The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →The Ultimate Ears EPICBOOM is a large, rugged Bluetooth speaker best suited to outdoor gatherings and listeners who want room-filling 360-degree sound. It is less compelling if you need a light speaker for long walks, Wi-Fi streaming, an aux input or a built-in microphone. Reviewers praise its sound and outdoor credentials, though their views differ on how useful its adaptive EQ is.
What the EPICBOOM offers
Ultimate Ears describes the EPICBOOM as a 360-degree Bluetooth speaker with adaptive EQ, customizable sound settings in the BOOM app and compatibility with its PartyUp multi-speaker feature. The current U.S. product page lists pairing with BOOM 3, MEGABOOM 3, HYPERBOOM and EPICBOOM; check the current app and device firmware for compatibility before relying on a particular combination. Ultimate Ears’ U.S. EPICBOOM product page
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The manufacturer lists Bluetooth range up to 55 meters and an Outdoor Boost mode. Its 2023 launch announcement also described NFC pairing for compatible Android phones running Android 8.0 or later. That NFC detail comes from the launch announcement, so confirm support on your phone and speaker before planning to use it. Logitech’s 2023 launch announcement
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →How it sounds: strong overall, but reviews differ on EQ
TechRadar praised the EPICBOOM’s sound and its EQ options, describing it as a capable choice for outdoor listening. Tom’s Guide also highlighted balanced sound, but listed ineffective adaptive EQ and a lack of energy with some music genres among its drawbacks. These are separate reviewers’ listening judgments, not universal measurements; listeners who want fine control may prefer using the app’s manual EQ rather than counting on adaptive adjustments.
#1 Best Overall
- 360-Degree Big Bass and Customizable EQ: The EVERBOOM Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker delivers balanced sound and immersive audio; select or customize the EQ mode with UE | BOOM by Ultimate Ears app
- 20 Hours of BOOM: With up to 20 hours of battery life, it's the perfect party speaker to power your next big adventure
- Party up to up the Fun: Pair your EVERBOOM portable Bluetooth speaker with all models of BOOM, MEGABOOM, EPICBOOM and HYPERBOOM for even bigger, totally colossal sound
- Outdoor Boost: Tap the Outdoor Boost setting on this outdoor Bluetooth speaker to experience louder and more powerful audio
- Made for the Outdoors: With the IP67 waterproof, dustproof and floatable design, the EVERBOOM Bluetooth outdoor speaker was practically born for the outdoors
The speaker’s 360-degree design is intended to spread sound around a listening area, which suits groups gathered outdoors better than a focused, directional listening setup. If maximum bass and loudness matter more than portability, RTINGS says the larger HYPERBOOM delivers more low bass and higher volume. RTINGS’ EPICBOOM review and comparisons
Size, battery and durability
At 2 kg and 16.2 × 11.9 × 24.1 cm, the EPICBOOM is substantial for a portable speaker, according to TechRadar’s specification table. The outlet cautions against choosing it for long hikes, where carrying that weight and bulk is a meaningful drawback. It makes more sense for a backyard, campsite, or trip where you can carry it a short distance.
Rank #2
- 360-Degree Big Bass and Customizable EQ: The EVERBOOM Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker delivers balanced sound and immersive audio; select or customize the EQ mode with UE | BOOM by Ultimate Ears app
- 20 Hours of BOOM: With up to 20 hours of battery life, it's the perfect party speaker to power your next big adventure
- Party up to up the Fun: Pair your EVERBOOM portable Bluetooth speaker with all models of BOOM, MEGABOOM, EPICBOOM and HYPERBOOM for even bigger, totally colossal sound
- Outdoor Boost: Tap the Outdoor Boost setting on this outdoor Bluetooth speaker to experience louder and more powerful audio
- Made for the Outdoors: With the IP67 waterproof, dustproof and floatable design, the EVERBOOM Bluetooth outdoor speaker was practically born for the outdoors
Ultimate Ears claims up to 17 hours of playtime. TechRadar reported that its own battery test matched that figure under the reviewer’s listening conditions; that single test does not guarantee the same runtime at every volume or in every use case. Treat the 17-hour figure as a manufacturer claim, not a promise for continuous outdoor playback in all conditions.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesThe manufacturer rates the speaker IP67 and says it can be submerged for up to 30 minutes and survive drops of up to 1 meter. Those are Ultimate Ears’ claims, not independent durability-test results in the reviews discussed here. Tom’s Guide reported testing whether it floated in a bath because the team did not have pool access; that is a limited float test, not evidence of extended pool use. Tom’s Guide waterproof-speaker roundup
Rank #3
- Balanced 360-Degree Sound: The WONDERBOOM 4 portable waterproof Bluetooth speaker features 360-degree sound in a petite package; boosted sound for up to 14 hours of playtime
- Outdoor Boost and Podcast Mode: Engineered for full stereo sound; tap the Outdoor Boost button for outdoor environments; use the new Podcast Mode to make vocals sound rich and clear
- 14 Hours of Boom: With a rechargeable battery that lasts throughout the day, this waterproof portable speaker booms on with up to 14 hours of playtime, so you can soak up every moment; Charging via USB-C cable (not included)
- Waterproof, Dustproof, and Floatable: IP67-rated this Bluetooth waterproof speaker can be submerged in 1m of water for 30 min; protected from dust; ideal for the pool, beach, or shower
- Double Up for Stereo: Pair up two WONDERBOOM 4 portable Bluetooth speakers for even bigger sound; press once to double up; press again for true stereo from both speakers, with left and right channels (not compatible with PartyUP)
Connectivity and features to weigh
EPICBOOM is Bluetooth-only: TechRadar lists Bluetooth 5.3 and USB-C, with no aux input or built-in microphone, and notes the speaker does not support Wi-Fi streaming. That rules out network-based streaming and makes it a poor fit if you expect speakerphone calls or a wired audio connection. TechRadar’s EPICBOOM review
The BOOM app and PartyUp support are useful if you already own compatible Ultimate Ears speakers. The current U.S. product page names the compatible models, but app behavior and firmware can change; verify that your particular speaker is supported before buying on the strength of multi-speaker pairing alone.
