On the whole though, the Boom 4 gets a lot more right than wrong. The clarity is excellent, volume is punchy (topping out at 85 dB), and it doesn't get too distorted even at full blast. Is it going to match the best of the best? Of course not, but it isn't meant to. It's meant to be a great compact speaker that delivers superbly clear sound at an affordable price. And in that respect, it does an excellent job. Inevitably there are a few compromises, but this is a great little speaker, that I would definitely recommend.

The Boom 4 is the gold standard of portable speakers. It is more durable, sustainably designed, powerful, and attractive than most other portable speakers currently available. If you have the cash and really want good sound everywhere you go, it’s hard to imagine anything better than the Ultimate Ears Boom 4.

The Ultimate Ears BOOM 4 is a good fit for outdoors use. Its svelte, lightweight design means that it can easily be stowed in a bag or a larger pocket, and it can even be clipped on to your person for easy transportation. Its 12 hours of battery life means that you can squeeze a few listening sessions out of it while on a camping trip without needing to recharge. Plus, its excellent directivity and decent dynamics performance means you can play some tunes around a campfire with everyone enjoying a similar audio experience.