Ultimate Ears Mini Boom Wireless Bluetooth Speaker - Orange

I bought the UE Mini Boom for my husband as a gift a few years ago. Turns out it was also a gift for myself.We love the quality and portability of the Mini Boom. It produces great, well-rounded sound. My husband and I have opposite music tastes, but we both love listening to music on the Mini Boom.It has a long-lasting battery, and charges using the universal mini-USB plug.It is easy to connect with Bluetooth. Once you've connected with your device, it will automatically connect next time you turn it on. I love this, because I have a few other Bluetooth devices that take about 5 steps to get your device connected.It is very portable and durable. I've used it in the kitchen next to a bacon fry pan and in the snow outside. It has lasted us through ... MoreI bought the UE Mini Boom for my husband as a gift a few years ago. Turns out it was also a gift for myself.We love the quality and portability of the Mini Boom. It produces great, well-rounded sound. My husband and I have opposite music tastes, but we both love listening to music on the Mini Boom.It has a long-lasting battery, and charges using the universal mini-USB plug.It is easy to connect with Bluetooth. Once you've connected with your device, it will automatically connect next time you turn it on. I love this, because I have a few other Bluetooth devices that take about 5 steps to get your device connected.It is very portable and durable. I've used it in the kitchen next to a bacon fry pan and in the snow outside. It has lasted us through everything.I highly recommend the UE Mini Boom for great sound, ease of use, portability, and durability.

Another great product by Ultimate Ears & Logitech

I actually also have the Ultimate Ears BOOM which is about $100 more expensive, so I wanted to do a quick comparison. The sound on this MINI BOOM is great, and holds its name even to the original BOOM. Battery can only be checked via the app, which is too bad. Its more expensive brother, the BOOM, can speak its battery status by holding the (+) and (-) buttons together for a second. Certainly more handy than having to open the app.Battery life is also great. As Ultimate Ears claim, it will fluctuate depending on how loud you're running the thing. My recommendation is usually to the put the volume on the host device (phone, tablet, mp3 player) to 70% - 85% volume then adjust the volume on the bluetooth speaker as needed. This provides better sonic clarity in the ... MoreI actually also have the Ultimate Ears BOOM which is about $100 more expensive, so I wanted to do a quick comparison. The sound on this MINI BOOM is great, and holds its name even to the original BOOM. Battery can only be checked via the app, which is too bad. Its more expensive brother, the BOOM, can speak its battery status by holding the (+) and (-) buttons together for a second. Certainly more handy than having to open the app.Battery life is also great. As Ultimate Ears claim, it will fluctuate depending on how loud you're running the thing. My recommendation is usually to the put the volume on the host device (phone, tablet, mp3 player) to 70% - 85% volume then adjust the volume on the bluetooth speaker as needed. This provides better sonic clarity in the music and should ensure that you get the most battery life out of it the speaker by allowing it to work only as hard as it needs to (compared to having 50% volume on your phone/tablet and 100% on the speaker--thus making the speaker work harder to push only half volume).

Big Sound, Small Speaker

So I recently purchased this item for myself because I was looking for a speaker I could put in my backpack that would be loud enough to hear while hiking or walking around amusement parks with my nieces & nephews. I played with the display model in the store and was surprised that such a small speaker had a HUGE sound with plenty of crisp bass. Why spend $200+ for a "brand name" speaker when this speaker could rival the sound of that one? Anyway, I didn't keep it because for my purpose, in my backpack, somehow the sound muffled out. I turned it several different directions in the bag, but still, the sound wasn't there for me. But in the office, the sound was incredible! So yes, I highly recommend this product to someone who is looking for an inexpensive and loud ... MoreSo I recently purchased this item for myself because I was looking for a speaker I could put in my backpack that would be loud enough to hear while hiking or walking around amusement parks with my nieces & nephews. I played with the display model in the store and was surprised that such a small speaker had a HUGE sound with plenty of crisp bass. Why spend $200+ for a "brand name" speaker when this speaker could rival the sound of that one? Anyway, I didn't keep it because for my purpose, in my backpack, somehow the sound muffled out. I turned it several different directions in the bag, but still, the sound wasn't there for me. But in the office, the sound was incredible! So yes, I highly recommend this product to someone who is looking for an inexpensive and loud speaker with a terrific battery life. Give it a try, you won't be disappointed.P.S. 4/5 stars because of the design. I feel that if the design was different, it wouldn't have muffled in my backpack and it would've been a keeper for me. But regardless, awesome all around speaker if you're setting it down on a solid surface. I even linked my Mac Mini to it via bluetooth to watch Hulu and it sounded terrific!

