Earfun UBoom X review: your neighbors will hate how mighty this Bluetooth speaker’s bass sounds (and feels)

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Earfun UBoom X review: two-minute review

If you’re connected nan hunt for an affordable, bass-heavy statement speaker nan Earfun UBoom X mightiness beryllium your cleanable match. This mini boombox sets retired to present 1 point supra each – powerful, ground-shaking debased wave sound. Thankfully it achieves this without immoderate difficulty.

Here’s nan thing, though: nan Earfun UBoom X isn’t a beautiful-sounding all-rounder for nan audiophiles retired there. It doesn’t connection massively elaborate sound aliases nan sharpest value crossed nan frequencies and steers clear of offering fancy audio codecs for illustration aptX aliases LDAC. But again, this isn’t really excessively overmuch of a miss fixed its party-ready profile. On apical of that, sound is really beautiful customizable – conscionable download nan Earfun Audio app and you tin prime from a elephantine cohort of EQ options, including genre-specific, environment-optimized and civilization options.

Some of these, specified arsenic Outdoor+, BOOM xxX and Ground 0 really thin into nan strengths of nan speaker’s bass. However, if you for illustration a much neutral sound, location are options for illustration Studio, which was crafted by audio master and multi-time Earfun collaborator Oluv’Sone.

With meaty bass comes plentifulness of weight too. Yes, this is simply a beautiful dense animal and truthful nan action to transportation it via a grip for short distances aliases nan included strap for longer ones is astir welcome. And that’s portion of a wider taxable pinch nan UBoom X – it’s a very applicable speaker. Whether we’re talking astir its IP67 dustproof and waterproof standing aliases its expertise to double up arsenic a powerfulness bank, you’ll find plentifulness of inferior here. Sure, looks-wise it whitethorn not beryllium arsenic beautiful arsenic immoderate of nan best Bluetooth speakers, but you do still get LED lights that are decently nosy and customizable and tin beryllium turned disconnected if you’d prefer.

Another charismatic facet of nan UBoom X is its fantabulous artillery life. You get astir 30 hours of playtime here, which stands up against immoderate apical competitors successful nan statement speaker space, for illustration nan Tribit Stormbox Blast, for instance. Features-wise, you besides get a comparatively generous magnitude to play with, including nan aforementioned EQ settings, video mode (for debased latency), sound adjunct compatibility and LED ray calibration.

So, for a heavy bass floor, apical artillery life and patient information of features, you’d expect to salary up a adjacent amount. However, Earfun are already offering nan UBoom X connected discount – it’s wide disposable for arsenic small arsenic $159.99 / £149.99 (about AU$240), which is impeccable value.

Overall, nan Earfun UBoom X is simply a speaker worthy your while, but only if you’re a definite type of listener. If you’re personification that wants a much balanced, intricately elaborate and crisp sound, you whitethorn for illustration a Bluetooth speaker for illustration nan JBL Xtreme 4, which besides launched successful 2024. However, if you’re personification that’s each astir bass-heavy bangers, loves to propulsion location parties aliases wants capable low-end powerfulness for noisy outdoor events, this is simply a beardown pick. With waterproofing, a sturdy build and a tempting low-price, nan Earfun UBoom X is simply a very coagulated boombox-style speaker and 1 that tin compete competently against moreover immoderate of nan best statement speakers.

Earfun UBoom X review: value and merchandise date

• List value of $189.99 / £189.99 (around AU$280)
• Launched connected October 2024
• Already discounted contempt caller release

The Earfun UBoom X is disposable astatine a beautiful humble value for a Bluetooth speaker of its size. I mean, it launched pinch a database value of $189.99 / £189.99 (around AU$280), but it’s (perhaps cheekily) already disposable for considerably less. When I checked some nan Earfun website and Amazon, I spotted nan UBoom X listed for $159.99 / £149.99, truthful don’t walk immoderate much than this if you determine to threat it up.

This is simply a very caller Bluetooth speaker, having only launched connected 8 October 2024 successful nan US and UK. Perhaps unfortunately, though, nan UBoom X released pinch conscionable 1 colour variant, a plain yet classical Black.

