Ultimate Ears’ Mini Boom is a strange little device. A baby brother to the subsidiary’s wireless, Bluetooth-enabled flagship speaker the Boom,
the Mini Boom has a re-imagined, boxy design (unlike the Boom’s
cylindrical approach) and is about half the size at half the price.
Overall, the small speaker is pretty unassuming, almost cute, but its
size doesn’t match its sound. Logitech and Ultimate Ears were able to
pack a great audio experience in a very tiny package.
Hardware and Design
The first thing you’ll notice about the Mini Boom is the design. It’s hard to miss. The device comes in five different color combinations and each one is a little more flashy and eccentric than the next. Embracing the bright and the bold is a genetic trait passed down from its parent, the Boom. It’s not quite as customizable as its competitor, Jawbone's Jambox, but Ultimate Ears offers enough color combos to fit the most subdued tastes (black on black) or the more chromatic-inclined (purple and green).
The body of the Mini Boom also stresses simplicity. The top of the device has only volume and Bluetooth controls, and the back houses the power switch, micro USB connector, and a 3.5 mm AUX-in jack. You can connect the Mini Boom via Bluetooth, but the device also has NFC—within two seconds, any NFC-enabled gadget can be set up; a blue LED light on top of the grille blinks continuously when it’s ready for pairing. The speaker also uses a collection of tones, which alert users when the Mini Boom is on, successfully synched with another device, or is shutting off to reserve battery.
Also, the Mini Boom’s rubberized body and front- and rear-facing grille feel solid and capable of withstanding some serious punishment. I’ve used the Mini Boom for a few weeks now, and the speaker’s compact size and durability makes for a great audio traveling companion. Although I wish the speaker could also charge my phone if needed, the Mini Boom’s 10-hour battery life is more than enough, especially if you make a habit of plugging in the speaker when at home. The Mini Boom also has a 50-foot radius, and though that number might be slightly exaggerated, a centrally located music source gives you plenty of space to work with.
Sound
The Ultimate Ears Mini Boom is a little device that could. Synching up the device for the first time, I was impressed with its warm mid-tones, non-muddled highs, and a surprisingly throaty low end. Weighing in at 300 grams with 4.5-by-2.5-by-2.5-inch dimensions, Logitech packed in two 1.5-inch, 4-ohm drivers and 3-by-1.5-inch passive radiator. The result of only a few inches of hardware is impressive sound on all levels.
Primarily, I want to use external speakers for two reasons: music and television streaming. At home I usually pipe my computer through an LG display when scrounging Netflix or other streaming services, but my Macbook Pro speakers leave much to be desired when it comes to an immersive home theater experience. The Mini Boom’s easy setup and surprisingly powerful sound enhances the experience.
Ultimate Ears does provide an app for the Mini Boom, which helps users sync devices, edit the speaker’s name and other settings, and give quick-reference for the device. For the most part, the app works well. Its UI is straightforward and easy to use. However, when synching two Mini Booms, doing it manually (you press down the Bluetooth button and + volume on streaming device, then double tap the Bluetooth button on the second device) was much easier than using the app. Paired Mini Booms can stream both L/R outputs simultaneously or in stereo, and like most speaker systems, two is better than one.
Performance
The Mini Boom’s big sound is its most appealing characteristic, though sometimes it’s actually too big. That may be an unusual critique for speakers, but at full blast the dominating sound actually causes the device to shake. Place the Mini Boom on a high enough ledge and this becomes a serious problem.
Also, synching could become monotonous. If the audio stops for a few minutes, Mini Boom is designed to shut down to conserve battery life. I rarely sit down and watch something completely without pause, and it gets a little annoying when you have to constantly re-sync the device to get through a movie or TV show, whether from shutting down or inevitable Bluetooth lag.
Bottom Line
The Mini Boom is surprising in more ways than one. It’s surprising that Logitech was able to deliver a pleasing audio experience in such a small package. It’s surprising how well it handles low ends without any type of subwoofer. And it’s surprising that you actually get more than you pay for—a rare thing in the gadget world.
