28.10.2018

I don't think this UE Megaboom 3 Bluetooth Speaker delivers quite the boom it promises but there's no denying it's a really good and fun speaker to use. The upright cylindrical shape and size mean it's easy to carry around and has a small footprint so can be placed almost anywhere but it's got a sound that's bigger and louder than you'd expect. There's more sense of stereo spread, assuming you're sitting somewhere in front of it, than most small speakers and it certainly delivers room-filling volume when you crank it up and it goes scarily loud without breaking up and distorting. The mid and upper range is clear and has nice detail, making it very listenable if you're using it close-up on a desk or bedside table.The bass is good but deeper notes all sound the same and are rendered as a generic knocking sound, it's sort-of impressive and gives the speaker a sonic heft something this small shouldn't have but it's not that musical and you lose individual bass notes. If you want to enhance the 'boom' effect and make it even more big-sounding place the speaker in front of a wall or, even better, into a corner - the reflected sound really beefs up the sound, especially that bass kick.The build-quality is excellent and most surfaces are clad in a water-resistant silicone with the main column wrapped in colour-matched fabric. It's hard to believe it's as waterproof as they claim but I haven't chucked it into a swimming pool to check it yet, but it's good to know that getting caught in the rain or dropped on the sand at the beach isn't going to be a problem. This is a speaker that's all about the music and there's no option to make/take handsfree calls. The controls are few and simple and you'll mostly use the 'magic' button which is top and centre on the column and controls the song and/or playlist playback. The outsized +/- volume controls on the side are mainly for show and the actual buttons are in the centre of each and no bigger than average.Like almost all Bluetooth speakers it does make annoyingly loud noises, this time sounding like someone playing Tabla, when you first switch on, pair with Bluetooth or switch off again. Why these sounds always have to be set at near full volume I don't know but thankfully this speaker gives you the option to switch them off completely, meaning it can behave itself on your bedside table and not wake you up again as it auto-powers down.To get access to the settings you have to install the associated smartphone app on your iOS/Android device and then pair it with your speaker. Note you have to use the 'BOOM & MEGABOOM by UE' app because none of the other UE app's will work with this new speaker - beware the links on UE's website which will point you at the wrong app. The app lets you switch the speaker on/off remotely (cleverer than it sounds) and change EQ settings if you like to tweak, you can link the speaker with other MEGABOOMs and create a party-sized network of them and you can DJ your own 'Block Party' with or without other MEGABOOMers. The app will play nicely with your favourite music app and so you can choose music and playlists in your normal way, you don't have to switch to the official app.The app does add an ability to control playlists (using that magic button) from a streaming music service but you're limited to just Deezer on the Android app (presumably you can also choose Apple Music on iOS devices) so you need a free or paid account to enable this. Hopefully other streaming services might be added later. Be warned that once you enable this 'One Touch to Your Playlists' feature it takes over a bit and will play by default even when your other music app's are running too - the only way to stop this is to logout of the service again. That's not the only bug with the official app - if you pause the music by pressing the magic button and then receive an email or SMS on your smartphone the incoming notification on your smartphone will trigger the music playing again, at least it does on my smartphone.Overall it's a great mid-sized Bluetooth speaker, the sound quality is great and certainly room-filling if not quite 'booming' and the size and shape make it easy to carry with you. The water and dust resistance mean it can go almost anywhere and survive almost any weather or situation but you don't have to compromise on sound quality when you get there. It's not cheap but it's probably worth it and my only complaint would be the (hopefully soon fixable) bugs in the associated app.

