Can you connect your Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 to your TV (and should you)?

(Image credit: Ultimate Ears)

Can you connect your Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 to your TV (and should you)?

The Megaboom 3 is Bluetooth-only, so it won't work with most TVs

The Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 isn't meant for use with your television. It only connects over Bluetooth, and most TVs don't come equipped with Bluetooth, so you'll need to find another solution.

The Megaboom 3 is still a good Bluetooth speaker, just not for your television.

You'll want a dedicated TV speaker instead

Instead of trying to connect a Megaboom 3 to your TV, get a dedicated TV speaker instead, such as Vizio's 2.1 Channel Soundbar.

Vizio's soundbar supports 2.1 audio channels and comes with built-in subwoofers for integrated bass. While other soundbars in this price range often come with separate subwoofers, Vizio's allows for easier setup thanks to its nature as an integrated unit.

While not a Dolby Atmos soundbar, the Vizio bar can simulate overhead sound thanks to its support for DTS Virtual:X. The Vision soundbar supports both an optical audio connection, as well as analog connections to your TV. As a little bonus, if you elect to get this soundbar instead of the Megaboom 3, you'll still be getting a wireless speaker. The Vizio soundbar comes with Bluetooth, so you can send audio from your phone or tablet to it.

The best part? It's almost half the price of the Megaboom 3.

The Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 is still a good speaker

Just because the Megaboom 3 can't connect to your TV doesn't mean it's a bad speaker. And there are things that it can do that the Vizio Soundbar can't. For instance, it's portable. Not only is Vizio's soundbar not portable thanks to its lack of batteries, but you'd look ridiculous if you even tried to do that. The Megaboom 3, on the other hand, has an impressive 20-hour battery life, letting you party wherever you go all day and all night.

The Megaboom 3 is also dust and water resistant, with an IP67 rating. You can take the Megaboom 3 near the water without worry, and it can even be submerged in up to one meter of water for up to 30 minutes without you having to worry about the electronics inside.

You can also set up the Megaboom 3 for "one-touch" playlist access through its Magic Button, which lets you access your Apple Music or Deezer playlists with a single press. The PartyUp feature also lets you more easily connect to other Ultimate Ears speakers like the Boom, Boom2, Wonderboom, or another Megaboom 3.

Joseph Keller

Joseph Keller is the former Editor in Chief of iMore. An Apple user for almost 20 years, he spends his time learning the ins and outs of iOS and macOS, always finding ways of getting the most out of his iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Mac.