Tiny package, big sound
American audio accessory brand Ultimate Ears (UE)’s latest wireless speakers, the UE Wonderboom Freestyle, a dressed-up avatar of its Wonderboom speakers, has a chic design, fresh outlook, waterproof capabilities and a compact form factor making it portable and easy to use.
The new UE speaker’s colour options make it an easy choice for party buffs. Importantly, the sound output of this small piece makes it an interesting proposition in the portable wireless speaker segment.
The UE Wonderboom features a cylindrical design covered with fabric mesh on the sides and rubber on top and bottom. A loop on the top back makes it easy to suspend on hooks or carry.
The top rubber area has several keys — a power key, a Bluetooth pairing key, and a
UE key to pair up with another UE speaker and play sound in sync. The bottom is flat and there is a micro USB charging port on the back, underneath an ejectable flap.
In terms of performance, the UE Wonderboom surprises — despite being tiny, it impresses with its volume levels. The cylindrical design spouts audio in 360 degrees horizontally, so you can place it anywhere, without having to set it up for audio directions.
Also, the Wonderboom is not limited to indoor entertainment. The waterproof design makes it a good poolside or bathtub companion. Not that most of us dip in either daily, but for those who do, this product is a delight. And it is good for casual parties, too — especially if you have a pair connected with each other. Though the audio output is not strong in an open environment and the bass effect also weakens due to a 360-degree audio spread, it remains one of the few compact speakers that can actually float on water. Therefore, although boring soundtracks may not catch your attention, the speaker playing while afloat will surely do!
Talking of downsides, the speaker has some connectivity problems.
It is limited only to Bluetooth connections and other basic connectivity options such as 3.5mm audio port and NFC are missing.
Priced at ~6,995, the UE Wonderboom is a tiny piece of joy that can fill the entire room with quality sound. While wireless speakers are available at all price points, from ~1,000 to ~30,000 and more, the UE Wonderboom is a fun combination of design, features and utility.