Short answer: the Sonos Roam for better sound quality, the Ultimate Ears Boom 4 for the lower price. The Sonos Roam ranks #72 of 136 medium speakers at $175. The Ultimate Ears Boom 4 ranks #88 at $105, $70 cheaper.
What the Sonos Roam offers: Very neutral. IP67 rated at ~1 lb. Set against that: Bass extension isn’t very good.
The case for the Ultimate Ears Boom 4: IP67 rated, floats, and finally charges via USB-C instead of the older Booms’ Micro-USB. The catch: Not much improvement over the old ones.
Buy the Sonos Roam if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Ultimate Ears Boom 4 if the price matters more than sound quality.
If battery life is a priority, the Ultimate Ears Boom 4 is rated for 15 hours versus 10 hours for the Sonos Roam.
Specifications Side By Side
| Sonos Roam | Ultimate Ears Boom 4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $175.00 | $105 |
| Ranked | #72 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #88 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 63Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Max Volume | 95dB | 85dBC |
| Stereo | No | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Weight | 0.9 lbs / 429 g | 1.4 lbs / 620 g |
| Wifi | Yes | - |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 5.1 |
| Dimensions | 2.4" x 6.6" x 2.4" (62 x 168 x 60 mm) | 7.2" x 2.9" x 2.9" (184 x 73 x 73 mm) |
| App | Sonos S2 App | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC | - |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | No |
| EQ | Yes (via app, limited in Bluetooth mode) | Yes (via app) |
| Drivers | Dual full-range drivers + passive radiators | 2x 1.57" (40mm) active drivers + 2x 1.81" x 2.57" (46.1 x 65.2mm) passive radiators |
| IP Rating | IPX5 | IP67 |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Power Input | - | USB-C |
| TWS | - | Yes |
| Power Bank | - | No |
| Aux Input | - | No |
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- Sony SRS-XB30 vs Ultimate Ears Wonderboom
- Sonos Roam 2 vs Ultimate Ears Boom 4
- Sonos Roam vs Ultimate Ears Boom 3
The Two Speakers In Full
Sonos Roam: $175.00 Amazon
Pros: Very neutral. IP67 rated at ~1 lb. Wireless (Qi) charging - rare for a portable speaker. Works with Alexa/Sonos Voice Control and the wider Sonos ecosystem over Wi-Fi.
Cons: Bass extension isn’t very good. Not stereo. Gets distorted if you turn up the bass.
Full Sonos Roam review and specifications →
| App | Sonos S2 App |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 63Hz |
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 2.4" x 6.6" x 2.4" (62 x 168 x 60 mm) |
| Drivers | Dual full-range drivers + passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (via app, limited in Bluetooth mode) |
| IP Rating | IPX5 |
| Max Volume | 95dB |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Stereo | No |
| Weight | 0.9 lbs / 429 g |
| Wifi | Yes |
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- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Ultimate Ears Boom 4: $105 Amazon
Pros: IP67 rated, floats, and finally charges via USB-C instead of the older Booms’ Micro-USB. 15 hour battery. Customizable EQ and speaker-pairing via the UE app.
Cons: Not much improvement over the old ones. Weak bass extension and thuddy bass. Gets distorted above 90%
Full Ultimate Ears Boom 4 review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 |
| Built in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 7.2" x 2.9" x 2.9" (184 x 73 x 73 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 1.57" (40mm) active drivers + 2x 1.81" x 2.57" (46.1 x 65.2mm) passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (via app) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Max Volume | 85dBC |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.4 lbs / 620 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 4 vs Ultimate Ears Wonderboom
- Ultimate Ears Boom 4 vs Klipsch Groove/Heritage Groove
- Ultimate Ears Boom 4 vs Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2
- Ultimate Ears Boom 4 vs Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3
- Ultimate Ears Boom 4 vs Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4
- Ultimate Ears Boom 4 vs Sony SRS-XE300
- Ultimate Ears Boom 4 vs Tribit Stormbox
- See all 23 comparisons