A speaker that floats, survives the pool and runs all weekend
Is this the right fit?
- Best for
- pool decks, camping, bathrooms and picnic tables
- Skip if
- Roughly double the price of a basic floating waterproof speaker, so you are paying for sound quality
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The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 4 is a drum-shaped speaker that fires 360 degrees rather than in one direction, which is why it works set in the middle of a table instead of pointed at people. It is IP67 rated, floats, and survives a five foot drop. Battery runs about 14 hours and it charges over USB-C, a change from the micro-USB on older versions. There is a podcast mode that shifts the EQ toward vocal clarity for spoken audio, and an outdoor boost mode that trades some bass for volume. For its size the bass is genuinely punchy, which is the reason this line keeps getting recommended over cheaper options. Best fit: pool decks, camping, bathrooms and picnic tables. The tradeoff is price, since you can get waterproof and floating for half this, just not with this sound quality.
Pros
- Fires 360 degrees, so it works in the middle of a table rather than aimed at people
- IP67 rated, floats, and rated for a five foot drop
- Bass is genuinely punchy for the size, which is where cheaper floating speakers fall short
- USB-C charging, replacing the micro-USB on earlier versions
Cons
- Roughly double the price of a basic floating waterproof speaker, so you are paying for sound quality
Frequently asked questions
How long does the battery last?
About 14 hours at moderate volume. Outdoor boost mode and high volume shorten that noticeably.
Can I pair two of them together?
Yes, two WONDERBOOM speakers can be paired for stereo or a doubled-up mono setup. They do not pair with speakers from other brands.
What does podcast mode do?
It shifts the EQ toward the vocal range so spoken audio sounds clearer, at the cost of some low end. It is worth switching off for music.
Is it actually worth double a budget floating speaker?
The waterproofing and floating are comparable. What you are paying for is bass response and clarity at volume. If the speaker is background noise in a shower, a cheaper one is fine.
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