Earfun UBoom X review: specs

Earfun UBoom X review: features

• Excellent 30-hour artillery life
• Awesome EQ settings
• Easy-to-use companion app

The Earfun UBoom X whitethorn not person an exhaustively agelong feature-set, but it still has each nan cardinal inclusions you’d expect from a party-ready Bluetooth speaker.

First things first, you’re getting a elemental and decently well-equipped Earfun Audio companion app that is free to download. The prima of nan show present is EQ accommodation – location are a ton of presets available, but you tin besides customize your ain sound aliases tweak existing options. The halfway Earfun EQ options are very coagulated and I often recovered myself switching to Electronic for heavy bass pinch agleam treble aliases Hit for percussion-heavy tracks. In addition, you get a unsocial conception of EQ options from audio master Oluv’Sone, including immoderate genuinely earth-shaking options for illustration BOOM xxX and Ground 0.

There’s not a load much to play pinch successful nan app. You tin activate video mode, which reduces audio latency, set sound measurement aliases consult nan personification manual. But nan main attraction extracurricular of EQ is adjustable ray settings. Although you tin set nan inbuilt LED lighting connected nan speaker itself, being capable to move things up remotely is ace convenient, particularly if you’re successful a acheronian room / outdoor space. You tin prime betwixt rhythmic flashing and a changeless show aliases conscionable move nan lights disconnected entirely, but you tin besides set nan colour to your liking (or instrumentality to nan default multicolor option).

Beyond app functionality, you besides get Party Mode, which enables you to link up to 50 UBoom X speakers astatine once. If immoderate of you retired location are readying to brace 50 of these, I fearfulness you could origin tremors to dispersed crossed nan onshore – honestly, this will springiness you immoderate unthinkable low-end powerfulness – perfect if you’re hosting an outdoor event. One multi-device characteristic that I was hoping to spot was multi-point. This enables you to link 2 (or more) devices to a Bluetooth speaker astatine erstwhile – perfect if you’re sharing DJ responsibilities pinch a friend. Unfortunately, this was missing, but if you’re utilizing Spotify to play music, you tin ever conscionable usage nan Jam usability alternatively of connecting 2 devices separately.

Finally, it's worthy noting immoderate features that make nan UBoom X an ultra-practical Bluetooth speaker. First of all, it has an inbuilt microphone, meaning you tin return hands-free calls and besides harness nan powerfulness of some Google assistance and Apple’s Siri sound assistant. Secondly, nan UBoom X tin double up arsenic a powerfulness bank, acknowledgment to its USB-C retired port, which tin beryllium a lifesaver if your telephone is connected its past legs erstwhile you’re retired and about. And there’s plentifulness of powerfulness to spell around. This speaker boasts up to 30 hours of playtime – that’s genuinely exceptional and intends you’ll seldom person to complaint it.

• Features score: 4/5

Earfun UBoom X review: sound quality

• Almighty bass output
• Decent but not peculiarly elaborate audio performance
• Pretty large acknowledgment to full 80W output

OK reader, let’s get thing consecutive earlier we dive into sound quality. This is, astatine its core, a statement speaker. So what americium I looking for? Booming bass that tin trim done inheritance sound aliases outdoor distractions, precocious imaginable measurement and comparatively clear wide audio quality. And luckily, nan Earfun UBoom X has each 3 of these.

And fixed that this chunky lad has ‘Boom’ successful its sanction let’s commencement pinch bass. Just arsenic you’d hope, this point goes really difficult connected nan low-end – moreover erstwhile utilizing nan default EQ mode I was struck by meaty bass pinch awesome depth. When I tuned into I Want You by Moloko I instantly recovered my caput bopping to nan pumping, room-filling bass and erstwhile switching to BOOM xxX mode, our testing abstraction was almost shaking from nan axenic powerfulness connected display. Sure, nan breathiness of vocals successful nan intro wasn’t recreated successful nan astir natural-sounding aliases authentic manner, but this wasn’t a immense interest for maine fixed nan UBoom X’s statement speaker profile.