Big sound! Small package.

This thing is one of the best portable Bluetooth speakers I've ever heard. The closest one to this and maybe one I'd buy if price was no object was the Sony X5, which is $100 more than this one.It features 10hr battery life, which I'd say is fairly accurate. The speaker includes an app which allows you to update firmware, change audio characteristics, check battery life, and even name the device for identification. I picked this up on sale for $79.99, but the normal price is only $20 more. At this price, it's still very much a great value.The speaker features an auxiliary input for use with other audio sources. and a bass port, which moves a lot of air at higher volumes.NFC pairing makes the process a no brainer, if your device supports it. I've never found ... MoreThis thing is one of the best portable Bluetooth speakers I've ever heard. The closest one to this and maybe one I'd buy if price was no object was the Sony X5, which is $100 more than this one.It features 10hr battery life, which I'd say is fairly accurate. The speaker includes an app which allows you to update firmware, change audio characteristics, check battery life, and even name the device for identification. I picked this up on sale for $79.99, but the normal price is only $20 more. At this price, it's still very much a great value.The speaker features an auxiliary input for use with other audio sources. and a bass port, which moves a lot of air at higher volumes.NFC pairing makes the process a no brainer, if your device supports it. I've never found pairing Bluetooth devices that much of a hassle since it's a one time thing anyway.The unit is covered in a rubberized coating which keeps it from slipping around. Volume controls and a Bluetooth button for pairing and other operations is found on top. I would have liked to see other buttons, but I haven't found it to be a dealbreaker for me.

Decent speaker. Probably would go bigger.

I initially purchased one of these speakers but then turned around and ordered another when I read the instructions and reviews and realized I could either run both with the same music just to make it louder OR use them in stereo configuration so they play different channels of the music. I have used them a few times so far and it works pretty good. I have tried them in stereo and although I did have issues getting it to work properly with an iPhone, it did finally work ok and sounded decent.I got it to work the first time very easily. But I found that the second time I tried to use them in stereo it didn't want to sync with the second speaker. Could be user error. But I haven't found what I did wrong yet.Also, I would say the sound quality is not very good. I ... MoreI initially purchased one of these speakers but then turned around and ordered another when I read the instructions and reviews and realized I could either run both with the same music just to make it louder OR use them in stereo configuration so they play different channels of the music. I have used them a few times so far and it works pretty good. I have tried them in stereo and although I did have issues getting it to work properly with an iPhone, it did finally work ok and sounded decent.I got it to work the first time very easily. But I found that the second time I tried to use them in stereo it didn't want to sync with the second speaker. Could be user error. But I haven't found what I did wrong yet.Also, I would say the sound quality is not very good. I guess I was hoping for better due to all the reviews. But it is VERY obvious that the sound is coming from small speakers. So I would say if you are using them around the house and don't need ultra portable, buy a larger speaker.But overall, it was decent sound and I would recommend them to others.

