The UE Boom and the UE Megaboom launched Ultimate Ears into a top player in the portable speaker market, winning accolades every year since launch as the best portable speakers to buy.
The Ultimate Ears family of speakers ushered in Logitech’s focus on design. It all started with the UE Boom. Hailed by Charlotte Johs, General Manager of UE Ultimate Ears, as “the very first Logi-inspired piece of tech”, the UE Boom is Logitech’s best selling product in all categories. Delivering triple digit sales growth, the UE Boom launched Logitech’s Ultimate Ears brand into the top brand for mobile speakers around the world.
And the speaker, with it’s innovative choice of materials, iconic interface and 360 design, ushered in a new paradigm in the portable speaker market, with a rush of fabric covered round speakers with prominent plus and minus interfaces quickly following suit. The release of the UE Megaboom further solidified Ultimate Ear’s presence in the portable speaker market.
Musical instruments and their timeless appeal and emotional relevance in our lives were an important inspiration in the development of the UE Boom wireless speaker. Just like an instrument beckons you to reach out and touch it, the universally simple and timeless shape of the UE Boom feels enticingly approachable. And just like the sound of an instrument fills an entire room, the UE Boom is a fully omni-directional speaker where the user is always in the space of possibility.
Ultimate Ears’ Boom is the best all around portable Bluetooth speaker you can buy. With the new Megaboom speaker, UE takes that superb design and makes it bigger, tougher, and perhaps, even better.
The best portable Bluetooth speaker you can buy, Get the party started.
Ultimate Ears Boom: The Speaker Jambox Wants to Be
The cylindrical speaker is one of the absolute best-sounding, best-designed portable Bluetooth soundsystems, a product category unfortunately overpopulated by awful, bromidic barf machines.
From plastic and metal to acoustic skin
With no mechanical details that distract, the UE Boom is covered in a soft, yet wear and water resistant fabric that feels warm and comfortable in your hand. Moving beyond the plastic and metal normally associated with speakers was a deliberate design choice, and revolutionary at the time. Rather than a cold artificial surface, the fabric functions as an acoustic skin that not only makes the surface beautiful and approachable, but also makes the speaker much more durable.
In a speaker, the essence of the music is the sound that comes out. Distilling this essence down to its core, the simple and graphically prominent plus and minus signs of the UE Boom user interface is refreshingly simple and easy to use.The attention to simple and intuitive details extends to the UE Boom charging solution. The cable, with its clean, flat shape, avoids tangles and twists, and rolls up cleanly for easy storage. Both the cable and the charger elicit a smile with their unusual color.
The attention to simple and intuitive details extends to the UE Boom charging solution. The cable, with its clean, flat shape, avoids tangles and twists, and rolls up cleanly for easy storage. Both the cable and the charger elicit a smile with their unusual color.
The UE MegaBoom
The UE MEGABOOM extends the true mobility established by UE Boom into a market where this level of bass is only found in speakers twice the size. Showcasing the power of emotional relevance, the UE MEGABOOM became one of Logitech’s best-selling products already in its first quarter on the market.
the UE MEGABOOM became one of Logitech’s best-selling products already in its first quarter on the market
Mobilizing big sound
The market for bigger Bluetooth speakers is defined by mostly black or grey plastic speakers that, with few exceptions, are remarkably boxy with big footprints that don’t encourage mobility. And they feel far from life-proof. But there is a reason for the bulk and boxiness. Producing big sound with deep bass is difficult. Producing sound that can fill a room even more so. It requires space around the speaker components, and if there is not enough of that the sound quality will be poor and the speaker will vibrate or even travel when placed on a hard surface. The challenge then was to design a fully portable speaker with amazing bass.
No compromise required
And the UE MEGABOOM delivers. Despite its powerful sound, the speaker fits comfortably in your hand. Lifting it, you realize it is surprisingly light. Just like its sister product, the UE Boom, this speaker is covered in a life proof acoustic skin designed to withstand the toughest conditions while acquiring beautiful patina that is unique to each user. And if patina is not for you, the waterproof (IPX7) speaker can easily be kept immaculate with a rinse under the faucet.
Of all the products in the category, this is without question the best.
Transcending the typical product cycle and market segments
Contrary to most speakers, the UE Boom and UE Megaboom are not designed to be precious objects that passively entertain. They are at the center of the action – meant to be passed around, tossed, grabbed, going with you anywhere. In the same way that time will make a favorite instrument acquire beautiful patina that makes it feel more unique and personally relevant, the UE Boom and UE Megaboom are speakers designed to transcend the typical product cycles and traditional market segments. Simply put, they are speakers for you.
Packaging that makes a difference
Electronics stores today are dominated by rectangular boxes with bold graphics highlighting the latest features. The packaging for the UE Boom is the opposite of that.
The cylindrical shape, reflecting the essence of the product, immediately stands out. The minimal graphics, focused only on the essentials, provide unusual clarity. Removing the recyclable paper sleeve reveals a sleek reusable case where the structure and iconography provide a carefully choreographed out-of-box experience. Opening the case, the product is displayed front and center, pre-charged and ready to enjoy – no distracting plastic wrap to remove before use. Original icons highlight the location of the product accessories, easily accessible with the gentle pull of a tab.
Keeping with the simplicity and the intuitive interface of the product, the Quick Start Guide is purposely minimal. The graphically bold power button on the cover captures the essence of the guide – it’s all about pressing power to play.
Ultimately, the UE Boom packaging, with its sequential unveiling of the product and its accessories, makes the often frustrating chore of unboxing a product a joyful, positive and memorable experience. And within six months of launch, the UE Boom was selected as the Top Gift in Apple stores.
