Review: Logitech UE Mobile Boombox

If you're looking for something that closely matches the $200 Jambox in portability and sound, but costs substantially less, the $100 Logitech UE Mobile Boombox is the device I'd recommend.

I spent two months testing a baker's dozen of these tiny speakers, and this UE Mobile Boombox was my favorite of the entire lot. And not only because of the sound, which is great, but also because of all the little things: the shape and size, the materials, the ease of pairing, and the battery life.

A pair of 1-inch drivers are hidden under that grill, and while they certainly won't blow your hair back, they are plenty loud.Ultimate Ears made its name designing fancy high-end earphones and custom in-ear monitors for musicians and audiophiles. Then the company was acquired by Logitech in 2008. Since then, the innovation around earphones has continued (especially with this year's excellent Logitech UE 900s) but the company has also been branching out and bringing its extensive audio expertise into less-fancy areas. One of the most successful products is this one, a tiny speaker that sounds great, has an attractive design, and has a long-lasting battery (around nine hours in my tests) that charges over USB.

Of all the contenders currently flooding the Bluetooth speaker market, the Logitech's tiny boombox is the one that comes closest to matching Jawbone's golden child, the Jambox. The company also makes the much larger, much louder UE Boombox, which has a handle and charges via an AC adapter.

Bluetooth pairing is easy, and it doubles as a speakerphone, so you can use it to take calls. The sound is great – a pair of 1-inch drivers are hidden under that grill, and while they certainly won't blow your hair back, they are plenty loud. The audio stays remarkably clear when you turn it up, and there's a slim bass port in the back to help control the low-end performance.

I really wasn't expecting much as far as sound quality when I first saw how exceedingly small this thing is, but after using it for a couple of weekends in a hotel room and on my back deck, I'm sold.

Also – and this is important – it doesn't try too hard. Outwardly at least, it keeps everything very simple, from the design to the operation, and it succeeds because of it.

WIRED Great sound for the size – dual 1-inch drivers inside this tiny box get mighty loud without getting too cruddy. Rubberized outer shell helps it stay put during playback, and you can pick from an array of colors. Works as a speakerphone. Battery charges over USB and lasts nine hours. Easy to pair. A value at $100.

TIRED Not much bass to speak of. Same with stereo separation. Logitech claims a 50-foot wireless range, but it's closer to about 20.

This article originally appeared in a different, shorter form as part of a gallery of product reviews on Saturday, December 22, 2012.