U Sounds like a winner

The Ultimate Ears Boom 2 lets you enjoy your tunes in the best way possible

ltimate Ears just took partying to a whole new level. The American company added some more choices for us in their never- ending parade of portable Bluetooth speakers, and, quite frankly, they’re making a statement. They’re letting us listen to it.

This week, we checked out the UE Boom 2, a cylindrical audio device that truly lets you enjoy your favourite tunes. What it has got to offer is broken down in five points.

One, it’s got voice integration, meaning you can fire it up by just speaking to Siri or Google Now.

Two, it’s waterproof, which practically demands a pool party.

Three, you can connect them to each other. Along with its siblings — the UE Boom and UE Megaboom — you can get that party louder by connecting over 150 of them at the same time. There’s no such thing as a small party, right?

Four, it’s got 360- degree sound. Not exactly a new technology, but go ahead, listen and be the judge; it has 25 per cent more power than the first Boom.

Five, it’s virtually indestructible, so you won’t have to fret about some rough- and- tumble times when you’re dying to bust out your moves. The UE Boom 2’ s shape is actually one of its key advantages, since it allows you to hold and carry it around conveniently. The design is, for me, somewhere between minimalist and eye- candy — personally a very good combination — but the real kicker on this turf is the way they market it: go to their online store and check out how they amusingly describe each colour variant, from that “Phan- tom” feeling to encountering a “Yeti” somewhere.

It also acts well as a speakerphone, and offers up to 15 hours of juice, which is quite good but unchanged from its previous iteration, the Boom.

AND SO…

There’s not much to say about the UE Boom 2 except for the fact that it has accomplished its goal: to provide a great speaker that’s convenient to use and handle. And honestly, the only thing I find amiss here is the fact that its battery life remains the same as its predecessor; maybe a three- hour uptick would’ve been great. But hey, wouldn’t it be nice for the next one ( Boom 3?) to have a nine- hour addon for that real all- day, all- night party?