Expert’s Rating
Pros
Cons
Our Verdict
unite the Liberty 2 Pro ’s mellisonant sound with its comfy intention , its custom HearID EQ preset , aptX support , and impressive battery life , and you ’re looking at quite the bargain .
When I settle in for some timbre headset time , a pair of wireless earbuds broadly is n’t the first thing I reach for . But Anker ’s Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro earbuds are making me rethink my hearing preferences .
Armed with a unique coaxal configuration of dynamic and balanced armature drivers , the Liberty 2 Pro earbuds give you the in effect of both populace : finely detail treble and deep yet controlled bass , not to remark an imposingly wide soundstage . There ’s also a HearID feature that sire a custom EQ preset tailor to your ears , aptX support for certificate of deposit - similar sound , and plenty of extra eartips and capitulum wings facilitate to check a well-to-do fit .
That ’s all pretty telling for a pair of $ 150 earbuds , but there are some compromises you ’ll have to accept , including the lack of active noise cancellation ( although there is uplink noise step-down for the four built - in mics ) , as well as a charging case that ’s a tad on the large side ( albeit nicely design ) .
Design
The Liberty 2 Pro earbuds themselves are small and oval - influence , measuring slightly over an in long , about 0.6 column inch wide of the mark , and ( again ) a small more than an inch when measuring from the tip of the phone to its ellipse base . The earbuds jut out of your ear a routine while you ’re fag them , but not in an ungainly style , and you may use one of three include sets of ear wings to help keep them in place . Anker also includes a generous seven pairs of eartips in the box .
The comfortable Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro earbuds get along with plenty of superfluous eartips and spike wing , and they fly into the charge case with a comforting magnetic pushover .
Once I descend on the well - fitting eartips , the Liberty 2 Pro earbuds felt quite comfy , and I was able to throw off my head vigorously without awe that the earbuds would take flight out . With its IPX4 valuation for resistance to slosh water and sweat , the Liberty 2 Pro earbuds could make for an ideal workout companion .
I ’m also a fan of the case that comes with the Liberty 2 Pro earbuds . While it ’s well larger than the turban - sized event that comes with the original Apple AirPods , the Liberty 2 Pro showcase come with a flattened ellipse pattern that feel good in my handwriting .
While the Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro ’s charge case is a shade large , I bang the fluid legal action of its skid lid .
The top of the case slides open and closes with a smooth , satisfying snap , and you get another nice snap when the earbuds fly into their magnetized seats . A three - lead barrage status indicator sits on the front of the eccentric , while a USB - C charging port ( protected by a rubber pother ) and a Bluetooth pairing button are in back . If you ’d rather not handle with charging cables , the case is compatible with Qi radio battery charger .
Features and operation
The killer whale feature that Anker is shoot a line for its Liberty 2 Pro earbuds is its Astria Coaxial Acoustic Architecture ( or ACAA ) , which basically consists of an 11 mm dynamic equipment driver ( for lower - end audio ) that ’s coaxially aligned with a balanced armature number one wood ( for the treble ) . The outcome , allot to Anker , are the first sincerely wireless earbuds to bear in - ear “ studio ” performance . That may sound like hype , but found on my real - world testing ( and we ’ll get to audio performance in a moment ) , Anker may be onto something here .
alike to a listening test in a doctor ’s office , the HearID feature can make a custom EQ profile tailor to your ears .
The earbuds also get with a HearID feature that customize the audio based on a hearing test that you take using the Soundcore wandering app . The test call for bug a push when you take heed various high- and depleted - frequency beeps at unlike volumes , like to a hearing exam in a Dr. ’s situation .
Anker say HearID can help deliver auditory sensation that ’s “ tailor - made ” for your ears , but it ’s a call that ’s difficult to try . At any rate , the Soundcore app extend 22 balance presets , let in a Soundcore “ Signature ” modality . You ca n’t shirk with the EQ floor yourself , unfortunately .
A modest button near the top edge of each earbud permit you manage telephone call as well as drama and suspension tune , omission track , adjust the volume , and summon Apple ’s Siri or Google Assistant , and you could custom-make the restraint via the Soundcore app . squeamish , but the earbuds wo n’t pause your tunes automatically when you take one out of your capitulum , like AirPods do .
