GaS Ginsters

2 de junio de 2021

360° Sound that's dustproof and floats! ... and a blurb about Wattage and Sound

Shortly after purchasing a couple of the Tribit Strombox Micro's, I quickly came to realize that although they were waterproof, they did not float. So I was once again on my quest for a mini travel speaker that I could use in the pool without worry.Enter the Wonderboom 2 by Ultimate Ears (Logitech). Sharing much of the same features as the Tribit Stormbox Micro, I'll once again share my thoughts on the good, the bad, and the ugly...The good:Not as small as the Tribit, but still small enough to fit in your hand at about 4" high and 3.5" diameter.Large volume control buttons on face with track control on top.Uses one of the more recent Bluetooth versions (v5.0)Two 40mm active drivers pumping out 87db of sound360° sound outputCan pair one speaker to two different devices simultaneously.Can link TWO Wonderboom 2's for Stereo sound.13 hour playback (max volume ~ 9.5 hrs) is sufficient to last an outing for an entire day.IP67 Rating means it's both dustproof and waterproof (rated 30 minutes submerged in 3.3 feet of water).Drop proof from a distance of 5 feet.It floats!It recharges at 5V @ 2A, so it takes about 2.5hrs to fully charge.The Bad:There's no 3.5mm port on this speaker (Bluetooth connection only).Micro USB port for charging (not USB-C).No Microphone (so no phone calls, Siri, or Alexa capability/support).Only supports standard SBC Codec (does not support AptX or AAC).The Ugly:Nothing to note really.Overall, if you're looking for a Bluetooth speaker that's portable, sounds good, and floats, then the Wonderboom 2 should definitely be considered. The build quality, design, and feature set (particularly the IP67 dustproof and waterproof rating, the portable and rugged design, and the ability to pair to multiple devices simultaneously for stereo sound) is a direct competitor to the Tribit Strombox Micro. Each has their own unique advantages. The Tribit Stormbox has the versatile strap that easily and securely attaches to anything within 1.5" thick, and the Wonderboom 2 floats. Wonderboom 2's battery lasts 60% longer and charges 40% faster than the Tribit, but the Tribit has a microphone (albeit a bad one) and supports calls, Google, Siri, and Alexa. Lastly, keep in mind that although the Wonderboom 2 may have better features (longer battery life, quicker charging times, etc), it's also currently priced at about 50% higher than the Tribit Stormbox. Despite all the overlapping features, I have no regrets with my Wonderboom 2 purchase, the floatability was what I was after, and it delivered as promised.2021-07-31 Update.There seems to be many questions about speaker watts, so I'm updating my original review to hopefully shed some light on wattage and sound.Wattage is a unit of power (Volts x Amps = Watts) and is indicative of how much power the amplifier uses to generate sound. It's the speaker sensitivity (Sound Pressure Level or SPL rating) and amplification that will determine how loud that sound is. In other words, a 7W speaker can produce more sound than an 8W speaker depending on the SPL of the speaker.Loudness is measured in decibels, and is independent of sound quality. The two often have an inverse relationship, that is, loudness often comes at the cost of sound quality. With the WonderBoom 2 (WB2), volumes of 8+ will cause noticeable degradation in sound quality. The WB2 does have "Outdoor Mode" designed to boost volume levels even more, but when your primary focus is sound travel (coverage area), the degradation in quality is often acceptable.The best way to judge speakers is to hear them. Everyone has their own sensitivities to sound, if you can, try to demo a speaker at a brick and mortar store before making your purchase. If it sounds good to you, then that's all that matters. But if you're exclusively an online shopper type of person, here's what I've found online:The original WB outputs a max 86 decibels. The WB2 has a max output of 86 decibels; however, the WB2 has Stereo linking capabilities (link to another WB2 which will effectively doubles the "loudness" as each will produce 86 decibels) as well as "Outdoor Mode" to increase overall sound from 86 decibels to 87 decibels.To make these numbers more meaningful, here's a comparison of sounds of common things you may hear at different decibel levels:20 db (FAINT - leaves rustling)30-40 db (SOFT - whispers)50-60 db (MODERATE - normal conversation)70-80 db (LOUD - vacuum)NOTE: 85+ db's over extended periods of time can cause permanent hearing loss!90-110 db (VERY LOUD - hair dryer, power tools, car horns) *** dangerous over 30 mins ***120 db (UNCOMFORTABLE - jet plane on take-off) *** dangerous over 30 seconds !!! ***130-140 db (PAINFUL & DANGEROUS - ambulance, fireworks) *** use protection or avoid ***** Your eardrums will rupture at 150 db ***NOTE: Decibel levels are also not straight line values, meaning that 110 db is not 10% louder than 100 db. 70 db is the normal threshold of "loudness" or the level of volume most people endure during a normal day (traffic, vacuum, alarm clocks), so using this as the baseline for comparison, moving in either direction, the levels of sound are exponential.e.g. 80 db is TWICE as loud as 70 db90 db is FOUR times as loud as 70 db (twice as loud as 80 db)100 db is EIGHT times as loud as 70 db (twice as loud as 90 db)110 db is SIXTEEN times as loud as 70 db (Avg. human pain threshold)120 db is THIRTY TWO times as loud as 70 db (Painful to hear)Moving in the other direction:60 db is 1/2 as loud as 70 db50 db is 1/4 as loud as 70 db40 db is 1/8 as loud as 70 db30 db is 1/16 as loud as 70 db20 db is 1/32 as loud as 70 dbSo the increase from 86 db to 87 db may not appear to be much of a boost, but that extra db will actually increase the maximum sound output by 25.89%. Furthermore, with speakers, 80% - 90% of the sound is generated within the first watt of power. Thereafter, a doubling of power will produce marginal increases in sound output.e.g. 1 watt = 78 db2 watts = 81 db4 watts = 84 db8 watts = 87 dbOn a ending note, before you go out there and try to find a speaker that will produce rock concert, ear drum rupturing sound, keep in mind that manufacturers have the social responsibility to ensure that their products are safe for consumers. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) have set safety guidelines to prevent hearing loss. This includes limiting workers to exposure of 85 db within a 8-hour work day (with hearing protection provided as a requirement). UE is already pushing these limits with the WB & WB2 at 86 db, and now 87 db (the limit in the United Kingdom).Ver más

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David

17 de marzo de 2023

I love it.

