Headphones let us enjoy music just about anywhere, but if you don't want to isolate yourself socially and share some tunes then a portable speaker is the way to go. However, not all are built to withstand the perils of rough outdoor life, and ones that are may not be portable or loud enough. Ultimate Ears' new UE Boom 2 Bluetooth speaker is designed to be adventure-proof, louder, and longer-reaching than the original.
The UE Boom 2 is 25 percent louder, but retains the same cylindrical shape and 360-degree sound of its predecessor, which, like the Scosche BoomBottle+, is ideal for cyclists who would prefer having music over water in the bottle cage. Its rugged design is built to withstand the mud, shock, or dirt that tends to happen while riding and the enhanced audio output can also help music be heard over environmental noise.
And instead of settling for simple water resistance, Ultimate Ears has made the UE Boom 2 completely waterproof with an IPX 7 rating. Users will be able to play this speaker on a boat or by a jacuzzi without having to worry about an accidental dunk silencing the party.
Most portable Bluetooth speakers are content to stick with the standard 30-foot (10 m) wireless range. The UE Boom 2 goes above and beyond with its 100-foot (30 m) reach, allowing it to stream audio from a more distant device without dropping the signal. And no longer will users have to keep mobile devices close at hand, as the UE Boom 2 provides on-board track control. Single taps on the speaker's top function as play/pause, while double-taps skip to the next song.
Through the mobile app, available for free on iOS and Android, the UE Boom 2 can pair with another Ultimate Ears speaker for stereo sound. The app also offers wireless speaker updates, alarm functionality, and the ability to power the speaker on/off remotely. the device's rechargeable battery will keep the music coming for up to 15 hours.
The UE Boom 2 speaker is expected to be available sometime this month for US$199.99 in wild color choices of Cherrybomb, Yeti, Phantom, GreenMachine, Tropical, and BrainFreeze.
Source: Ultimate Ears