Speaking of claim , the Liberty 2 Pro earbuds total with a sum of four microphone equipped with Qualcomm cVc 8.0 uplink stochasticity diminution , perfect for wee-wee calls while you ’re competing with honking cars or blusterous winds . I tried make up some calls on a engaged Brooklyn sidewalk and the person on the other close said she could hear me loud and cleared .
Designed for a frequency response of 20Hz-20kHz ( typical for most headphones and earbuds ) , the Liberty 2 Pro earbuds support Bluetooth 5 and they can treat SBC , AAC , and Qualcomm ’s aptX audio recording codecs . The earbuds ’ support for aptX is great for audiophiles who want to hear CD - like ( or compressed 16 - bit/44.1kHz ) sound via Bluetooth , but keep in nous that aptX only works if both the earbuds and the transmitting machine put up the codec . For example , many Android phones support both aptX ( and some also confirm aptX HD , the lossless version of aptX ) , but the latest iPhone 11 and 11 Pro models do n’t .
Notably miss from the Liberty 2 Pro ’s feature article coif is active dissonance scratch , although that ’s not too surprising given the $ 150 stumper Leontyne Price . Generally speaking , unfeignedly wireless earbuds with active noise offset cost north of $ 200 , such as Apple ’s $ 250AirPods Pro . That state , we ’ve test at least one set of relatively inexpensive noise - cancel framework , the $ 150Ausounds AU Stream ANC earbuds .
Audio performance
While the Liberty 2 Pro ’s want of ANC is a disappointment , I chop-chop got over it once I plug them into my ears and baby-sit back for some melodic phrase . Indeed , Anker ’s decisiveness to go with both dynamic and balanced armature drivers seems to have pay off , deliver some of the best audio I ’ve ever get wind from in truth wireless earbuds in this cost range of mountains .
First up was the title track from Bruce Springsteen’sThe Ghost of Tom Joad , and the right way off the squash racket I was struck by the fine item of The Boss ’s acoustic guitar work , the reedy harmonica , the tender low - end lambency as the synthesizer kick in , and the exact placement of the instruments in the wide soundstage . For a $ 150 pair of truly wireless earbuds , that ’s pretty impressive .
Next , I queued up Vlado Perlemuter ’s performance of Maurice Ravel ’s solo piano works for Nimbus Records . Solo piano can be a tough bench mark for any pair of headphones , let alone sub-$200 wireless earbuds , yet I was again impressed by the fine contingent in Perlemuter ’s keystrokes , the elegant tone of the piano , and the atmospherics of the concert student residence .
Finally , it was time for Ciara ’s “ Level Up , ” and I catch a thrill out of the punchy ( but not too punchy ) bass , the crisp but never cheap vocals , and ( again ) the expansive soundstage and discreet instrument emplacement .
It ’s also worth noting that I did most of my listening using the usance HearID EQ set up . I switch around to some other counterpoise presets too , admit the advocate Soundcore “ Signature ” preset , yet I in the main find myself gravitate back to the HearID scope , which ( to my ears , anyway ) did the honorable problem of balance okay treble with deep but not overpower bass part . Your milage may vary , of trend .
In terms of Bluetooth carrying into action , the Liberty 2 Pro earbuds never give out out of sync during my testing , and their range was excellent . I was capable to walk the entire length of my apartment ( a good 45 feet ) , then head on a higher floor and even further back before the connection began to go spotted ; well past Anker ’s value Bluetooth cooking stove of 33 foot .
Anker claim that the Liberty 2 Pro earbuds will last for up to eight hours on a individual charge , and that you’re able to get a amount of 32 hours of playback meter using the charging grammatical case . That places it among the longest - lasting wireless earbuds . I used them for lengthy sessions and never get close to drain the battery , and the earbuds charge up apace when I put them in the case .
Bottom line
sure as shooting , there are other really wireless earbuds that voice this estimable ( or better ) , but good luck finding any with Leontyne Price tag in the $ 150 range . Combine the Liberty 2 Pro ’s sound with its well-heeled aim , its custom HearID EQ preset , aptX support , and telling battery animation , and you ’re looking at quite the bargain , even consider the lack of active disturbance cancellation .
