EarFun UBOOM X review

EarFun, a company known for its feature-packed yet affordable audio products, has been busy expanding its line of portable Bluetooth speakers to include the UBOOM X. Boasting built-in RGB lights and 80W of stereo playback in a hefty weatherproof package, is the UBOOM X your next portable party starter? Let’s crank up some tunes and find out in this EarFun UBOOM X review.

Editor’s note: this is the first version of the article. Updates will follow as the market changes.

What’s it like to use the EarFun UBOOM X?

Built-in RGB lighting aside, the EarFun UBOOM X features a fairly utilitarian design. When its light show isn’t engaged, it’s not the most exciting Bluetooth speaker to look at, although with its robust hard plastic exterior and IP67 protection rating, not to mention 80W of stereo output, it’s clear the UBOOM X is designed to survive a rowdy pool party, beach day, or a rainy weekend camping trip.

A metal grill protects its dual drivers, tweeters, and party lights, and its passive radiators are also recessed into the sides of the enclosure. Around the back of the unit, you’ll find a hefty rubber tab protecting its connection ports. The UBOOM X charges via USB-C but also features a 7.2V/8400mAh built-in battery bank complete with USB-C out for charging any devices in the field. But wait, there’s more. It’s becoming rarer and rarer, but the UBOOM X also features a 3.5mm jack for wired listening.

While its integrated handle design and removable shoulder strap help with the unit’s portability, at 4.15kg or 9.2 lbs, the UBOOM X is a little on the heavy side. Still, when you need a bass-heavy Bluetooth boombox for your next house party, such is life. Lastly, the built-in light show is cool but a little underwhelming. There are plenty of colors to choose from, and it can either pulse with your music or stay on, but it’s simply two circles. It’s not quite the dynamic show offering like you find on the Anker Soundcore Boom 2. Still, it helps with the party vibes.

Should you use the app for the EarFun UBOOM X?

I recommend downloading and installing the EarFun app to use with the UBOOM X. The app allows you to change up your lighting effects, including turning them off entirely if you want to conserve your battery life. More importantly, it will enable you to personalize the sound of the UBOOM X speaker thanks to its extensive EQ options, including a 10-band customizable graphic EQ. EarFun wins some serious points regarding its EQ section; it does what other companies should do when offering both presets and a custom EQ, enabling you to fine-tune the existing presets.

For example, if you engage a preset and then jump into the custom EQ, the exact frequency adjustments are reflected in the custom EQ. Of course, you can still make your own EQ preset from scratch, but if you’re uncomfortable doing so, you can find an existing preset that sounds good to you and modify it from there if it’s not entirely to your liking. So, if you enjoy the “Latin” preset but need just a bit more high-end clarity, you can easily make those fine adjustments.

How does the EarFun UBOOM X connect?

The EarFun UBOOM X connects to your device via Bluetooth 5.3 with SBC and AAC codec support or a 3.5mm cable for wired listening. When not in use, a hefty rubber tab protects all three ports in case of inclement weather or accidental dips into the pool.

As mentioned, the unit charges via USB-C and also houses a built-in 8400mAh battery for charging devices on the go, complete with its own USB-C port. While this additional battery most likely adds some weight to the UBOOM X, I still prefer it to be a separate battery rather than draining the speaker’s main battery just to top up your phone.

How long does the EarFun UBOOM X’s battery last?

EarFun advertises up to 30 hours of playback time off a single charge with the UBOOM X and that it takes the unit 6 hours to charge fully. It’s worth noting that if you’re hoping to squeeze out as much playback time as possible, you’ll first want to sacrifice your light show. The second thing you’ll want to do is double-check your EQ settings and watch your volume. Running a pulsing light show with a bass-heavy preset at full blast is the fastest way to drain your speaker’s battery.

How does the EarFun UBOOM X sound?

Regarding MDAQS, the EarFun UBOOM X receives an overall score of 2.8 in its stock form. This is just slightly below average for portable Bluetooth speakers, but nothing to worry too much about, considering the UBOOM X is a budget-friendly party speaker. It’s a perfectly acceptable score.

That said, after engaging the “Oluv Signature Studio” preset, we see an improvement in scores across the board, bringing the UBOOM X’s overall score to a slightly above-average 3.3. The Brane X, an expensive portable speaker featuring a built-in subwoofer, received the same overall score for reference.

Reviewer’s notes

Editor’s note: this review uses a hover-enabled glossary to describe sound quality based on a consensus vocabulary. You can read about it here.

Should you buy the EarFun UBOOM X?

What should you get instead of the EarFun UBOOM X?

Keeping things affordable, the Anker Soundcore Boom 2 is worth a look. Similarly, this unit offers built-in lights on its passive radiators, the same 80W of output, and stereo playback in a much smaller package, although it sacrifices some left and right instrument separation when compared to the large and wider design of the UBOOM X. While it doesn’t offer any dust resistance if you’re a regular beach goer, it still provides an IPX7 protection rating and a floatable design. Snag a Soundcore Boom 2 for $89.99 at Amazon.

If you have some wiggle room in your budget, the Soundcore Boom 2’s bigger sibling, the Soundcore Boom 2 Plus, is more in line with the design of the UBOOM X, right down to the detachable shoulder strap, but it comes with a more expensive price tag of $249.99 at Amazon. However, if you’re looking for a more traditional, backpack-friendly,  cylinder-shaped portable Bluetooth speaker, the Beats Pill offers a durable design with an impressive bass response and is available for $149.99 at Amazon.

If none of these speakers fit your needs, be sure to check out our list of the best Bluetooth speakers for even more options.

Frequently asked questions