The Ultimate Ears EVERBOOM is a new offering within the 'BOOM' line of portable speakers. It bridges the gap, both in terms of size and performance, between the pint-sized Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 4 and the larger, more powerful Ultimate Ears EPICBOOM. As with other Ultimate Ears speakers, it boasts a rugged build quality, with an IP67 rating against water and dust damage, as well as a dedicated 'Outdoor' mode for al fresco listening.
Our Verdict
The Ultimate Ears EVERBOOM is decent for music. While it lacks the rumble and boom in the low-end that helps bring genres like EDM and hip-hop to life, there's plenty of detail and accuracy in the mid-range that ensures vocals and lead instruments are clear in the mix. Its treble range is a little veiled, though, so cymbals and higher-pitched vocals lack some of their airy quality. While it can reach moderate volumes, there's some compression present in the bass range as you crank its output. On the plus side, its cylindrical design makes for great directivity, with consistent audio reproduction from most angles. You can also tailor the sound to your liking via the graphic EQ and presets in the companion app.
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Excellent directivity, with stereo playback.
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Graphic EQ and presets in app.
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Over 21 hours of battery life.
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No Bluetooth multi-device connectivity.
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Can't get very loud.
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Veiled treble response.
The Ultimate Ears EVERBOOM is mediocre for videos and movies. While it has excellent directivity, and its balanced mid-range renders speech and dialogue well, it lacks the kind of oomph in the bass range that can bring action-packed sequences to life. It also can't get very loud, so it's only suitable for smaller watch parties. Latency is good with iOS devices but slightly higher with Android ones, so there's a chance you'll encounter some lag between your audio and video. Different apps and devices compensate for latency differently, though.
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Excellent directivity, with stereo playback.
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Graphic EQ and presets in app.
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Can't get very loud.
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Veiled treble response.
The Ultimate Ears EVERBOOM is satisfactory for podcasts. It has a relatively balanced mid-range reproduction that adds depth and clarity to your favorite hosts' voices. While it can't get very loud, this won't be an issue if you keep it clipped on your person as you move around. It boasts excellent directivity, though, meaning you won't have to consider how you're positioned around the speaker to ensure consistent audio delivery.
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Extremely portable.
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Excellent directivity, with stereo playback.
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Graphic EQ and presets in app.
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No Bluetooth multi-device connectivity.
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Can't get very loud.
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Veiled treble response.
The Ultimate Ears EVERBOOM doesn't have any voice assistant capabilities, so it's not suitable for this use.
The Ultimate Ears EVERBOOM is very good for outdoor use. It's rugged, well-built, and extremely portable, making it a great companion for hikes and outdoor expeditions. Its IP67 rating means it'll survive everything from heavy rain to dips in the pool. Its handy carabiner clip also means you can fasten it to bags and straps, though it doesn't take up much space in a bag, either. With over 21 hours of battery life, you'll be able to rack up some serious playtime without needing a recharge; plus, its excellent directivity means everyone around a campfire will enjoy the consistent sound. There's even a dedicated 'Outdoor' mode to adapt the sound to outdoor environments.
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Extremely portable.
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Sturdily built with an IP67 rating.
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Over 21 hours of battery life.
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No Bluetooth multi-device connectivity.
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Can't get very loud.
- 7.0 Music
- 6.2 Videos/Movies
- 7.3 Podcasts
- 3.0 Voice Assistant
- 7.8 Outdoors
- Updated Oct 03, 2024: Review published.
- Updated Sep 30, 2024: Early access published.
- Updated Sep 20, 2024: Our testers have started testing this product.
- Updated Aug 30, 2024: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.
- Updated Aug 30, 2024: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Ultimate Ears EVERBOOM comes in four color variants: 'Charcoal Black,' 'Raspberry Red,' 'Enchanting Lilac,' and 'Azure Blue' (here's a picture of its label). If you encounter another variant of this speaker, let us know in the comments, and we'll update our review.
Compared To Other Speakers
The Ultimate Ears EVERBOOM fills an interesting niche between smaller, exceedingly portable speakers, like the Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 4, and larger, heavier-hitting speakers, like the Ultimate Ears EPICBOOM or the Ultimate Ears HYPERBOOM. While it features slightly more bass than the WONDERBOOM 4 and comes with extra tweakability via the companion app, it can't get much louder and lacks multi-device pairing. Those who need a bit more output from their speaker are better advised to go with the EPICBOOM, which delivers more bass and volume, even if it's twice as heavy and a fair bit larger.
Check out our recommendations for the best Bluetooth speakers, the best waterproof Bluetooth speakers, and the best Ultimate Ears speakers.
The Ultimate Ears EVERBOOM and Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 4 are both very portable speakers with the same IP67 and are advertised as impact-resistant, although the EVERBOOM is a touch heavier and a bit more squat. It also has slightly better controls, NFC pairing, a carabiner for hooking it to your bag, and an 'Outdoor' mode, which is absent on the MEGABOOM 4. That said, despite being smaller, the MEGABOOM 4 is only a bit quieter at max and has a greater high-frequency extension, though both favor signature boominess over clarity and detail.
The Ultimate Ears EVERBOOM is the smaller, more portable sibling of the Ultimate Ears EPICBOOM. The EVERBOOM is lightweight enough that it can easily be carried around from place to place in one hand or slung in a bag. It's also cheaper and has a longer continuous battery life, making it a great choice for bringing on trips. That said, the EPICBOOM can get quite a bit louder and has a more balanced sound overall, with more bass and a more prominent treble range. As a result, it's a better choice for parties and events or any situation in which you want to hear the details in your music.