If you’re an audiophile and you want the best sound possible, and you’ve got some money to spend, maybe the Mini Boom isn’t for you (though you probably shouldn’t be looking into Bluetooth speakers in the first place). But if you want a multipurpose, simple, and portable audio alternative, the Mini Boom is a great solution, and at $99, it may be one of the best.
Hardware and Design
The first thing you’ll notice about the Mini Boom is the design. It’s hard to miss. The device comes in five different color combinations and each one is a little more flashy and eccentric than the next. Embracing the bright and the bold is a genetic trait passed down from its parent, the Boom. It’s not quite as customizable as its competitor, Jawbone's Jambox, but Ultimate Ears offers enough color combos to fit the most subdued tastes (black on black) or the more chromatic-inclined (purple and green).
The body of the Mini Boom also stresses simplicity. The top of the device has only volume and Bluetooth controls, and the back houses the power switch, micro USB connector, and a 3.5 mm AUX-in jack. You can connect the Mini Boom via Bluetooth, but the device also has NFC—within two seconds, any NFC-enabled gadget can be set up; a blue LED light on top of the grille blinks continuously when it’s ready for pairing. The speaker also uses a collection of tones, which alert users when the Mini Boom is on, successfully synched with another device, or is shutting off to reserve battery.
Also, the Mini Boom’s rubberized body and front- and rear-facing grille feel solid and capable of withstanding some serious punishment. I’ve used the Mini Boom for a few weeks now, and the speaker’s compact size and durability makes for a great audio traveling companion. Although I wish the speaker could also charge my phone if needed, the Mini Boom’s 10-hour battery life is more than enough, especially if you make a habit of plugging in the speaker when at home. The Mini Boom also has a 50-foot radius, and though that number might be slightly exaggerated, a centrally located music source gives you plenty of space to work with.
Sound
The Ultimate Ears Mini Boom is a little device that could. Synching up the device for the first time, I was impressed with its warm mid-tones, non-muddled highs, and a surprisingly throaty low end. Weighing in at 300 grams with 4.5-by-2.5-by-2.5-inch dimensions, Logitech packed in two 1.5-inch, 4-ohm drivers and 3-by-1.5-inch passive radiator. The result of only a few inches of hardware is impressive sound on all levels.
Primarily, I want to use external speakers for two reasons: music and television streaming. At home I usually pipe my computer through an LG display when scrounging Netflix or other streaming services, but my Macbook Pro speakers leave much to be desired when it comes to an immersive home theater experience. The Mini Boom’s easy setup and surprisingly powerful sound enhances the experience.
Ultimate Ears does provide an app for the Mini Boom, which helps users sync devices, edit the speaker’s name and other settings, and give quick-reference for the device. For the most part, the app works well. Its UI is straightforward and easy to use. However, when synching two Mini Booms, doing it manually (you press down the Bluetooth button and + volume on streaming device, then double tap the Bluetooth button on the second device) was much easier than using the app. Paired Mini Booms can stream both L/R outputs simultaneously or in stereo, and like most speaker systems, two is better than one.
Performance
The Mini Boom’s big sound is its most appealing characteristic, though sometimes it’s actually too big. That may be an unusual critique for speakers, but at full blast the dominating sound actually causes the device to shake. Place the Mini Boom on a high enough ledge and this becomes a serious problem.
Also, synching could become monotonous. If the audio stops for a few minutes, Mini Boom is designed to shut down to conserve battery life. I rarely sit down and watch something completely without pause, and it gets a little annoying when you have to constantly re-sync the device to get through a movie or TV show, whether from shutting down or inevitable Bluetooth lag.
Bottom Line
The Mini Boom is surprising in more ways than one. It’s surprising that Logitech was able to deliver a pleasing audio experience in such a small package. It’s surprising how well it handles low ends without any type of subwoofer. And it’s surprising that you actually get more than you pay for—a rare thing in the gadget world.
If you’re an audiophile and you want the best sound possible, and you’ve got some money to spend, maybe the Mini Boom isn’t for you (though you probably shouldn’t be looking into Bluetooth speakers in the first place). But if you want a multipurpose, simple, and portable audio alternative, the Mini Boom is a great solution, and at $99, it may be one of the best.
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