Verdict
The Soundcore Boom 2 is a portable loudspeaker system that packs a serious punch . It has a pleasant sea bass - forward phone , nice ignition effects and it ’s rugged enough to handle the great open . If you ’re shopping for a speaker of this size of it , in this toll range , it ’s easy to recommend .
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
The new model retail for $ 129.99 / £ 119.99 , so it ’s a touch more expensive than its predecessor , but it come with hatful of improvement , too . The overall sound output is louder , it can sync with multiple other talker and it has funky music - reactive RGB lighting on its passive radiators .
With a big barrage fire , a retro - inspired boombox design and great portability , it could prove to be the right pick for a lot of people . I could n’t look to come up out how it execute , and after boom tunes for the past couple of weeks , here ’s what I establish out .
Design
The Soundcore Boom 2 ditches the wholesale curved shape of the Motion Boom , and instead has a very box-shaped construction . The large grab handle remains , though , and has become even big on this model , running the entire length of the talker . Anker is distinctly endure for the retro boombox look , but it also reminds me of a toolbox , believably due to the rugged sinister plastic construction .
The speaker is useable in three color : Phantom Black , Adventure Green and Explorer Blue . I have the black variation in for examination , which is a little plain - looking , but it does have metallic matte grey accent on the speaker grille and manage to give it a act of flair .
On each side of the speaker , there are turgid peaceful bass radiator made from a translucent rubbery material , with a sloped stripy intent . When the speaker is turn on , these radiators light up blue by nonremittal and pulsate along with the pulse , but you may choose other colours in the companion app .
Around the back , there ’s a USB - C larboard for level and a USB - A port that can be used to charge other gimmick . These ports are get over by a thick rubber bung to keep the machine watertight . I was disappointed by the lack of an ancillary input , as most vie verbalizer have this option , and this contour means you ’re limited to sources that hold Bluetooth connectivity .
On the base , there are four small natural rubber feet to keep the speaker in spot . They do n’t bet up to much but they ’re amazingly grippy , and combined with the 1.7 kilo weight of the utterer , they ensure that it stays embed on your desk .
There are four rubberised button on the top panel , most of which are backlit to show you when they ’re active . There ’s a baron clitoris , Bluetooth pair button , PartyCast clitoris and Bass Up electric switch . You also get a romp / pause release and volume controls , but these are n’t backlit . That said , they ’re easy enough to find in the night .
The Soundcore Boom 2 has anIPX7 rating , which means it ’s altogether waterproof but is n’t scab for protection against rubble immersion . The talker also float , so if you drop it in a swimming pool , you’re able to easy angle it back out – or you’re able to listen to it as it floats around , if that ’s your sort of matter .
Overall , the verbaliser feels broken and self-assurance - inspiring , and I was never worried about it taking the periodic knock . The downside to this hardy plastic structure is that it does n’t feel especially premium , either . That ’s not to say it feels cheap , the metallic speaker grille is a nice pinch , for example , but it ’s not going to wow you .
Features
The Soundcore Boom 2 has a companion app that works on both iOS and Android . When tie in , it allows you to tweak the sound signature and check the lighting on the sides of the speaker . There ’s a full nine - banding equalizer , so you could dial in the sound to your preference , as well as some preset options to emphasise vocals , treble or give a flatter more balanced sound .
Bass Up mode and PartyCast can be activated from within the app , but there are physical clitoris for both of these features , so you do n’t need to use the app if you do n’t want to . The app has other benefit , though , include ascendence for the button backlight luminousness and an automatic power - off timekeeper , which is nice to see .
The app kick in you seven lighting effects to choose between , and you may also change the colour of each one . The effect are n’t super varied , they mostly just dart and quiver along with the music , but some exhibit colour gradients or flash more than one colour at a time , which piddle them look a bit more exciting .
The lighting definitely adds to the vibe in dimly get off situations , and the LEDs are bright enough to be noticed in the daytime , too . It ’s not quite as flashy as something like theJBL Pulse 4 , but it ’s enough to make this speaker system stand out from its direct competition .
The Soundcore Boom 2 can wirelessly sync up with up to 100 compatible Soundcore speakers using a technology call PartyCast 2.0 . Once plug in , the speaker system will even synchronise up their lighting effect to produce a whole - planetary house political party atmosphere . Unfortunately , I only had the single speaker in for examination , so I could n’t stress this for myself , but it in spades offers an advantage over the Motion Boom , which only plump for stereophonic pairing functionality .
at long last , the Boom 2 can be used as a exponent depository financial institution , and you may use the USB - A porthole on the arse to juice up your headphone or other devices . Anker ’s spec sheet does n’t lean the precise mental ability of the battery , but regard it boasts up to 24 hours of playback on a charge , it must be fairly goodly .
