Review of Ue Roll 2 Volcano Wireless Portable Bluetooth Speaker
What Hullo-Fi? Verdict
Improved sound and a price cut make this ultra-portable, colourful speaker fifty-fifty more desirable than before
Pros
- +
Enthusiastic, concentrated functioning
- +
Clear and detailed
- +
Fluid dynamics and open sound
- +
Swell design and easy to use
- +
Cost
Cons
- -
Pricier rivals offer greater bass weight
Ultimate Ears' colourful, outdoors-y Bluetooth speakers accept been a hitting, from the cylindrical Boom and Megaboom to the disc-shaped Roll. They expect fun, they sound great, and they're fantabulous value for money.
The UE Roll 2 is another notch in the American company's bungee cord chugalug. It's the 2nd iteration of the Award-winning Scroll, simply at first glance y'all'd be left wondering what has changed to warrant a brand new model.
On the exterior, the Curlicue two looks the aforementioned: it'southward a tiny flying saucer of a speaker, with large volume icons, and an ultra-portable and funky design.
Then what'southward new? It's 15 per cent louder, has a greater Bluetooth range of effectually 100ft (depending on the environment, of form), and information technology'southward cheaper. The new UE speaker costs £80, downward from £100 for the original.
Does that hateful y'all're getting more for your money? Absolutely.
More: Ultimate Ears launches Roll two Bluetooth speaker
Audio
That information technology goes louder than the previous model is obvious from the moment nosotros do a side-by-side comparison. But information technology doesn't just go louder; the Roll 2 is also more open up, more than dynamic, sounds more than solid and more detailed. In fact, if in that location'southward a theme to the Curlicue 2, it'due south 'more'.
But it doesn't get carried abroad. Most Bluetooth speakers of this compact size and sub-£100 cost tend to overemphasise the bass to recoup for its physical limitations. Ultimate Ears resists this temptation.
It has the same sense of fun as the previous model, but there'due south a affect of maturity with the new Roll 2. The thin, forrard-begetting treble that could rear its caput has been calmed downwardly to even out the balance.
The low terminate is more solid, and voices are allowed to breathe and flourish.
Play Lenny Kravitz'south Frankenstein, and the drums striking with a heft that wasn't there earlier. There's a solid thwack, with a practiced deal of attack driving the funky melody.
Information technology's surprisingly well organised for a speaker of its compact size and price. Each musical instrument sounds distinct and is given its due: the guitar twangs and whines, the saxophone fluidly meanders through the song but doesn't sound too precipitous when information technology hits the high notes, and the bassline is satisfyingly solid without sounding tubby.
What's impressive is only how controlled the snappy rhythm is. It's fast, it'southward punctual and yet it never sounds like it's trying too hard to be precise. Stream You lot Ain't the First by Guns N Roses, and information technology's a full-bodied, open functioning.
Given more space to breathe, the Curlicue 2 conveys more detail and expression than the original, also. You lot tin hear the twang of strings on iii different guitars, and fifty-fifty distinguish Axl Rose's vox from Izzy Stradlin's on the song.
The new Roll ii is much more than conscious of the shifting dynamics in a song. Fiona Apple's vocals in Every Single Dark are wonderfully articulate and nuanced. The speaker shows off its dynamic skill as her voice rises in intensity and goes back down to a soft, strained whisper.
If you want even more bass, the B&O A1 will give you lashings of deep, rumbling bass from a similarly disc-shaped speaker. Only it tin sound overly rich, and costs significantly more at £200.
The UE Curlicue two may not become as deep and sound as solid, but information technology is a livelier and, we think, a more enjoyable listen. And information technology's considerably cheaper.
MORE: Best wireless speakers
Design and features
The Whorl's pattern was a huge function of its entreatment, and UE has been wise not to change information technology. The large '+' and '–' volume icons that adorn the speaker's face are striking and intuitive to use, besides.
At that place are buttons at the back for power and Bluetooth pairing, and it couldn't be simpler to use: connect the speaker to your smartphone and just press play. There's also a iii.5mm socket under a waterproof flap at the back for hardwiring your music histrion.
The Roll 2 remains ane of the most portable-friendly Bluetooth speakers we've come up beyond. The disc shape is convenient; it'due south small enough (just xiii.5cm in diameter and 4cm in height) and light enough (merely 330g) to comport effectually in your purse or backpack.
Despite its petite, lightweight pattern, the Whorl 2 never feels flimsy. In fact, it's quite the opposite. It has a reassuringly sturdy feel to it, which reinforces its rugged, durable design.
The Roll two is built to exist used outdoors, and as colourful and attractive as information technology is, nosotros're never worried almost damaging it. It volition survive knocks and drops, and if it gets muddy or dirty, y'all can simply clean it with good old soap and water.
It'due south waterproof, besides. The IPX7 certification ways it tin can survive being dunked nether one metre of water for thirty minutes – any more than and information technology will conk out. For those that don't want to submerge the Gyre 2, the speaker now comes with a mini life preserver to float it on when you're having a pool party.
We don't have a pool in the What Hi-Fi? office, and the closest torso of water to us is the River Thames. Nosotros decided non to test the UE Floatie (yeah, that's the official name) in its murky depths, only information technology's a fun addition anyway.
The Whorl ii also comes with its trusty bungee string loop strapped to the back, which you tin can employ to securely attach the speaker to anything (or anyone). Ultimate Ears claims the Roll 2'due south battery will last for ix hours, depending on how you lot apply it and at what book.
The microUSB charging cablevision is included with the speaker only the plug isn't, which is disappointing. Y'all'll have to source a plug from somewhere else (such equally your smartphone'south charger), only it'due south an odd omission when everything else well-nigh the Roll 2 is so well thought out.
For instance, if you want to know how much accuse is left on the speaker, press both volume icons at the same time and a voice will tell y'all the percentage.
Alternatively, you can download the UE Roll app to access more than features such EQ settings, alarm clock, and Double Up – which lets you connect two UE Roll speakers together to play in tandem or in stereo mode.
The speaker comes in five colourful finishes: Tropical Anime (our review sample'due south printed design), Volcano (blackness), Habanero (orange), Sugarplum (majestic) and Atmosphere (bluish). The large book icons and bungee string come in contrasting colours with each stop. The app also correctly displays the end of your Gyre 2, which is a clever piddling touch.
And finally, there'due south a new 'Block Party' feature that you can utilize via the app. While you lot can play music from two devices at any one time, this new 'DJ-friendly' feature lets you lot and your friends join upwardly to three smartphones and take turns playing music on the speaker.
Verdict
The UE Curlicue ii shows simply how much it got right the start time round, with then many features hiding in that tiny blueprint. Keeping its distinctive look unchanged was a skillful movement, while the improvements in sound and the drop in price make it even better value than before.
If you're after a compact, portable speaker that sounds great and is genuinely fun to employ, we tin't recommend the Curlicue 2 highly enough.
More:
Best waterproof speakers
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Source: https://www.whathifi.com/ultimate-ears/roll-2/review
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