Short answer: the Ultimate Ears Boom 3 for portability and battery life, the Yamaha True X Speaker 1A for surround duty, though neither ranks well in its class. The 1A doubles as a wireless surround speaker for Yamaha True X soundbars or works standalone in Solo mode, though it has not very deep bass and an upper-mids peak that makes voices sibilant. The Boom 3 has crisp highs, a 15-hour battery, an IP67 floating shell and PartyUp pairing for up to 150 speakers. 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. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Yamaha True X Speaker 1A and costs less, so it is the default pick unless a specific strength of the other one matters more to you.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Ultimate Ears Boom 3 | Yamaha True X Speaker 1A | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $134.99 | $150 |
| Ranked | #104 of 157 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #111 of 157 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 91Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyUp up to 50 speakers) | - |
| Power Input | Micro USB | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | Yes | No |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs (608 g) | 1.1 lbs (500 g) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | 5.0 |
| Dimensions | 7.2” x 2.9” (184 x 73 mm) | 4.1” x 3.5” x 3.5” (105 x 90 x 90 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 2” active drivers + 2x 2” x 4” passive radiators | 1x 55mm (2.2”) full-range driver + 2x passive radiators |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| EQ | Yes (via app) | No |
| Built-in Microphone | No | No |
| Maximum SPL | 87dB (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) |
| App | Yes (Ultimate Ears BOOM & MEGABOOM app) | No |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | Yes (built-in loop) | - |
| Power Bank | - | No |
| Amplifier Power | - | 10W |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Ultimate Ears Boom 3:
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Prices on this page were last checked October 3, 2026 at 10:26 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.
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Yamaha True X Speaker 1A: $150 Amazon eBay
Pros: Doubles as a wireless surround speaker for Yamaha True X soundbars, or a standalone speaker via ‘Solo’ mode. IP67 rated. Clear Voice technology boosts dialogue clarity.
Cons: Not very deep bass, upper mids peak that makes voices sibilant
Full Yamaha True X Speaker 1A review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 10W |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 4.1” x 3.5” x 3.5” (105 x 90 x 90 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 55mm (2.2”) full-range driver + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 1.1 lbs (500 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Yamaha True X Speaker 1A vs Sony SRS-XB20
- Yamaha True X Speaker 1A vs Tribit Stormbox
- Yamaha True X Speaker 1A vs Sony SRS-XE300
- Yamaha True X Speaker 1A vs Bose SoundLink Color II
- Yamaha True X Speaker 1A vs Marshall Emberton III
- Yamaha True X Speaker 1A vs Marshall Emberton II
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- See all 10 comparisons