Most people won’t be listening to the Everboom on their desktop, of course, so I did most of my testing outdoors, where the speaker really shines. I particularly liked its sound from about 10 feet or more away, characterized by rich punch in the bass and midrange and refined clarity in the higher frequencies with a hint of stereo separation. There’s a pulpy warmth that’s just right when playing crisp percussion, tinkling strings, or crunchy vocals.

You can crank it up pretty hard to fill a large room, and engage outdoor mode for a bit more punch. At full volume, however, you’ll likely notice some digital compression that can dampen the excitement. The Everboom effortlessly delivers a fuller sound outdoors than the smaller Boom 4 and my ageing JBL Flip 5, as well as the beefier Beats Pill, which tends to get sharper in the higher registers outdoors.

It’s much harder to distinguish between the Everboom and the Megaboom 4. After several hours of critical listening, the Everboom exhibited a smoother soundstage with warmer and fuller mid-bass and a bit more power, while the Megaboom is more focused in the mids and less refined in the highs. It’s a difference that probably won’t make much of an impression, especially if you’re sipping a few drinks at a barbecue or outdoor gathering.

Photo: Ryan Waniata

Neither speaker can penetrate the sub-bass regions with much authority, so if you want more powerful bass, you’ll probably have to step up to bigger options like the Epicboom (which I’ve yet to test) or something even more expensive like the physics-defying Brane X (9/10, WIRED recommends), though the latter doesn’t offer the same kind of go-anywhere, do-anything confidence as the Ultimate Ears.

What really makes UE’s “Boom” speakers so appealing is their balance of high performance and top-notch durability. Like its cheaper siblings, the Everboom serves up a great cocktail of sound, features and battery life in a frame that feels like you could throw it into a wood chipper and come out the other end (please not do that). But so do many of the options on our list of the best Bluetooth speakers, many of them for less money.

I’ve never found a compelling argument for the Everboom’s higher price, so I’d point you to the tried-and-true Megaboom 4 or JBL’s Charge 5 if you want a speaker that charges your phone. Those on a tighter budget will find similar deals on the Boom 4 or JBL Flip 6. Unless there’s a good sale, that’s where I’d spend my money.