19.1.2019

It isn't camping season yet, but this speaker is basically made for it. Looking forward to taking it with me to the highlands this summer, for the following reasons!:DESIGN:=======The Boom 3 is definitely differentiated by its design - it's a plastic and fabric cylinder a little wider than a Pringles can, with the power and 'magic' buttons on top (more about the magic button in a bit) and two oversized volume buttons on the front. It's a distinctive look. In the hand, it feels solid and hard-wearing, just as it should be with the claims that UE are making about its toughness. Waterproofing is good for 30 minutes, allegedly. I haven't tested that, but it's definitely been rained on and splashed in the kitchen and bathroom,so even if you aren't taking it to pool parties, it adds a level of confidence.Essentially, it looks good while still seeming like it'd survive being chucked in a rucksack. The packaging is gorgeous - I'm tempted to keep the box. The included USB adapter comes with both EU and UK plugs - handy for travel. Fortunately, the speaker continues to play while it's charging.The magic button is a multifunctional button that I've seen variations of in wireless headphones - single press is pause/play, double press is skip, long press activates UE app specific features. It's useful, but I'd love if it also had a previous track function, possible accessed with a triple tap, since currently there's no way to repeat a song using the device itself - a pretty common use case for me.SOUND:=======A common problem with wireless speakers vs headphones and traditional bookshelf speakers is that they lack stereo, so the soundstage they present doesn't feel wide enough. The Boom 3 does a good job of filling a space with sound that doesn't seem too constricted. You still won't get real stereo separation, but it's fine in all the situations I've used it - if I want the most delicate and detailed stereo experience, I'll put on my headphones.Given the name, I was expecting a really bass-heavy sound profile from the Boom, but it's more nuanced than that. It deals with high notes well and generally reproduces music clearly at decent volumes. Occasionally the midrange can feel a little muddy, but I've heard little to complain about. As I type this, I'm listening to the new single 'Andromeda' by Weyes Blood - a delicate psychedelic folk track with ethereal vocals. I can hear separate instruments clearly: acoustic rhythm guitar, slide guitar, and subtle keyboard lines buoyed by a strong but not overpowering bass.Of course, I think the Boom really shines with bassier music. I particularly like how G-funk rap from the 90s sounds on it. Warren G's Regulate, with its timeless combination of smoothness and bombast, sounds great on it.Compared to the much more expensive Bose Home Speaker I own, it doesn't sound quite as good, but it's still impressive. Worth noting that the Bose requires mains power, though!PRACTICALITIES: BATTERY LIFE AND SETUP:==================================20hrs battery life is awesome for a powerful speaker like this. I haven't measured it quantifiably, but I've been listening for a couple of hours today and the battery life message (accessed by pressing the volume buttons simultaneously) still claims that it's at 100%. Subjectively, it rarely requires a charge and it'd be ideal for a weekend trip.Setup doesn't require any arcane pairing rituals - just turn it on and find it in bluetooth settings on your phone. On android it can act as a smart lock device - reducing the number of times you need to unlock your phone when the Boom is connected.OVERALL:================There's a trend for smart speakers, but I think there's still market for single use devices like this: it's a tough, good sounding speaker with crazy battery longevity.An awesome option for anyone who wants a reliable speaker that can, seemingly, go anywhere.

26.10.2018

First impressions are good. The speaker comes in a tall rectangular box, square in cross section, with a large picture of the speaker on the front, a picture of it floating in water on one side, some technical details on the back, and three people listening to the speaker on the other side. Cut a security tab at each end and the sleeve slides off, revealing a brightly coloured interior which hinges open from the bottom. The speaker is immediately before you, resting in a cardboard cradle of sorts, and beneath this is a slim instruction leaflet and a USB cable and charging plug. It's a nicely designed package.The speaker itself looks great.It's a little bigger than I expected - taller and fatter than a large can of beer (more like a pasta tin really) and is surprisingly heavy. This could affect portability for some, as it's a bit too big and heavy to just throw into a bag or suitcase if you're off on your travels. The outside of the speaker is covered in a woven fabric, a matching carrying tab sticking out at the rear, and the top and bottom are made of a rubbery plastic. The only controls are a large "+" and "-" on the front to control volume (hold them in at the same time and the speaker tells you its battery level) and on the top you'll find a power button and a large button in the centre which allows you to control playlists, but only if you use Deezer or Apple Music. If you're playing music and don't use either of these it acts as a pause and resume button. A flap at the bottom rear of the speaker hides the USB socket, and a metal dimple on the base is for a charging base (not included). It feels strong and sturdy, and is apparently water and sand proof, but I'm not brave enough to test this.Out of the box my speaker was ready to use, but I plugged it in to charge it up and it was very quick. There's an app which you can download (I tested the Android version) and this allows you to rename your speaker, pair it with two or more other speakers, and has a graphic equalizer. It also told me that there was a firmware update, which the app downloaded and installed for me.Sound quality is fantastic! This can really kick out some volume, and the sound is rich and full, with plenty of bass and warmth. It doesn't seem to matter which way you point it either - there isn't a "front" as such - so if you put it in the middle of a room it sounds good from all sides. Most of the time I have the speaker on a bookcase as the speaker fits perfectly between the shelves, and the sound really fills the room. I've had a few Bluetooth speakers before and this is by far and away the best.All in all it's a great speaker. Sure, it's a little too big and heavy to just bung into a bag if you're going away for a few days, but if you want something to make your music sound great while you're away and have some room this is an absolute cracker.

