Summary – Anker SoundCore 2 Review
The Anker SoundCore 2 is a really good sounding Bluetooth speaker you can find on a budget. It is a nice upgrade over its predecessor, the Anker SoundCore, and comes with many improved features and better sound quality. The SoundCore 2 is engineered to deliver the same build and clarity as the original speaker, with upgraded 2X 6W high-performance drivers to deliver crisp sound quality. The speaker also comes with Anker’s BassUp technology which helps to increase the low-end frequency response with extended bass reproduction. It also features a built-in high capacity Li-ion battery which can provide a whopping 24 hours of continuous music play time. The SoundCore 2 is also IPX5 water-resistant and comes with a dustproof rating which makes that you can take these speakers under rain or in outdoor environments without having to worry about damaging it. The Anker SoundCore 2 is a great improvement over its predecessor and comes with a very sleek and aesthetically appealing design.
The Pros. The Anker SoundCore 2 is a great improvement over its predecessor, the Anker SoundCore, with upgraded 12W output performance, extended bass reproduction and IPX5 water-resistance. It has a super battery life of 24 hours of continuous music playtime and is built for portability.
The Cons. The Anker SoundCore 2 is not a speaker that has high volume output and is meant for portable music applications. The bass response, while decent, is nothing to shout home about.
Sound Performance
The sound quality from the Anker SoundCore 2 surpassed our expectations of what we would normally expect from a Bluetooth speaker on a budget. The sound quality of the SoundCore 2 is really crisp and can get pretty loud enough to fill up a small to medium size room with rich sound. Vocal performances were reproduced with accurate precision and felt smooth and enjoyable to listen to. The highs and midrange were well defined and sounded really crisp; the speaker has a nice treble to it which adds a good sparkle to the overall music quality. Listening to instrumental music on the SoundCore 2 provided decent soundstage and some degree of separation. The bass response from this speaker is pretty good and sounds punchy straight out of the box; we found that you can also adjust the EQ settings on your Bluetooth device to get more bass out of the speaker. You can crank up the volume on the Anker SoundCore 2 with virtually little to no distortion; it can easily fill up your entire room with filling sound. You can also take calls through the Anker SoundCore 2 and we found the call quality to be clear and good. In terms of sound quality, the SoundCore 2 is definitely an improvement over its predecessor with much fuller sound and bass reproduction.
Design
We particularly liked the rugged and durable construction of the SoundCore 2 – it feels like a pretty solid speaker that can take a lot of abuse from extended use. It also comes with the ability to enable voice control software such as Siri on iOS devices which is really convenient. The speaker comes with the standard volume buttons on the top and a nice play button which doubles a multi-function button to pause or play the soundtracks or answer calls. The battery life on the SoundCore 2 is superb and can deliver up to 24 hours of continuous music playtime depending on the volume settings. The Bluetooth connectivity on this speaker works very well and we did not experience any dips in sound performance while using the speaker; the Bluetooth range is a nice 33 feet although this would also depend on your environment and whether there are obstructions in between your streaming device. The entire package comes with the Bluetooth speaker, micro USB charging cable, and user guide for easy reference.
The Verdict?
We are confident that the Anker SoundCore 2 is a really solid budget Bluetooth speaker that delivers great sound quality. The speaker is a vast improvement over its predecessor, the Anker SoundCore, and delivers a much fuller and richer sound with its 2 X 6W acoustic drivers. The sound performance on this speaker is really good – the sound feels rich and crystal clear, and has plenty of texture and details that are reproduced with accuracy. Apart from the sound quality, you can feel that the speaker is very solid and well-constructed. It also features a nice IPX-5 water-resistance rating and a 24 hour battery life which means that you can take this speaker with you virtually anywhere and never have to worry about it running out of power. It’s a no-frills portable speaker that excels in delivering smooth and rich sound; it is also very lightweight and easy to carry around on the go. The Bluetooth connectivity to the speaker is excellent, and you can also take calls on the SoundCore 2 which is really convenient. Overall, the Anker SoundCore 2 performs above expectations of what you would expect from such a compact Bluetooth speaker and comes highly recommended.
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