The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 4 is a more compact speaker than the Ultimate Ears EVERBOOM, but there aren't many trade-offs that come with its more diminutive size. Both speakers are similarly well-built, have similar controls, and boast excellent directivity. While the EVERBOOM has slightly more bass on tap, the WONDERBOOM 4 has a more balanced treble range. The WONDERBOOM 4 also comes with Bluetooth multi-device pairing and compresses less at max volume. That said, users who like to customize their sound will prefer the graphic EQ and presets that come with the EVERBOOM's companion app.
The Ultimate Ears EVERBOOM and the Sonos Roam 2 have different strengths that are suited to different uses. The Ultimate Ears is better built, has a longer battery life, and has better directivity, making it ideal for outdoor or on-the-go use. That said, the Sonos has some incredible voice assistant integration with Alexa and Sonos Assistant that make it a versatile choice for those who want a smart home speaker that can also be brought around with you from place to place.
The Ultimate Ears EVERBOOM and the JBL Charge 4 have very similar form factors, but the Ultimate Ears is a better choice for most use cases. While the two speakers have similar portability, the Ultimate Ears is better built, with an IP67 rating against water and dust damage. Both speakers also lack bass, but the Ultimate Ears has a more balanced sound overall, with a less veiled treble response. It also has much better directivity and a longer battery life. That said, if you plan on using your speaker to soundtrack movies, the JBL might be worth your consideration due to its low latency with Android and iOS devices.
Test Results
The Ultimate Ears EVERBOOM has a similar cylindrical design to other 'Boom' products. In practice, this means it resembles a scaled-down version of the Ultimate Ears EPICBOOM. It features the distinctive oversized volume +/- buttons of other Ultimate Ears speakers, with rubberized plastic end caps that are finished in a speckled pattern. It's available in four color variants: 'Charcoal Black,' 'Raspberry Red,' 'Enchanting Lilac,' and 'Azure Blue.'
This speaker is extremely portable. Weighing in at exactly 1 kg (2.1 lbs), it's easily carried in one hand, and you can even attach the included carabiner clip to its built-in strap. You can then use this clip to fasten it to a backpack or cross-body bag. It's also slimline enough that it won't take up too much space in a backpack or tote bag.
This speaker has a highly rugged build-quality that makes it a great fit for braving the elements. It's IP67 rated, meaning it's dustproof and can be submerged in one meter of water for up to 30 minutes. It even floats in water, should you wish to bring it in the bath with you. The driver grilles are protected by a tough, tightly bound fabric, and the rubberized material used on the end caps feels sturdy. The USB-C charging port is protected by a rubber flap that's easy to remove. Sadly, the strap on the rear isn't large enough to be used as a carrying strap. However, you can fasten a carabiner to it for greater portability options.
The Ultimate Ears EVERBOOM's control scheme is relatively intuitive, making basic functions easy to use. It's impossible to miss the volume controls, but this also means they can easily be pressed accidentally. All the other buttons are located on the top of the speaker, with small LED indicators to confirm when you've pressed a button. The buttons themselves are tactile and clicky, with a nice weight to them. There are also audible chimes that play when you hit max volume, initiate Bluetooth pairing, and successfully pair with a device. Pressing the +/- buttons at the same time activates a visual indicator on the speaker's body that displays the battery level. However, there's no audio feedback for this or for the volume level.
- User manual/Quick-start guide
- Carabiner
- Ultimate Ears EVERBOOM speaker
It's worth noting that a USB-C charging cable is supposed to be provided with each unit. However, our unit was missing one upon arrival.
The Ultimate Ears EVERBOOM has an okay stereo-frequency response. While it has more bass on tap than the company's smallest speakers, intense EDM basslines still lack rumble and boom, and there's some over-emphasis in the high-bass that ensures they're still present in the mix. There's roll-off in the treble range, too, which can dull sibilants like cymbals. However, the mid-range is relatively balanced, meaning vocals and speech sound clear and detailed. This speaker also comes with a dedicated 'Outdoor' mode, that's also found in its smaller sibling, the Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 4. While there's a dedicated button for this sound mode, all other EQ presets can be accessed and edited via the companion app.
As with other Ultimate Ears speakers, this speaker has an excellent soundstage performance. Its 360-degree design ensures consistent audio reproduction from a range of listening angles. It's also able to playback stereo content without downmixing to mono.
This speaker can get moderately loud, though it's a far cry from the volumes that the Ultimate Ears HYPERBOOM is capable of achieving. There's some compression present in the bass range as you turn up the volume, though, which can introduce some pumping artifacts in bass-heavy music.
This speaker has an outstanding battery life performance. The manufacturer advertises 20 hours of playtime, but we were able to measure a little over this at 21.4 hours during testing. However, battery life can vary depending on individual use. There's an auto-off function, which shuts off the speaker after 15 minutes of inactivity, to help you conserve battery life.
The Ultimate Ears app gives you access to a wide range of controls via your mobile device. You can edit sound-related functions, like the graphic EQ and presets, and toggle the 'Outdoor' mode. You can also engage the PartyUp feature to pair with other compatible speakers for stereo playback or party mode. Currently, compatible speakers include the Ultimate Ears BOOM 4, Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 4, Ultimate Ears HYPERBOOM, and Ultimate Ears EPICBOOM speakers. This speaker also allows you to use the speaker as a PA system, amplifying your voice via your phone's mic, using the 'Megaphone' mode. You can see a more detailed breakdown of the app in our video.
This speaker has good Bluetooth connectivity, with reasonably low latency with both Android and iOS devices, though it's a tad higher with the latter. That said, latency will vary across different devices and apps. Sadly, it doesn't feature Bluetooth multi-device pairing, though, meaning it'll disconnect a previously paired device when you pair a new one.