With its rich sound and robust, waterproof design, the soundcore Motion Boom has become a real bestseller in the Bluetooth speaker segment. At CES 2024, the Anker subsidiary finally announced a successor. And it comes with even richer and fuller sound, 60 watts of power and LED RGB lighting. Our soundcore Boom 2 Review clarifies what the device has to offer.
Technical data
| The product | soundcore Boom 2 |
| Audio power | 60 W |
| Drivers | 2x full range driver 1x woofer |
| Bluetooth version | 5.3 |
| Bluetooth codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Connections | USB-C (charging port); USB-A (power bank function) |
| Battery capacity | unknown |
| Battery life | up to 17 hours |
| Special features | IPX7 certification (waterproof), BassUp technology, Hi-Res sound including LDAC |
| Dimensions | 305 mm x 190 mm x 110 mm |
| Weight | 1.695 grams |
| Colors | dark gray-silver |
| Scope of delivery | soundcore Boom 2, USB-C charging cable, quick start guide |
| Price | € 109.99 * |
soundcore Boom 2 Review: design and workmanship
- Stylish, robust design
- Pleasantly non-slip feel
- Waterproof
Visually, the soundcore Boom 2 (now without Motion in the name) presents itself as a successful mix between its predecessor and the compact soundcore Motion 300 (our test). The Boom 2 also has a silver grille on the front, which is interrupted in the middle by the manufacturer’s logo.
The new edition inherits the practical carrying handle and ribbed underside from the Motion Boom and the larger Motion Boom Plus (our test), making it easy to transport the Bluetooth speaker from A to B.
With a length of 30.5 cm, a height of 19 centimeters and a depth of around 11 cm, the new speaker is also suitable for on the go and, with a weight of 1,695 grams, is not too heavy. This puts it in the good average range of portable Bluetooth speakers.
However, it offers the advantage of water resistance, as rain and even immersion cannot harm the device thanks to IPX7 certification.
But back to the design. Apart from the four rubberized feet, there is not much to see on the underside. At the back, protected by a thick rubber cover, we find a USB-A and a USB-C port, the latter of which is primarily used to charge the integrated battery.
Back on the front, we find the controls of the soundcore Boom 2 below the carrying handle. We already know this in a similar form from the predecessors, although the arrangement has been mixed up a little (which admittedly makes more sense than in the case of the Motion Boom and Motion Boom Plus).
The two sides have also been given a fresh coat of paint. Here, the Boom 2 uses passive radiators equipped with LED lighting. The corrugated, rubberized outer side of the radiators can therefore be illuminated in a variety of colors to match the music or statically – the whole thing can be adjusted using the soundcore app for the smartphone. But more on that later.
Thanks to its fresh design, the BT speaker looks very classy and leaves nothing to be desired in terms of build quality. As with the Motion 300, the manufacturer has opted for a rubberized silicone surface that is pleasant to the touch and well protected against scratches and fingerprints.
Operation, battery life and range
- Modern Bluetooth 5.3
- Impeccable operation
- 17 hours battery life
Of course, the soundcore Boom 2 also uses the modern Bluetooth 5.3 standard and impresses with its impressive range and stability. We can easily move more than 10 meters away from the speaker without any dropouts or disconnections.
Once again, the manufacturer does not provide any details about the battery capacity, but does reveal that the integrated battery should last for up to 17 hours. By way of comparison, the previous model lasted 24 hours.
This is probably mainly due to the slightly more compact dimensions, but also to the LED lighting. A decent, but by no means outstanding value. But even for longer parties or evenings at the lake, the runtime is usually sufficient. Especially as the Boom 2 is also able to supply connected devices such as smartphones with power thanks to the power bank function.
The Bluetooth speaker is charged with a maximum of 11 watts. It takes around three hours for the battery to be fully recharged.
I really like the operation of the Bluetooth speaker, which is no problem even in the dark if you don’t want to pick up your smartphone thanks to the large, illuminated buttons.
