Anker Soundcore Boom 2 Plus review

The proliferation of new Bluetooth speakers, which have begun to appear like flowers in a real garden of music, is a definite indicator that summer is on its way for those who are looking forward to it. To put it another way, a sound garden. (Are you able to hear that?)? It is Chris Cornell who is slapping his head. Adieu.)

Anker’s sub-brand Soundcore, which has already established a reputation for itself with some very strong speakers, is off to a fantastic start this season. Soundcore has already built a name for itself. And up until this point, we have been really pleased with the company’s Soundcore Boom 2, a speaker that retails for 120 dollars and was released earlier this spring.

Anker Soundcore Boom 2 Plus review

However, it is now time to put on our big boy trousers and make room for its bigger sister, the Soundcore Boom 2 Plus, which has fantastic sound quality. It is a large portable product in the manner of a boombox that is about twice as large in price, size, and power as the Boom 2. However, it retains all of the other features that struck us about the Boom 2, such as an IPX7 waterproofing rating (it floats! ), clear sound, larger bass, and a battery that lasts for a very long time. All of this is available for a very fair price of $250.

I have been putting the Boom 2 Plus through its paces pretty much constantly, whether it be indoors, outdoors, at the beach, in the water, or anywhere else. Soundcore did us a favor and provided us with a Boom 2 Plus a few weeks before today’s debut. There is still a ringing in my ears.

Anker Soundcore Boom 2 Plus review: Is it design?

With its significant 8.4-pound weight and 17-inch-by-9-inch-by-6-inch shape, the Soundcore Boom 2 Plus lives up to its name right out of the box. Its body is larger than its brother, but it has many of the same tough design components. Both are constructed from the same rock-hard, semicoarse plastic and are offered in the same color choices, which are black, green, and blue (for those who are keeping count, that would be Phantom Black, Adventure Green, and Explorer Blue).

The sticky, top-mounted handle and the thick nylon shoulder strap that easily connects to two solid rings on each side of the speaker are two of the most important features of the totable boombox kind of speaker, which is similar to the Skullcandy Barrell that we previously tested. Although it does have some weight, it does not seem too heavy when you are carrying it or when it is hanging from your shoulder. However, I would like to warn you that it is clearly better ideal for tossing in the trunk than it is for lengthy excursions on foot.

The “d” emblem of Soundcore is inscribed on the front grille, which is a sleek and strong mesh design that gives the impression that it might withstand a bullet. The Boom 2 Plus has a rear that is equally as sturdy as the front. And the only thing that stands out about it is the well-blended rubberized door that closes the compartment for the USB-C charging connection and the 3.5 mm AUX input. Otherwise, the only thing that stands out is the “Soundcore” logo that is extended across it.

Even while resting on slippery pool borders, the speaker will remain securely in place thanks to the four sticky rubber feet that are located on the bottom of the Boom 2 Plus. However, you do not need to be concerned about this since the Boom 2 Plus has an IPX7 classification, which means that it can be immersed in water for up to thirty minutes.

At the beach, I brought the speaker with me for the day, and not only does it float, but the tremendous bass and loudness caused the water in front of it and from the sides to churn up. This happened even while the speaker was sitting in a few inches of water. Although it is not ideal for the sound quality, it is a relief to not have to worry about your speaker falling into the water, whether it be a lake or a pool; nevertheless, you need make sure that it does not float away.

Anker Soundcore Boom 2 Plus review: What are the controls, power, and speakers?

When it comes to portable Bluetooth speakers, the Boom 2 Plus and other models that are similar to it are on the bigger and louder end of the spectrum. This is true even if you have no prior knowledge of the subject. Even more prominent party speakers are not included in this count. Because of its larger body, it is able to accommodate larger speakers and a greater number of them, which also implies that it is capable of delivering music in stereo. This is exactly what the Boom 2 Plus does, and it does it quite well. It has two woofers measuring 4.5 inches and two tweeters measuring 1 inch, in addition to two passive radiators on the ends that offer more bass (and in addition, it has an LED light display).

In addition, it has a strong power output, which can reach up to 100 watts when the BassUp 2.0 boost function of the speaker is turned off. (When the function is activated, that figure rises to a formidable 140 watts that is far higher. I will elaborate more on this later.) The battery is used to do this, as well. When compared, the predecessor of the Boom 2 Plus, the Motion Boom Plus, which can still be purchased for $220, has a maximum output of 80 watts. On the other hand, the market-leading JBL Boombox 3, which costs $500, can only reach its maximum output of 180 watts when it is plugged in (136 watts when it is not plugged in).

While we are on the subject of battery power, the Boom 2 Plus has a 7,500 mAh battery that allows it to last for twenty hours on a single charge with BassUp switched off. This is four hours less than the smaller Boom 2, which is somewhat strange. Furthermore, it is capable of rapidly charging at a rate of thirty watts and may be completely charged in three hours. Additionally, it has a USB-C connector that allows you to charge your electronic gadgets.

While I was putting the speaker through its paces over the course of many days, I never once needed to plug it in. The only thing that I have a problem with is that the speaker itself does not have a battery level indicator; in order to find out for yourself, you will need to check the app. The sole tangible sign that the speaker’s battery is running low is when the light on the power button flashes red. This is the only indicator that the speaker has.
On the speaker, there is a series of physical buttons that, luckily, allow you to manage everything from Bluetooth connecting and playing to volume, bass boost, and even the lightshow features. All of this can be done without having to reach for your phone. Additionally, there is a physical PartyCast button that enables you to link the Boom 2 Plus with up to one hundred extra speakers that are capable of running PartyCast, as well as another Boom 2 Plus that may be used as a stereo pair. Due to the fact that I only had one unit available for testing, I was unable to test that out; nevertheless, combining the smaller Boom 2 with the PartyCast resulted in a significant increase in volume and dimension in the sound. I have no doubt that with many more, the boom would be enormous.

