As the model name suggests, the Ultimate Ears Epicboom is a Bluetooth speaker that aims to provide ample bass energy from its medium-sized size The all-new design is larger than many of the best Bluetooth speakers we've tested and is off to a good start

Similar in proportions to the recently upgraded Sonos Move 2, the Epicboom lacks the Wi-Fi smart features and Auto Trueplay tuning of the Sonos Portable, which can be taken anywhere It does, however, have an Outdoor Boost mode for better music listening outdoors These points make it a strong candidate to replace the Move 2 as a portable speaker and as the best outdoor speaker

Priced $100 less than Sonos, the Epicboom is a few pounds lighter than Sonos (44 pounds for the Epic compared to 66 pounds for the Move 2), and the Epicboom also comes with a more practical carry strap, has an IP67 durability rating, and can float in water With 17 hours of playback time, the Epicboom will keep the music soundtrack playing wherever you go, and is sure to accommodate your on-the-go lifestyle

See below for my full Ultimate Ears Epicboom Bluetooth speaker review for how it performs

The Epicboom can be purchased directly from the Ultimate Ears website for $349/£340/$499 It is also available through online retailers such as Amazon and Best Buy

Although $100 cheaper than the Sonos Move 2, the Epicboom does not have the Wi-Fi connectivity smarts of the Editor's Choice-winning Move 2

The Epicboom is not unlike other UE Bluetooth speaker models we have seen It is a mid-sized Bluetooth speaker, clearly aiming to fill the gap between the company's Megaboom 3 and Hyperboom

Epic is ruggedly built and is available in two colors, charcoal black and cotton white The rugged exterior features a fabric speaker grille, and the rubberized base and top plate, where key functional controls are located, help protect the speaker from everyday bumps and scrapes while on the go

IP67 compliant, it can withstand dust, dirt, and submersion in water for up to 30 minutes The USB-C charging port on the back is secured with a rubber cap to protect it from water ingress

The all-new Ultimate Ears Boom control app allows listeners to adjust EQ settings with five presets, plus a user-setup option that allows listeners to adjust the 360-degree sound to their liking The app also allows users to save their favorite music to buttons on Epic's main control panel Presets can be up to four playlists or albums, which users can cycle through and select The app is only available for three music streaming services: Amazon Music, Apple Music (iOS only), and Spotify (Android devices only)

Like other UE models, the Epicboom can be paired with other Boom speakers using the app's PartyUp mode, giving it even more power at gatherings and pool parties

Epicboom's sound comes from two 15-inch mid- to high-frequency speaker drivers and one 46-inch woofer for bass The sound is nicely balanced across the entire frequency range, with vocals of all kinds sounding clean and detailed Sadly, however, bass-heavy tracks such as Big Data's "Dangerous" do not deliver the kind of bass resonance I would have expected given the speaker's name

However, the bass that is obtained is nicely detailed and rhythmic Perhaps my expectations were a bit high, as I found myself setting the EQ to try to extract a bit more power from the speaker's output Sadly, however, the Epicboom was not the best Bluetooth speaker for listening to a deep house playlist indoors

Carrying the Epicboom around the house and yard with a carry strap felt like a more rewarding experience Also, as I walked from room to room, the speakers blasted by me, and I felt like I was enveloped in a sphere of sound; the Epicbooms were more infectious in their bass energy when I was closer to the bass driver than when I listened to them at my home office desktop, a few meters away made it the perfect carry speaker for a walk-around

Interestingly, I preferred the sound with the Outdoor Boost turned off when listening outdoors When we played Sofia Kourtesis' "Si Te Porta Bonito" in the backyard, the bass was better with this mode turned off It is worth noting, however, that the volume level could not be increased much before the bass speakers were overdriven, the beat overshadowed, and mild distortion occurred

Nevertheless, Epicboom was able to achieve a decent volume level there, even outdoors On an unexpectedly warm late September weekend, playing music in the garden, the music sounded nicely balanced and created a chilled atmosphere

The Epicboom's battery life is claimed to be up to 17 hours While we have not used up the battery yet, we have no reason to doubt this claim at this time A full charge takes about 3 hours and uses the USB-C port; battery life displayed as a percentage in the Boom app

As for playback time, the Megaboom 3 has 20 hours, while the Sonos Move 2 has up to 24 hours

As a go-anywhere Bluetooth speaker, the Ultimate Ears Epicboom sounds refined and approachable However, the Epicboom's natural sound balance made for an enjoyable experience No part of the frequency range is overemphasized, and while the sound cannot be described as "spectacular," it is fully enjoyable and warm

While we found it entirely practical to move the speakers using the carrying strap, the Epicbooms were a bit too bulky to move far from home However, when moving the speakers around the house, we felt that the closer they were to the speakers, the better the sound experience would be

Finally, while many will be pleased with the 17-hour battery life, the premium price of $349 seems a bit steep for Bluetooth, given the battery life endurance of its smart wireless speaker rivals, which are only $100 more expensive However, if you are looking for simplicity and solid Bluetooth functionality, we highly recommend the Ultimate Ears Epicboom