![]() ![]() Aside from the fact that I couldn't link the speakers, I couldn't remotely control their volume using the app (in Wi-Fi mode) or the physical volume buttons on my phone. Nic Henry/CNETĪ few other things bothered me. ![]() These colors are only available in the UK. Encountering some distortion is pretty typical when listening to these compact speakers (the JBL Link speakers also have some issues at higher volumes), but you'd hope that a $230 speaker would perform a little better. But the smaller Blast is obviously more portable and a good choice if you're looking for a speaker you can easily throw in a bag.īoth speakers had some trouble with the alt-J track "3WW" that we use to test bass response - there was a little bit of a warble as the speakers couldn't quite process what was being thrown at them. My inclination would be to spend the extra money and choose it over the Blast, especially if I was planning to leave it home the majority of the time. The Megablast, which is capable of filling a small- to medium-sized room with sound, delivers significantly more bass and makes the Blast sound a little thin. If I hadn't compared the Blast and Megablast to anything else I'd tell you that they're very good sounding portable wireless speakers, particularly in an outdoor setting (for whatever reason, I find that UE's cylindrical portable speakers sound best dispersing their sound in an open environment). The USB port is hidden behind a cover flap. (The JBL Link line also includes the AC-powered Link 300 and Link 500, which are not portable.) They also have voice support for Spotify. Since those JBL speakers use Google Chromecast technology, you can link them and create a multiroom audio system. The Link 20, which is almost half the price of the Megablast, sounds better than the Megablast. Both the Link 10 and Link 20 sound fuller (have better bass) and more natural than the Blast and cost less. That distinction goes to JBL's Link 10 ($120) and Link 20 ($160), which have Google Assistant built-in (that's Google's competitor to Alexa). But they're not the best sounding voice-enabled portable speakers. As I said, these are currently the best sounding - and best designed - portable Alexa-enabled speakers out there right now. While the Blast and Megablast join an increasingly crowded Alexa smart speaker market, the fact that they're battery-powered and water-resistant set them apart from AC-powered, indoor-only competitors such as the new Sonos One, second-gen Echo and Echo Plus. And currently, you can only play music through one Blast or Megablast at a time - you can't link them - which is a bit disappointing. That means you won't be able to link older UE speakers with the new Blast and Megablast. It's also worth mentioning that while the earlier Boom 2 and Megaboom remain in the line, they're only compatible with the old UE app. If you plan on using these primarily inside your home, the charging base seems like more of a must-have accessory, which adds to the total price of the speaker. The speakers have a threaded tripod mount on the top, which is cool, but you have to unscrew and take off the flap (which keeps moisture out) to access the charging port. However, there's a big downside to not buying the Power Up charging base: It's actually a little bit of a pain to access the USB charging port. Those number will vary with volume levels and your network connection, but I found the speakers' battery life to be pretty decent. ![]() However, you can stream any music service via Bluetooth just like you would with the UE Boom 2 or Megaboom, both of which cost a lot less.īattery life for the Blast is up to 12 hours, and 16 hours for the Megablast. UE expects to add voice control for Pandora and Deezer in the future, but there's no word yet on when the speakers will get voice control support for Spotify. Currently, only Amazon Music, iHeartRadio and TuneIn music services are Alexa-enabled. That said, you don't get every Alexa skill that you'd get with a full-on Echo speaker. You get access to the more than 25,000 skills available for Alexa, including the ability to control smart home products. But the app does seem rather stripped down and barebones, particularly compared to the Sonos app.Īs with Amazon's Echo devices, to use Alexa you have to be connected to Wi-Fi or a mobile hotspot. I didn't have a problem setting up my Blast and Megablast review samples and updating them with the latest firmware (the app will allow you to add new features over time). It all starts with a new Ultimate Ears app that gets your speakers connected to your Wi-Fi network and Amazon account. ![]()
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