Short answer: the Harman Kardon Esquire 2 ranks #120 of 136 medium speakers by sound quality at $200; the Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4 ranks #132 at $200. Close enough in price that the sound-quality gap is the deciding factor.
What the Harman Kardon Esquire 2 offers: Doubles as a conferencing speakerphone with a 4-mic array and noise/echo cancellation. Flat, compact design packs easily. USB charge-out for topping off a phone. Watch for: Bass is weak, vocal and instrument separation is underwhelming and sounds tinny at high volume
What the Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4 offers: IP67 rated, floats, and finally uses USB-C charging. 20 hour battery life. ‘PartyUp’ feature syncs multiple UE speakers together. Watch for: A lot of distortion at higher volumes. Rolled off treble. Not very loud. They really screwed this up
Buy the Harman Kardon Esquire 2. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4 at the same price, which settles it without a real tradeoff to make.
Skip both if sound quality is the priority. There are better options higher up the 136 medium speakers.
Battery life favors the Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4: rated for 20 hours against 8 hours for the Harman Kardon Esquire 2.
If water resistance matters to you, the Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4 at IP67 (brief submersion) holds up far better than the Harman Kardon Esquire 2 at IPX4 (splashing).
Specifications Side By Side
| Harman Kardon Esquire 2 | Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $200 Discontinued | $200 |
| Ranked | #120 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #132 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.1 | 5.1 |
| Dimensions | 7.5" x 5.1" x 1.3" (190 x 130 x 34 mm) | 3.4" x 3.4" x 8.9" (87 x 87 x 225 mm) |
| Drivers | 4x 1.25" (32mm) full-range drivers | 2x 50x50mm full-range + 2x 55x86mm passive radiators |
| TWS | No | Yes |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | No |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | Yes |
| Power Input | Micro USB | USB-C |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) | - |
| Aux Input | Yes | - |
| Output Power | 16W | - |
| Weight | 0.8 lbs / 0.35 kg | 2.4 lbs / 1.1 kg |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | IP67 |
| Discontinued | Yes | - |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| App | - | Yes |
| Party Mode | - | Yes (PartyUp up to 50 speakers) |
| EQ | - | Yes (via app) |
| Max Volume | - | 91dB |
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Prices on this page were last checked August 27, 2026 at 10:09 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Speakers In Full
Harman Kardon Esquire 2: $200 Discontinued eBay
Pros: Doubles as a conferencing speakerphone with a 4-mic array and noise/echo cancellation. Flat, compact design packs easily. USB charge-out for topping off a phone.
Cons: Bass is weak, vocal and instrument separation is underwhelming and sounds tinny at high volume. Discontinued.
Full Harman Kardon Esquire 2 review and specifications →
| Aux Input | Yes |
|---|---|
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.1 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 7.5" x 5.1" x 1.3" (190 x 130 x 34 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 4x 1.25" (32mm) full-range drivers |
| IP Rating | IPX4 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 16W |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 0.8 lbs / 0.35 kg |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4: $200 Amazon eBay
Pros: IP67 rated, floats, and finally uses USB-C charging. 20 hour battery life. ‘PartyUp’ feature syncs multiple UE speakers together.
Cons: A lot of distortion at higher volumes. Rolled off treble. Not very loud. They really screwed this up
Full Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4 review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 |
| Built in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 3.4" x 3.4" x 8.9" (87 x 87 x 225 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 50x50mm full-range + 2x 55x86mm passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (via app) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Max Volume | 91dB |
| Omnidirectional | Yes |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyUp up to 50 speakers) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 2.4 lbs / 1.1 kg |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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- Reddit Search for Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4 Review
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