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Design winner: Tie (both products feature an excellent design; however, other than the recycled plastic, there isn’t any improvement or change in the design) My strong advice is to keep an eye out for discounts on the UE Wonderboom 2. For all intents and purposes, it can do everything that the Wonderboom 3 can. But with the new version released, it is likely that there are some good sales coming on the older version. The chord loop on the top of the Wonderboom 2 is now flat and slightly stretchier, too, with a little rubber slider in the middle which takes care of branding. That unmistakable yellow charger is sadly gone, in favour of a white cable, but it's still of the micro-USB variety. The design on the top of the speaker has been tweaked too. A central circular button where the branding used to be allows you to pair two Wonderboom 2s. This was a feature of the original Wonderboom, but the upgrade here is that long-pressing said buttons on two of the new speakers will pair them in stereo mode. You can pair the Wonderboom 2 with a Wonderboom - but only in mono. What Hi-Fi?, founded in 1976, is the world's leading independent guide to buying and owning hi-fi and home entertainment products. Our comprehensive tests help you buy the very best for your money, with our advice sections giving you step-by-step information on how to get even more from your music and movies. Everything is tested by our dedicated team of in-house reviewers in our custom-built test rooms in London, Reading and Bath. Our coveted five-star rating and Awards are recognised all over the world as the ultimate seal of approval, so you can buy with absolute confidence.
Wonderboom 2 Support — Ultimate Ears Support
During side-by-side testing, nothing really stood out. Both speakers have punchy bass and a wide, three-dimensional sound that most portable speakers can’t compete with. The Outdoor Boost change is more subtle than expected, and it mainly serves to increase the bass. Since the sound profile is already more bass-heavy than ideal, I don’t see much benefit in this feature. But for people that are more geared toward a party speaker, this button could be the perfect touch for pool parties and bonfires.We've had the pleasure of the Wonderboom 2's company of late, so watch this space for our imminent review... Other features that have rolled over from the Wonderboom 2 include Outdoor Boost mode (this reduces the bass frequencies so highs and mids can be heard more loudly outside) and Double Up (which pairs two Wonderboom 3s in mono or stereo modes for bigger sound). The Wonderboom 3 offers Fast Pairing for Android devices, a slightly improved battery life, and a more eco-friendly design with 31% recycled plastic. The sound quality, however, remains identical to its predecessor. Is it possible to pair a Wonderboom 2 with a Wonderboom 3?
Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2 Wireless Speaker, Deep Bass, 360
During testing, there wasn’t any noticeable difference in battery life. Having said that, the only way to be sure would be testing the products side-by-side for 14 hours with the exact same audio at the exact same volume. In full disclosure, I didn’t test it that closely — and I don’t intend to. Rather than having to manually pair the speaker at start-up, the Wonderboom 3 basically automates the process. Maximum volume was almost identical on the two speakers. And both sounded great at volumes up to 70%, and then started to distort above 80%. Both versions of the Wonderboom are perfect for anyone seeking immersive audio and a wide soundstage.
Neither Wonderboom version discloses specifics about the size of the battery. However, the Wonderboom 2 is rated for 13 hours of use, while Wonderboom 3 improves on this slightly with a 14 hour rating. With music streaming from Apple Music and Tidal, the Wonderboom 3 delivers a cohesive, detailed and substantial sound that still impresses at this price. There’s an even balance to the tone, and the volume it emits from such petite dimensions is always surprising. It’s an enjoyable, crowd-pleasing listen. Many portable speakers have “dead zones” where the audio sounds poor (or quiet). Usually, these zones occur when you are standing behind the speaker, or at a diagonal to the speaker, or if the speaker has a higher or lower elevation than your ears. With the Wonderboom, there really aren’t any dead zones — instead, the speaker sounds similar from almost any position in the room. However, the above assumption is tough to confirm since Ultimate Ears doesn’t like publishing information about battery size or bluetooth version. Both Wonderboom 2 and Wonderboom 3 have an “Outdoor Boost” mode that is accessed by a tree-shaped button on the underside of the device. This adjusts the sound settings to improve audio in outdoor environments.
UE WONDERBOOM 2 review - SoundGuys
The good news is that Ultimate Ears didn’t make any harmful changes with the new version. We completely support this, since the Wonderboom 2 is an excellent speaker. The bad news is that we waited three years for an upgrade, and the Wonderboom 3 feels more like an identical speaker than an actual upgrade. As a well-designed portable Bluetooth speaker at this price level, the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3 certainly has its appeal, but it’s not the only – or the best – option worth considering now.I wouldn’t consider the Wonderboom a “party speaker,” but there is a definite focus on bass over mids. Vocals sound good but not great, and there is a tinny quality to the mids.
Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2, Portable Wireless Bluetooth Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2, Portable Wireless Bluetooth
Unfortunately, no. The Wonderboom 3 can only pair with another Wonderboom 3, while the Wonderboom 2 can pair with another Wonderboom 2 or another Wonderboom. Again, this Fast Pairing only works with Android devices — so anyone with an iPhone will still have to manually pair the speaker. The speaker’s already-long battery life has been extended by an hour: the Wonderboom 3 now lasts for an impressive 14 hours (previously 13). Another change is that the Bluetooth wireless range has been extended to 40m (131 feet) instead of the previous 30m (98 feet). In crowded environments like house parties, the speakers hold up reasonably well, but don’t expect them to compete with larger, more powerful sound systems. They’re loud enough to be heard over a crowd, but the sound can become distorted at higher volumes. It’s important to remember that these are still compact, portable speakers and their performance should be evaluated with that context in mind. If you already own the Wonderboom 2, there’s no need to rush out and upgrade to the new model. While the Wonderboom 3 has improved its sound and features in increments, both versions of the speakers are well-designed, are long-lasting and perform admirably for their size and price.Wonderboom 2 and 3 both have two year warranties. This is somewhat unexpected from a portable speaker, since most competing products offer 1 year or less. As if that isn’t enough, the speakers are also well-built and durable — so it wouldn’t be surprising if these products significantly outlast the warranty. Although bluetooth versions aren’t disclosed by UE, the Wonderboom 3 promises additional bluetooth range (130 feet vs. 100 feet). During testing, there weren’t any observable distances. While we aren’t as upset about this feature as some other tech reviewers, the micro-USB charging is an odd design feature. In the 3+ years since the release of the Wonderboom 2, USB-C charging has become an industry standard in portable speakers. Most of us had assumed that the Wonderboom 3 would get this obvious upgrade. Most importantly, I didn’t hear any difference in sound quality or maximum volume between the two speakers.
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