Summer is here and the festive season upon us which means more time outdoors, more gatherings with family and friends – and ultimately more fun. When it comes to Christmas parties – or any type of party really – music is at the centre of creating the atmosphere.
If you want to make a bold (and big) statement at your next party, the Ultimate Ears (UE) Hyperboom speaker won’t disappoint. As the company’s largest and loudest speaker yet, it delivers three times the loudness and more than six times the bass of the Megaboom 3 without compromising on sound balance or quality thanks to precision woofers, passive radiators and soft-dome tweeters.
As soon as you unbox the UE Hyperboom, you know it’s not your ordinary portable Bluetooth speaker. It stands tall at 36cm and 19cm wide, and with a price tag of $599, it’s targeted to those serious about sound.
Unlike traditional rounded speakers, its diamond shape helps direct bass where you want it. Its built-in pull-out strap means it can be taken on-the-go – note it does weigh almost 6kg, which should give you an idea of just how solid and durable it is.
Interactive touch controls atop of the speaker allow you to power on/off, play, pause and skip tracks directly from the device and set up one-touch playlists for quick access to your favourite music on streaming platforms such as Spotify and Amazon Music.
I had high expectations for the sound produced by this beast of a speaker – and it didn’t fall short. The sound is room-filling, rich, clear and powerful, no matter the music genre – from classical to techno. And did I mention how loud it is? Seriously loud. In my two-storey home, you can hear the sound from every room – no matter where the speaker sits – even if it’s outside with the doors and windows closed.
An IPX4 rating means the speaker is protected from a splash or spill (when the rubber cover for inputs is shut) so it can be positioned next to a pool – just not in it – and handle a little rain.
But it’s not just all muscle and power, it’s smart too. With a built-in microphone, the speaker knows when it’s being moved, and the adaptive EQ will read the room and automatically balance the sound to suit the space – living room, bedroom, patio and everything in between.
Thanks to its rechargeable battery, the Hyperboom delivers up to 24 hours of playtime (less if it’s been played at 100% volume of course) or it can be plugged in for unlimited battery life. The mobile range of music play is up to 45 metres so you don’t need to stay in the same room as the speaker when it’s paired with your phone, meaning uninterrupted sound.
For those wanting to take the sound to the next level, the Hyperboom can connect with another Hyperboom, Megaboom or Boom. Simply connect and add one, two or more speakers in the app.
The app is intuitive and easy to use. It shows you battery life, lets you power on/off the speaker, choose the audio source, adjust the volume and select your preferred EQ – signature, bass boost, game/cinema and podcast to suit all your listening needs. You can also set an alarm with your song of choice!
With the PartyUp feature, the Hyperboom lets you play music from four devices and switch between them via Bluetooth, auxiliary and optical input.
The UE Hyperboom is the life of the party. With exceptional sound quality, unparalleled volume and a design that can handle any environment, it’s a go-to speaker for parties and gatherings, or solo sessions at home. While it’s on the higher end of the price spectrum, the sound experience it provides is worth every dollar.