30.1.2019

I really like this. Given its diminutive size, it's amazing what it can do. The secret, if there is one, is location; if you position it in such a way as to use its immediate surroundings for trick amplification, you're going to be very satisfied with what it does in terms of power and dynamics. It's solid, it doesn't rattle under stress, and it feels like it will last. I'm not keen on the 'forest green' colour but it does come in some other colours such as black and blue, probably others too. That's where all criticisms end.It doesn't take long to charge, must admit I didn't time it but I think it was less than an hour. I haven't tested its water-resistance abilities as I have absolutely no need to.

15.10.2018

The speaker looks great. The fabric design is really nice and gives a shimmering two tone look. The quality sound is excellent, especially for a portable speaker. Its nice rounded sounds with great base and no horrible vibration you get form cheaper speakers.Its very simple to use and set up. On top there’s a Bluetooth button, a power button and a larger magic button which I’ll mention later. At the bottom on the side there’s a little flap that lifts up to access the Micro USB slot for charging.The Micro USB surprised me. I expected the connection to be USB-C which is what pretty much anything new coming out has.

16.10.2018

On the face of it this Megaboom 3 360 speaker appears to be very similar to the company's previous products. I guess in terms of sound quality this is true. I can't detect a dramatic improvement in audio quality compared to a much older UE speaker I have.There are some significant changes however. Most notably the speaker is considerably more indestructible compared to many previous UE speakers. It's sand and dust proof, can be dropped (although not from a great height!) and perhaps most importantly it's waterproof. The IP67 waterproof measure is not all that impressive - many mobile phones have IP68 for example. Nonetheless it can withstand immersion for up to 30 minutes although not at any significant depth.

26.1.2019

This speaker is slick from the start; a very attractive box reveals a sleek speaker nestled within, a micro-USB charging lead and adaptable plug that includes a 3-pin UK attachment. Everything from there is totally intuitive; I paired with my iPhone X with ease (long press of middle control, which is called the ‘magic button’), was prompted to download the App, which it found immediately when I confirmed. I was automatically guided then to download my playlists and was playing music within seconds of plugging this in. Rarely have I found set-up so straightforward.As I said before, the speaker has a very sleek appearance, in part due to the fact it is waterproof and so all controls are hidden from sight.

14.10.2018

This speaker is slick from the start; a very attractive box reveals a sleek speaker nestled within, a micro-USB charging lead and adaptable plug that includes a 3-pin UK attachment. Everything from there is totally intuitive; I paired with my iPhone X with ease (long press of middle control, which is called the ‘magic button’), was prompted to download the App, which it found immediately when I confirmed. I was automatically guided then to download my playlists and was playing music within seconds of plugging this in. Rarely have I found set-up so straightforward.As I said before, the speaker has a very sleek appearance, in part due to the fact it is waterproof and so all controls are hidden from sight.

