Design & Construction

The UE WONDERBOOM 2 is successor to the original Wonderboom. Now, with more features added to this mini beast. Can Ultimate Ears stay true to their word and build the ultra-durable outdoor speaker? Let's dive into the design. It is pretty much the same size as the original and weighs at 420g. Waterproof nylon fabric covers its round body while, tough silicon texture layers the top and bottom. The speaker is IP67 waterproof and dustproof, drop-resistant, scratch-resistant & fingerprint-resistant. A definite peace of mind when rough handling the speaker! The top which houses all buttons: In Order (Front - Back): Bluetooth Pairing button, multi-function button and power button. The multi-function button allows for play/pause with a single press, skip forward with a double press and DoubleUp pairing with a press and hold. On the front of the speaker, you will find the oversized signature Volume buttons. At the back of the speaker, there is the Micro-USB port covered up with a tight-seal flap that prevents water from entering. It also comes with a durable hang loop on the top which makes it easy to carry with one finger or hang anywhere at the top. Lastly, the newly developed feature is hidden at the bottom of the speaker which UE calls it as Outdoor Boost.

Sound Quality

The sound quality is extremely unexpected loud. At 50% volume, it can fill a medium-sized room. The bass response is loud and boomy. Highs sound bright and mids are crisp,. It does not distort at full volume. Outdoor Boost, which can be activated via the bottom button of the speaker increases the volume drastically by redirecting more power to the drivers that produce mids and highs so as to get a much louder sound with the lack of bass. The reason behind it? It is due to the fact that bass responses can be deep and boomy in wide outdoor spaces, hence enhancing the strength of the mids and highs gives off a very bright and forward sound signature. Users can also double up with another Wonderboom 2 for louder sound, This time, two Wonderboom 2s can perform stereo output with a left and right channel. All you need to do is to hold down the multi-function button until you hear a prompt and let the speakers pair. After the first pairing is done, repeat the steps once again to get them in stereo playback. Keep in mind that the Wonderboom 2 only pairs with one other Wonderboom 2 or the original Wonderboom but not the rest of UE's current speaker or older ones. If the Wonderboom 2 is paired with the original Wonderboom, only a louder sound can be achieved but stereo output will not happen. The Wonderboom 2 offers 360° sound with strategically placed drivers. There are two 40 mm active drivers and two 46.1 mm x 65.2 mm passive radiators, delivering a maximum sound level: 86 dBC and frequency range between 75 Hz – 20 kHz. Bass is tight and boomy while mids perform perfectly well. 

 

Connectivity & Portability

Bluetooth pairing is quick and simple. However, NFC is not offered and there isn't any mic for making/answering calls either. You may have expected an audio-in port, but sadly, UE has taken on the totally wireless future and removed that feature too. Its battery life peaks at a high of 13 hrs and pressing the Vol+ and Vol- button together makes a tone to tell us the battery life status. However, I would have preferred the speaker speak its battery life or have at least LED indicators to show the estimated battery life. Unfortunately, the Wonderboom 2 still uses Miro-USB for charging.

 

PROS

• Durable Construction

• Great 360° Sound

• Modern Design

• Stereo Output

• Outdoor Boost

• IP67 Weather-Resistant

• Loud, Boomy Sound

• A Range Of Colours

• Drop-resistant

​

CONS

• Lack of Mic For Answering Calls

• No Audio-in Port for Wired Usage

• Micro-USB Charging

​

The Bottom Line

The UE WONDERBOOM 2 is the rugged, durable mini speaker housing a 13 hrs battery, IP67 water and dustproofing and a tough yet modern design with a loud sound signature. It is that small-sized speaker that puts mid-sized speakers to shame. A pair will offer even louder sound.  A range of colours wil also suit every type and gender of users.