From any angle, whatever you’re listening to will sound like you’re facing the speaker head-on. This is where the speaker’s 360-degree design comes in handy. In simpler terms, this is about equal to the loudness of a vacuum cleaner or blender. So those 40mm drivers? They make for pretty decent sound output for the Wonderboom’s size - 86 dBA, to be exact. While we can appreciate the aesthetic considerations of having less happening on the speaker itself, we would have preferred more transparency when it came to battery level, or whether a song was paused versus if there was nothing cued up at all. The gestalt of these different elements makes for a speaker that’s easy to use once you’ve memorized its various controls and functions. These are easy to understand, with an ascending tone corresponding to high battery, a neutral tone for average battery, and a descending tone for low battery. Instead, holding down both the volume up and volume down buttons simultaneously will elicit a tone indicating how much juice the Wonderboom’s battery has left. In fact, outside of the basic control scheme, there is no form of user interface on the Wonderboom at all - not even a battery life indicator. However, you’ll miss out on the benefits that come with this app, like changing EQ settings, or Siri integration on iOS, not to mention a visual interface. This makes for a simpler setup and more straightforward use than other UE speakers, which sometimes require the app for pairing with other devices or for playback. You can’t use the two speakers as a stereo pair, however, as you can with two UE Booms or UE Rolls.Īnother point of departure from other members of the UE line is that the Wonderboom is not usable with the UE app. It’s a simple process and results in expanded sound, or even a quick multiroom setup. The UE button also handles pairing with another Wonderboom - holding down the button for a moment on both speakers simultaneously will pair the two. This resembles the tap controls of the UE mobile app, minus the app’s visual feedback. The Wonderboom has a simple, bare-bones control scheme, but that simplicity comes with a learning curve, ironically.Īll playback functions are handled through a single button on the top of the speaker A single tap pauses and plays the current track, while a double tap skips to the next track. Plus, its tiny bungee loop is harder to attach to things than the long strap found on the Roll 2. While not much heavier than a Roll 2, the Wonderboom is harder to recommend as a backpacking or hiking speaker, simply because its cylindrical shape is bulkier than the disc-shaped Roll 2. We do feel the need to make a couple small exceptions to this, however. Ultimate Ears Image used with permission by copyright holder This durability makes the Wonderboom a no-brainer for outdoor activities, especially for lounging in the pool or a day on the lake. It’s also shock-proof, surviving up to five-foot drops unscathed. Of course, it’s buoyant design makes this an unlikely scenario in the first place. The Wonderboom is rated IPX7 waterproof, so it can be submerged in up to a meter of water for 30 minutes with no issue. That doesn’t necessarily mean it’s made to be in the water for long periods of time, nor is it designed for playback in water (Bluetooth frequencies have the unfortunate disadvantage of being unable to pass through water. Unlike most other UE products, the Wonderboom floats - no floatie accessory needed, as with the Boom 2 and Roll 2. The Wonderboom can take a beating that makes it more resilient than most speakers at a similar price point. The USB micro port is protected by a small tab on the bottom of the speaker, but Ultimate Ears assures that water won’t get gain access to internal electronics, even if this little door is left ajar.īasically, it looks a lot like other Ultimate Ears speakers, but this time it’s a short cylinder, rather than a tall cylinder like the Megaboom and Boom 2, or tapered puck like the Roll 2. Inside the 15-ounce Wonderboom are two 40mm drivers supported by two passive radiators, which is how the speaker achieves its so-called 360-degree sound output. The Wonderboom floats - no floaties needed.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |