Short answer: the B&O Beosound A1 2nd gen. It ranks #11 of 177 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 4.3/5, at $395. The Ultimate Ears Boom 3 ranks #113, rated 2.9/5, at $132.99, $262.01 cheaper, which does not close the gap in sound quality.
Why pick the Ultimate Ears Boom 3: A rugged waterproof speaker that floats, with a fabric shell, a stable Bluetooth connection and PartyUp linking for many speakers. It plays in stereo from a single unit, unlike the B&O Beosound A1 2nd gen. The tradeoff: Not stereo, barely any bass, recessed treble.
The B&O Beosound A1 2nd gen is the better-sounding, deeper-bass option. A premium waterproof puck speaker with balanced sound, a built in strap, and a long battery for travel. Its bass reaches about 58Hz before falling 10dB, against 91Hz for the Ultimate Ears Boom 3. It supports aptX Adaptive Bluetooth, which the Ultimate Ears Boom 3 lacks. It charges over USB-C rather than Micro USB.
Buy the B&O Beosound A1 2nd gen. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $262.01 with the Ultimate Ears Boom 3 does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
A rugged waterproof speaker that floats, with a fabric shell, a stable Bluetooth connection and PartyUp linking for many speakers.
A premium waterproof puck speaker with balanced sound, a built in strap, and a long battery for travel.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Ultimate Ears Boom 3 | B&O Beosound A1 2nd gen | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $132.99 | $395.00 |
| Ranked | #113 of 177 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #11 of 177 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 91Hz | 58Hz |
| Battery Life | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 18 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyUp up to 50 speakers) | - |
| Power Input | Micro USB | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes | No |
| Omnidirectional | Yes | Pointing up |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs (608 g) | 1.2 lbs (558 g) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | 5.1 |
| Dimensions | 7.2” x 2.9” (184 x 73 mm) | 5.2”W x 5.2”D x 1.8”H (133 x 133 x 46 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 2” active drivers + 2x 2” x 4” passive radiators | 3.5mm aluminium driver + 0.75 inch silk dome tweeter |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| EQ | Yes (via app) | Yes |
| Built-in Microphone | No | Yes |
| Maximum SPL | 87dB (Manufacturer specified) | 93dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Digital Aux Input | No | Yes (USB-C) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive |
| App | Yes (Ultimate Ears BOOM & MEGABOOM app) | Yes |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | Yes (built-in loop) | Yes (built-in strap) |
| Bluetooth Latency | - | 90ms |
| Power Bank | - | No |
| Amplifier Power | - | 60W total (2x 30W Class D) |
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