Rank #4
- Balanced 360-Degree Sound: The WONDERBOOM 4 portable waterproof Bluetooth speaker features 360-degree sound in a petite package; boosted sound for up to 14 hours of playtime
- Outdoor Boost and Podcast Mode: Engineered for full stereo sound; tap the Outdoor Boost button for outdoor environments; use the new Podcast Mode to make vocals sound rich and clear
- 14 Hours of Boom: With a rechargeable battery that lasts throughout the day, this waterproof portable speaker booms on with up to 14 hours of playtime, so you can soak up every moment; Charging via USB-C cable (not included)
- Waterproof, Dustproof, and Floatable: IP67-rated this Bluetooth waterproof speaker can be submerged in 1m of water for 30 min; protected from dust; ideal for the pool, beach, or shower
- Double Up for Stereo: Pair up two WONDERBOOM 4 portable Bluetooth speakers for even bigger sound; press once to double up; press again for true stereo from both speakers, with left and right channels (not compatible with PartyUP)
Logitech’s 2023 launch announcement says the speaker uses fabric made from 100% post-consumer recycled polyester and a minimum of 59% post-consumer recycled plastic. These are manufacturer material claims in the launch announcement, not independent sustainability audit findings.
How EPICBOOM compares with alternatives
| Speaker | What the cited review says | Best fit |
|---|---|---|
| Ultimate Ears HYPERBOOM | RTINGS says it has more low bass, higher volume and longer battery life than EPICBOOM, but is larger and less suited to outdoor use. | Prioritize louder playback and bass over easy carrying. |
| Ultimate Ears EVERBOOM | RTINGS describes it as smaller, lighter and cheaper, with longer continuous battery life and broadly similar sound and maximum volume. RTINGS says EPICBOOM has more controlled bass range and more balanced treble. | Choose the smaller option for portability and trips. |
| Marshall Kilburn III | RTINGS identifies greater portability, longer battery life and Bluetooth multi-device support as Marshall strengths; EPICBOOM is more rugged and integrates better with compatible UE speakers. | Consider Marshall if carryability and connecting multiple Bluetooth devices matter more than ruggedness or UE pairing. |
| JBL Xtreme 3 | RTINGS says EPICBOOM has more balanced sound and better directivity; JBL can pair with two devices at once. | Compare based on sound presentation versus simultaneous device connections. |
| Sonos Move 2 and Tribit Stormbox Blast | TechRadar’s comparison table lists Wi-Fi support for Sonos Move 2 and quoted battery figures of 24 hours for Move 2 and 30 hours for Stormbox Blast. These are figures in an older review, not current verified specifications. | Investigate current specifications if Wi-Fi or longer quoted battery life is a priority. |
Before choosing among these speakers, compare current local prices and specifications, especially battery claims, connectivity and protection ratings. The alternatives above are useful decision points, not a claim that one is best for every buyer.
Best Value
- Balanced 360-Degree Sound: The WONDERBOOM 4 portable waterproof Bluetooth speaker features 360-degree sound in a petite package; boosted sound for up to 14 hours of playtime
- Outdoor Boost and Podcast Mode: Engineered for full stereo sound; tap the Outdoor Boost button for outdoor environments; use the new Podcast Mode to make vocals sound rich and clear
- 14 Hours of Boom: With a rechargeable battery that lasts throughout the day, this waterproof portable speaker booms on with up to 14 hours of playtime, so you can soak up every moment; Charging via USB-C cable (not included)
- Waterproof, Dustproof, and Floatable: IP67-rated this Bluetooth waterproof speaker can be submerged in 1m of water for 30 min; protected from dust; ideal for the pool, beach, or shower
- Double Up for Stereo: Pair up two WONDERBOOM 4 portable Bluetooth speakers for even bigger sound; press once to double up; press again for true stereo from both speakers, with left and right channels (not compatible with PartyUP)
Is the Ultimate Ears EPICBOOM worth buying?
Consider it if you want a rugged, large Bluetooth speaker for outdoor groups, value its 360-degree design and may use it with compatible Ultimate Ears speakers. Look elsewhere if you need low carry weight for long distances, Wi-Fi streaming, wired input or a built-in microphone. Its appeal depends more on those use-case priorities than on any single battery or durability number.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
