Portable wireless speakers are great for outdoor use, but many portables are a little under-sized and under-powered to really blow the lid off an outdoor event. Not all are waterproof, either, making them iffy for use at a pool party or anywhere a drink might accidentally be spilled. Small speakers also tend to have modest battery life. The EcoBoulder+ portable Bluetooth speaker from ECOXGEAR aims to be the solution to all of these issues. It’s designed to be your go-to rugged, loud, waterproof outdoor party speaker–with a few extra tricks hidden in its massive, 27 pound case.
In case you’re wondering if this speaker seems familiar, I included the original EcoBoulder in my 2017 roundup of super-sized and rugged Bluetooth speakers. While ECOXGEAR has held the original’s $249.99 price, there is no sign of shrinkflation in this massive speaker and the EcoBoulder+ has made big gains in battery life.
First Impressions: Big, Heavy, and Rugged
Based on the box size and weight, it was pretty clear that the EcoBoulder+ is a large speaker–if the name itself doesn’t give that away. Inside there was a bit of foam on the top and bottom of the box to cushion the bumps of shipping, but it was pretty much all speaker. The EcoBoulder+ is the side of a mid-sized suitcase at 20-inches high, 15-inches wide and 12-inches deep. It weighs 27 pounds.
It looks rugged and feels solidly built. Its 8-inch main driver and 3-inch tweeter are visible through the black metal grill on the front in a visible show of musical might. That main driver alone is larger than many portable wireless speakers. With bumpers on the corners, lots of visible screws and its massive, textured black plastic case, this thing looks and feels like it could take a beating.
Wheels and Handles Make it Easy to Lug Around
One big downside of a suitcase-sized speaker that tips the scales at 27 pounds is portability. ECOXGEAR has done everything possible to minimize this as an issue. The top of the speaker is equipped with a pair of curved handles with rubberized grips. They have no flex whatsoever and are comfortable to use, making it easy to pick up the EcoBoulder+ with one or two hands and carry it for short distances.
For longer trips, there are built-in wheels and a telescoping handle–just like a suitcase. So long as the surface is relatively smooth, you can effortlessly pull the speaker along behind you. Traversing rutted fields or sand, you’ll probably be better off carrying it, though.
IP67 Water resistant and It Floats
The EcoBoulder+ has an IP67 water and dust resistance rating. This means that it is completely sealed against dust for an extended period and can survive immersion in three feet of water for short periods of time. Splashes and jets of water (like a garden hose) are not a problem.
Even better, the EcoBoulder+ floats. Despite its considerable heft. I tested it in my backyard pool and let it float around for 20 minutes or so. The speaker even kept playing! After I fished it out, water drained out of the bottom for a few minutes and then (following instructions) I hosed it down to wash any of the saltwater off. I also let the speaker play for several sessions in the pouring rain while I sat under cover in the gazebo and the hours in the rain didn’t bother it in the slightest.
The one caveat to the water resistance is that you need to make certain the protective covers over the inputs are fully locked into place. Oh, and ECOXGEAR also includes a waterproof smartphone case in a removable pouch that attaches to the side of the speaker with Velcro.
Audio Performance
The EcoBoulder+ is built to deliver sound in an outdoor environment, in a rugged and affordable package. With a $250 price point, you are not going to get audio that would make you ditch your home stereo system for this thing.
However, blasting music poolside with EcoBoulder+ is perfectly enjoyable. With 100 watts of amplification and those big drivers, you can definitely make your music heard above any background noise. Audio is not exactly subtle, but there’s a decent bass thump and the high end is far from muddy–in short, it sounds much better than I would have expected. In addition, with the built-in EQ you can adjust the bass and treble to your liking, or choose from pre-set modes including Rock, Pop and Classical.
EcoBoulder+ Key Specs
- 100W 3-way speaker
- 8-inch full-range primary driver, 3-inch tweeter, 8-inch rear-facing subwoofer
- Adjustable treble and bass
- Bluetooth 4.1 with up to 100-foot range
- Integrated microphone
- AM/FM radio with 6 presets
- 3.5mm AUX input, external Mic input
- 5V, 2.1A USB output port for charging devices
- IP 67 water and dust resistance, floats
- Integrated, removable Velcro pouch with waterproof smartphone case
- Built-in bottle opener and dual cupholders
- EcoConnect-capable for multiple speaker support
- Battery life rated at up to 50 hours at normal volume
- AC charge (no power brick required) in 7-8 hours
- 20-inches high, 15-inches wide, 12-inches deep, weighs 27 lbs
Battery Life
When I tested the original EcoBoulder, battery life was rated at around 10 hours. The EcoBoulder+ has upped that to around 50 hours at average volume. I lost track of time during testing, but in two weeks of use at decent volume–often for two or three hours at a time–the LED battery indicator is still showing around 50% charge remaining.
With this much space to work with, ECOXGEAR incorporated the charging components inside the speaker. This means no power brick to deal with, just plug the included power cable into an AC outlet. That’s a welcome convenience.
Extras
ECOXGEAR packed this speaker with extras. There is an AM/FM radio with six presents. The inputs include a Mic jack so you could use the EcoBoulder+ as a PA system. There’s a USB output port so you can use it as a power bank to charge your smartphone. You can wirelessly connect to a second ECOXGEAR speaker to double up the sound. There is even a pair of lined cupholders on the top of the speaker and a metal bottle opener mounted on the side.
EcoBoulder+ Recommendation
There’s not much to say here. If you are picky about how your music sounds and want a portable speaker that delivers balanced, nuanced audio with special effects like simulated stereo or surround sound, this is not your speaker.
However, if you’re looking for booming sound from a big, rugged speaker that’s waterproof to the point it can float, with battery life to last for days–and a $250 price point? I don’t think you’re going to do any better than the EcoBoulder+ from ECOXGEAR.
Pulling this mammoth speaker behind you as you arrive at an outdoor party or event is guaranteed to be an entrance people will remember.
Disclosure: ECOXGEAR provided a speaker for evaluation purposes but had no input into this review.
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