Short answer: the Tribit Xsound Surf. It ranks #79 of 136 medium speakers by sound quality at $26; the Ultimate Ears Boom 3 ranks #89 and costs $109, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
On the Tribit Xsound Surf side: Rugged rubberized frame with a metal grille. Watch for: Bass doesn’t go as deep as others, strange midrange peaks.
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 Tribit Xsound Surf. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Ultimate Ears Boom 3 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
If battery life is a priority, the Ultimate Ears Boom 3 is rated for 15 hours versus 10 hours for the Tribit Xsound Surf.
Specifications Side By Side
| Tribit Xsound Surf | Ultimate Ears Boom 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $26 | $109.00 |
| Ranked | #79 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #89 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | - |
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | Yes |
| Weight | 1 lbs / 440 g | 1.3 lbs / 608 g |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 4.2 |
| Dimensions | 7" x 2.2" x 2.1" (178 x 57 x 54 mm) | 7.2" x 2.9" (184 x 73 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 70Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Output Power | 12W RMS | - |
| Bluetooth Codecs | aptX HD, aptX Lossless, LDAC, aptX Adaptive | - |
| Built in Microphone | Likely Yes (based on Tribit pattern) | No |
| EQ | Yes | Yes (via app) |
| App | Yes | - |
| Drivers | 40W: 2x drivers with passive radiator | 2x 2" active drivers + 2x 2" x 4" passive radiators |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IP67 |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 91Hz |
| Party Mode | - | Yes (PartyUp up to 50 speakers) |
| Power Input | - | Micro USB |
| TWS | - | Yes |
| Max Volume | - | 87dB |
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More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Tribit Xsound Go vs Ultimate Ears Boom 4
- Tribit Stormbox vs Tribit Stormbox 2
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- Tribit Xsound Surf vs Ultimate Ears Boom 4
The Two Speakers In Full
Tribit Xsound Surf: $26
Pros: Rugged rubberized frame with a metal grille. About 20% louder than the XSound Go at the same volume. IPX7 rated, USB-C charging, and pairs with a second Surf for stereo.
Cons: Bass doesn’t go as deep as others, strange midrange peaks
Full Tribit Xsound Surf review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | aptX HD, aptX Lossless, LDAC, aptX Adaptive |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Built in Microphone | Likely Yes (based on Tribit pattern) |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 7" x 2.2" x 2.1" (178 x 57 x 54 mm) |
| Drivers | 40W: 2x drivers with passive radiator |
| EQ | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 70Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 12W RMS |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Weight | 1 lbs / 440 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Jay’s Straight Up Reviews & More: Tribit XSound Surf vs. XSound Go (Upgraded Model) Bluetooth Speaker Sound Comparison. More from JaysStraightUpReviews →
- Aphid Tech: Tribit XSound Surf vs Soundcore 2 - With Sound Comparison!
- Jay’s Straight Up Reviews & More: Zealot S61 🦨 Bluetooth Speaker Review & Sound Comparison to Tribit XSound Surf. Another Zealot dud❓
- Reddit Search for Tribit Xsound Surf Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Tribit Xsound Surf vs Tribit Xsound Go
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- Tribit Xsound Surf vs Soundcore 2
- Tribit Xsound Surf vs Sony ULT Field 1
- Tribit Xsound Surf vs LG Xboom Grab
- Tribit Xsound Surf vs JBL Grip
- Tribit Xsound Surf vs Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3
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- See all 27 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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