Short answer: the Ultimate Ears Boom 3. It ranks #89 of 136 medium speakers by sound quality at $109; the B&O Beosound Explore ranks #109 and costs $299, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
On the B&O Beosound Explore side: IP67 rated with a rugged ‘seatbelt’ strap and carabiner hook. Watch for: Huge lack of bass extension compared to competitors, overly hot ringing treble.
What the Ultimate Ears Boom 3 gets right: Rich and warm bass without muddying mix, crisp highs, excellent 15-hour battery life, stable Bluetooth connectivity, IP67 rated and floats, rugged fabric shell, can pair up to 150 speakers via PartyUp. The tradeoff: Not stereo, barely any bass, recessed treble.
Buy the Ultimate Ears Boom 3. It ranks higher for sound quality than the B&O Beosound Explore and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip the B&O Beosound Explore. It ranks near the bottom of the 136 medium speakers, so look higher up the list instead.
If battery life is a priority, the B&O Beosound Explore is rated for 27 hours versus 15 hours for the Ultimate Ears Boom 3.
Specifications Side By Side
| B&O Beosound Explore | Ultimate Ears Boom 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $299.00 | $109.00 |
| Ranked | #109 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #89 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~70Hz | 91Hz |
| Battery Life | 27 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) | No |
| Weight | 1.4 lbs / 631 g | 1.3 lbs / 608 g |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 | 4.2 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | - |
| Dimensions | 3.2" x 4.9" x 3.2" (81 x 124 x 81 mm) | 7.2" x 2.9" (184 x 73 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 1.8" (46mm) full-range drivers | 2x 2" active drivers + 2x 2" x 4" passive radiators |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Built in Microphone | No | No |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | Yes |
| Power Input | USB-C | Micro USB |
| Power Bank | No | - |
| Output Power | 60W | - |
| Max Volume | 91dB | 87dB |
| Party Mode | - | Yes (PartyUp up to 50 speakers) |
| EQ | - | Yes (via app) |
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The Two Speakers In Full
B&O Beosound Explore: $299.00 Amazon
Pros: IP67 rated with a rugged ‘seatbelt’ strap and carabiner hook. Real-world battery life around 20-24 hours. Distinctive anodized-aluminum design.
Cons: Huge lack of bass extension compared to competitors, overly hot ringing treble. Colored midrange. Just not great sounding overall.
Full B&O Beosound Explore review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~70Hz |
|---|---|
| Battery Life | 27 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 |
| Built in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) |
| Dimensions | 3.2" x 4.9" x 3.2" (81 x 124 x 81 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 1.8" (46mm) full-range drivers |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Max Volume | 91dB |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 60W |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.4 lbs / 631 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- B&O Beosound Explore vs Tribit Stormbox Mini+
- B&O Beosound Explore vs Sony SRS-XE200
- B&O Beosound Explore vs Soundcore Flare 2
- B&O Beosound Explore vs Doss E-Go II
- B&O Beosound Explore vs Sony SRS-XB30
- B&O Beosound Explore vs LG Xboom Go PL5
- B&O Beosound Explore vs Teufel Rockster Go
- B&O Beosound Explore vs LG Xboom XG5
- See all 16 comparisons
Ultimate Ears Boom 3: $109.00 Amazon
Pros: Rich and warm bass without muddying mix, crisp highs, excellent 15-hour battery life, stable Bluetooth connectivity, IP67 rated and floats, rugged fabric shell, can pair up to 150 speakers via PartyUp
Cons: Not stereo, barely any bass, recessed treble. You can tell from the micro USB that they are just feeding you the same crap hardware over and over, this is inexcusable for a product released in 2021. Lots of mentions of failing batteries on amazon. Not technically a 360 speaker, only front and rear.
Full Ultimate Ears Boom 3 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 91Hz |
|---|---|
| Battery Life | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Built in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 7.2" x 2.9" (184 x 73 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 2" active drivers + 2x 2" x 4" passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (via app) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Max Volume | 87dB |
| Omnidirectional | Yes |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyUp up to 50 speakers) |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs / 608 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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- Ultimate Ears Boom 3 vs Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2
- Ultimate Ears Boom 3 vs Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3
- Ultimate Ears Boom 3 vs Tribit Stormbox
- Ultimate Ears Boom 3 vs Sony SRS-XB20
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