When it comes to true wireless earphones, Apple's AirPods have now set a relatively high standard, in terms of sound quality and even if we are not talking about audiophile sound (impossible in devices of this type) it is really difficult to think of equalizing the quality of the Apple earphones saving significantly. After having tried the Anker Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro. We must however say that it is difficult, but not impossible. These accessories surprise in fact for the quality of music reproduction and at the same time for the incredible ratio between price and performance. If this premise is not enough for you to get your wallet right away, follow us in our review
How they are made
Let's start with the design and the form factor . The writer does not like in-ear headphones at all, considering them uncomfortable. Even more so when it comes to button-shaped earphones like the Anker Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro. We find them uncomfortable to use and uncomfortable to wear. Already from here we have a first surprise because these Anker earphones for some strange reason, perhaps thanks to the silicone fin (6 of different shapes available), perhaps due to the incredible assortment of rubbers (six other pairs) immediately proved to be very comfortable.
As for the control, another problem of this form factor, we find on the highest part, a small physical button, which is used to control multimedia playback, as well as to answer and end a call, as well as to call the voice assistants. The button is functional and has some pros compared to a soft touch surface but also some cons. Among the “pros”, the minimization of false touches. With a touch panel it is easy to perform unwanted taps while adjusting the headset itself, while inadvertently pressing this button is next to impossible. Among the “cons”, however, the one that pressing the button is slightly more uncomfortable than tapping on a tactile surface.
It should also be noted that unlike other competitors (such as the AirPods but also as lower-end products) there is no automatic pause when you remove a headset from your ear. This is a simplification that goes hand in hand with physical and non-touch button control.
How they sound
Beyond the aesthetic that is not particularly original or iconic and therefore probably loses the comparison when compared to Apple's AirPods, the most important aspect is understanding how these Anker Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro sound and here we are at the true “therefore” of this review. Bluntly, using a single word, we describe these earphones as “ phenomenal” even incredible if we want to take into account all the factors, from price to brand, certainly very respectable but not one of the primary when it comes to music.
What is most striking from the first minute is the power of the bass, never exaggerated or built but excellently balanced and very clean, without distortion or excess. It is probably thanks to the oversized 11 mm driver, which gives power to the lower frequencies in a not indifferent way, and which add a quality imprint to the sound, which leaves all the headphones in this price range that we have tried in the dust. elevates the Anker Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro to the level of many high-end earphones.
Bass aside, it is all the sound imprint of the Anker Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro to amaze. The yield is natural, without excesses or falling points. The sound is clean, both as regards the human voice and as regards the musical instruments. Each instrument is represented in a truly faithful way, with the details of each really rich.
The earphones return notes and nuances in a precise and full-bodied way, which allow engaging and enveloping listening, with excellent isolation from the outside, which impressively recall that of over-the-ear headphones. It must be said that a considerable contribution to the Liberty Pro 2 comes from the possibility of modifying the equalization through a specific application.
Thanks to the equalizer it is possible to optimize the Anker Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro to any musical genre or to your tastes. As if this were not enough, the HearID technology is also present, which thanks to a test of just over 5 minutes, allows you to perfectly adjust the earphones to the physiological differences of the users.
The Soundcore app analyzes the user's hearing profile and intelligently creates a suitable sound setting. To do this, for each earphone it sends sounds of different intensity, and the user must keep the pressure until the noise is perceived, releasing the finger in case the noise is no longer perceived.
In our case, after setting up the HearID profile, we didn't notice a particular change in the sound profile. Maybe because the default profile was similar to the result of our HearID profile.
Different speech, however, for the equalizer, which includes many different sound profiles, each of which emphasizes a particular musical genre or particular notes. In this case, all the different profiles offer the user distinct audio facets: the user will certainly find the one that suits his ear and the song he is listening to.
Listening with one ear
Among the peculiarities, listening with only one ear is not lacking. And in fact, unlike many peripherals of the same type, Anker Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro offer independent connectivity of the two headsets. The smartphone, tablet or PC / Mac to which the earphones are connected will see the two elements as independent: of course, by default, just associate one to associate them both. It will not be necessary to pair them individually.
Autonomy and recharge
The manufacturer claims about 8 hours of playback on a single charge. We got close to this figure, even though we stopped at least an hour early; we specify that in the initial phase we “played” with the numerous settings of the app, certainly we have reduced its longevity. Thanks to the case, however, it is possible to reach 30 hours of use.
The charging case, on the other hand, recharges via USB-C or with a Qi-certified wireless charger. The built-in battery is 500 mAh, and with only 10 minutes in the case, the earphones provide almost 2 hours of listening.
Really wanting to find a fault, on closer inspection we can say that the charging case is certainly not one of the most minimal and discreet, moreover the cap that covers the USB-C input makes charging with the wire a little uncomfortable.
Conclusions
We had quite high expectations considering the € 149.99 price list. We have far exceeded all expectations. The Liberty Pro 2 are among the absolute best competitors of the AirPods. Suitable for those who love basses, and for those who use them even during sports. Even at the cost of being repetitive we say it in conclusion: these earphones sound beautifully well and satisfy from every point of view, especially in relation to the cost. It's probably impossible to find anything that sounds as good for the same price right now.
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Price and availability
The price list is € 149.99, available on Amazon from here. At the time of writing, however, using the discount code YSLFK6DR they will take home for 99.99 euros . At this price do not let them escape.
