The Final Ears speaker lineup is getting fairly crowded, having now reached six merchandise with the latest introduction of the $249.99 Everboom. This speaker is a smaller, extra transportable tackle the Epicboom that I reviewed late final yr. And its core enchantment is similar as every other UE speaker: you’re getting a rugged, waterproof speaker that’s minimize out for each indoor and poolside events. You’ll be able to hyperlink the Everboom up with different UE audio system in social gathering mode to play music in sync throughout all of them. The controls are simple to make use of — particularly the corporate’s signature, outsized quantity buttons.
So what makes the Everboom totally different? You get a completely customizable EQ, which not all the firm’s audio system provide. Just like the Epicboom, there’s an outside mode that layers some additional quantity and energy onto the sound when wanted. And UE features a carabiner, which makes it simpler to hold the Everboom in your bag or cling it in inventive methods.
Each the Epicboom and Everboom dial up the general audio constancy in comparison with UE’s cylindrical audio system. Like these, they output 360-degree sound, so that you don’t have to fret about listening to them from a sure candy spot — in idea, anyway.
Because it seems, the Everboom is usually most clear if you’ve received both the left or proper aspect of the speaker straight going through you. Straight on, vocals can lack crispness and element because the drivers appear to be side-firing — although the stereo separation is spectacular in consequence. For indoor listening, I usually saved the amount degree between 30 and 40 %, and that was loads loud. Outdoors you may crank it additional, although the speaker begins to pressure and sound overly compressed when you’re on the 70 % mark.
I don’t assume the Everboom’s sound efficiency lifts it very far above established (and extra reasonably priced) competitors just like the JBL Cost 5, Bose SoundLink Flex, and even the lately launched Beats Tablet. I’d rank it larger than one thing just like the Sonos Transfer for sound high quality, however there are countless options which might be price eyeing earlier than you fork over $250.
That mentioned, the Everboom met the second after I introduced it upstate for a short lake cabin getaway. Listening to Zach Bryan’s new album, the Everboom did a great job separating John Mayer’s guitar licks on “Higher Days” from the majority of the combination. Nathaniel Rateliff’s South of Right here was additionally a pleasing hear, although I once more discovered myself pointing one of many speaker’s left / proper sides in direction of me for the most effective readability.
However some genres can show somewhat a lot for it. The Maintain Regular’s The Worth of Progress sounded extra muffled than I’d like. That is the place the bigger Epicboom fares higher, because it’s received bigger drivers (and extra bass growl) to work with. However on the flip aspect, the Everboom is much simpler to tackle the go because it’s lighter and significantly smaller. Battery life is greater than sufficient at 20 hours of steady playback.
That mentioned, I don’t know if anybody’s shopping for UE audio system for important listening. The model has a great status for making sturdy merchandise that may final a few years. (And now, mercifully, the entire lineup has lastly switched to USB-C.) The Everboom has IP67 mud and water resistance, and it’ll float for those who drop it right into a pool — and maintain the music going afterward.
However don’t count on any thrilling bonus options. The Everboom does at the least embody multipoint, so you may pair two telephones to the speaker directly. And it’s received NFC assist for very fast pairing. Nonetheless, I can’t assist however really feel Final Ears is resting on its laurels when different firms offer you extra. For instance, the Beats Tablet presents lossless USB-C enter, and JBL is beginning to embrace forward-looking Bluetooth applied sciences like Auracast. In the meantime, the Everboom can’t even be used as a speakerphone. UE’s app has a brand new megaphone characteristic that allows you to converse into your telephone and broadcast that to your Increase audio system, however how usually will that be helpful?
The Everboom isn’t a horrible buy; none of UE’s merchandise are if all you’re in search of is a decent-sounding and really reliable speaker. However we’re firmly in an period the place I’m anticipating greater than “Yeah, that sounds fairly good” from a $250 wi-fi speaker. The Everboom doesn’t ship sufficient to warrant that type of worth, and I’d wager most individuals will stick to the corporate’s better-known Increase 4. It offers lots of the similar strengths for much less cash.
Pictures by Chris Welch
