Anker is probably most known for their reliable and high quality power banks, but their audio sub-brand Soundcore has also been dishing out great products such as the Liberty 2 Pro. And when it comes to portable Bluetooth speakers, the Soundcore Flare 2 is no slouch either. The Soundcore Flare 2 is IPX7 rated, has 360º sound, and an eye-catching light show – which retails for S$159.
Unboxing
In the box, you will find the following:
- Soundcore Flare 2 speaker
- Anker USB-A to USB-C cable
- User manual
Tech specs
| Output power | 20W |
| Battery life | 12 hours per full charge |
| Waterproof rating | IPX7 |
| Bluetooth version | Unspecified |
| Weight | 600g |
Build quality and design
The Soundcore Flare 2 has a cylindrical shape with flared bottom for better stability. Unlike the original Flare, the Flare 2 now comes with two LED light rings at the top and bottom. The speaker is wrapped by a fabric-like mesh which gives the speaker a sleek yet rugged look. On the back of the speaker, you’ll find a Bluetooth button, bass boost button and a USB-C port which is covered is covered. Sadly, there isn’t an 3.5mm AUX out port so the Flare 2 is strictly a Bluetooth only speaker.
As for build quality, the Soundcore Flare 2 feels really well-built and features an IPX7 waterproof rating. This means if you accidentally drop the Flare 2 in the swimming pool, it will be able to survive under one meter for up to 30 minutes. The base of the speaker has anti-slip rubber to prevent it from getting shifted around too easily.
Connectivity and controls
The main controls are situated on the top which are button that controls power, volume, play/pause, and lighting effects. Skipping tracks require 2 to 3 taps of the middle button, but I found myself needing to press the middle button 3 to 4 times instead.
Unlike the Liberty 2 Pro, the Soundcore app does not allow you to re-map or configure the controls. What you can do app is merely to control the lighting effects, play/pause, volume, and adjust the equaliser. The equaliser is not some gimmicky feature, you can really create significant changes to how your music sounds.
PartyCast
Any feature that the Soundcore Flare 2 has is called PartyCast, which allows you to connect the speaker to over 100 speakers in one PartyCast group. PartyCast supports multi-product compatibility, meaning that the Flare 2 you have now can connect to any PartyCast speaker. You can also control the audio and light effects of all the speakers in the PartyCast group.
Battery life and microphone
The Soundcore Flare 2 is rated to last 12 hours of playtime on a full charge without any lights on. Charging is the Flare 2 is done via USB-C.
Anker didn’t advertise the microphone abilities on the Soundcore Flare 2 and rightly so. I believe the microphone is situated at the Soundcore logo. The microphone isn’t really usable unless you are speaking next to the speaker. Even so, voice reproduction seems to sound rather distant.
Sound quality
Designed with a cylindrical shape, the Soundcore Flare 2 is capable of 360º sound so it is best to place it in the middle of the room where your gathering is situated.
On its default EQ setting without the Bass Boost turned on, bass sounds tight but and lacked depth especially at the lower end of the spectrum. As for midrange, vocals and instruments are clear and forward. Treble also comes across clean, and not overly extended. When the Bass Boost is turned on, sub-bass gets more boom allowing the overall audio to sound fuller. Personally I prefer setting my Soundcore Flare 2 with the Bass Boost turned on.
Despite being a small speaker, Soundcore Flare 2 is able to fill a typical room and has a pretty large and open soundstage for its size. The speaker can go really loud, but at its highest volumes the audio can start to distort.
Conclusion
Soundcore Flare 2 competes in the same league as small portable 360º speaker such as the JBL Flip 5 but priced at slightly lower at S$159. It is now on discount on Shopee for just S$129 making it a more attractive buy.
It also comes with extra features such as its colourful light rings, user-friendly Soundcore app, and the ability to link a large group of speakers via PartyCast. For those wanting to get a good sounding rugged portable speaker for the best price, the Soundcore Flare 2 is a great option to consider.