Does a $350 wi-fi speaker must do extra than simply… play music? That’s unquestionably the machine’s major cause for being, however we’re within the closing weeks of 2023, and at this premium worth, customers have come to count on options like voice assistants, multi-room audio synchronization, and a large internet of bonuses like AirPlay, Spotify Join integration, and extra. The brand new Final Ears Epicboom speaker doesn’t supply any of that, regardless of costing $349.99. What it offers as a substitute is a ruggedized (and waterproof) construct, highly effective 360-degree sound, and as much as 17 hours of battery life. And hey, the factor’s bought a USB-C port, which in some way marks a primary for any UE speaker up to now. I stated it was 2023, proper? Simply checking.
UE’s Epicboom may be very related in dimension and form to a Sonos Transfer 2, although it’s noticeably lighter at 4.36 kilos versus Sonos’ 6.6 kilos. Each audio system include twin tweeters and a single woofer, although Final Ears focuses on wider sound dispersion to create its signature 360-degree audio impact that clients have come to count on from the Increase, Megaboom, and supersized Hyperboom. The speaker is coated in the identical cloth mesh as different UE merchandise, with a sturdy rubber base that affords some drop safety. There’s a carrying strap on the again that’s held in place with a magnet so it doesn’t flop round.
On the Epicboom’s entrance facet are UE’s telltale big quantity buttons, with different controls for energy, Bluetooth pairing, and play / pause positioned on the highest. There’s additionally an “out of doors mode” button that cranks the speaker’s loudness in case you’re utilizing it whereas tenting, tailgating, or in different wide-open areas. While you maintain down the play button, it prompts UE’s “magic button” characteristic, which may play a preset playlist out of your chosen music service. Round again is a USB-C port lined by a protecting flap that’s tight sufficient to forestall any water from getting via in case you toss the Epicboom in a pool; it does float, in spite of everything. The USB-C port is strictly for charging and doesn’t assist line-in audio, nor does this $350 speaker embrace any type of Wi-Fi connectivity for higher-fidelity music streaming. It helps fast tap-to-pair through NFC for you Android telephone homeowners a minimum of.
When testing a speaker, I all the time inevitably land on a tune that sounds prefer it was completely combined for that {hardware}’s tuning and drivers. And there have been a handful of instances the place I most well-liked the Epicboom’s output in comparison with the dearer Sonos Transfer 2, however they have been few and much between. On the entire, Sonos’ speaker sounds extra detailed, distinct, and higher balanced than the Epicboom, which veered into boomy and ill-defined territory when listening to sure tracks on 1989 (Taylor’s Model). A few of the vocals on that reworked album really feel a bit phoned in (like on “Model”), however the combine is certainly superior to the unique — and the Epicboom fails to showcase that like an over-$300 speaker ought to. In case you’re a basshead to the extent that you just wish to rattle your condo, the Epicboom will seemingly disappoint when pushed to its most quantity, the place there’s noticeable compression and a few bass crackling.
Final Ears says that the speaker options adaptive EQ, that means it adjusts the sound profile based mostly in your setting. I didn’t actually discover any pronounced variations when transferring the Epicboom between rooms massive and small, although it did fare surprisingly nicely as a toilet speaker. It had no hassle chopping via bathe noise and got here via with shocking readability regardless of the echoey acoustics. However $350 for a loo speaker is prone to be a stretch for lots of people. You’ll be able to alter the EQ to your individual liking with UE’s cellular app, which will also be used to stereo-pair two Epicbooms or hyperlink it with a military of different UE audio system in occasion mode.
There’s nothing inherently flawed with the UE Epicboom, save for its worth. Throughout the firm’s lineup, it slots into a wise place between the cylindrical Megaboom and large Epicboom occasion speaker. However there’s merely not a lot to this factor, and the omissions are costly. Right here’s what it doesn’t offer you:
- AirPlay 2
- Amazon Alexa
- Chromecast
- Deeper multi-room audio assist
- Google Assistant
- Line-in (through 3.5mm or USB-C)
- Speakerphone performance
- Spotify Join
If I went out and paid $350 for an Epicboom, I’d shortly really feel shortchanged by such a condensed characteristic record. It doesn’t need to pack in all of these issues, nevertheless it may actually profit from some of them. As is, the value simply doesn’t make sense for what you’re getting. Maybe if the audio high quality blew my thoughts, I may take a look at it otherwise. However whereas this speaker frequently sounds goodit’s not next-level good. It handily outperforms the Increase 3 and Megaboom, positive, and if for some cause, you’re bizarrely loyal to UE merchandise, possibly that — and the lengthy overdue USB-C port — can be sufficient. However the Bluetooth speaker market retains evolving, and different producers will provide you with decidedly extra to your cash. The Epicboom delivers on the basic UE strengths like a “lifeproof” exterior. It’s reliable and sounds fairly good. However till a considerable worth reduce comes alongside, the worth of this product is something however epic.
Images by Chris Welch / The Verge
