Anker Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro in the test: Amazon bestseller currently on offer
The in-ear headphones “Anker Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro True Wireless Earbuds” – that’s the full name – attracts with a moderate price, individual sound profile and Amazon’s Choice label. GIGA audio expert Stefan listened to the AirPods alternative from China and shares his experiences.
Original article:
No noise canceling – but water- and sweat-resistant (IPX4), up to 8 hours of playback time and with support for the Qualcomm aptX audio codec: The Anker Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro wants to collect points above all with sound quality and everyday suitability and attract established customers Lure away brands like Sony or Sennheiser.
Contents
- 1 Anker Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro: Our conclusion
- 2 Anker Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro in the sound test: More bass than beats?
- 3 Anker Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro: Built-in hearing test
- 4 Anker Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro in the test: design, comfort and case
- 5 True wireless headphones Anker Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro: These alternatives are available
- 6 Quiz: What do you know about Apple?
Anker Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro: Our conclusion
The Anker Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro is further proof that you should remember the Soundcore brand for your next headphone purchase. Under the umbrella of the Chinese accessories provider Anker (power banks, USB hubs, etc.) there seem to be some capable audio engineers who understand their craft.
All in all, you get perfectly processed true wireless in-ears with powerful sound, a secure fit in the ear, good battery life and a compact case. There are few headphones that provide as much power and fun as the Anker Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro. Not yet optimal: The somewhat clunky design and the low noise when no music is playing.
Benefits:
- Powerful bass provides a lot of thrust in hip-hop, techno and dance – but only if the housing fits perfectly in the ear canals
- Secure fit even during sports thanks to silicone wings in different sizes
- Effective control (including volume) via small hardware buttons on the housings
- Flat case with well implemented sliding lid, takes up little space in your pocket
Disadvantage:
- Spatiality, details and transparency are really not the strengths of the Anker Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro. Classical fans and audiophiles flee from the loud bass and better buy the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless
- Audible background noise when music only plays softly or not at all
- Wearing comfort and a secure fit are extremely dependent on the wearer’s ears and the right silicone attachments / wings
- No multipoint Bluetooth: switching between different playback devices (smartphone, tablet, PC) is time-consuming
Anker Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro True Wireless Earbuds
Our test rating for the Anker Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro
- Sound: 70 percent
- Wear comfort: 75 percent
- Hardware, design & functions: 75 percent
- Battery: 90 percent
Total: 78 percent
Anker Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro in the sound test: More bass than beats?
In terms of sound, the Anker Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro follows in the (old) footsteps of Beats by Dr. Dre. The Californians have said goodbye to the notorious “monster bass” with newer models (e.g. Solo Pro) – but now Soundcore with the Liberty 2 Pro has stepped in. The song “24/7” by Karate Andi gains an underground atmosphere through the vote, rattles rough and dirty, as it should be here. So if you like it hearty and powerful in the low frequency range and can overhear the above-average background noise, you can strike. An interesting option for those who think the Samsung Galaxy Buds sound too thin.
When it comes to mids and highs, however, you have to make a few compromises with the Anker Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro. These are always “overcast” and cannot display their full splendor. The orchestral soundtrack of Princess Mononoke sounds too dull and narrow to me. Likewise, the piece “Time” by Hans Zimmer, which cannot build up to the epic size that it deserves. If you listen to more classical music, you could have problems with the in-ears.
The headset function was also not entirely convincing; conversation partners heard me as tinny and distant when I was on the phone – that’s how I know it from countless true wireless headphones. Because the housing of the Anker Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro protrudes quite far from the ears, I was hoping for better performance at this point. The Apple AirPods Pro remain the reference in this regard, although they are also much more expensive.
Anker Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro: Built-in hearing test
A function called “HearID Personalized EQ” enables the sound to be individually adapted to the hearing abilities of the user. For this purpose, a short hearing test is started on the Liberty 2 Pro via the Soundcore app on the smartphone, which determines whether you have hearing impairments in certain frequency ranges. The sound profile then generated is intended to compensate for the weaknesses and can be saved permanently.
A possible advantage, especially for older people – I found the improvement to be rather mild in my case. We already know similar processes from Beyerdynamic (Mosayc / Mimi), Nuraphone or Creative SXFI (surround profile). Personally, I prefer the more elaborate variant: Minimal interventions via the equalizer, individually for each song.
Anker Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro True Wireless Earbuds
Anker Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro in the test: design, comfort and case
With up to 8 hours of playback time, the Anker Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro does quite well for a true wireless headphone model in the battery test. However, it lacks active noise canceling, which ensures a pleasant rest in the Apple AirPods Pro (approx. 280 euros) or the Libratone Track Air + (approx. 200 euros) (but costs energy). Thanks to the strong passive shielding, the Liberty 2 Pro dampens outside noise in the subway to some extent even without additional electronics.
The cases are quite voluminous and protrude far from the ears, wearing a hat in combination with the Liberty 2 Pro is not recommended. On the other hand, I always found the fit in the ear bearable: You can clearly feel that the ear canals are closed, but it never becomes too uncomfortable. However, the Liberty 2 Pro is miles away from the lightweight wearing comfort of in-ears without silicone plugs.
True wireless headphones Anker Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro: These alternatives are available
The Cambridge Audio Melomania (GIGA test rating: 80 percent) offers a different design (cylindrical, without silicone wings) and a more neutral sound.
Cambridge Audio Melomania 1
The Libratone Track Air + has a more compact housing and active noise canceling (GIGA test rating: 84 percent).
Libratone Track Air +
Anker has been known as an accessory manufacturer for years, the Soundcore label has yet to gain a foothold. Here are the most popular headphone brands in Germany:
Which true wireless headphones do you prefer to use and would you prefer the Anker Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro to a “big” brand name from the audio industry? Write your opinion in the comments.
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