Short answer: the Ultimate Ears Boom 4 for better sound quality, the Klipsch Groove/Heritage Groove for the lower price. The Ultimate Ears Boom 4 ranks #88 of 136 medium speakers at $105. The Klipsch Groove/Heritage Groove ranks #90 at $89, $16 cheaper.
The case for the Ultimate Ears Boom 4: IP67 rated, floats, and finally charges via USB-C instead of the older Booms’ Micro-USB. The tradeoff: Not much improvement over the old ones.
What the Klipsch Groove/Heritage Groove gets right: Pretty balanced sound. The catch: Not stereo.
Buy the Ultimate Ears Boom 4 if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Klipsch Groove/Heritage Groove if the price matters more than sound quality.
If battery life is a priority, the Ultimate Ears Boom 4 is rated for 15 hours versus 8 hours for the Klipsch Groove/Heritage Groove.
If water resistance matters to you, the Ultimate Ears Boom 4 at IP67 (brief submersion) holds up far better than the Klipsch Groove/Heritage Groove at IPX4 (Groove), none (Heritage Groove) (splashing).
Specifications Side By Side
| Ultimate Ears Boom 4 | Klipsch Groove/Heritage Groove | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $105 | $89.00 |
| Ranked | #88 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #90 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | No |
| Battery Life | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX4 (Groove), none (Heritage Groove) |
| Power Input | USB-C | Micro USB |
| Stereo | Yes | - |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Weight | 1.4 lbs / 620 g | 1.7 lbs / 770 g |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 | 4.0 |
| Dimensions | 7.2" x 2.9" x 2.9" (184 x 73 x 73 mm) | 5" x 6" x 2.6" (127 x 152 x 67 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 1.57" (40mm) active drivers + 2x 1.81" x 2.57" (46.1 x 65.2mm) 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 |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Max Volume | 85dBC | - |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | - | SBC, AAC |
| Party Mode | - | No |
| Output Power | - | 10W RMS |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2 vs Ultimate Ears Boom 3
- Ultimate Ears Wonderboom vs Ultimate Ears Boom 3
- Ultimate Ears Boom 3 vs Soundcore Motion X500
- Ultimate Ears Boom 3 vs Klipsch Groove/Heritage Groove
- Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2 vs Ultimate Ears Boom 4
The Two Speakers In Full
Ultimate Ears Boom 4: $105 Amazon
Pros: IP67 rated, floats, and finally charges via USB-C instead of the older Booms’ Micro-USB. 15 hour battery. Customizable EQ and speaker-pairing via the UE app.
Cons: Not much improvement over the old ones. Weak bass extension and thuddy bass. Gets distorted above 90%
Full Ultimate Ears Boom 4 review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 |
| Built in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 7.2" x 2.9" x 2.9" (184 x 73 x 73 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 1.57" (40mm) active drivers + 2x 1.81" x 2.57" (46.1 x 65.2mm) passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (via app) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Max Volume | 85dBC |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.4 lbs / 620 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Ultimate Ears Boom 4 vs Ultimate Ears Boom 3
- Ultimate Ears Boom 4 vs Ultimate Ears Wonderboom
- Ultimate Ears Boom 4 vs Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2
- Ultimate Ears Boom 4 vs Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3
- Ultimate Ears Boom 4 vs Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4
- Ultimate Ears Boom 4 vs Sony SRS-XE300
- Ultimate Ears Boom 4 vs Tribit Stormbox
- Ultimate Ears Boom 4 vs Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3
Klipsch Groove/Heritage Groove: $89.00 Amazon
Pros: Pretty balanced sound. Distinctive mid-century design with real wood veneer and a woven grille, unlike most plastic/rubber portables. ~8 hour battery life.
Cons: Not stereo. Bass doesn’t go as deep as others its size. Gets distorted at higher levels. Wouldn’t generally recommend these old speakers as they can’t compete with modern speakers for bass performance and features.
Full Klipsch Groove/Heritage Groove review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| 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 (Groove), none (Heritage Groove) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 10W RMS |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 1.7 lbs / 770 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Klipsch Groove/Heritage Groove vs Ultimate Ears Boom 3
- Klipsch Groove/Heritage Groove vs Sony SRS-XE300
- Klipsch Groove/Heritage Groove vs Ultimate Ears Wonderboom
- Klipsch Groove/Heritage Groove vs Tribit Stormbox
- Klipsch Groove/Heritage Groove vs Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2
- Klipsch Groove/Heritage Groove vs Sony SRS-XB20
- Klipsch Groove/Heritage Groove vs Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3
- Klipsch Groove/Heritage Groove vs Yamaha True X Speaker 1A