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Head-to-head · Best Outdoor Bluetooth Speakers

Soundboks Go vs Ultimate Ears Hyperboom

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

The short answer

Soundboks Go and Ultimate Ears Hyperboom score essentially the same (4.5 vs 4.5). Pick the one whose trade-offs match your priorities — the strengths and watch-outs below are where they actually differ.

Soundboks Go
Ranked #5 in Best Outdoor Bluetooth Speakers
Soundboks Go
$699

The Soundboks Go is the speaker for buyers who measured their existing JBL or UE setup at a backyard party and decided it wasn't loud enough. RTINGS, TechHive, and GearJunkie all confirm it's overpowering for indoor use and ideal for genuine outdoor entertaining — backyard concerts, tailgates, lakeside parties. The 20 lb weight and $699 price put it in a different category than the rest of this list, but for the actual loudness use case, no other speaker here competes.

Strengths
  • — 121 dB maximum SPL — the loudest portable Bluetooth speaker in this list by a wide margin
  • — 144W class-D amplification with a 10-inch woofer for genuine bass impact at distance
  • — Replaceable, swappable batteries — 40 hours at mid-volume, 10 hours at maximum SPL
Watch-outs
  • — 20 lb (9 kg) and roughly the size of a small kick-drum — needs a shoulder strap to carry
  • — IP65 rating only — not safe for submersion or sustained rain
  • — $699 MSRP is more than 2x the Xtreme 4 or Hyperboom
$699 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →
Ultimate Ears Hyperboom
Ranked #2 in Best Outdoor Bluetooth Speakers
Ultimate Ears Hyperboom
$449

The Hyperboom is the speaker UE built specifically for backyard and patio listening. SoundGuys and TechRadar agree it's the loudest, bassiest Bluetooth speaker in the UE lineup, and its adaptive EQ that listens through a built-in mic genuinely changes how it sounds when you move it from a tiled patio to an open lawn. The trade-off versus the Boombox 3 is IPX4 (splash-proof only), no carry handle, and a brick form factor that wants to live on a deck table rather than travel.

Strengths
  • — Massive 364 x 190 x 190 mm cabinet delivers the largest low-end of any speaker here short of the Soundboks Go
  • — Two Bluetooth inputs plus optical and 3.5mm aux lets you switch sources mid-party without re-pairing
  • — Built-in microphone with Adaptive EQ auto-tunes the sound to the room or yard
Watch-outs
  • — IPX4 rating only covers splashes — no submersion or dust protection
  • — 13 lb (5.9 kg) and brick-shaped — no carry handle, awkward to lift one-handed
  • — SBC codec only, despite a $399+ price tag
$449 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →

How they stack up

Soundboks Go

The Soundboks Go is the only speaker in this list that genuinely competes with PA equipment — its 121 dB max SPL is roughly 10–15 dB louder than the JBL Boombox 3 or UE Hyperboom, and 20+ dB louder than the JBL Xtreme 4 or Bose SoundLink Max. The cost is portability and price: at 20 lb it's the heaviest by a wide margin, and the $699 MSRP is 75–100% above the Hyperboom and Boombox 3. There's also genuine dissent in reviewer opinions — LBTech found the sound harsh at high volumes where TechHive and GearJunkie praised it.

Ultimate Ears Hyperboom

The Hyperboom sits between the JBL Boombox 3 (more portable, IP67 vs IPX4, harder build) and the Soundboks Go (much louder at 121 dB but heavier at 20 lb and uglier on a patio). Versus the Bose SoundLink Max it offers significantly more output and bass extension but lacks the Bose's IP67 rating and refined cabinet design. The JBL Xtreme 4 is the better option if you actually need to carry the speaker on a strap.

Specs side-by-side

SpecSoundboks GoUltimate Ears Hyperboom
Power Output2x 72W class-D amplifiers (144W total)Not officially published (estimated 100W+ class D)
Drivers10-inch 96dB woofer + 1-inch 102dB silk-dome tweeter2x precision woofers + 2x passive radiators + 2x soft-dome tweeters
Frequency Response40 Hz – 20 kHz45 Hz – 20 kHz
Max SPL121 dB (Bass+ mode) / 119 dB (outdoor mode)—
Battery Life40 hours mid-volume / 10 hours at maximum SPL24 hours rated (22h 14m measured by SoundGuys)
Bluetooth5.0, SBC codec, TeamUP multi-speaker pairing5.0, SBC codec, two simultaneous inputs
Water/Dust RatingIP65 electronics coating + IPX6 batteryIPX4 (splash-resistant only)
Weight20 lb (9 kg)13 lb (5.9 kg)
Dimensions18 x 12 x 10 in (H x W x D)14.3 x 7.5 x 7.5 in (364 x 190 x 190 mm)
InputsBluetooth, 3.5mm aux2x Bluetooth, optical (TOSLINK), 3.5mm aux, USB-A charge-out
BatterySwappable (Soundboks BatteryBoks, ~$200 spare)Built-in (non-removable)
Charging Time~2 hours (with Soundboks Charger)2.6 hours
Party ModeTeamUp (SKAA host/join, up to 5 Soundboks)PartyUp pairing with other Boom/Hyperboom speakers
AppSoundboks app (custom EQ, sound profiles, remote control, firmware)Boom app with Adaptive EQ and One Touch Music
← See the full ranking of best outdoor bluetooth speakers