But first, let's briefly go over the internals. Sound So does the Boom 2 bring the boom? In short, very much so. And for those keeping tabs, Boom 2 uses the A2DP Bluetooth standard.A couple notable tricks are: 1) If the speaker is idle for 15 minutes, it'll automatically shut off to not waste battery and 2) If you press both volume buttons simultaneously, a voice will tell you the battery level. UE rates the mobile range as 100 ft (assumingly with nothing in the way). My previous Bluetooth speaker would flip out if I put my phone in my pocket. The charging time from an empty to full battery is 2.5 hours.In my experience, the strength of the Bluetooth signal was fantastic. Bear in mind that different volume levels affect how much battery is used. When you plug in the micro-USB connection for charging, you'll see an LED light indication to let you know the status.UE rates the battery at providing up to 15 hours of playback, which is great. Simply hold down the secondary button (that is next to the power button) for 3 seconds and it will look for more devices. If you prefer to pair via NFC, that capability is built-in too.The packaging includes a flat charging cable and AC adapter. UE allows you to pair a whopping eight devices to the Boom 2. The buttons/ports are all placed neatly and concisely. And pairing your source is fortunately easy as well.On the initial power up, the speaker will be in discovery mode and await your source's connection. Functionality As implied in the previous section, the Boom 2 is extremely user friendly. Two flaps flank it, which seal the micro-USB charging port and an aux port (for wired audio input). The extra button adjacent to it puts the Boom 2 back in discoverable mode, to pair more devices to it.On the bottom, you'll find an attachment ring for clipping the speaker onto a travel bag. The shapes are slits that expose a different color (orange on my unit).Moving to the top, you'll find a covertly placed power button dead center. UE says that it is also IPX7 certified (can be immersed in 1 meter of water for up to 30 minutes).You won't miss those huge +/- volume buttons on the body. The Boom 2 is made rugged and definitely feels like it can take some hits. The material's considerable thickness conveys the sturdiness of the build. Most of what you'll see is a fabric weave around the device.The two-tone blue color that I was given is called BrainFreeze. UE has a bunch of different color schemes to tickle your fancy.A vertical, rubbery strip connects the top and bottom caps. It's not the lightest speaker out there at 1.2 lbs, but I'll take a little extra heft for a robust build and large battery.There is honestly not much to say on the Boom 2's appearance, and that's okay. The official dimensions are: 2.75" diameter and 7.1" height. We'll get to the sound quality later in the review.UE also did a great job with the size of the unit. It's especially effective indoors, where sound can go in all directions and bounce off the walls. The cylindrical shape (paired with dual audio drivers) allows the sound to encompass. It doesn't shoot audio in one direction like a typical speaker. It's a simple and concise package all that a portable speaker should be.And the design's strategy makes sense. Design UE built the Boom with a cylindrical design, and I kind of dig it. Let's find out if UE manages to strike a balance and bring the boom, as its name implies. Bluetooth speakers often compromise audio quality for their portable aspects. Today, we have its sequel to review for you guys - the Boom 2.UE promises big, impactful, and engaging sound. A couple years ago, UE expanded into the portable wireless speaker market, with the Boom. Ultimate Ears (UE) has proficiently managed to position itself along side popular names in audio (Bose, JBL, Beats), and for good reason. Backed by Logitech, the brand has been able to keep up its excellent sounding momentum. UE Boom 2 review : Bluetooth speaker in a booming package
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