UE ROLL: Making Musical Memories at Home or On the Go

Disclosure: Influence Central received a complimentary UE ROLL portable speaker in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed here are our own.

Having recently celebrated a milestone birthday, I can look back and remember all the different ways we listened to music back in the day. From portable record players to those 1970s stereos with 8-track tape players and dorm-refrigerator-sized speakers to boom boxes to portable tape and CD players, we thought each new innovation proved the ultimate music-listening experience – until the next evolution rendered everything that preceded it obsolete, of course!

Even today, like so many others of my generation, I have a weighty collection of CDs collecting dust in a cabinet and now keep all of my music on my iPhone. And, now that I have Bluetooth in my new car, I can easily tap into my music collection while on the go.

But it doesn’t prove so easy at home. I’d love to listen to music while I’m cooking dinner or just relaxing in the evening, but I always feel a little funny cranking up my the volume on my phone while it sits on the kitchen counter.

So when I heard about the new UE ROLL portable speaker, I realized what I had been missing – an easy to operate, compact speaker system I could use all over the house. The colorful, Bluetooth-enabled UE ROLL speaker fits into the palm of my hand and proves more than portable. It also features a slightly stretchy tether that when partially detached allows it to hang over a doorknob, on a picnic table, or on the back deck – wherever I happen to be.

My favorite feature? With a lifelong struggle operating any kind of ‘gadget’, I typically look upon electronics with a fair amount of suspicion. But the UE ROLL also features a handy app that makes it incredibly easy to pair the speaker with your phone. Even I had no trouble getting the phone connected and launching my favorite tunes.

But what really matters with a speaker (once you get it connected, of course) proves to be the sound – and the UE ROLL packs a pretty big punch for such a petite speaker! Even when cranked up – which I achieved simply by pressing the “+” on the front of the speaker – it maintains a strong sound and never gets that “tinny” sound speakers can get when they struggle at higher volumes. Plus, the vibrant voice of the UE ROLL continues regardless of whether it lies flat or hangs by its tether.

Last weekend, I decided to really test out the portability factor and took the UE ROLL on my faily trip to Florida. Light and compact with the tether secured, it easily fit into my carry-on bag. Once we got to the hotel, we inflated the protective “inner tube” that allows the speaker to accompany us in the water, and hit “play” while the speaker traveled gently over the waves. Can’t do that with refrigerator-sized speakers!

Moreover, the easy-to-operate app also features a “Block Party” setting that allows a group of people access to the UE ROLL via their mobile device – a great option for sleepovers or other teen get-togethers.

As the weather in Boston gets warmer and we resume sitting outside in the evening with friends or kick off our first block party of the season, I know what I’ll bring to start the springtime off right – my amazing UE ROLL!

The UE ROLL comes in a variety of colorful hues and sells for $99.99. Check out the UE website for more information.

Photo Credit: Ultimate Ears (for photos: 1, 2) & Fuse/Thinkstock

Stephanie Kaufman

Feeling for much of her life that she couldn't sit still long enough to thread a needle and that all in all, she'd rather be reading, Stephanie Kaufman discovered crafting in her late 40s and now loves knitting, sewing, and household decorative arts.