Anker Soundcore Boom 2 Plus review: The app for Lights and Soundcore?

Along the same lines as the Boom 2, the Plus model also comes equipped with RGB LED lights on its passive radiators, which can be controlled using the Soundcore app. As of late, a number of companies that produce Bluetooth speakers have been incorporating LEDs into their devices. Personally, I am OK with this development or not. When the sun goes down and music is playing, it does provide a nice piece of atmosphere, and it also makes the speaker easy to spot in the dark. I have to say that this is something that must be acknowledged.

When compared to other light shows, Boom 2 Plus’s is superior. In addition, the Soundcore app, which has been upgraded from the beta version that I was given for evaluation, now has eight different light settings to pick from, which is an increase over the seven presets that I tried with the Boom version. The following presets are included in this group: Flash, Flame, Energy, Lightning, Rainbow, Cyclone, Bounce, and Scan (the last three are brand new). When you ask me what differentiates them from one another, I will tell you that they all provide a vibrant, pulsing light display that moves in time with the music, and you have the ability to modify the color and brightness of the show. As an additional option, you may use the button on the speaker to cycle between the settings.

In addition, the Soundcore app provides you with more control and choices over the sound, including a nine-band equalization and a few presets that are considered to be typical. In this section, you can also activate the BassUp 2.0 feature, manage the volume, play, stop, and track features, and turn off the notification noises that are generated by your smartphone, which is a very useful feature. Taking everything into consideration, the Soundcore app, despite the fact that it is not very flashy, is nicely built and provides some further dialing in of the speaker if you so desire.

Please take note that the graphics seen above are from a beta version of the Soundcore app that was released prior to the introduction of the Boom2 Plus. There will be an update to the app that will make the revised lighting options accessible.

Anker Soundcore Boom 2 Plus review: The performance and the sound?

Next comes the exciting part. After doing a thorough examination of the more compact Soundcore Boom 2, I am able to firmly state that Soundcore has discovered a very excellent groove with its tuning. Both speakers are exceptional in terms of both balance and accuracy, as well as clarity, over the whole frequency envelope. But the Boom 2 Plus takes everything to a whole new level. And despite the fact that it may not have the step-up fidelity and clarity of higher-end brands such as Bose or Sonos, the Boom 2 Plus, which costs $250, isn’t too far off the mark, which is saying a lot.

In the course of my evaluation of the Boom 2 Plus, I mostly used Spotify and listened to a wide variety of music, ranging from jazz, classical, and ambient electronic music to pop, rap, grunge, and classic rock. Nothing is off limits for the Boom 2 Plus; it is not finicky at all. In the volume window that extends from thirty to sixty percent (which is rather loud), it maintains a high level of cohesion until it reaches eighty percent and beyond range. At this point, cymbals and higher frequencies begin to grate on the ears, but the sound as a whole does not show any distortion.

The Boom 2 Plus has a distinct leaning toward the bass and the midrange, and when the BassUp 2.0 function is engaged, it produces a sound that is expansive, rich, and stunning. The bottom end may be almost a little too prominent at higher levels and in smaller spaces, and it can even be a little boomy in some songs that have stronger bass with certain tracks.

When the chugging bass portion begins to play during the chorus of AC/DC’s Back in Black, for example, Cliff William’s bassline almost completely obliterates everything else in the song. The level is a little bit beyond half. However, this is less of an issue in larger rooms or when you are seated farther away from the speaker. If you ever find that this is the case, all you need to do is push the BassUp button to turn it off and make things more even. You also have the option of activating the app’s EQ. If you want to avoid being as stupid as I am, you may try reducing the volume a little bit.

I took the Boom 2 Plus with me wherever I went, from little rooms to large rooms, to the beach, and into the great outdoors, and I let it rip. This allowed me to receive the entire boombox experience. A usual listening distance of up to twenty feet is sufficient for the speaker to provide a great sound, and the volume is certainly there in the event that it is required. The highs and the middles might need a little bit of a boost to give them some more definition, but that is a simple adjustment that can be made.

Anker Soundcore Boom 2 Plus review: Should you purchase it?

Indeed. In terms of its affordability, the Soundcore Boom 2 Plus is an excellent all-arounder that performs really well for its price point. I would suggest it to anybody who is looking for a large Bluetooth speaker that is portable, has a level of quietness that is satisfactory at levels that are respectable, but has a level of loudness that is even better (particularly when paired with other Soundcore speakers). There is no denying its size; nevertheless, if you are seeking a Bluetooth speaker that you can easily carry in your backpack, this is not the right option for you. The result, however, is a speaker that is not only adaptable and durable but can also be used in a variety of settings, including the kitchen, the workplace, the beach, and even the backyard BBQ. In addition, it is much louder and has a superior sound quality compared to the Skullcandy Barrel, which costs $180, and it is nearly as good as the JBL Boombox 3, which costs $500. This is a significant plus.

At this very moment, the Soundcore Boom 2 Plus may be purchased via the official Soundcore website.