Short answer: the Soundboks Rider. It ranks #31 of 53 party speakers by sound quality, rated 3.4/5, at $599. The Ultimate Ears Hyperboom ranks #35, rated 3.2/5, at $337.99, $261.01 cheaper, not enough of a saving to outweigh the sound-quality gap.
The Soundboks Rider is the longer-running, tougher choice. A light, rugged party speaker with a swappable battery that lasts all day at mid volume and an app with a six band EQ. It is rated for 35 hours of battery against 24 for the Ultimate Ears Hyperboom. It is rated IP66, while the Ultimate Ears Hyperboom has no water resistance. It has an adjustable EQ, which the Ultimate Ears Hyperboom lacks. The tradeoff: Its sealed 8in woofer runs out of real bass at high volume: Xander measured the -6 dB point rising to roughly 75 to 85 Hz at maximum, with 40 Hz some 20 dB down, and M1M heard the bass pulled back toward the upper bass above mid volume.
Why pick the Ultimate Ears Hyperboom: A compact party speaker with a long battery, aux and optical inputs, splash resistance, and a handle for carrying. It links with other speakers (PartyUp up to 50 speakers), which the Soundboks Rider cannot. It plays in stereo from a single unit, unlike the Soundboks Rider. Watch for: Very expensive for what it does, a bit dull and muddy sound.
Buy the Soundboks Rider. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $261.01 saving on the Ultimate Ears Hyperboom is not enough to make up the difference.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Prices on this page were last checked November 11, 2026 at 3:26 AM 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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Specifications Side By Side
| Soundboks Rider | Ultimate Ears Hyperboom | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $599.00 | $337.99 |
| Ranked | #31 of 53 in Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #35 of 53 in Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes (Soundboks) | No |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | 35 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Drivers | 8” woofer (sealed), 1.2” dome tweeter in horn | 2x 5.66” woofers, 2x 0.98” tweeters, passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (6-band EQ + Bass+, Indoor and Outdoor profiles) | No |
| Frequency Response | 40Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| IP Rating | IP66 | None |
| Maximum SPL | 113.2dB(C) (measured by M1M Tech Channel) | - |
| Party Mode | No (no TeamUp) | Yes (PartyUp up to 50 speakers) |
| Power Input | USB-C (65W fast charging) | AC Power brick |
| Removable Battery | Yes | - |
| Stereo | No | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | No | No |
| Weight | 14.3 lbs (6.5 kg) | 13 lbs (5.9 kg) |
| Amplifier Power | 92W RMS (72W woofer + 20W tweeter) | - |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | No | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 55Hz |
| Bluetooth Codecs | - | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 5.0 |
| Charging Time | - | 2.6 hours |
| Dimensions | - | 7.5” x 7.5” x 14.3” (190 x 190 x 364 mm) |
| Power Bank | - | No |
| USB Playback | - | No |
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