Earfun UBoom L: two minute review
EarFun isn’t the best-known company in the audio world, but it’s steadily creeping up on our radar with some discounted speakers and earbuds. The latest of these entries, the EarFun UBoom L speaker addresses the ongoing need for top-of-the-line waterproof speakers that can withstand a rough pool party while still sounding just as good indoors.
Like some of the best Bluetooth speakers on the market, the EarFun UBoom L speaker specifically targets both arenas by having indoor and outdoor modes, although we tend to think it’s more fun to use outdoors.
Made in collaboration with Austrian music producer Olaf Lubanski, this is a pretty well designed speaker. It may look rather ordinary on the surface, but underneath it packs quite a punch and offers an appealing soundstage which is further enhanced when you pair it with a second speaker.
The shape has robustness written all over it. You can place it horizontally or vertically and it will rest quite well on all but the most uneven of outdoor surfaces (like our lawn).
Setup is a breeze that we expected, with clearly laid out buttons on the top dictating volume control, on/off, Bluetooth and which sound mode you want to use. On the back is the 3.5mm auxiliary input and a USB-C port for charging – both of which can be hidden if you want to use the speaker in the pool.
While the bass could be a little deeper and more powerful, the EarFun UBoom L audio experience is still pretty good. Even on its own, it offers a wide soundstage that is further enhanced when you pair two of them together for stereo sound. The vocals sound clear and well defined without any muddyness.
It’s very likely that if you enjoy the great outdoors you don’t need the richest and most detailed audio performance, the EarFun UBoom L speaker still does a good job of sounding smooth without grain or harshness.
At the nominal price of $99 / £99 and already hefty discounts, the EarFun UBoom L speaker is a steal, with a robust design without sacrificing good sound quality.
Earfun UBoom L: price and release date
- Released on July 11, 2022
- Officially priced $99 / £99, but already see discounts
The EarFun UBoom L speaker is now available in both the US and UK. It’s only available in one color scheme – black – but the price has already started dropping.
With a standard price of $99 / £99 (which is about AU$173), at the time of writing we’ve seen the EarFun UBoom L speaker available for $79.99 / £79.99, despite being only has recently been launched.
That makes it really affordable compared to competitors like the Sonos Roam, JBL Flip 6 or Ultimate Ears Boom 3. Yeah, that’s probably because EarFun is a lesser-known name, but that doesn’t mean it’s unworthy now, does it?
Earfun UBoom L: Design and Features
- IP67 dustproof and waterproof
- Up to 16 hours of play time
- Bluetooth 5.0
The EarFun UBoom L speaker measures 210 x 78 x 72mm and weighs 2.1 pounds, meaning that even with small hands, it’s fairly easy to grip with one hand. It has a black woven fabric cover and a rubbery coating over the plastic frame that also gives you some extra grip when you hold it.
OK, it resembles (almost) every other Bluetooth speaker out there, which is both a good and a bad thing. Unlike other party speakers, the EarFun UBoom L won’t put on a visual show – don’t expect light shows or spotlights here.
At the top are tactile buttons that represent volume, power, Bluetooth, play/pause and the choice of sound modes. Indoor and outdoor modes are your options here, with the latter boosting bass and improving performance in a noisier outdoor environment.
On the back is a rubber cover that protects the 3.5mm auxiliary input and USB-C port from the elements. No charging plug is included, but you do get a USB-C cable. The EarFun UBoom L is waterproof, so you don’t have to worry about it getting wet while hiking in bad conditions or even by the pool.
It’s possible to pair two of the speakers in stereo, which makes a big difference if you want to spread the sound, but we’ll get into the sound quality shortly.
The EarFun UBoom L is designed to sit horizontally and can also be placed vertically on most surfaces, although sound wise it is best left horizontal.
Up to 16 hours of battery life is promised and this is where the EarFun UBoom L speaker delivers. With the 5,200 mAh battery, you can party all day long without any problems. That is undoubtedly helped by Bluetooth 5.0, which also meant that we never saw our connection drop at any time.
Earfun UBoom L: Sound quality
- 2 x 55mm drivers
- Wide soundstage
- Bass boosted when you pair two speakers in stereo
The EarFun UBoom L features two 55mm drivers and two passive bass radiators. Combined, you get a pretty strong audio experience. The bass could be a little deeper and more powerful, but it’s a relatively minor complaint considering the price. We only really noticed it when listening to particularly bassy tracks like Fleetwood Mac’s The chain and Foo Fighters’ All my life.
Elsewhere, there’s the benefit of a wide soundstage, even with just one speaker. Add a second speaker and the bass will be stronger and the soundstage even wider, but you’ll still be very immersed in the music.
Using the Indoor mode results in some detailed mids and clear highs. There’s no harshness here, with people like David Bowie’s Under pressure sound rich and clear. Listening to classical music gives the same result, while Childish Gambino’s Feels like summer sounds suitably exciting.
Nothing about the sound quality of the EarFun UBoom L speaker is boring. The only problem is this: if you want booming bass you’ll have to look elsewhere – but again, this is often the case with smaller, portable Bluetooth products.
Switch to outdoor mode and the bass will be boosted slightly, so you can choose to do that when needed. At least there’s still clarity in every note, as this particular mode is designed to make sure you can hear it over background noise. There is no app to adjust the equalizer here, so a change of modes is the best option to customize your sonic experience.
Earfun UBoom L: Value
- Very competitive price:
- Worth buying two
- Incredible value per pound
There’s no two ways: the EarFun UBoom L speaker is fantastic value for money. At the regular price of $99/£99, it’s already worth it, but the best part is, it’s already discounted.
In some cases (and we’re factoring in the cost of living here) it’s probably worth buying two so you can pair them up for stereo sound while still paying less than for one better-known brand product.
However we look at it, for solid sound per pound value, you can’t go wrong with Earfun’s UBoom L.
Earfun UBoom L: Should I buy it?
| attributes | Comments: | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Features and design | Hardly a conversation starter, but it’s a rock solid build | 4/5 |
| Sound quality | Wide soundstage with detailed mids and clear highs – just a tad lightweight through the bass | 4/5 |
| Where the | A damn good-per-pound bargain | 5/5 |
