Skilled’s Score
Professionals
Glorious audioPowerful, well-rounded sound Non-obligatory stereo pair (with second speaker) Non-obligatory ‘Outside’ and ‘Podcast’ modesIP67 mud and waterproofUp to 14 hours battery life
Our Verdict
Little has modified within the Wonderboom 4, however you get nice audio and lengthy battery life in a handsome, compact and sturdy design that’s excellent for events and picnics, tenting within the phrases or hanging out on the seashore, in addition to indoors, in fact.
Worth When Reviewed
$99.99
Greatest Costs At this time: Final Ears Wonderboom 4
$85.99
Ever because the fantastic Wonderboom 2, Final Ears has made small however not main updates to this Editors Selection Bluetooth speaker. From Wonderboom 2 to Wonderboom 3 there have been minimal adjustments (elevated battery life and Bluetooth vary), and now the fourth technology will get the sunshine improve contact we’ve come to count on.
That makes the Wonderboom 4 not an important improve even for homeowners of the second gen mannequin however retains it on the prime of the pile for transportable Bluetooth audio system.
The compact, waterproof and sturdy transportable speaker seems the identical and sounds the identical, however is enhanced with a brand new Podcast Mode and the welcome alternative of its fiddly MicroUSB charging port with extra up-to-date and easier-to-use USB-C.
Design, construct and colours
The Wonderboom 4 retains its cute chunky, colourful design, constructed with eco-friendly supplies. The texture of the mid-speaker part is a barely course cloth.
It’s small (95.3 x 104mm) and light-weight (420g) so you may carry it in a backpack with out noticing, though it’s most likely too chunky to slot in a briefcase or slim laptop computer bag.
It’s waterproof sufficient to take to the bathe, tub, pool or seashore—it even floats—with an IP67 mud and water-resistance ranking that guarantees security immersed in eater as much as 1m deep for half-hour.
It options drop-proofing to 5 ft (1.5m), in accordance with the producer. It ought to nonetheless work after such tough remedy however we assume it wouldn’t be with out some scuff marks after a fall.
On the prime there’s an elastic loop so you may grasp the speaker from no matter’s close by.
Purchased direct from the Final Ears retailer it’s obtainable in Lively Black, Cobalt Blue, Hyper Pink and Joyous Brilliant (a lightweight gray with yellow accents). Relying on which nation you’re buying in, Amazon provides some additional color choices, similar to Spruce Inexperienced, Digital Lavender and a much less joyous grey.
The controls are few and easy. The obvious are the enormous Plus and Minus quantity buttons on the entrance. On the highest are buttons for Bluetooth, energy, and Play/Pause and Ahead/Again songs. Pairing together with your cellphone or different Bluetooth machine is straightforward.
You must flip the speaker the wrong way up to seek out the underside button that switches between the Outside Enhance and Podcast Mode choices, or returns to Customary mode. You can even rapidly verify the speaker’s battery degree utilizing the quantity buttons.
Its environmental friendliness is gained from its minimal of 31% post-consumer recycled plastic, and it’s wrapped in a sustainable cloth made out of 100% recycled polyester. The packaging is FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) licensed.
Sound high quality & options
Final Ears nailed the pure sound high quality with the second technology Wonderboom 2 and stored issues as they have been on the subsequent model. So far as we are able to inform, it hasn’t modified this speaker’s sonics in any respect, which is okay by us.
Its two lively 40mm drivers and two 46.1-x-65.2mm passive radiators provide a 360° sound. Most quantity is 86 dBC in Customary mode and 87 dBC with Outside Enhance turned on. That’s sufficient to fill a medium-sized room, and that additional out of doors quantity enhance will assist out within the wild, down on the park, or in your again backyard. You’ll lose somewhat bass in Outside mode, nevertheless.
The Wonderboom 4 delivers shiny, well-rounded sound that’s tuned to swimsuit most genres. There’s sufficient bass so as to add depth and heat with out overpowering, rounded mids, and barely skinny high-end – however it does sufficient to get the job finished.
Related audio system can are inclined to lose bass, however the Wonderboom 4 retains its bass impressively for such a small machine. Perhaps there’s not sufficient oomph for hip-hop or heavy rock followers, who would possibly choose the Anker Soundcore Movement 300, which includes a BassUp mode.
Outside Enhance mode pulls again on the bass and ups the treble, serving to the sound to hold additional in expansive out of doors areas, and supplying you with a welcome second sonic possibility.
The brand new EQ Podcast Mode brings crisper, clearer vocals, though some customers have mentioned this could make an audiobook narrator’s dramatic voice sound relatively skinny, monotone and featureless.
Should you purchase a second Wonderboom (model 3 or 4) you may join the 2 to double the quantity or create a two-channel stereo pair.
Bluetooth vary stays long-range at as much as 40m. There’s no bodily wired possibility to attach, so that you’ll must maintain the battery charged to make use of the Wonderboom 4.
Battery & charging
The Wonderboom 4 can last as long as 14 hours on a full cost. Until you actually are a celebration animal, meaning it ought to maintain you going earlier than you drop. And it may most likely final lengthy sufficient to maintain happening a brief tenting journey.
Press the Plus and Minus quantity buttons on the similar time to establish the present battery degree.
Fortunately, the Wonderboom 4 now prices through USB-C relatively than fiddly MicroUSB. Personally, I’d improve from the Wonderboom 3 simply to throw one other MicroUSB cable within the bin.
Final Ears
Final Ears
Final Ears
Worth & availability
The Wonderboom 4 will set you again $99.99/£89.99, which is just below the road of what we think about a price range Bluetooth speaker. There are extra reasonably priced ones on the market, however as at all times you get what you pay for.
You may decide it up from Amazon and Amazon UK in fact, together with the standard retailers similar to Greatest Purchase and Walmart within the U.S., or Argos, Currys and John Lewis within the U.Okay.
The Anker Soundcore Movement 300 is $20 cheaper (similar worth because the Wonderboom 4 within the U.Okay.) with an identical sound profile, however lacks the Wonderboom’s rotund appeal.
Take a look at our full rating of the very best low cost Bluetooth audio system we’ve reviewed for extra choices, together with reasonably priced choices such because the JBL Clip 4 and EarFun Uboom.
Verdict
The Wonderboom 4 is a wonderful, rugged transportable Bluetooth speaker with a incredible audio vary, lengthy battery life and easy controls. It’s barely modified from the earlier mannequin however the small adjustments are welcome.