The Earfun UBoom X speaker is undoubtedly inclined to thin heavy connected bass consecutive retired of nan box, which is cleanable if you’re into house, drum and bass aliases immoderate genres that stress debased wave sounds supra all. For instance, erstwhile listening to Da Fonk (feat. Joni) by Mochakk – an energetic location way – nan UBoom X was genuinely successful its element, pinch hard-hitting, intoxicating bass hits, which were astonishingly powerful successful Ground 0 mode. OK, immoderate of nan vocal chops didn’t trim done arsenic intelligibly arsenic you’d expect from a much balanced (and expensive) statement speaker for illustration nan JBL Xtreme 4, but they weren’t muddied excessively severely astatine all. And this ground-shaking bass output isn’t conscionable pleasing sonically; it's very applicable for a portable boombox for illustration this, particularly if you’re hosting outdoor events aliases visiting places pinch tons of inheritance noise, for illustration nan beach.

Let’s say, though, conscionable for nan liking of it, you’d for illustration to reside bass levels down a spot for a much balanced sound. Well, you’re successful luck. You tin prime nan Studio EQ action from nan Earfun app – this is much neutral-sounding, albeit quieter. I tried listening to The Ripple Effect podcast from James Lawrence Alcott successful this mode and recovered vocals to beryllium clear, moreover astatine precocious volumes.

Audio isn’t ever peculiarly detailed, however. For instance, erstwhile listening to You Can Go Your Own Way by Fleetwood Mac, harmonies successful nan chorus sounded somewhat constrictive and restricted. At times, mid scope sounds were somewhat overpowered by low-frequency ones too. I besides recovered erstwhile tuning into Holy Holy by Geordie Greep (using default EQ settings) that nan theatrical strings, soft bass, dancing keys and choppy electrical guitar – though each audible – lacked nan levels of instrumental separation that I’d like. One much critique connected sound (sorry Earfun) – treble tin beryllium rather agleam pinch nan UBoom X, but it’s not ever ultra-crisp. For instance, successful Rains again by Solji nan intermittent downpour sound effects were a tad staticky, but again, for a boombox-style speaker, this won’t beryllium grating for astir listeners.

I did, however, brushwood 1 much flimsy audio-related rumor during nan testing process. On a number of occasions, I would move nan measurement up aliases down connected my telephone while connected to nan speaker via Bluetooth, and sound would trim retired for a divided second. Earfun assured maine that this is not a communal issue, but that it should beryllium fixed via an in-app firmware update astir nan extremity of October 2024.

Overall, though, nan UBoom X completes what it sets retired to do very nicely. OK, it’s not going to rustle nan socks disconnected audiophiles pinch super-detailed sound, there’s nary fancy codecs for illustration LDAC aliases akin and bass whitethorn beryllium a small heavy-handed for some. But for an out-and-out statement speaker astatine this price-point, I deliberation this has a awesome sound floor plan pinch respectable loudness, acknowledgment to an 80W maximum powerfulness output. Just don’t expect premier sonic clarity, particularly arsenic you separator person to 100% volume.

• Sound value score: 4/5

Earfun UBoom X review: design

• Doesn’t look nan astir high-quality
• Fairly low-key ray show
• IP67 dustproof and waterproof rating

The Earfun UBoom X delivers precisely what you’d expect from a larger Bluetooth speaker. It dons a mini-boombox look pinch a blocky, coagulated build and wide transportation handle. It decidedly pulls disconnected nan boombox artistic well, but it does admittedly deficiency a scatter of character. For instance, location are nary colour options present – it’s achromatic aliases thing – which is fine, but I’d for illustration immoderate much vibrant alternatives. The bass radiators connected nan broadside of nan speaker are besides a spot plain and don’t person nan astir visually satisfying vibration effect, leaving this speaker looking somewhat level successful nan looks department.

On that point, this isn’t a premium merchandise truthful you shouldn’t expect stunning build quality, but I couldn’t thief but consciousness that nan UBoom X is simply a tad cheap-looking. The outer casing is beautiful plasticky and nan achromatic speaker grille doesn’t look aliases consciousness very hardy. This isn’t excessively overmuch of a problem fixed that this is disposable for little than £200 / $200, but if you want a super-stylish speaker it whitethorn beryllium worthy looking elsewhere.

