Consumer Tech EarFun’s Superb New Bluetooth Speaker Is A Perfect Party Partner Mark Sparrow Senior Contributor Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. Technology journalist specializing in audio, computing and photography New! Follow this author to improve your content experience. Got it! Aug 7, 2022, 06:00am EDT | New! Click on the conversation bubble to join the conversation Got it! Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin The EarFun UBOOM L is a superb Bluetooth speaker for the money. It can be paired with a second . . . [+] speaker to create a wide and impressive soundstage. EarFun 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 the likes of JBL’s Flip 6 a run for its money. The EarFun UBoom L looks like most other waterproof-rated Bluetooth speakers designed for party use. It can be gripped comfortably in one hand and feels relatively light, but don’t let that fool you. This speaker can pump up the volume and has a battery with stamina. The UBoom L has two lithium-ion batteries and can play for up to 16 hours on a single charge of its combined 5,200mAh. An impressive 14W per channel feeds the speaker’s two 55mm dynamic drivers, while two passive radiators pump up the bass. At this point, I should say that although the bass isn’t going to create earthquakes, it’s big enough to be heard without swamping the midrange and treble. There is also an outdoor mode that boosts the bass and cranks the levels when noise levels rise and the party is getting raucous. The Boom L Bluetooth speaker from EarFun is a great little waterproof speaker that can even take a . . . [+] dip in the pool. EarFun The UBoom L was created with and tuned by Oluv (Olaf Lunbanski), a talented Austrian music producer who knows how to get great sound. The EarFun UBoom L may look a little somber, but under that speaker grille, there’s a bit of a sonic animal. Better still, 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. MORE FOR YOU Google Issues Warning For 2 Billion Chrome Users Forget The MacBook Pro, Apple Has Bigger Plans Google Discounts Pixel 6, Nest & Pixel Buds In Limited-Time Sale Event Ranging across the top of the speaker are waterproof buttons for pausing the music, adjusting the volume, pairing with a Bluetooth source, powering the speaker and switching to outdoor mode. The UBoom L plays well when lying flat on a table, or it can be upended 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 with a smartphone or laptop once. After the initial pairing, whenever you turn the speaker on, it will connect and be ready to play within a second or so. The battery takes around four hours to charge fully and EarFun includes a USB-C cable in the box for charging. You can listen to the EarFun UBOOM L with it standing up or laying flat. EarFun As well as connecting via Bluetooth, EarFun has also added a 3. 5mm stereo jack input for hooking up a Walkman or any other analog source, like a device without Bluetooth. There are also Bluetooth profiles onboard alongside a microphone so the UBoom L can be used as a speakerphone. It’s great for a group phone call or a video chat. The sound produced by this ordinary-looking speaker is spot on. There’s a good dollop of bass, considering its size, and the midrange and treble are surprisingly clear and neutral. The outdoor mode cuts through the noise when a party gets noisy. The 28W rating is very respectable for a speaker of this size and the volume it can produce is excellent, with little in the way of noticeable distortion or rattle at higher volume levels. Verdict: The EarFun UBoom L is a brilliant 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 excellent 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. Many Bluetooth speakers don’t have a speakerphone function and that’s a shame as it’s a great feature, especially when you’re on holiday and want to call home. Highly Recommended. Pricing & Availability: The EarFun UBoom L Bluetooth speaker costs $79/ £69 / €79 and is available from Amazon UK , Amazon USA and Amazon Germany . More info: www. myearfun. com Tech Specs: Oluv-tuned sound. Bluetooth: v 5. 0. Bluetooth profiles: A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, HSP. Drivers: 2 x 55mm and 2 x passive radiators. Stereo Pairing. Battery capacity: 7. 4V, 2 x 2,600mAh. Charging time: Four hours. Charging type: USB-C. Playtime: 16 hours. Waterproofing: IP67. Dimensions: 78 x 210 x 72mm. Weight: 650g. With a water and rustproof rating of IP67, the EarFun UBoom L can even go in the pool and still . . . [+] work. EarFun Follow me on LinkedIn . Mark Sparrow Editorial Standards Print Reprints & Permissions.