Ultima Boom 181 ANC Review: Redefining Budget Earbuds Under NPR 2000?

Ultima Boom 181 ANC Review

The Ultima Boom 181 ANC has made waves in Nepal's budget TWS (True Wireless Stereo) market with bold claims of being the best earbuds under NPR 2000. The company’s confidence is so high that it offers a money-back guarantee if you find a better alternative in this price range. Naturally, we decided to test these claims. Here’s our comprehensive review.

Specifications at a Glance

Design: In-ear, silicone ear tips

Drivers: 13mm Hi-fidelity drivers

Noise Cancelling: Active Noise Cancellation (30 dB)

Microphones: Quad-mic setup (2 on each earbud)

Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3, HyperSync

Special Features: 45ms low latency, Environmental Noise Cancellation (ENC)

Battery Capacity: 400mAh (case), 35mAh (each earbud)

Charging: Fast charging (10 minutes = 2 hours playback)

Colors: Space Black, Serene White

Launch Price in Nepal: NPR 1,999 (MRP: NPR 3,999)

Unboxing and First Impressions

The Ultima Boom 181 ANC arrives in a compact, sleek package featuring the earbuds, a charging case, silicone ear tips in multiple sizes, and a USB-C charging cable. The initial impression is promising, with the earbuds exuding a premium look despite their budget pricing.

Design and Build Quality

The earbuds boast an ergonomic in-ear design with silicone tips, ensuring a comfortable and secure fit. Weighing light, they’re ideal for prolonged use. Available in two colors—Space Black and Serene White—the design caters to both minimalists and style-conscious users.

Durability

The IPX5 rating makes them resistant to sweat and light water splashes, adding reliability for workouts or light rain. Ultima claims durability benchmarks of over 50,000 flip tests and 700 charge cycles, reinforcing confidence in their build quality.

Audio Quality

Default Sound Profile

Out of the box, the audio performance leans heavily on bass, overshadowing midrange and high frequencies. For instance, female vocals in tracks like Bird of a Feather by Billie were noticeably suppressed.

Customization via Ultima Link App

The saving grace is the Ultima Link app, a first-of-its-kind Nepali OEM application. With intuitive EQ controls, users can switch between two presets—Signature and Balanced—or customize the sound profile to suit their preferences. Post-customization, the sound quality improves significantly, delivering balanced audio with punchy bass, clear mids, and crisp highs.

ANC and Environmental Noise Cancellation

The earbuds feature 30 dB Active Noise Cancellation, effectively reducing low-frequency background noises like humming and fan sounds. While not comparable to premium ANC earbuds, this is a notable inclusion for the price. The transparency mode works reasonably well, allowing ambient sounds to filter through for situational awareness.

Connectivity and Latency

Equipped with Bluetooth 5.3, the Ultima Boom 181 ANC ensures stable connections with minimal dropouts. The HyperSync feature enables quick pairing, while the 45ms low latency mode supports casual gaming. During tests with PUBG, the latency was barely noticeable, making it suitable for non-competitive gamers.

Battery Life and Charging

With a 400mAh charging case and 35mAh battery in each earbud, the Ultima Boom 181 ANC delivers solid battery performance. A single charge offers up to 4-5 hours of playback, extendable to 20 hours with the charging case. The fast-charging capability provides 2 hours of playback with just 10 minutes of charging.

Comparing with Competitors

Redmi Buds 5A (NPR 2,499)

Sound: Neutral, flat tuning with minimal bass

ANC: Barely functional compared to the Ultima Boom 181

Verdict: Cleaner audio but lacks bass impact

Anker Soundcore K20i (NPR 2,499)

Sound: Superior clarity, treble response, and dynamic range

Features: No ANC or transparency mode

Verdict: Excellent audio quality but falls short on features

Performance in Real-World Scenarios

Indoor Use

The quad-mic setup performs well during indoor calls, ensuring clear voice transmission.

Outdoor Use

The mic quality is average outdoors, struggling to suppress wind and background noise, which is typical for budget earbuds.

Final Verdict

The Ultima Boom 181 ANC delivers exceptional value at its launch price of NPR 1,999. With ANC, app support, customizable audio, and impressive durability, it outshines competitors in its segment. While its default tuning may not impress audiophiles, the customizable EQ ensures versatility for varied preferences.

If you’re in the market for budget-friendly earbuds with modern features, the Ultima Boom 181 ANC is an easy recommendation. However, if your budget extends slightly beyond NPR 2000, you might consider the Anker Soundcore K20i for its superior audio quality, provided ANC and transparency modes aren’t dealbreakers.

Pros and Cons

Pros

Impressive ANC for the price

Customizable audio via app

Solid build and durability

Cons

The default sound profile is overly bass-heavy

Average outdoor mic performance