16.10.2018

This speaker is supplied in an attractive sleeve which when removed reveals a wildly colourful inner box. The speaker lifts out of its container and first impression is that seems to wrapped in a very rugged speaker grille material. It is heavier than some and appears to have a cross on the front and a hook on the rear for hanging up.There is a clear and easy to read guide with it, which tells you to download the app for the phone (android or IOS).Connect by Bluetooth (simple 30 seconds) then simply activate your music playing app and press play.Instantly, the impact of the music hits you! For a portable speaker of this size,

13.10.2018

This looks a bit like the Amazon Echo and blends into your home unobtrusively. It feels sturdy without being bulky. The box includes a silicone style USB charger cable and plug, plus instructions, and it's well-presented. It's so easy to use from the outset: switch on, pair with your phone (very straightforward to do) and play! If you want additional features or personalised settings you can download the app. You can't use the charging USB to connect your device to the speaker to play music (you'd need an auxiliary cable if you wanted to hardwire it), but the Bluetooth connection seemed solid and stable without affecting volume or quality.Now on to the sound itself.

5.11.2018

This is an amazing portable smart speaker which comes in a choice of five colours (forest green, lagoon blue, night black, sunset red and ultraviolet purple). I received the ultraviolet purple speaker for reviewing purposes.The Megaboom measures 22.5cm in height x 8.7cm in diameter and it comes complete with a USB cable, power adapter and a two year manufacturer's guarantee.The build quality of this speaker is excellent, it is durable and rugged in design making it perfect for indoor as well as outdoor use. The speaker has flat ends so can be stood on either end on a flat surface. Also being waterproof to a massive IP67 means that it will survive a heavy rain shower as well as a drop into the bath or swimming pool (it even floats).

20.11.2018

The first thing I noticed and appreciated about the Mega Boom 3 Speaker was the quality of Bass, It was awesome!The overall sound is very well balanced and for someone who really appreciates Bass from a Speaker this one definitely ticks all the Boxes.The Battery life is pretty amazing too, with 20 hours of play after every charge. The Speaker is waterproof and can easily withstand being totally emerged in water for up to 30 minutes, (Not that you would want to be doing this continually, but it does demonstrate how robust, sturdy and waterproof this Megaboom Speaker actually is!)The Megaboom also features a Magic Button which essentially allows you to play, pause,

16.10.2018

The Megaboom 3 is a nice looking cylindrical speaker with a decent range of functionality (you can change volume, pause and skip tracks by pressing various buttons on the speaker itself). It's also very solid and the advertising claims on its robustness in rough conditions are very believable. Connectivity of the speaker is good - no problems at all linking with a few example phones and tablets and the range of the speaker seems limited only by the range of the device it's linked to.For all the claims of durability in dust and water, a speaker lives and dies by the sound quality and - out of the box - the Megaboom 3 tries a bit too hard with the bass, which is deep and impressive,

18.2.2019

Wow. I have to confess that I've never been particularly impressed by any wireless speaker before; there has always been a certain something missing from the sound and if it has any real power then the battery life has always been disappointingly short. With this Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 model, this speaker has really raised the game. Waterproof (It can be submerged in water for up to 30 minutes, apparently, but I'm not going to be the one to test that one!), drop proof (again, not going to try that out either), boasting a battery life of up to 20 hours from a single charge (yes, I can verify this) and the sound is more than enough to completely fill a medium sized room.

30.10.2018

I got this for my stepson and he is loving using it.We charged it up using the usb cable and chargher end which was included, downloaded the app on his samsung smartphone then paired it up using the bluetooth prompt when we turned it on. The instuctions which came with the speaker were well written and easy to follow and we were up and running within minutes.The phone app allows you to adjust volume, bass, treble etc and this suppliments the basic voice commands the speaker can respond to well. The sound quality on the speaker is like nothing I have hearfed before - it really is very impressive. The sound comes all around you, truely giving a 360 degree experience and the bass and volume levels on the speaker were also superb!

Ultimate Ears UE Megaboom 3 - Reviews

Info

Analysis

Detail