Bluetooth speakers have become a part and parcel of our everyday life. We need them in our house and when we go outside. Ultimate Ears is an American company that specializes in such speakers. The Wonderboom and megaboom is its most famous and high-selling series. lets do a comparative analysis between Wonderboom vs Megaboom.
We will compare both the speaker line up and give a detailed review about them in this article. We hope this article will help you make up your mind and make a decision.
Difference between Wonderboom vs Megaboom
Let’s compare both the series and find out the major difference between them.
Things to consider
There is a large range of Bluetooth speakers on the market, so what are the aspects to look for when buying the best Bluetooth speaker? As you would imagine, there is a wide range of quality and efficiency, so it’s helpful to be able to figure out exactly what you need in terms of requirements and then choose the best quality for the money.
A portable Bluetooth speaker is a useful addition to your smartphone or laptop, but choosing one can be a difficult task, particularly considering the vast number of options available. Speakers come in all shapes and sizes, with prices varying from a few hundred dollars to thousands of dollars. A few important things to note while buying a portable Bluetooth speaker is the main topic here.
Portability
Some Bluetooth speakers, like the JBL charge, are as small as a bottle of water; others, like the Sonos Play 5, are hefty affairs that are meant to occupy a sideboard like a fine sculpture. Travel speakers like the five-star UE Wonderboom 2 are ideal for stowing away in a suitcase. They try to strike a balance between good sound quality and loudness and portability.
As a rule, the bigger the Bluetooth speaker, the more powerful the audio. Take, for example, the outstanding Audio Pro C10. But this isn’t a portable device that you can take anywhere easily. For instance, a Bluetooth speaker must have a built-in battery to be portable. The average battery life of a portable speaker is 6-10 hours, but some will last up to 12 hours.
Bluetooth version
Commonly, there will be a Bluetooth edition specification. Bluetooth v.1 was the first edition to be released several years back, and it is now unlikely to come across any equipment that uses it. Most products use Bluetooth 2.1, but there are also many that use later models such as Bluetooth 4.0 and also Bluetooth 5.
Importantly, Bluetooth version 5.0 has a wireless range of 120 meters, while Bluetooth version 4.2 has a range of around 30 meters.It should also be noted that version 5 is faster than version 4. Bluetooth 5 has a maximum speed of 2Mbps and is compliant with a wide range of smart home devices, while Bluetooth 4.1 has a maximum speed of 1Mbps.
Finally, Bluetooth 5.0 is supported by the majority of today’s smartphones. They’re backwards compatible with older Bluetooth models, so you can pair different devices to one speaker with Bluetooth 5.0. Those with family or who live in shared accommodation may find this useful.
Waterproof?
With unintentional water spills being more common, it’s important to search for a splash- and water-resistant portable speaker. Even, if the portable speaker is waterproof, it can be used to play music in a lake or the beach and can survive minor splashes.
IPX7-rated speakers, such as the JBL Xtreme 2, can withstand a torrential downpour and a few heavy kicks. The only distinction is that those rated IP67 are dust-proof as well.
If you’re going to be on the water, make sure your Bluetooth speaker is floatable like the nifty UE Wonderboom 2. If you lose it in the sea, just clean it under running water.
Connectivity
Apart from wireless networking, if the portable speaker still has a wired connection alternative, that is surely icing on the cake. The use of the 3.5 mm auxiliary input allows you to communicate with computers that do not have Bluetooth compatibility via an AUX cord.
Another smart thing to look for in a Portable speaker is a built-in microphone, which allows you to accept/reject calls hands-free. The majority of Bluetooth speakers will do more than just play audio. Digital assistants such as Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri are available via smart speakers.
Multiroom
Many Bluetooth speakers have both wi-fi and Bluetooth capabilities, and they can also be built into a multi-room device. Other Bluetooth speakers, you’ll note, support Google Chromecast, which allows you to place multiple compatible speakers in your home and use them as a multi-room audio system.
While a single speaker is insufficient for playing music in outdoor locations or halls, pairing two of the same style of the speaker provides a remarkably powerful benefit. One speaker isn’t always sufficient. Fortunately, wireless devices including Bluetooth and wi-fi have brought multi-room audio within reach for most people’s budgets. One of the prominent names to offer multi-room features is Harman Kardon
Battery life
The battery life is an important factor to remember. You don’t want to have to re-charge the speaker every hour or so. It can last for as long as you anticipate using it. portable speakers have smaller batteries that don’t last as long as larger speakers.
