We continue to get acquainted with Anker Soundcore products , and next we have an inexpensive portable speaker Flare 2 with high-quality sound and an interesting combination of functions – a great choice for a New Year’s gift to yourself or your loved ones! Why do we like the model so much? Now we’ll tell you.
Design and features
The main external difference between Flare 2 and the first generation model is the second LED ring in the upper part. The cylindrical case with a fabric surface fits comfortably in the hand and weighs just over half a kilogram. The column also meets the IPX7 waterproof rating – you can not worry and take it with you to the shower or to the beach (will withstand immersion in water to a depth of one meter for up to 30 minutes).
A rubber plug on the back of the cylinder protects the charging port, which has been upgraded to USB-C. But the 3.5 mm jack for a wired connection is gone, but this is the only thing you can find fault with in comparison with the first generation model.
Bluetooth 5.0 provides operation within a radius of up to 20 meters from the source. The declared autonomy of the column can reach 12 hours, with the backlight on and at a volume above average, we got about 10 hours of playback – for its price and capabilities, the result is good.
Control
The top panel of the Flare 2 has five buttons for controlling the main functions: on / off, “+” and “-” for volume, a backlight button and a multi-function key with the Soundcore logo in the center. It allows you to control playback, scroll through tracks with a double or triple tap, and answer phone calls (the model has a built-in microphone).
Two more buttons – pairing and BassUp mode (accentuates low frequencies) – were placed next to the charging port plug. The Bluetooth button allows you to connect not only to the source, but also to combine more than a hundred PartyCast-compatible Soundcore speakers into one system. The only drawback to a similar technology from JBL – PartyCast does not yet allow you to create a stereo pair of two identical speakers, that is, both channels are sent to each.
A pleasant surprise is support for the Soundcore application, which allows you to customize not only the lighting modes and colors (five presets and the Who’s Next? game), but also the sound using a 9-band equalizer with the ability to create custom presets.
Sound
Inside the speaker is a pair of 10-watt speakers, assisted by two passive radiators. Thus, the Flare 2 plays in stereo, but due to the design, the sound is 360° omnidirectional. For its size and price, the sound quality is excellent – you can listen to music and watch a movie. The volume margin is good, but as with most of these speakers, at the maximum level the sound becomes a little compressed and overloaded.
The sound character is balanced, with a bias towards “warmth” – the bass and middle are the focus, voices and acoustic instruments are transmitted with a natural timbre, and the upper frequencies are slightly softened, which allows you to relax when listening at low and medium volumes. The BassUp function is a good way to make the sound more solid without losing clarity.
If you are looking for deeper and more powerful bass, you will have to look towards larger and more expensive models, for example, the JBL Charge 5. But when compared with the JBL Flip 5, which is comparable in size and power, the Anker speaker plays more balanced and more voluminous, and the graphic equalizer in the application gives more options for additional sound settings.
Verdict
Anker Soundcore Flare 2: High-quality design with high moisture protection, convenient operation, good autonomy with spectacular backlighting, a microphone and balanced sound, which can be changed using the application.
At the moment, Soundcore Flare 2 is perhaps the most profitable and attractive offer among portable speakers of this format. It is perfect for a home gathering or a loud party and will be a pleasant surprise under the Christmas tree.