Good compact bluetooth speaker

I have more iOS devices than I can count that can play my music, but I only rarely used earbuds to listen. I do take advantage of Apple's Airplay on my home WiFi network, but I only have devices in a few places in the house to play the music this way. Portable bluetooth (BT) speakers are a great way to unlock your music almost anywhere. You can use this speaker anywhere around the house and it can also be used in your car, if your car's built-in BT is wimpy. It easily pairs with BT music sources and reliably keeps the connection.The Mini Boom is a small speaker and you have to adjust your expectations for sound quality accordingly. But for a small speaker, it has relatively robust sound and plenty of volume. I have done some unscientific tests of the BT range and ... MoreI have more iOS devices than I can count that can play my music, but I only rarely used earbuds to listen. I do take advantage of Apple's Airplay on my home WiFi network, but I only have devices in a few places in the house to play the music this way. Portable bluetooth (BT) speakers are a great way to unlock your music almost anywhere. You can use this speaker anywhere around the house and it can also be used in your car, if your car's built-in BT is wimpy. It easily pairs with BT music sources and reliably keeps the connection.The Mini Boom is a small speaker and you have to adjust your expectations for sound quality accordingly. But for a small speaker, it has relatively robust sound and plenty of volume. I have done some unscientific tests of the BT range and it seems to meet or exceed the claimed spec of 50 feet. The 10 hour battery life distinguishes this unit from many other small speakers. This is plenty of battery life for general usage so you don't have to always worry about running down the battery. Many other speakers in this size class only have 4 o 6 hours of battery life, which in my view is pretty limited.The speaker does not come with any lanyard or other attachment device, but it does have a nice finish that resists slipping off the surface you place it on. It isn't heavy, but it has enough heft to stay put. There are big embossed symbols for the volume and BT pairing that are easy to use. It comes with a standard USB charging cable, but no ac adapter. This was no problem for me, since I have plenty of these around that came with my iOS devices. Of course, the speaker can also be plugged into a computer to charge.You can also connect the speaker to an iOS device using a mini-stereo plug (not included). If you have two of the devices, there is an app you can download to get true stereo sound with better separation.All in all, this speaker meets my needs for an easy to use portable speaker with good sound.

Great quality for those of us on a budget.

I first read about the speakers on The Wirecutteer and decided that it would be mine someday. Eventually it went on sale and I jumped at the opportunity. At the moment of this review Best Buy actually dropped the price again by 10 dollars. I'm not sure if it's because there's a newer model coming out or what but this is a great speaker.It is portable and takes up little space. I carry it to work and back in my backpack with no problems whatsoever. The sound is also amazing and you can hear it. I've connected it to my phone via Bluetooth and used an auxiliary to connect it to my walkman, ipod, Vita and 3DS. Another thing to note is that if it doesn't detect any sound through it's input, it does shut off to conserve battery life. It also has it's own volume control ... MoreI first read about the speakers on The Wirecutteer and decided that it would be mine someday. Eventually it went on sale and I jumped at the opportunity. At the moment of this review Best Buy actually dropped the price again by 10 dollars. I'm not sure if it's because there's a newer model coming out or what but this is a great speaker.It is portable and takes up little space. I carry it to work and back in my backpack with no problems whatsoever. The sound is also amazing and you can hear it. I've connected it to my phone via Bluetooth and used an auxiliary to connect it to my walkman, ipod, Vita and 3DS. Another thing to note is that if it doesn't detect any sound through it's input, it does shut off to conserve battery life. It also has it's own volume control so you can pump up the volume when the occasion arises.The battery in this baby is great as well. I've used it for 8 hours while at work and continued into the next day. Although I do take the time to charge it whenever I remember too. I'm really not too worried about battery life because i also carry a portable usb charger.I believer that this is great for personal use and works great as a gift. It's been about a month since I've bought mine and I'm very satisfied with it. :DNow you can truly play that funky music.

It's small & LOUD

Wife disappeared one day while we were at our local Best Buy and before just leaving without her I figured I should at walk around a bit to see if I could find her. A few minutes later I found her in the wireless speaker section where she had me listen to the various models one at a time and told me why she liked the UE MINI BOOM better then the others, and how beneficial it would be for her and her friends to have a MINI BOOM to replace the old radio they were currently using. She demonstrated how the smaller ones weren't loud enough, and the larger speakers were only a little bit louder but had more distortion at the louder setting. This MINI BOOM could be turned all the way up to it's loudest setting with barely any noticeable distortion. It's competitor from ... MoreWife disappeared one day while we were at our local Best Buy and before just leaving without her I figured I should at walk around a bit to see if I could find her. A few minutes later I found her in the wireless speaker section where she had me listen to the various models one at a time and told me why she liked the UE MINI BOOM better then the others, and how beneficial it would be for her and her friends to have a MINI BOOM to replace the old radio they were currently using. She demonstrated how the smaller ones weren't loud enough, and the larger speakers were only a little bit louder but had more distortion at the louder setting. This MINI BOOM could be turned all the way up to it's loudest setting with barely any noticeable distortion. It's competitor from Japan actually had better sound quality but was not loud enough. So I ordered it for her as a "Surprise!"It remains a great little boom box. Charge last several hours. You can connect multiple devices at one time, while listening to "Take Care of The Proper Paperwork" while in the shower, I realized my wife was playing Candy Crush, it almost blended right into the mix. It really is a great little multipurpose speaker. If you need louder sound out of a notebook, pad, phone, I highly recommend the MINI BOOM.

