HYPERBOOM: The Ultimate Bluetooth Speaker [Review]
For the past several months I’ve been looking to upgrade my speaker setup. I found myself wavering between purchasing a good set of monitors or a large Bluetooth speaker. After much research, Ultimate Ears’ HYPERBOOM seemed like the perfect option. Big enough to offer the top-tier sound quality and bass response I craved, but portable enough that it could be used throughout the house, or even taken on trips camping or up to a cottage. After spending a few weeks with the HYPERBOOM I am excited to share my thoughts on Ultimate Ears’ “biggest, loudest, BOOMiest speaker yet.”
Design
From the outside, the design is clean and minimal. The diamond (or rectangle depending on how you look at it) shape is sleek. The main controls are on the top of the unit featuring the power button, large volume buttons, and the input selector. You can easily switch between two separate Bluetooth devices, auxiliary and optical inputs. The rubber strip along the back edge hides the inputs/outputs and also slides out to create a nifty carrying handle. This also helps it attain its splash-proof IPX4 rating. While it’s not fully waterproof it’s nice to know a spilled drink or splash from the pool won’t ruin it. The stamped Ultimate Ears logo on the front corner provides a subtle indicator for ideal positioning.
Where the HYPERBOOM really shines is with what’s on the inside. Clever engineering allows the HYPERBOOM to pack two 4.5-inch (114mm) woofers, two 1-inch (25mm) tweeters, and two 3.5-inch (89mm) x 7.5inch (191mm) passive radiators. It’s a pretty impressive feat that gives the speaker its exceptional sound.
Portability
Clocking in at 14.33 inches (364mm) x 7.5 inches (190mm) x 7.5 inches (190mm) and weighing 13 pounds (5.9kg) this isn’t the most portable speaker around. If you’re looking for something to throw in your backpack, purse, or carry on, this isn’t it. If you’re looking for a high-quality speaker that packs a punch with the ability to easily move throughout the house or bring with you on a road trip, this one is for you. The pull-out rubber handle makes it relatively easy to carry but don’t expect to bring this one on a long hike.
Battery Life
Ultimate Ears rates the HYPERBOOM for up to 24 hours of battery life. This will vary with the use case, but overall I’ve found the battery life to be great. In the month plus I’ve been using it I’ve only had to charge it twice. It comes with its own power supply which will get you to a full charge in just over 2.5 hours. The HYPERBOOM also features a USB out for charging devices off the battery, which is a handy feature if you’re out on a camping trip or at the beach and need to recharge your phone or other devices.
Connectivity
The Bluetooth connectivity is great. After pairing the speaker with my phone and computer I was amazed at how quickly it connects. If I already have Bluetooth on it connects a second after I press the power button. The range is nearly 150 feet (45 m), so you can easily move about the house or outdoors without any connection or latency issues. It remembers up to 8 paired devices with the ability to have two connected at once for easy switching. If you’re looking to further bolster the sound, the HYPERBOOM pairs with the BOOM, MEGABOOM, or other HYPERBOOM units.
Sound
Easily the most important facet of any speaker is how it sounds. In this department, the HYPERBOOM excels. I truly didn’t think a portable Bluetooth speaker could sound this good. The sound is balanced allowing the full range of listening. The bass is powerful enough to truly feel it without it being overpowering and drowning out the mids or highs. In terms of volume, the HYPERBOOM gets loud. When listening in my office I generally keep the volume around 50 percent and crank it up to 75 when working out in my basement. It’s easily powerful enough to fill any large room or pack a punch outdoors. This one speaker could definitely handle being the sound system for your next house party. The speaker also features a mic with adaptive EQ to ensure that the HYPERBOOM sounds great wherever you take it.
Conclusion
The Ultimate Ears HYPERBOOM truly is the ultimate Bluetooth speaker. If you’re looking for one speaker that provides excellent sound quality, great connectivity, and can easily be moved from room to room, outside, or even taken on a trip, this is the speaker for you. It’s certainly not small but once you hear it, it’s clear why. Prior to having the HYPERBOOM I almost exclusively listened to music on headphones. Since picking up the HYPERBOOM, I barely find myself reaching for headphones, as I feel confident I’m getting the full spectrum of sound and quality from the speaker. For a music blogger and DJ this means a lot.
