015, Ultimate Ears introduced the [[UE Boom 2]], a revised model of the UE Boom.<ref name=UEBoom2Announcement>{{cite web|title=Ultimate Ears Ups the Ante With UE Boom 2|url=https://www.ultimateears.com/en-us/press|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151003133100/https://www.ultimateears.com/en-us/press|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 October 2015|website=Ultimate Ears|access-date=15 April 2019}}</ref> The new model featured [[IPX7]] waterproofing, a 25% increase in volume, and superior wireless range over the original model.
The third revision, [[UE Boom 3]], was announced on August 30, 2018 <ref name=UEBoom3Announcement>{{cite web|title=Introducing Ultimate Ears Boom 3 and Megaboom 3, Packed With New Features|url=https://www.ultimateears.com/en-us/press.html|website=Ultimate Ears|access-date=15 April 2019}}</ref> with a personalized version of the speaker announced on March 4, 2019.<ref name=MyBoomStudioAnnouncement>{{cite web|title=Personalie Your Ultimate Ears Speaker With myBoom Studio|url=https://www.ultimateears.com/en-us/press.html|website=Ultimate Ears|access-date=15 April 2019}}</ref>
== Design and features ==
The speaker is an elongated cylinder measuring {{convert|18|×|6.5|cm|abbr=on}}, similar in shape to a canned beverage, and weighing {{convert|538|g|abbr=on}}. It is coated in a water- and stain-resistant material and partly covered with rubber.<ref name="PCMAG"/> The speaker comes in several colorways, including a limited edition designed by painter [[Kenny Scharf]]. The design and cylindrical shape was described by ''{{Proper name|iLounge}}'' as "different from most competitors and yet consistent with both prior UE Boombox designs".<ref name="ILOUNGE">{{cite web|last=Horowitz|first=Jeremy|title=Review: Ultimate Ears UE Boom|url=http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/reviews/entry/ultimate-ears-ue-boom/|publisher=iLounge|access-date=23 May 2014|date=21 May 2013}}</ref>
UE Boom consists of two {{convert|1.5|in|adj=on|disp=flip}} drivers at 4 [[Ohm|Ω]], and has two passive radiators measuring {{convert|2|in|disp=flip}}. In terms of sound output, it supports a maximum of 88 dBA in a [[Frequency range|range]] of 90&nbsp;Hz–20&nbsp;kHz.<ref>{{cite web|last=Miller|first=Matthew|title=The UE Boom tops the portable speaker market (review)|url=http://www.zdnet.com/the-ue-boom-tops-the-portable-speaker-market-review-7000016306/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130629050156/http://www.zdnet.com/the-ue-boom-tops-the-portable-speaker-market-review-7000016306/|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 29, 2013|work=The Mobile Gadgeteer|publisher=ZDNet|access-date=23 May 2014|date=4 June 2013}}</ref> On one end, it has a removable [[D-ring]], which one reviewer suggested might be used to hang the device like a lantern.<ref name=PCMAG /> In addition to supporting Bluetooth, the speaker can be connected via a standard 3.5mm audio input. It also supports passive [[Near field communication|NFC]], can be used as a Bluetooth speakerphone and has an alarm feature. Additionally, two speakers can be paired to one source, with each speaker playing back a separate channel, or both speakers playing both channels.<ref name="ILOUNGE" />
A recently released firmware update enabled a feature called "PartyUp" which allows a person to pair 150+ UE Boom, Boom 2, and MegaBoom speakers, and have them all playing music from a single source.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ultimateears.com/en-us/partyup|title = PartyUp - Create a Party Sound System by Wirelessly Connecting Multiple Ultimate Ears Speakers}}</ref>
== Critical reception ==
''[[CNET]]'' rated the UE Boom four stars out of five, favoring it as versatile, durable, portable and loud. CNET also commented that, like most small speakers, the UE Boom "just doesn't deliver a ton of bass", and that at higher volumes, the UE Boom may distort "bass-heavy material".<ref name=CNET>{{cite web|last=Carnoy|first=David|title=UE Boom review|url=http://www.cnet.com/products/logitech-ue-boom/2/|publisher=CNET|access-date=23 May 2014|page=2|date=18 June 2013}}</ref>
Will Greenwald reviewed the UE Boom for ''[[PC Magazine]]'', remarking favorably on its design, volume and stereo pairing function. He noted that there was emphasis on the low-midrange tones. Greenwald also noted that the UE BOOM "doesn't exactly impress" in terms of low frequency sound. In testing the claim that the UE Boom produced "360-degree sound", he noted that the speaker's imaging did not suffer with different placement or listening position.<ref name="PCMAG"/>
A reviewer for the ''New Zealand Herald'' praised it for ease-of-use and quality of sound.<ref>{{cite web|last=Pilcher|first=Pat|title=Review: UE Boom Bluetooth Speaker|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/technology/news/article.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=10899329|work=New Zealand Herald|access-date=23 May 2014|date=17 July 2013}}</ref>
In 2014, UE Boom received an [[iF product design award]] in the audio category.<ref name="Clickonline">{{cite web | url=http://www.clickonline.com/tech/logitech-only-one-of-50-to-win-if-gold-award-in-2014/23509/ | title=Logitech only one of 50 to win iF Gold Award in 2014 | publisher=Clickonline | access-date=18 June 2014 | author=Jack Mc Glynn}}</ref>
==References==
{{Reflist}}
[[Category:Bluetooth speakers]]
[[Category:Products introduced in 2013]]