Perfect for what I need

I bought this after hearing another Bluetooth speaker, the famous Jambox. I wasn't quite willing to spend the cash for that product, and there's plenty of competition in that space at this point. I went looking for a nice, more moderately-priced alternative.After listening to this little machine in the store, I decided to go ahead and grab one. It easily pairs with my laptop, my old Droid X, and my old OG Samsung Tab. Very simple, sound that exceeds its price tag, and overall a quality, well-thought-out product.I listen to a WIDE variety of music, mostly folk, jazz, and classical. And a lot of loud stuff, too. My kids have introduced me to a lot of jazz-influenced rap, bands like The Roots or A Tribe Called Quest. Even that stuff sounds pretty good. If you want ... MoreI bought this after hearing another Bluetooth speaker, the famous Jambox. I wasn't quite willing to spend the cash for that product, and there's plenty of competition in that space at this point. I went looking for a nice, more moderately-priced alternative.After listening to this little machine in the store, I decided to go ahead and grab one. It easily pairs with my laptop, my old Droid X, and my old OG Samsung Tab. Very simple, sound that exceeds its price tag, and overall a quality, well-thought-out product.I listen to a WIDE variety of music, mostly folk, jazz, and classical. And a lot of loud stuff, too. My kids have introduced me to a lot of jazz-influenced rap, bands like The Roots or A Tribe Called Quest. Even that stuff sounds pretty good. If you want to listen loud all the time, you're probably looking at a whole different class of product. This ain't no 200W sound system with a subwoofer, but it does have nice bass depth and a well-rounded sound that's not harsh. It's perfect for what I want, which is a little music in the dining room or a hotel when I'm traveling.I almost bought a different unit, but after reading that it emits harsh tones for power on, bluetooth pairing, etc. I said "no way" - my car radio does that stuff when I skip channels, and it's unbearable. This device has a nice user interface, it's a pleasure to use, not just to listen to.The only drawback is that the Android app requires a newer OS than my old machines run. It doesn't do much anyway, and I can use my kid's iPhone to run that if I ever need to. The only thing you can do with app that's of any interest is adjust EQ, and the default is fine.All in all, highly recommended.

bad conectivity while playing youtube

while playing songs from a playlists on youtube (on galaxy S3), clip keeps on playing while the speaker doesn't play any music.it has happened on few occasions but I've managed to reproduce the issue on a specific playlist.try it yourself and see:go to you tube--> search: wild world cat stevens --> choose mix wild world playlist (the image is of earth in the hand)--> play the 4th song (cat stevens-morning has broken), wait for it to finish or scroll to end of song and wait for the next song (oasis-wonderwall)-->the song will start, after ~2 sec the music will stop(or it will not play at all) while the clip continues on youtube.the speaker was rebooted several times (with the guidance of LogiTech customer support) and replaced TWICE!when i took the 3ed ... Morewhile playing songs from a playlists on youtube (on galaxy S3), clip keeps on playing while the speaker doesn't play any music.it has happened on few occasions but I've managed to reproduce the issue on a specific playlist.try it yourself and see:go to you tube--> search: wild world cat stevens --> choose mix wild world playlist (the image is of earth in the hand)--> play the 4th song (cat stevens-morning has broken), wait for it to finish or scroll to end of song and wait for the next song (oasis-wonderwall)-->the song will start, after ~2 sec the music will stop(or it will not play at all) while the clip continues on youtube.the speaker was rebooted several times (with the guidance of LogiTech customer support) and replaced TWICE!when i took the 3ed speaker, the salesman at Best Buy helped me check the speaker. he encountered the same issue, also another salesman with iphone tried to connect to check maybe the issue is only Galaxy related-he couldn't detect the speaker at all!i have another Bluetooth speaker that has no issues with that song/youtube playlist (I've tested the exact same playlist), so it seems that this is the design of the speaker SW..i gave up and returned the product..