UE Wonderboom

THIS IS REALLY GOOD. Seriously, it’s so good. I’ve never been more impressed with a Bluetooth speaker than I have with the UE Wonderboom. To be fair, this was the first UE device I’ve ever tested, and only having the likes of Bose and Razer to compare it to may have muddied my views a touch as to what’s “good,” but even so, as a connoisseur of fine audio, I like to consider myself pretty well versed in the nuances of treble, bass, and mids.

So, what’s so special about the Wonderboom? Well, multiple things: It’s a small apple-shaped object, with 3D positional sound, waterproofing (IPX7), and a no-nonsense setup that just works. Unlike its Boom predecessors, it doesn’t come with any apps, or messing about—simply hit the Bluetooth pairing button at the top, find it with your device, connect, and you’re good to go.

Once connected, you can actually pair the Wonderboom up with another one, to create a stereo setup (although it won’t pair beyond two), and use it wherever you like. It has a 30m range for mobile devices, too. It’s portable, and comes with a pretty meaty battery, allowing up to 10 hours’ playback. That said, there’s no LED indicator for remaining battery life, but if you press the plus and minus volume controls twice simultaneously, you hear an audible indicator telling you many bars of battery you have left.

Couple all that with exceptionally crisp audio, and a price point of around $80 (to be confirmed), and the Wonderboom rounds out to be an exceptionally pleasant addition to any techie’s arsenal. Whether you’re camping in the wilderness, traveling, or just using it in your kitchen, it’s right on point. $80, www.ue.com