Sound QualityThe Ultimate Ears Blast has fair overall sound quality. Bass has so-so impact, is somewhat subdued and mid and lower bass is lacking. Midrange is fairly even but is somewhat hazy, grainy and congested. Treble is somewhat subdued, smeared and upper treble is muted. Doesn't do a good job recovering room ambience and is lacking in detail. Stereo imaging is best heard vertically. Can provide enough volume to be heard in a medium sized room.
Versatility
Versatility is good. It's a stereo speaker, which lacks multi-room support and lacks support to stereo pair with another Ultimate Ears Blast. Wireless: WiFi supports dual-band and has Bluetooth but lacks speakerphone functionality. Communications: Lacks support for calling, texting and messaging. Digital Assistant Muting: Has a non-dedicated, unlabeled dual button control to disable the digital assistant by muting its microphones. Audio Connections: Lacks analog audio inputs and outputs. Audio Tailoring: Lacks any user tone controls. OS Support: Android, and iOS. Other connections and features: Lacks USB port. Streaming by voice command: Supports voice command of several common streaming services such as Amazon Music, Pandora, Tune-In, and iHeart Radio. Voice ID: Voice ID: Lacks support to setup voice identity using this speaker, although it can use a voice print stored in a user's Amazon account trained from an Amazon speaker. This feature allows the account holder to access personal information with their "voice print".
Ease of Use
Overall ease of use of the Ultimate Ears Blast is good. Wireless setup: Setup requires an app downloaded to a mobile device, it's easy and intuitive - need instructions included in app, may or may not involve inputting WiFi network password, account setups. Bluetooth: Setup requires the press of an umarked, multifunction button. Console controls: Lacks volume control label or symbol but some other markings suggest (+/-) that it is a volume control and its an unlabeled multi-function. Audio mute: Lacks a mute control. Microphone mute: Unlabeled multi-function buttons, well placed, clear indication when it is engaged. Source selections: Ultimate Ears app lacks any source selections. However, verbal selection is possible and in the Alexa app content can be selected for the device. App remote: The volume control is a well marked slider next to a speaker symbol, and shows positional indication of level but no numeric or hash mark references, fine volume adjustments require a steady hand. Mute: App lacks this feature. Voice transport controls: Natural language control of transport (Play/Pause/Skip/Mute), volume controls and source selection was easy and intuitive.
