![]() If you want to quickly give the lows a lift without fetching your phone, an old-school bass boost button is also available on the hardware (along with rudimentary volume, music control, power, and LED on/off controls). ![]() The handful of presets didn’t do much for me, but the custom mode offers the familiar sliders that do make a significant impact. If you want to tweak things, the Flare 2 also includes an equalizer system in the app. It’s not the most crystal clear of speakers I’ve tested-probably because 360-degree output can cause audio to bounce all over a room, muddying things up-but for outdoor use, it’s a huge plus. Two 10-watt drivers (with passive radiators) and a listed frequency response of 50Hz to 20kHz might not sound overly impressive, spec-wise, but the Flare 2 can really belt it out. Whether you’re jamming with one speaker or multiples, audio performance is impressive. You’ll need to follow the instructions in the Soundcore mobile app precisely to get this done the included quick start guide is completely useless. I tested a pair of Flare 2 speakers and there’s no question that Part圜ast is the coolest feature, though configuring it involves an unintuitive process of pairing one speaker to your phone, then holding down the Bluetooth pairing button on each speaker in a certain sequence. The six included LED effects are fun, but largely variations on a theme. They don’t operate as a mesh, which likely limits how many you will realistically deploy. The sub-speakers also all need to be within Bluetooth range of the master speaker. You can sync up to 100(!) sub-speakers to a master Flare 2-but note that they all play the same channel you can’t set two speakers to separately handle left/right channel duty. Undoubtedly the biggest new feature is the ability to sync up multiple Flare 2 speakers to play in unison. Lighting at the top and bottom of the Soundcore Flare 2 brings the party (on a small scale). The Flare 2 also has two LED light rings instead of just one-one on the top and one on the bottom-which you can set to pulse, fade, and change hues in tune with your music. ![]() The Flare’s 12 watts of output has been bumped up to 20 watts total, a significant boost that makes an impact. Those wanting more bass but still want a party speaker with lights will want to check out the JBL Pulse 4, which gets louder, has more bass impact and a full-body lightshow but is over twice the price.This review is part of TechHive’s coverage of the best Bluetooth speakers, where you’ll find reviews of competing products, plus a buyer’s guide to the features you should consider when shopping.īut like any good sequel, the Flare 2 has been upgraded where it counts. However, the UE is more rugged and smaller, making it easier to toss in a bag or backpack. Those who don’t care about the minor updates will be happy with the discounted original, which is still available for sale.Ĭompared to the competition, the Flare 2 fits better in the home and sounds better than the UE Wonderboom 2. Minor upgrades like the second LED ring at the top and USB-C charging are nice to have, but not necessary. Everything that made the original great is still here, including sound quality, an excellent mobile app, and an understated yet durable design. The Anker Soundcore Flare 2 is a minor refresh of the already-great Flare. This is a nice feature to have for users who travel with their portable Bluetooth speaker or for days by the pool or campfire when you don't want to hold your phone the entire time. One nice feature of the Flare 2 that many of the competition lacks is speakerphone. However, those looking for more bass response will want to step up to a larger speaker like the JBL Charge 4 or JBL Pulse 4. The BassUp feature is a nice way to get more bass out of the speaker quickly and it isn’t overwhelming. This is expected from small wireless speakers that lack the amperage of larger speakers and the Flare 2 sounds best below 70% volume, which is still plenty loud for a small to medium sized room. The Anker Soundcore Flare 2 gets mighty loud but like the original, the louder the speaker gets, the more sound quality suffers. Tonally, the Anker is slightly warm, making it relaxing to listen to at low to medium volume. Sound quality is great, offering a nice balance across the frequency spectrum. There’s also a basic equalizer within the app, but most users will most likely enjoy the speaker’s default sound or BassUp feature, which has a dedicated button around the back of the speaker. There are several modes to choose from or you can create your own. Additional lighting features can be accessed in the app, allowing you to customize colors as well as reactive lighting. One nice surprise is the excellent Soundcore app, which allows users to update the speaker and control additional features.
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