When it comes to portable devices, battery life is often the most important consideration because a speaker with the insufficient battery life will inevitably degrade the music listening experience, and if it takes a long time to charge, it will become a problem of equal magnitude.
Wonderboom 2
The Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2 is a fantastic Bluetooth speaker that is lightweight, compact, and floats, making it the ideal pool companion. If you want to take your songs to the beach, pool, tub, or anywhere else where you could get muddy, the Wonderboom 2 has an IP67 score, making it waterproof and dustproof.
The Wonderboom 2 is just as accurate as of the original five-star edition, but it has a fuller sound without sacrificing any of the musicality.
The second-generation model has more bass on top of the same smooth, pleasing tone as the first. It also comes with a longer battery, improved performance, stereo pairing, and an outdoor mode. This is where the smart money goes for less than a ton.
Features and benefits
- Wonderboom will blow your mind with its rich sound. Enjoy vivid, beautiful 360-degree sound with well-balanced bass. At this price point, the Wonderboom 2 offers a sound that is as coherent and informative as we could hope for.
- It is waterproof which is a big advantage outdoors. It is also great for showers, pools, beaches, muddy fields, and rainy days. If it gets dirty, just rinse it off.
- Outstanding battery life is a big advantage for portable Bluetooth speakers. Wonderboom provides 13 hours of nonstop musical bliss for everything from the park, barbecues to binge-watching your favorite shows. Stunning, immersive sound for ten hours.
- The control is easy with buttons right on the speaker. Use the big button on top to play, pause, and skip.
- You’re going to love how two of them sound together if you think one Ultimate Ears speaker sounds great. Then turn the stuff up and get a somewhat insane sound from more than one speaker.
- One of the most interesting factors of this speaker is its modern design. Wonderboom 2 is drop-proof tested from up to five feet and sports a hanging loop on top so it can easily attach to any bag, bicycle, backpack, or cannonball into a cove without thinking twice.
Specifications
- Maximum sound level: 87 Dbc
- Upto 100ft range
- 13 hours battery life
- Connect up to 2 devices simultaneously
- Height (104 mm) diameter (95.3 mm) weight (420 g)
- 2 years hardware warranty
Pros
- IP67 dust and water resistant
- Pair to another Wonderboom 2 for stereo sound
- Weighty bass
- Portable and floats
- Two-year warranty
Cons
- No microphone
- Distortion increases with volume
- MicroUSB charging
Expert opinion
The Ultimate Ears’ completely waterproof speaker Wonderboom was released two years ago. It became a fan for its fun sound, affordability, and floatability in water. The American company is back with refreshment after its success: the Wonderboom 2
UE has taken and made the Bluetooth speaker even more affordable, providing a stronger sound and a number of useful new features. It is a speaker with a surprisingly bigger sound that’s crisp and bassy as all get-out. Now with Outdoor Boost. The company first created UE boom Remix as a portable outdoor device. Wonderboom and Megaboom came after that gradually.
The Wonderboom 2 is identical to its predecessor in several respects. It’s a cricket ball-shaped Bluetooth speaker which is not only waterproof, but also floats as you throw it into the sea. It is also available in a vivid variety of colors.
However, some updates are being made, this has a new model that increases outdoor listening frequency from half to high, it is now 13 hours on a single charge and can be combined with a Wonderboom 2, which is now available with stereo audio. You can check more about this product and find similarities with our opinion
Megaboom 3
Weatherproof, compact speakers are not lacking, but Ultimate Ears have created a place for itself by mixing great construction and fun functionality with a fun voice. The updated playlist, smarter interface, and upgraded sound features of the Megaboom 3 certainly are worth your time.
The MEGABOOM 3 Ultimate Ears is a handy Bluetooth speaker. It has a long battery life and an IP67 rating, making it suitable for outdoor use. Thanks to its 360-degree construction, it has an excellent sound scene that can be seen from all directions as vast and broad. Unfortunately, it does not have a voice assistant.
The UE Megaboom 3 is an improvement on an already excellent speaker, with minor tweaks throughout that makes it an excellent waterproof speaker UE has produced to date. The speaker is shockproof and waterproof, has an all-day battery life, and is very loud. Furthermore, UE reduced the price, making the Megaboom 3 a fantastic value for money.
Features and benefits
- The sound in Megaboom 3 is strong and immersive. It is, though, well-balanced and completely understandable.It delivers audio that is true to the music you like at all volume levels.
