Ultimate Ears Blast vs Boom 3

Ultimate Ears (UE) earned its reputation for being a manufacturer of high-quality and excellent-sounding Bluetooth speakers. Despite the similarity in the brand name, the different speaker models come with distinctive fabric and rubber materials. These speakers are also well-known for their giant volume control buttons and vivid color options. However, if you’re looking for Bluetooth speakers with an AUX input and 3.55 audio jack socket, these models are not for you. Instead, consider the following speakers from other brands. 

• K-Tech’s portable mini Bluetooth speaker with a phone line and AUX input jack
• LENRUE’s wireless portable Bluetooth speaker with AUX playback 
• Audio Pro’s T10 Addon Gen 2 Bluetooth portable wireless speakers

With so many options, which UE Bluetooth should you get? If you even narrow down your choices between UE Blast and Boom 3, which one will add the most value to you? We’re talking the burden from you as we break down the points of similarities and differences with these two models. By doing so, we aim to suggest one that scores the highest in terms of design and build, features, connectivity, sound, and price.

Design and Build

Both speakers have control panels built on the device body in terms of design and build, making it easy for you to access its remote or volume control without interacting with another connected device or its cable. Both models also come with extra seals to keep the device from getting damaged due to water splashes, raindrops, and dust. 

Furthermore, both devices are also water-resistant and dustproof. However, you have to note that being water-resistant only means the devices can resist water penetration but could never survive being submerged entirely in water.

In terms of differences, the two devices are different when it comes to height, width, and thickness. While UE Blast stands at 188mm and has a width and thickness of 68mm, UE Boom 3 has a 184mm x 73mm x 73mm dimension.

Here are some Frequently Asked Questions for Ultimate Ears Boom 3.

Features

UE Blast can be used wirelessly, so it’s ideal for people who are always on the road, enjoying one tourist destination to another. It is also equipped with a technology that allows users to control the device through their smartphone, eliminating the need for remote control. Also, with UE Blast, you can use your voice to serve as the device’s control key functions, making it easy for you to access your speaker without pushing its buttons.

On the other hand, UE Boom 3 also shares almost all UE Blast’s features, except for the voice commands. Unfortunately, the latter is still foreign to this feature; hence, the user needs to use a remote control or manual setting and resetting the device.

Connectivity

UE Blast supports WiFi connectivity, making it easy for you to play music from online platforms like Spotify, YouTube, and more. It can also connect via Bluetooth or infrared connection up to 45 meters. And if these are not enough for you, the device can also connect through other connection methods like USB ports. This only means that you can simply plug and play the same directly on your device if you have saved audio files on your USB. 

Furthermore, UE Blast also supports a multipoint count function that allows you to connect one or more Bluetooth devices to your speaker and switch between these devices. This feature is helpful in the sense that you don’t have to disconnect a specific Bluetooth device when you’re using a different one. 

Lastly, UE Blast also allows quicker Bluetooth device pairing with the use of NFC. This technology enables the communication between Bluetooth devices. Instead of entering a code to connect two devices, all you have to do is simply hold them next to each other. 

UE Boom 3 also shares the same connectivity features as UE Blast, except for the Wi-Fi connectivity and NFC-pairing capabilities. Since these particular features are absent in Boom 3, it only means that connecting Bluetooth devices with it requires manual inputting of codes generated by the pairing device. It also means that you can’t connect your Bluetooth to the internet by itself.

You can also see the comparison of Ultimate Ears' Speakers on their website.

Sound

Both devices have the same highest (2,000 Hertz) and lowest (90 Hertz) frequencies. They both have stereo speakers, making sounds from the right and left independent channels possible for a better and richer sound experience. Both also have passive radiators. 

You see, this type of radiator is just like a speaker or drive, but it doesn’t come with a magnet and coil. As such, it creates sound vibrations that imitate the combination of deep bass and woofer tones. This is because the vibrations produced are based on its enclosure’s size and mass. From the comparison above, you can see that they are tie when it comes to sound capabilities.

Price

With its superior features, UE Blast sells $10 less than UE Boom 3 on Amazon. Even its graphite black, higher-end models only cost less than $300. The most basic black UE Blast is within the $130 to $150 price range. 

The cheapest version of UE Boom 3 is priced at somewhere around $150. You can have the fabric pattern, end caps, text, loops, spine, and volume buttons customized through UE’s website for only $179.99.

Verdict

Between the two devices, we vote UE Blast as the one that can offer the most value for your money for the following reasons: 

• It has 11.34% (869.31cm³) less device body volume than UE Blast’s 980.536cm³ body measurement. This means it’s easier to carry when you’re on the go. 
• UE Blast also allows you to connect to the internet. 
• It also allows you to pair with other Bluetooth devices via NFC. 
• It also comes with voice commands. 
• Compared to UE Boom 3, UE Blast is narrower by 5mm. This means that it’s smaller in width; hence easy to maneuver most especially when you’re outdoors or on the go.
• It’s also thinner compared to UE Boom 3, which makes it sleeker to look at. 
• UE Blast is also cheaper compared to UE Boom 3.