The controls themselves are more or less the same as on its predecessors, just in a different arrangement. From left to right, you will find the following buttons:
- On and off button
- Bluetooth button: For pairing and stereo pairing of two speakers
- Volume down button
- Play/pause button: Also for skipping to the previous or next song (press 2x or 3x), accepting and rejecting calls and calling up the voice assistant (press and hold for 2 seconds)
- Volume up button
- Party Cast button: Pairing of up to 100 compatible soundcore speakers and switching between equalizer settings
- BassUp button: Switch on or deactivate the bass boost
Operation works flawlessly and is also possible within the companion app if desired.
App connection: soundcore app
- Clearly arranged app
- Good range of functions
As always with the manufacturer, the in-house soundcore app is used as a companion app. It reliably recognizes the soundcore Boom 2 on startup and then takes us directly to the main menu.
There, we can use a slider to quickly adjust the volume and pause or resume playback. The bass boost function can also be activated under “More bass”, while in the “Equalizer” section we can not only choose between four presets (soundcore Signature, Voice, Treble Boost and Balanced), but can also define our own sound image with an extensive 9-band EQ.
At the bottom, you can switch between the audio and light sections. The latter is of course responsible for the LED lighting. Here you can not only adjust the brightness or switch off the bling bling completely, but also choose between different lighting effects, which you can also adjust in terms of color.
The gear icon at the top right takes you to the settings, where you can adjust some basic options. All in all, a good and clear app that leaves nothing to be desired.
However, as we received the soundcore Boom 2 for testing purposes before the market launch, not all of the app’s functions were available. For example, the high-resolution LDAC codec could not yet be selected. The scope should therefore increase again for the release.
Sound quality: More power for rich sound
- Impressive 2.1 sound
- 60 watts of power
- Slight weaknesses in the sub-bass range
The soundcore Boom 2 also has a significant increase in power compared to its predecessor. With 60 watts, the Bluetooth speaker clearly outperforms the Motion Boom, which only had 30 watts.
And the sound coming out of the 2.1 speakers is absolutely impressive. The speaker scores with a clear and detailed sound that doesn’t tend to distort even at high volumes.
At maximum volume, the treble can get a little shrill, but this is not a problem because the Boom 2 is so loud that it can even provide music for large beach and garden parties. In normal domestic use, we tend to settle at 40-50 percent of the volume.
The detailed mids are particularly pleasing, but the Boom 2 also achieves a pleasant airiness in the highs. The bass is a little behind, although you can use the BassUp function to counteract this. This gives the bass tones a convincing thump, which is particularly effective with electro music. In principle, the bass boost should almost always be active, as in my opinion it has a positive effect on the acoustics.
In general, however, the soundcore Boom 2 copes excellently with all genres and does not make any major mistakes. Only in the sub-bass range is there a slight loss of detail at high volumes.
soundcore Boom 2 Review: Conclusion
The soundcore Boom 2 doesn’t make any real mistakes in the test. Compared to its predecessors, the Bluetooth speaker has not only improved in terms of design, but also in terms of technology and sound.
The new robust and waterproof design may not look quite as elegant as a metal finish, but it doesn’t give scratches and fingerprints a chance. The new RGB LED lighting also creates a party atmosphere and gives the speaker a very special touch. The different and customizable effects are also appealing.
In terms of sound, the speaker scores with a rich 60-watt sound and a detailed, spatial 2.1 sound image. The maximum volume and level of detail are impressive, with only the sub-bass lacking a little clarity.
It is a shame, however, that the battery life has been significantly reduced. although 17 hours is not a bad figure, most competitors offer more.
This gives the soundcore Boom 2 an absolutely coherent overall picture that reveals hardly any real weaknesses. For the price, the Bluetooth speaker has a lot to offer and is undoubtedly worth the money.
soundcore Boom 2
Workmanship
Usability
Sound quality
Features
Value for money
91/100
Convincing and robust Bluetooth speaker that scores with rich sound and harmonious LED lighting at a fair price. However, a little more battery life would have been nice.
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