Introduction

UE's BOOM device took the market by storm when it was first announced, and we were thoroughly impressed with the capabilities of the smallish bluetooth speaker. As expected, everything good gets a sequel, and today, we will look at what can be considered a revision to the original BOOM. The differences are mostly under the hood and in the software. The updated software is obviously also available to the initial version UE released nearly a year ago. The new BOOM features a new coverplate out of rubber for the jacks on the device and the ability to personalize the sound it emits right as it starts up. The software has been updated to include more equalizer presets and the firmware has more features as well.

Specifications

Wireless Capabilities:

• Pair up to 8 Bluetooth® enabled source devices – connect up to two source devices at the same time.
• Wirelessly play (stream) to 2 UE BOOMs from one source.
• Mobile range of play is up to 15m (50 ft).
• NFC (passive) enabled (works with active NFC-enabled source devices – Android Jellybean and higher).

Audio:

• Maximum Sound Level: 88dBA
• Frequency Range: 90Hz - 20kHz
• Drivers: Two 1.5", 4 Ohm drivers; two 2" passive radiators

Power:

• Rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery for up to 15 hours of battery life between Micro USB charges
• Actual battery life will vary with use, settings, and environmental conditions
• Rechargeable batteries have a limited number of charge cycles
• Charge time: 3.4 hours

The Package

UE sent us a black/red version of the BOOM this time around, and it looks great. The box it ships in is still cylindrical.


The bundle has undergone a small revision as well since it now includes dirt covers for the ports. This is definitely a nice addition since the port had a tendency to catch a lot of grime that would then be held in place by the rubberized shell.