- They have mastered the classic cylindrical shape which is first introduced in Megaboom 3 to provide immersive, stereophonic audio that radiates equally in all directions.
- Megaboom 3’s extra size and larger woofer create intense bass you can both hear and feel – 50% deeper than BOOM. But unlike most other portable speakers, it’s true to your music.
- Megaboom is built tough and ready for adventure.You can put it down, kick it up, head it up, you can even pour a beverage on it and it will be taken like a pro by your Megaboom 3
- You can play, pause, and skip tracks directly on the speaker with Megaboom 3. Simply press the button to take care of some streaming audio.
- It’s wrapped in a two-tone fabric that’s both rugged and hot-damn attractive. This performance fiber is designed for extremes and is used in motorcycle jackets and firefighting equipment.
- Megaboom 3’s kick-ass sound is balanced by its whopping 20-hour battery life. It will last almost a full day on a single charge, thanks to the new battery cell technologies used in high-performance electric vehicles.
Specifications
- Customizable equalizer
- Up to 20 hours battery life
- Maximum sound level 90 Dbc
- Pair up to 8 Bluetooth enabled devices
- 2-year hardware warranty
Pros
- Incredible battery life
- Very portable
- Wide and spacious soundstage
- Gets very loud
- Lots of features and easy to use
Cons
- Could sound better in midrange
- Bass sounds loose at high volume
- Lacks charging dock in package
Expert opinion
For videos and movies, the Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 3 is adequate. Though it has a boomy overall sound profile, it has a reasonably balanced mid-range, so conversation is plain and present in the mixture. However, it lacks low-bass, but action-packed movie scenes lack the intense thump and rumble.
It has an accessible and spacious soundstage that sounds obvious from all directions thanks to its 360-degree architecture. You will use it all day without having to charge it thanks to its 20-hour battery life. Unfortunately, it doesn’t get really noisy, and also at the maximum pitch, there’s some compression.
Alternative Products Comparison
Wonderboom 2 vs Megaboom 3
Both of these speakers are improved versions, which means they are superior to their predecessors. UE megaboom 3 vs Wonderboom 2 is a good comparison to make. These are the two high-selling models of this company. By comparing Megaboom 3 with JBL charge 4 we made things easier for you.
Megaboom 3 vs Wonderboom 2
If you value features and sound quality, the Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 is the product for you. And if it costs more, it is more than worth it because it sounds fantastic and has a lot of features that the Wonderboom 2 lacks. If you want a decent Bluetooth speaker at a cheaper price, the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2 is a good option because it performs admirably in its price range.
Boom 3 vs Wonderboom 2
There isn’t much difference between the two products. They are very similar. Even so the boom 3 has wireless charging which the Wonderboom 2 lacks. The Boom 3 has slightly better battery life. They are both dustproof and waterproof. The features are very similar too. You can choose and make your decision after checking out more about these products. Even so, if you have any doubt look at this Boom 3 review.
Faqs
Is it possible to connect a UE Wonderboom to a Megaboom?
Through pressing and holding the Wonderboom, it will create a multi-speaker machine with another Wonderboom nearby. The UE Boom 2 and Megaboom both have a Party Up feature, but you have to use an app to do it, which is a pain — while you can connect several speakers at once.
What is the maximum number of Wonderboom speakers you can connect?
The storage of your WONDERBOOM will hold up to eight paired devices. NOTE: Although the speaker can store up to eight paired units, it can only keep two of them running at any given time.
Is Wonderboom capable of playing while charging?
Yes, it is possible to listen to music when charging.
Why isn’t my Megaboom connecting?
If your MEGABOOM won’t attach to your Bluetooth computer, try the following: Make sure your smartphone is connected with your MEGABOOM and that Bluetooth is turned on (see “How do I connect additional Bluetooth devices with my MEGABOOM?” for more information). If your Bluetooth gadget is out of sight, move it closer to the speaker.
Decision time
Ultimately the customer is rewarded because of the constant improvements of these devices. Bluetooth speakers are widely available in the market. Ultimate Ears has made a name for themselves for their wonderful design and outdoor capabilities. Both Wonderboom and megaboom lineup is polished and evenly thought about. One is more portable and small in size and the other is focused more on performance and larger in size.
No matter which device you choose from this variety there won’t be a bad egg in the basket that’s for sure. Consider price and your use and make a decision. Hope this review helped you and happy listening. Rock on!
Freelance tech journalist & author of soundboxlab.com …Read More