Something I did personally for illustration astir nan UBoom X’s design, though, is its LED lights. These are agleam and eye-catching, but don’t task into nan tacky aliases overbearing territory that truthful galore competitors autumn unfortunate of. We’ve not ever been a instrumentality of in-your-face lighting connected statement speakers for illustration nan Tribit Stormbox Blast, but nan UBoom X ne'er oversteps pinch its 2 information LEDs. It’s worthy noting that these only radiance done nan beforehand of nan speaker grille too, truthful if you’re personification that wants thing ultra-flashy, this mightiness not beryllium your champion option.

Something that is indisputably superb astir this Bluetooth speaker, though, is its IP67 dustproof and waterproof rating. This intends that nan speaker tin past being submerged nether a metre of h2o for up to 30 minutes. It’s besides floatable, meaning you tin return it successful nan oversea aliases excavation pinch you without fearfulness of a disastrous malfunction. Another applicable inclusion is metallic hooks connected apical of nan speaker. There’s a strap included pinch nan UBoom X truthful that you tin transportation it astir – a neat touch fixed that this point is simply a dense beast. Yep, it weighs successful astatine 9.2lbs / 4.2kg and that’s rather hefty, truthful nan action to sling it complete your enarthrosis adds a batch of portability points.

One last item is nan speaker’s simplistic yet effective layout. For instance, nan fastener controls are each well-sized and it’s clear what usability they provide. There’s besides a rubber tab connected nan reverse broadside that tin beryllium undone to entree nan AUX larboard and entree nan USB-C input aliases output ports. So, though this whitethorn not beryllium nan sleekest boombox imaginable, it still offers much than capable convenience arsenic good arsenic protection against nan elements – for a statement speaker, that’s what matters most.

• Design score: 4/5

Earfun UBoom X review: value

• Won’t group you backmost excessively overmuch astatine all
• Great bass output against likewise priced competitors
• Buying aggregate whitethorn beryllium worthy it

When it comes to value, nan Earfun UBoom X performs very nicely. I deliberation it’s clear – you can’t expect astonishing wide audio from this thing. In fact, there’ll beryllium a batch of different boombox style speakers astir that tin boast moreover amended low-end output. But if you want a cheap, bass-heavy Bluetooth speaker, nan UBoom X is simply a textbook discuss betwixt value and performance.

This speaker is already disposable for astir $159.99 / £149.99 (about AU$240), which isn’t overmuch astatine each for a larger portable speaker for illustration this. That’s moreover little than nan likes of nan Tribit Stormbox Blast, a likewise sized statement speaker. Brands for illustration JBL tin complaint double aliases much than this for their boombox speaker, meaning you whitethorn moreover for illustration to drawback 2 UBoom Xs and harness nan powerfulness of Party Mode. Given nan 30 hr artillery life and highly customizable sound here, nan UBoom X is simply a awesome worth action for your adjacent Bluetooth speaker.

• Value score: 4.5/5

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Earfun UBoom X review: besides consider

Earfun UBoom X review: really I tested

• Spent hours listening to music, podcasts and video
• Primarily utilized successful euphony testing space, early Labs
• Predominantly tested utilizing Tidal connected Samsung Galaxy S24 FE

I spent hours listening to nan Earfun UBoom X successful our euphony testing abstraction astatine early Labs. During my clip pinch nan UBoom X, I played tons of tracks from my individual euphony library, but besides tuned into nan TechRadar testing playlist, which I ever usage to prime isolated capacity crossed a assortment of genres and wave ranges. When listening to music, I connected to nan speaker pinch nan Samsung Galaxy S24 FE and chiefly listened via Tidal.

This wasn’t each though: I besides listened to a podcast connected Spotify and watched video contented connected YouTube successful bid to measure value crossed different platforms and mediums. When appropriate, I utilized nan JBL Xtreme 4 to comparison audio quality, creation choices and usability.

• First reviewed: October 2024
• Read much astir how we test