Final Ears has had a fairly fixed line of speakers for a short time now, but it surely’s ripped that up with the addition of the Epicboom.
It takes its place close to the highest finish of the roster from an influence perspective however appears much more approachable than the massive Hyperboom. This is the way it stacks up.
Final Ears
Final Ears Epicboom
Highly effective sound
The Epicboom does what it says on the tin – it is a new impressively highly effective speaker from Final Ears that is very easy to make use of and sounds nice. That $350 worth is a little bit of a problem proper now, although – there are higher choices on the market for the cash.
- Sounds nice
- So rugged
- Easy to make use of
- Feels overpriced
- Bluetooth solely is restrictive
Design
- 162 x 119 x 241mm
- Weighs 2kg
- Obtainable in black and white
The Epicboom is a tidy bit of labor from UE’s design group – it seems to be like a pure match with the model’s different audio system regardless of truly being fairly a considerable departure.
Initially obtainable in only some colors, that familiarity is clearly largely all the way down to these tell-tale huge plus and minus buttons – the speaker’s quantity controls. They’re so recognisable that Final Ears describes them as mainly a second emblem.
These, paired with a largely material mesh end, make for a contemporary and tactile construct that works simply as properly right here because it does on smaller choices just like the Wonderboom 3.
That stated, there is not any getting round the truth that it is a chunky speaker, one which weighs a good quantity and is subsequently on the clunkier finish of the moveable spectrum.
UE’s answer is a pleasant carrying strap that makes it straightforward to maneuver the Epicboom one-handed. Even smarter is the magnetised finish of this strap, which clicks into place on the speaker when not in use to cease it from impacting the silhouette. It’s a pleasant contact and alleviates that weight fairly considerably.
The highest of the Epicboom homes some controls, together with a brand new button for its outside mode, whereas the underside is extra rubbery and has grippiness to make steadying the speaker very easy.
Behind the bottom, there is a weather-proof flap to provide entry to the USB-C port for charging, and that weatherproofing is one other typical ace up UE’s sleeve.
With IP67 resistance, the Epicboom is floatable and just about completely water resistant, which makes it perfect for outside events or gatherings.
The white model I have been testing theoretically has the identical stain resistance as all UE audio system, though I wouldn’t significantly need to check that intentionally.
A really worthy and spectacular side-note is that Final Ears has stepped up its work on sustainability for the Epicboom, which options fully recycled materials in its mesh, and a majority of recycled plastic in its physique.
Sound high quality
- 2 x45mm mid-high frequency transducers, 1x 120mm woofer
- Customisable EQ
The Epicboom has been given fairly a reputation to stay as much as, but it surely just about matches that description, with vastly punchy sound.
It’s simply (simply) under the Hyperboom by way of uncooked energy and quantity, however I’m unsure that most individuals would ever actually use it in a means that felt restricted by noise.
To that finish, stick the Epicboom in any get together or gathering and also you’ve acquired a one-stop answer that sounds nice and might fill large rooms.
Even higher, it’s acquired a brand new outside mode that you would be able to toggle with a button press or within the app to even out its sound and higher swimsuit open areas with none reverb to depend on.
The sound signature total is acquainted to those that’ve used UE audio system earlier than, simply scaled up a bit – you get a whole lot of bass and mid-range in your cash, though the power-focused method additionally signifies that the Epicboom shouldn’t be probably the most detailed speaker available on the market.
It is nice for pop and electro, however regardless of some new EQ modes that cater to quieter materials, you continue to do not essentially need to depend on it for solo, crucial listening.
Like most of UE’s different Increase audio system, you may simply pair the Epicboom with a listing of others or a second certainly one of itself, to get stereo sound. This could be a bit bizarre with a a lot smaller speaker however nonetheless splits your sound up properly and provides a bit wider of a soundstage.
Battery life and options
- 17-hour battery life, two-hour charging time
- Bluetooth solely
The Epicboom is an enormous speaker, and whereas which means it will possibly pack in a chunky battery, it additionally hits how lengthy it will possibly truly final for.
17 hours is its said life, and I discovered my testing lined up roughly with that, and that sees the Epicboom land about on an excellent par.
This is sufficient to final via mainly any gathering, however when you use the speaker actually recurrently you’ll clearly need to prime it up.
Fortunately, UE’s fascination with micro USB seems to be prefer it’s over, with USB-C charging forsaking the fiddly port that it inexplicably nonetheless included within the Wonderboom 3.
On the options aspect, the Epicboom is as easy a $350 or £330 speaker as you are ever going to get – it’s Bluetooth all the best way.
There’s an NFC tag for fast pairing to Android, however no Wi-Fi connectivity to talk of, that means no AirPlay 2 or Chromecast capabilities.
Unsurprisingly, that is very a lot the Epicbooms best curse and largest blessing unexpectedly.
On the one hand, it is extremely easy to function and straightforward to arrange in a means that the overwhelming majority of customers are actually acquainted with.
However on the flipside, it does not actually match into a house setup very properly with out Wi-Fi, and feels prefer it misses out on a bunch of connection choices which can be additionally extensively acquainted by now.
Easy is sweet, however at $350 the Epicboom feels a bit prefer it’s being oversold primarily based on that simplicity.
Verdict
The Epicboom is a little bit of a secure guess from UE – it’s totally a lot one other speaker in the identical mould as people who have come earlier than it, albeit with extra energy to leverage and the all-important inclusion of USB-C for charging.
Which means it really works a deal with and is as rugged and dependable as you need, but in addition brings drawbacks within the type of restricted connectivity choices. In order for you an excellent highly effective get together speaker and love the feel and appear of UE audio system, it is a nice selection, but it surely’ll be far more compelling if the value will get reduce a bit additional down the road.
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