This is the kind of the product that as soon as I used it, I thought - I gotta get another one of these. The sound quality is good, the design is super appealing - great to experience visually and in the hand, and the price is incredible to me.I had previously purchased the Anker soundcore3 and loved its functionality but just wasn't happy with the sound quality, sounded weird - kind of tinny or hollow? I don't know. Sound/speaker-nerds probably have better language.For me this little dude sounds great - natural, full, wide range - especially for the price. I use it to listen to classical, jazz, and pop/rock music, and I think they all sound good.Plus it's just really cute and fun to hold in your hand and carry and feels kinda indestructible. Very tactile. It's a little weird that the plus and minus symbol for the volume kinda make a cross, but =\__(:-/)__/=Battery life is amazing. I don't remember when I bought it, maybe 6 months ago? And it seems like I've only had to charge it 5 times, and I listen to it for an 1-2 hours a day. Is that possible? I think so.It was on sale when I got it, maybe $89. For me, that price is amazing - considering a large pizza can be $30 these days.TL/DR: Natural sound, great value, appealing and human design. Thumbs up.Ver más

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Jeff

11 de noviembre de 2020

Feisty, great quality sound in a rugged package

I'm a composer and producer, and was looking for an affordable (sub $100), rugged, yet still great sounding portable bluetooth speaker that I could road-trip with for recreational listening, and this little guy has exceeded expectations.SOUND: It's feisty for its size! Over dinner, my folks were shocked to know that size and quality sound was coming from this thing. The sound could be described as punchy (so, not neutral), but I enjoy that personality. I love that the mids are really clear so it's not drowning in bass like so many speakers and headphones these days. The 360 degree sound also means it doesn't matter what direction it's facing when I'm driving or hiking or sitting in a warm bath and don't wanna reach too far to turn it around. Little things like that go a long way.PORTABILITY: Fits in my hand like a jumbo size grenade. Toss it in your bag, it won't take up too much space. The design feels rugged and durable. Even the little loop has proven surprisingly useful when hanging it on a shower hook or whatnot. I haven't water tested it, but knowing I don't have to stress if it falls in the drink is relaxation-positive.CONNECTIVITY: Solid, quick, and reliable to either my phone or my laptop.ANNOYANCES: The micro USB charging port is annoying as hell, being so recessed and difficult to access while making sure the plug is facing the right way up. The cord it comes with is like 3 inches long. Also, I desperately wish I could turn off the hilariously obnoxious noises it makes when turning on (HELLO WORLD!!! EVERYONE WITHIN A 30 FOOT RADIUS KNOWS I'M AWAKE!) and turning off (The saddest 'whomp whomp'). I'm pretty sure my neighbors can hear it when my windows are open.But by and large, this thing has been an amazing companion. Given that we're all working remotely for the foreseeable, I basically carry it with me whenever and wherever I want my tunes. Which is everywhere.Ver más

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J-Unit77

15 de mayo de 2026

Great golf speaker

Great speaker. Have had this speaker for 5 years on my golf bag and it still bumps perfectly.

Cheyenne

2 de noviembre de 2025

Unbreakable

I bought this over 3 years ago, and it's my go to for the pool, kayaking, and the house. I've dropped it in the water a couple times and today, I forgot that it was on my car..... It flew off my car at 45ish mph, bounced around the road, and still survived and has perfect sound - I'm actually amazed. I don't think this thing will ever die! Durable, quick connecting, and reliable!Ver más

Connor

18 de agosto de 2019

Not a WONDER, but definitely full of BOOM.

Pro:- waterproof- sound 360°- sound quality and volume- form factor and build quality- price- battery life at half volumeCon:- battery life at full volume- no rewind button- battery status indicator does not appear on phoneLet me start off by saying I had ordered the original WONDERBOOM because it was cheaper and within 48 hours it completely failed. Dead. So I paid $10 and exchanged it for the newer WONDERBOOM 2. I really wanted to like the first one. It completely crapped out, which I attributed to it being a year old and never opened. The battery must have degraded from disuse.Now about the WONDERBOOM 2. The sound quality is good-great, but does fall short of some of the JBL products. The sound is truly 360° which is great for outdoor use. Speaking of outdoors, the little tree button on the bottom does make a noticeable difference in the sound when pressed. The form factor is excellent, especially with the elastic loop for the attachment of a clip or carabiner. One might even describe the build quality as WONDERful. My only real complaint is regarding the battery life. Sure, it could go 13 hours at half volume, but if you hit that outdoor button and crank the volume to full blast, you’re looking at something closer to 2.5-3 hours of playback. Other smaller complaints are that there is no rewind button/function (you can skip tracks by double clicking the center button) and there’s no battery life indication that can be viewed on your connected device (in my case, an iPhone 8 plus). The only indication of battery status is the number of “bloop” sounds heard after pressing the + and - buttons simultaneously. Overall it is a great (not excellent speaker) and for the money I would highly recommend looking at the Oontz Angle 3 Raindance (I probably butchered the name).Ver más

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