Short answer: the Ultimate Ears Boom 3 for battery life and PartyUp pairing, the Klipsch Groove for a more balanced stock sound, though neither ranks well in its class. The Klipsch Groove delivers pretty balanced sound but is not stereo. The Boom 3 adds crisp highs, an excellent 15-hour battery, stable Bluetooth, an IP67 floating shell and pairing with up to 150 speakers, though it is not stereo and has recessed treble. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 157 medium speakers; for better sound, the Earfun Uboom L ranks #1 at $49.79.
Buy the Ultimate Ears Boom 3 when sound quality outweighs the price for you, and the Klipsch Groove when the price outweighs sound quality instead.
Water resistance is not close: the Ultimate Ears Boom 3 is rated at IP67 (brief submersion), well ahead of the Klipsch Groove at IPX4 (splashing).
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Ultimate Ears Boom 3 | Klipsch Groove | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $134.99 | 9.00 |
| Ranked | #104 of 157 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #105 of 157 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 91Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyUp up to 50 speakers) | No |
| Power Input | Micro USB | Micro USB |
| Stereo | Yes | No |
| Omnidirectional | Yes | No |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs (608 g) | 1.7 lbs (770 g) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX4 |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | 4.0 |
| Dimensions | 7.2” x 2.9” (184 x 73 mm) | 5” x 6” x 2.6” (127 x 152 x 67 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 2” active drivers + 2x 2” x 4” passive radiators | 1x 3” full-range driver + 2x side-firing passive radiators |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| EQ | Yes (via app) | No |
| Built-in Microphone | No | Yes |
| Maximum SPL | 87dB (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC, AAC |
| App | Yes (Ultimate Ears BOOM & MEGABOOM app) | No |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Strap | Yes (built-in loop) | No |
| Power Bank | - | No |
| Amplifier Power | - | 10W RMS |
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Prices on this page were last checked October 2, 2026 at 10:18 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
Ultimate Ears Boom 3: $134.99 Amazon eBay
Newer model: the Ultimate Ears Boom 4, ranked higher, rated 2.9/5.
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. Measured bass extension of 91Hz (-10dB).
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 →
| App | Yes (Ultimate Ears BOOM & MEGABOOM app) |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 91Hz |
| Battery Life | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| 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 |
| Maximum SPL | 87dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Omnidirectional | Yes |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyUp up to 50 speakers) |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | Yes (built-in loop) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs (608 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- No independent measurement review is linked for this model; it is ranked from hands-on listening and comparison against similarly priced speakers.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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- Ultimate Ears Boom 3 vs Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3
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Klipsch Groove: 9.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: Pretty balanced sound in a compact, splash-resistant form factor. IPX4 water resistance and ~8 hour battery life make it durable for outdoor and poolside use. 3-inch high excursion full-range driver paired with dual side-firing passive radiators.
Cons: Not stereo. Bass doesn’t go as deep as class leaders. Distortion sets in at higher output levels. Older Bluetooth 4.0 architecture without app EQ.
Full Klipsch Groove review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 10W RMS |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.0 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 5” x 6” x 2.6” (127 x 152 x 67 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 3” full-range driver + 2x side-firing passive radiators |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IPX4 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Stereo | No |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 1.7 lbs (770 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- No independent measurement review is linked for this model; it is ranked from hands-on listening and comparison against similarly priced speakers.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Klipsch Groove vs Klipsch Heritage Groove
- Klipsch Groove vs Ultimate Ears Boom 4
- Klipsch Groove vs Ultimate Ears Wonderboom
- Klipsch Groove vs Sony SRS-XE300
- Klipsch Groove vs Tribit Stormbox
- Klipsch Groove vs Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2
- Klipsch Groove vs Sony SRS-XB20
- Klipsch Groove vs Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3
- See all 86 comparisons