EarFun’s cool new Bluetooth speaker is a perfect party companion

Henry Ford said, “You can have any color as long as it’s black.” Of course, he was talking about the Model T Ford, but the same can be said for the EarFun UBoom L Bluetooth speaker. Unfortunately, this cute little speaker is only available in black, but don’t let that put you off. What the UBoom L lacks in color, it makes up for in sound quality and even gives JBL’s Flip 6 a run for its money.

The EarFun UBoom L looks like most other waterproof Bluetooth speakers designed for parties. It can be comfortably held in one hand and is relatively light, but don’t let that fool you. This speaker can turn up the volume and has a battery that lasts. The UBoom L has two Li-ion batteries and can play for up to 16 hours on a single charge of the combined 5,200 mAh.

An impressive 14W per channel powers the two dynamic 55mm speaker drivers, while two passive radiators pump out the bass. At this point, I have to say that while the bass isn’t going to create earthquakes, it’s big enough to be heard without overwhelming the mids and treble. There’s also an outdoor mode that boosts the bass and ups the ante when the noise levels rise and the party gets rowdy.

UBoom L was created and tuned by Oluv (Olaf Lunbanski), a talented Austrian music producer who knows how to get great sound. The EarFun UBoom L might look a little dark, but under that speaker mask, there’s a little sonic beast. Even better, you can pair the UBoom L with a second speaker to create a wider stereo soundstage and even more volume. It’s the perfect pool party companion.

On top of the speaker are waterproof buttons for pausing music, adjusting volume, pairing with a Bluetooth source, powering the speaker, and switching to outdoor mode. The UBoom L plays well when lying on a table or can be tipped over when space is tight and you need to make more room for a few extra drinks.

Like most Bluetooth speakers, the EarFun UBoom L is easy to set up and only needs to be paired once with a smartphone or laptop. After the initial pairing, whenever you turn on the speaker, it will connect and be ready to play within a second or so. The battery takes about four hours to fully charge, and EarFun includes a USB-C cable in the box for charging.

In addition to the Bluetooth connection, EarFun has also added a 3.5mm stereo jack input for connecting a Walkman or any other analog source, such as a non-Bluetooth device. There are also Bluetooth profiles along with a microphone so the UBoom L can be used as a speaker. It’s perfect for a group phone call or video chat.

The sound produced by this ordinary speaker is visible. There’s good bass, considering its size, and the mids and treble are surprisingly clear and neutral. Outdoor mode reduces noise when a party is noisy. The 28W rating is very respectable for a speaker of this size and the volume it can produce is excellent, with little noticeable distortion or ringing at higher volume levels.

Verdict: The EarFun UBoom L is a great little speaker beautifully tuned by Oluv. There are some speakers with a bit more bass, but you won’t find them at this price. If all you want is a great-sounding waterproof speaker with great battery life, then the UBoom L is a bargain. I love that you can pair two of the speakers together. I also like that it can be used as a speakerphone. A lot of Bluetooth speakers don’t have a speakerphone function, and that’s a shame, because it’s a great feature, especially when you’re on vacation and want to call home. Recommended.

Prices & Availability: The EarFun UBoom L Bluetooth speaker costs $79 / £69 / €79 and is available from Amazon UK, Amazon USA and Amazon Germany.

More information: www.myearfun.com

Specifications:

• Sound tuned with Oluv.
• Bluetooth: v5.0.
• Bluetooth Profiles: A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, HSP.
• Drivers: 2 x 55mm and 2 x passive radiators.
• Stereo pairing.
• Battery capacity: 7.4 V, 2 x 2,600 mAh.
• Charging time: Four hours.
• Charging type: USB-C.
• Play time: 16 hours.
• Waterproofing: IP67.
• Dimensions: 78 x 210 x 72 mm.
• Weight: 650g.