STEREO GUIDE verdict
The Hama Canton UltiMate Pro offers 120 W of power, a 24-hour battery, power bank function, extensive connections, and IPX6 water protection for a relatively moderate price. The ideal Bluetooth speaker for the garden and parties.
Pros
- Balanced sound with deep, clean bass
- Carrying strap, long battery life
- Microphone input for karaoke
- Clear control panel with large, easily recognizable buttons
Cons
- Heavy weight
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Tonal Balance / Transparency9.3
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Bass / Dynamics9.5
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Usability / Connectivity8.2
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Price/Performance8.3
Accessories specialist Hama and the well-known speaker manufacturer from the Hessian Taunus region are at it again: with the Hama Canton UltiMate Pro, the two German companies want to crown their cooperation. Together they come up with a boombox à la “German style”: The Hama Canton UltiMate Pro presents itself as a powerful Bluetooth speaker that should be suitable for relaxed background music on the patio as well as for boisterous parties in the garden. It thus complements the cooperation collection of the two traditional brands as an ambitious Bluetooth speaker above the Mate Pro BT and the Glow Pro BT.
Technical equipment & sound architecture
At the heart of the UltiMate Pro is a two-way speaker configuration with one tweeter and one bass-midrange driver per stereo channel, which focuses on a balanced reproduction between deep bass and clear treble. Two passive radiators on both sides of the round, mesh-wrapped cabinet support the bass range for rich, powerful sound. The tuning developed in collaboration with Canton is designed to produce a high-fidelity sound. With an output power of 120 watts RMS, the boombox has enough power to provide convincing sound for medium-sized rooms or outdoor areas.
Battery, charging times & power features
A powerful lithium-ion battery (11.1 V / 4500 mAh) should provide power for up to 24 hours of music enjoyment – enough for extended outdoor sessions. Charging is via USB-C with power delivery support (10-45 W), which enables full capacity after around 2.5 hours of charging. If you want to charge your smartphone on the go, you can use the integrated power bank function – a practical feature for spontaneous use.
Weather resistance & mobility
The boombox is protected against heavy rain and water jets in accordance with IPX6 – ideal for outdoor use by the pool or in unexpected showers. The sturdy handle and the included adjustable shoulder strap make it easy to carry, even if the weight of just under 5.2 kg doesn’t exactly make it a lightweight.
Connections & connectivity
The UltiMate Pro is easy to connect: it connects wirelessly via Bluetooth 5.3 (A2DP), while wired options are available via USB-A (e.g. for music from a stick), 3.5 mm AUX-in and a 6.3 mm jack socket for a microphone or guitar. This makes the German answer to the popular JBL party speakers ideal for karaoke, announcements or a spontaneous jam session. Thanks to True Wireless Stereo (TWS), two speakers can be paired for a true stereo setup.
Smart features & operation
If you briefly press the power button, four blue LEDs indicate the battery charge status. This even works when the device is switched off. Three preset sound modes – Bass Sound, Power Sound and Balanced Sound – can be selected by repeatedly pressing a separate button. A voice announces the respective mode after each press. The control panel on the top is designed in an exemplary manner, the buttons are large and well labeled.
For more detailed sound adjustments, the free Hama Smart Home app for iOS and Android is available, with which the 10-band equalizer can be used, the battery status can be viewed more precisely than with the LEDs or the device can be renamed.
The app is very simple and focuses on the essentials when it comes to the functions for the Bluetooth speaker. After all, the name itself says that it is designed to operate a smart home. The Ultimate Pro is more of an afterthought, but this doesn’t change the fact that you have to register with your email address to use the app and click through countless menus and authorizations that are irrelevant for the Canton.
Sound test: How the Hama Canton UltiMate Pro sounds
The sound of the Hama Canton UltiMate Pro came as no surprise as, in my role as a reviewer for magazines such as the now merged AUDIO or stereoplay, I have repeatedly been able to listen extensively to loudspeaker heavyweights from the Taunus with expensive electronics. And under chief developer Frank Göbl, the brand has produced many really great speakers that have finally shed all traces of the once infamous “Taunus sound”. Just think of the Reference series, which I also like very much as a rather Anglophile audiophile. And the Smart Vento 3 S2 reviewed for STEREO GUIDE or the compact Sound L home theater solution also delivered really good sound results for their classes.
However, the fact that an inconspicuous Bluetooth speaker, which could just as easily come from JBL & Co. in terms of appearance, sounds so powerful and balanced at the same time exceeds my wildest expectations. With the Hama Canton UltiMate Pro, you can not only listen to dance tracks, pop or rock with really deep and rich bass. You can even listen to sophisticated singer-songwriters with the 5.2 kilo Bluetooth speaker. For example, Anette Askvik with her solemn song “Liberty” from our Qobuz playlist. The Scandinavian singer’s voice was truly hi-fi quality and the deep bass built up an intense arc of tension.
Balanced up to high levels
But it wasn’t just the balance and immense bandwidth between the deep bass and the finely resolved treble, which managed without sharpness, that offered a certain hi-fi quality. The volume can also compete with a small stereo system. It was noticeable that the UltiMate Pro didn’t sound as aggressive and compressed at higher levels as many other speakers of this type. The three sound presets are also extremely successful. With “Bass Sound”, acoustic drums and beats are extremely deep and powerful, but remain pleasantly clean even at high levels. Power Sound” also has a good punch and is very lively. “Balanced” really does offer an amazing amount of hi-fi virtues for relatively little money.
Hama Canton UltiMate Pro: Conclusion and alternatives
If you don’t care about lighting effects and aren’t afraid that an amazingly natural sound tuning will kill the fun of electronic beats and sound effects, the Hama Canton UltiMate Pro is an extremely affordable Bluetooth speaker with a long battery life, microphone input for karaoke evenings and exemplary ease of use. But the black speaker with the large bracket can do much more. After extensive, entertaining sound tests, I wouldn’t hesitate to call it perhaps the smallest hi-fi system in the world. The natural opponent would be the Boombox from JBL, which we reviewed in the 3rd generation. But it costs more and a new model is in the starting blocks.
Technical specifications: Hama Canton UltiMate Pro
- Manufacturer’s suggested retail price: 250 Euro
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 46.5 x 19.2 x 25.4 cm
- Weight: 5.2 kg
- Battery life: Up to 24 hours, charging time 2.5 hours
- Special features: Bluetooth 5.3, IPX6 protection class, microphone and AUX input, power bank function, USB-A port for playback from memory stick, carrying strap
- More at www.canton.de
