STEREO GUIDE verdict
The Earfun Uboom X offers bass to the max, but gentle souls can at least tame it with the equalizer or the sound presets in the Earfun app. Other features such as a light organ, carrying strap or power bank function are nice extras for its price. The extendable playing time of up to 30 hours on battery also scores points.
Pros
- Lots of bass for fat beats at a low price
- Long battery life
- Carrying strap included
- Light organ function
Cons
- Bass-heavy basic tuning
- Poorly recognizable control buttons
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Tonal balance / transparency7
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Bass / Dynamics8.7
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Usability / Connectivity9.2
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Price/Performance9.6
At first glance, the Earfun Uboom X is strongly reminiscent of the bulky party speakers that you often see from Chinese brands – for example the Soundcore Motion Boom or the Tribit Stormbox Blast, both of which we have already reviewed. Its housing is made of robust plastic, which makes it indestructible, but at the same time a little clumsy and bulky. The angular exterior is unlikely to win any design awards, you might think, and you’ll be surprised to learn that the rival to the JBL Boombox has won the Red Dot Design Award 2024. After all, the design promises solid suitability for everyday use. If you’re looking for a stylish decorative idea for the living room, you probably won’t find it here, but for a rousing sound at parties or for outdoor use, this design is definitely suitable.
The Uboom X reveals its strengths above all in terms of performance and features. First and foremost is the Bluetooth 5.3 module, which not only ensures a particularly stable connection, but also lip-syncs movie content in video mode thanks to its low latency. Movie lovers and gaming fans can therefore enjoy seamless sound without annoying time delays. Another interesting feature is the Party Connect mode, which allows up to 50 Earfun Uboom X speakers to be controlled simultaneously. In this way, large areas – from the large hobby room to the entire terrace to extensive green spaces – can be easily covered with sound, which comes close to a spontaneous festival feeling.
80 watts and dual 2-way systems for rich sound
A total of 80 watts of amplifier power is available to supply the four drivers. These are two 2 cm silk dome tweeters and two 10.2 cm bass-midrange drivers. For each tweeter, 10 watts and for each 4-inch cone, 30 watts are available from separate amplifier channels. Two passive radiators on the sides of the housing also provide bass support. With its specially advertised JumboBass technology, the Earfun UBoom X is aimed at fans of really fat beats. The latter is designed to reproduce even low frequencies with plenty of punch thanks to special tuning and a powerful drive. Earfun has integrated multi-colored LED lighting that automatically adapts to the beat of the music so that the eye can also join in the party. If you want, you can even set different lighting modes in the accompanying app to create a customized light show. Together with the powerful bass reproduction, every track becomes a real eye and ear-catcher, creating a real party atmosphere.
Perfect for on the go
When it comes to durability, the Uboom X scores with an IP67 certificationso that neither dust nor water can damage its function. Rain, damp grass or splashing drinks are therefore no problem, making it ideal for pool parties and visits to the beach. With a battery life of up to 30 hours, the speaker also demonstrates real stamina. If you need to get going quickly, a 30-watt quick charge function ensures that you have full power again in a relatively short time. If you want to charge your smartphone on the go, you can even use the speaker as a power bank via the USB-C output and remain accessible at all times.
Earfun also leaves something to be desired in terms of ease of use and transport, as the buttons embedded in the rubber-covered keypad are very difficult to identify without color coding. A carrying handle and an included shoulder strap make the Uboom X very mobile. In addition, the EarFun Audio app for iOS and Android devices provides all kinds of useful features, including several equalizer presets to customize the sound. The unconventional translations in the app sometimes make you smile, but don’t detract from the practical benefits.
The integrated microphone makes it easy to answer calls or operate voice assistants such as Google Assistant and Siri. This makes the speaker suitable not only for musical applications, but also for hands-free phone calls or smart smartphone control.
Sound test: Bass for all it’s worth
In terms of sound, the Uboom X is particularly characterized by its powerful, bass-accentuated sound. Especially with pop music, electronic dance music or hip-hop, it can win over bass enthusiasts with its powerful boom and dynamic response right up to the highest notes. However, if you are looking for the most neutral reproduction of acoustic instruments or vocal-accentuated recordings, the bass emphasis may seem too voluminous even for die-hard rock fans. And the UBoom X is not exactly squeamish when it comes to high-frequency reproduction either. Voices would also benefit from a touch of warmth. However, the dynamic capabilities and, depending on placement, setting and taste, the amazing low bass make the Earfun stand out from the crowd in this weight class.
At least the abundant bass can be reduced in the app using an equalizer or an almost unmanageable selection of presets. As a result, the mid and treble range, which is not bad in itself, gains in audibility without ever sounding clinical or thin. However, those who are particularly fixated on bass can also go one better in the frequency range. There is hardly a comparable party speaker whose sound can be so extensively adapted to the installation location or personal preferences using sound presets alone. Ultimately, this makes it difficult to make a review statement, as everyone can come to a completely different conclusion depending on the settings. So be sure to try it out for yourself before buying and immerse yourself in the extensive customization options for sound tuning.
Our playlist for listening tests when it comes to lots of BASS
Whether you find the sound of the Earfun UBoom X inspiring or too boomy depends more than with other Bluetooth speakers in this class on your instincts when setting it up and using the equalizer or sound presets. And last but not least, it also depends on whether you prefer naturally soft voices or a powerful punch and deep bass. For house or hip-hop, the neutrality in the mids and highs is sufficient, but with rock it can be a little harsh. The “Oluv Signature” sound presets, named after a musician and blogger, can alleviate this somewhat, but they significantly limit the otherwise ample dynamic range. In addition, the manufacturer itself points out a shorter battery operating time due to the increased resource consumption of the signature presets.
Earfun UBoom X: Conclusion and alternatives
In the end, the Earfun Uboom X surprises with a good price-performance ratio, where you get a lot of oomph and a whole range of practical extras for comparatively little money. Of course, it’s not a marvel of subtlety, but if you’re looking for an affordable, robust party speaker with staying power and a wide range of applications, the Uboom X is a cheaper alternative to the Tribit Stormbox Blast, which sounds more balanced but also produces less spectacular beats.
Technical specs Earfun UBoom X
- Manufacturer’s suggested retail price: 160 euros
- Dimensions (W x H x D ): 40 x 21.7 x 15 cm
- Weight: 4.2 kg
- Battery life up to 30 hours
- Special features: AUX input, IPX67 water and dust protection, stereo pairing, party mode, LED light organ, microphone for Siri and Google Assistant
