Short answer: the Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3. It ranks #83 of 136 medium speakers by sound quality at $163; the Harman Kardon Esquire 2 ranks #120 and costs $200, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 offers: IP67 rated, floats, and survives drops from up to 1 meter. 20 hour battery life - about double most speakers this size. Watch for: Not stereo, barely any bass. 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 2018. Not technically a 360 speaker, only front and rear.
What the Harman Kardon Esquire 2 offers: Doubles as a conferencing speakerphone with a 4-mic array and noise/echo cancellation. Flat, compact design packs easily. USB charge-out for topping off a phone. Watch for: Bass is weak, vocal and instrument separation is underwhelming and sounds tinny at high volume
Buy the Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Harman Kardon Esquire 2 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
The Harman Kardon Esquire 2 is not a sound-quality pick. It sits near the bottom of the 136 medium speakers; there are better options higher up.
There is a real battery-life gap here: the Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 is rated for 20 hours, the Harman Kardon Esquire 2 only 8 hours.
If water resistance matters to you, the Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 at IPX7 (brief submersion) holds up far better than the Harman Kardon Esquire 2 at IPX4 (splashing).
Specifications Side By Side
| Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 | Harman Kardon Esquire 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $163 | $200 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #83 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #120 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 70Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Max Volume | 98dB | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyUp up to 50 speakers) | - |
| Power Input | Micro USB | Micro USB |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | Yes | No |
| Weight | 2 lbs / 925 g | 0.8 lbs / 0.35 kg |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | 4.1 |
| Drivers | 2x 50mm fullrange | 4x 1.25" (32mm) full-range drivers |
| Dimensions | 3.4" x 8.9" x 3.4" (87 x 225 x 87 mm) | 7.5" x 5.1" x 1.3" (190 x 130 x 34 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IPX4 |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| TWS | - | No |
| Built in Microphone | - | Yes |
| Power Bank | - | Yes (USB-A) |
| Aux Input | - | Yes |
| Output Power | - | 16W |
| Discontinued | - | Yes |
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Prices on this page were last checked August 27, 2026 at 10:09 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 Megaboom 3: $163 Amazon eBay
Pros: IP67 rated, floats, and survives drops from up to 1 meter. 20 hour battery life - about double most speakers this size.
Cons: Not stereo, barely any bass. 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 2018. Not technically a 360 speaker, only front and rear.
Full Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 70Hz |
|---|---|
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 3.4" x 8.9" x 3.4" (87 x 225 x 87 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 50mm fullrange |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Max Volume | 98dB |
| Omnidirectional | Yes |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyUp up to 50 speakers) |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Stereo | No |
| Weight | 2 lbs / 925 g |
- Links
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Harman Kardon Esquire 2: $200 Discontinued eBay
Pros: Doubles as a conferencing speakerphone with a 4-mic array and noise/echo cancellation. Flat, compact design packs easily. USB charge-out for topping off a phone.
Cons: Bass is weak, vocal and instrument separation is underwhelming and sounds tinny at high volume. Discontinued.
Full Harman Kardon Esquire 2 review and specifications →
| Aux Input | Yes |
|---|---|
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.1 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 7.5" x 5.1" x 1.3" (190 x 130 x 34 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 4x 1.25" (32mm) full-range drivers |
| IP Rating | IPX4 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 16W |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 0.8 lbs / 0.35 kg |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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