On the topic of battery life , this affair endure for utterly age . I charge it up when it arrive and have been listen to it most days for an hour or two , for about two weeks , and it still has over 20 % remaining , it ’s impressive stuff .
In the box , you get a USB - A to USB - C cable , but you ’ll need your own wall adapter and it takes around 5 and a half minute to fully saddle from flat .
Sound Quality
As the product name suggests , the Boom 2 is all about the bass . It ’s a warm and thundery sound but it does n’t come at the disbursement of clarity . The twin 15W tweeter are able-bodied to deliver nifty vocal and solid clarity in the high-pitched end , while the 50W woofer and twin radiator kick out basso that you’re able to feel in your chest .
It ’s not audiophile - grade clarity , but it offers a very pleasing audio that most substance abuser are indisputable to get along with . It ’s lively and meretricious , everlasting for parties . Using the utterer at home , I seldom exceed 50 % volume , so it has more than enough magnate to rock a garden company when summer roll around .
For most of my hearing , I used the default Soundcore EQ and proceed the Bass Up function enable . The speaker sounds all right with it turned off , but the Bass Up mode makes music sound full - bodied and active , and everything is slightly duller without it . This mode comes at the disbursal of battery life , but since this machine volunteer such a long barrage fire life , that ’s of footling concern .
There ’s not much in the way of a stereo force , presumably , you ’ll necessitate two of them if that ’s what you ’re wait for . The signature left - right field sweep on Otis McDonald ’s Scarlet Fire has little to no effect when played on this speaker unit alone . This speaker is n’t designed to provide nifty theatrical production , though , it ’s supposed to fill the room at a gathering , and it does that well .
While the speaker is basso - heavy , it does n’t go deep into the sub - deep relative frequency , bottom out at 48Hz . I always prove sub - deep response with DJ Shadow ’s Three Ralphs and on this speaker , the bassline is essentially understood , whereas with an actual subwoofer , it ’ll stimulate your windows . That ’s an extreme good example , though , most music does n’t utilise such frequencies .
With more common bass frequencies , the Boom 2 tamp an all-powerful biff . Bronski Beat ’s eighty hit Smalltown Boy sounds absolutely rattling on this utterer , for example , and the same is true for pretty much all of the Hip Hop , Funk and Jazz that I toy through it .
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Should you buy it?
The Soundcore Boom 2 is exceedingly brawny and able to deliver thumping freshwater bass , but it remains fairly lightweight and easy to carry , thanks to its progress - in snatch handle .
The Soundcore Boom 2 lack a 3.5 mm aux comment , so you ’ll have to beat to Bluetooth - enabled devices with this one .
Final Thoughts
The Soundcore Boom 2 is an extremely potent speaker unit in a comparatively compact form factor . The built - in snap handgrip seduce it easy to move about and summate a contact of retro charm to the design . It produces a very pleasing bassy sound that ’s thoroughgoing for party and the rugged construction and waterproofing think that you do n’t have to worry too much about spilt drinkable and other mishaps .
It ’s one of the most herculean verbaliser in its price angle bracket , and the sound timber definitely gives other speakers from big - name players a run for their money . It ’s not everlasting , though . I would have bonk to see an auxiliary input for connect pumped up devices , and NFC pairing would be nice to have , too . I also ca n’t assist but experience that the hardy plastic outside looks a piddling less premium than some of the competition .
Other famous speakers around this price are the JBL Flip 6 andUE Boom 3 , both of which are more portable , and deliver amazing phone for their size of it . However , I suppose the Soundcore Boom 2 has advantages over both of these options . It ’s slimly cheap , significantly louder , has a longer - lasting barrage fire and comes with a built - in light show . It ’s a great option that ’s easy to recommend .
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How we test
We examine every wireless speaker we retrospect soundly over an extended full stop of time . We use industry standard tests to compare feature article properly . We ’ll always tell you what we find . We never , ever , bear money to review a product .
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FAQs
Yes , you have two parking pick with this speaker . you’re able to either use TWS mode to create a stereo pair of two matching speakers or practice PartyCast to connect to up to 100 Soundcore speakers wirelessly .
The Soundcore Boom 2 is IPX7 - value , which means it ’s full waterproof ( it even floats ) but it ’s not rated for resistance against dust .
