TESTED ULTIMATE EARS HYPERBOOMDeeply drippy
An IPX4 rating
means no worries
about beer incidents,
but there’s no voice
assistant support
or mics to take
phone calls.If you’re after the loudest portable(ish) wireless speaker out there, the Hyperboom
is it – and this isn’t volume for the sake of volume. Couple its impressive performance
with the brilliantly implemented music-sharing features, and it really does have a lot
going for it. But there’s no getting away from the fact this is a Bluetooth-only speaker,
and that it is on the expensive side.It’s not a smart
speaker, just a
loud one... which
is fine with us
Matt TateA big speaker for the big occasion, UE’s
Hyperboom is three times louder and
10 times bassier than the Megaboom
QAt 14in high and 5.9kg the
imposing Hyperboom is probably
best left at home, but a pull-out
rubber handle makes it easy to lug
between rooms. Mesh-wrapped
and all black, it looks like it means
business... but is only capable of
270 ° audio, not the full 360.QTo the left of the silly-massive
volume signs is the power button,
and to the right the input buttons,
where you can jump between two
Bluetooth devices as well as aux
and optical for use as a TV speaker.
Between them is the play/pause
button, which can be long-pressed
to start a playlist chosen in the app.QThe Hyperboom is UE’s biggest,
bassiest and loudest speaker to
date. We didn’t dare push it beyond
75 % of its maximum 100 decibels,
but it’s clear this thing will fill a barn.
And while raw volume isn’t much
use without good sound quality,
that’s not an issue here.QWhile the Hyperboom is a big
bass monster, at no point does
the low end flood your tunes.
Detail remains intact as you
increase the volume, and the
soundstage is more satisfying
than that of any Bluetooth speaker
we can think of.QYou’d expect a monster speaker
to have a monster battery. UE says
24 hours, and this seems to be
accurate provided it’s kept at
a reasonable volume. On a full
charge, it’ll comfortably go the
distance at your (imaginary) party.Thumpin’ stack flash
STUFF SAYS Big, loud and lots of fun, if you can justify the equally hefty price ++++,
Audio 2x 4.5in woofers, 2x 1in
tweeters, 2x 3.5in radiators
Compatibility Android, iOS
Connectivity Bluetooth 5, 3.5mm
aux, optical, USB Dimensions
364x190x190mm, 5.9kgQ Houses of the unholy
The app allows you to ‘party up’
with other UE speakers for a
potentially terrifying multiroom
setup. Adaptive EQ optimises
sound based on the environment,
or there’s a five-band EQ and
three preset sound modes.Q Reggae reggae source
You can have up to four devices
connected at the same time: two
via Bluetooth, one aux and one
optical. Hopping between them is
as simple as pressing a button, or
doing it in the Boom app, where
you can fade between sources.£360 / stuff.tv/HyperboomTech specs