Anker Soundcore Boom 2 - Everything You Need to Know
BIKMAN TECHAre you on the hunt for an outdoor speaker that can truly power your next barbecue, pool party, or backyard gathering without emptying your wallet? The market is flooded with options, but few strike the perfect balance between power, features, and price. In this comprehensive guide, we at BIKMAN TECH are diving deep into a speaker that aims to do just that. We're talking about the Anker Soundcore Boom 2, a product engineered to deliver a party-starting experience with its booming bass, impressive volume, and dynamic light show. Stick with us as we explore every detail, from its rugged design to its audio performance, to help you decide if this is the ultimate value-driven outdoor speaker for you.
1. An Overview of the Anker Soundcore Boom 2
The Anker Soundcore Boom 2 is a strategic entry into the competitive portable Bluetooth speaker market. It perfectly reflects the philosophy of its parent company, Anker: delivering feature-rich, high-power hardware at a disruptive price point. This speaker isn't trying to win over audiophiles with pristine audio fidelity; instead, it's engineered to appeal directly to mainstream consumers who prioritize high volume, pronounced bass, and incredible value. It’s positioned as a "midrange undercut," offering features and power typically found in more expensive models. By including party-centric features like a beat-synced light show, Anker has positioned the Boom 2 as a compelling centerpiece for any casual outdoor social event.
2. Design and Build Quality
The Anker Soundcore Boom 2 adopts a modern "boombox" form factor that clearly prioritizes audio output over extreme portability. Its enclosure is made from a hard plastic, a practical choice that helps Anker achieve its competitive price. While this construction is durable enough for its intended use, it has been described in professional reviews as feeling "a little cheap" compared to the more premium materials used by competitors. The speaker is available in three distinct colors: Phantom Black, Adventure Green, and Explorer Blue. A key ergonomic win is the large, integrated handle that spans the top of the device. It features comfortable grooves for a secure hold, making it easy to carry from your house to the patio.
3. Durability for the Outdoors 🏞️
One of the speaker's strongest attributes is its durability, specifically tailored for use around water. It boasts a robust IPX7 waterproof rating, meaning it can be fully submerged in up to 1 meter (about 3.3 feet) of water for 30 minutes without damage, as long as the rear port cover is sealed. Enhancing its aquatic credentials, the Boom 2 is also designed to float, making it a "worry-free" companion for poolside parties or boating trips.
However, there is a critical trade-off to be aware of. The speaker lacks an official dustproof rating, carrying an IPX7 rating instead of the IP67 rating found on many competitors like the JBL Flip 6. Achieving dust-tight certification (IP6X) requires more complex engineering and adds to the manufacturing cost. By forgoing this, Anker was able to allocate more of its budget to powerful audio components and the LED lights. This makes the Anker Soundcore Boom 2 an excellent choice for the patio and poolside, but less ideal for sandy or dusty environments like the beach, where fine particles could potentially cause damage.
4. Audio Performance: Power and Punch
The sound of the Anker Soundcore Boom 2 is its most defining characteristic. It uses a 2.1 channel stereo system, featuring a single 50W woofer for lows and two 15W tweeters for highs, which provides better clarity than single-driver systems. The speaker's total output is 60W in its standard mode, but engaging the proprietary BassUp 2.0 technology boosts the peak power to an impressive 80W. This feature significantly enhances the low-frequency presence, delivering a "serious sense of thump for its size" that is perfect for outdoor spaces where bass tends to dissipate.
Out of the box, the speaker has a very distinct "V-shaped" sound signature, with emphasized bass and treble but a weak or "scooped" mid-range where vocals and instruments often lie. This is where the Soundcore companion app becomes absolutely essential. The integrated 9-band custom equalizer is universally cited as the key to unlocking the speaker's true potential. By manually adjusting the EQ, you can tame the powerful bass and boost the mids, transforming the sound from unbalanced to impressively clear and powerful. At high volumes, the Boom 2 truly excels, managing to get very loud without introducing significant distortion—a notable achievement in this price category.
5. Key Features for Party Starters 🎉
Beyond its core audio capabilities, the Anker Soundcore Boom 2 is packed with features designed to elevate any gathering. The dual passive radiators on the sides house customizable RGB LED lights that synchronize with the rhythm of your music. With 7 to 8 lighting effects and custom color palettes available in the app, it adds a fun, dynamic visual element to your events. It's important to note that these lights can only be controlled via the mobile app, as there are no onboard physical controls for them.
For even bigger sound, the speaker supports two multi-speaker pairing modes. TWS (True Wireless Stereo) allows you to pair two Boom 2 speakers for a dedicated left and right channel stereo setup, creating a more immersive experience. For covering a much larger area, PartyCast 2.0 lets you link over 100 compatible Soundcore speakers to play the same audio in mono. As a bonus utility, the speaker also functions as a power bank via a built-in USB-A port, though its 5W output provides a relatively slow charge by modern standards.
6. Battery Life and Connectivity
Anker claims the Soundcore Boom 2 can last for up to 24 hours on a single charge. However, this impressive figure comes with a major caveat: it's only achievable at around 50% volume with both the BassUp feature and the LED lights turned off. Real-world use with these features enabled will result in a significantly shorter runtime. When it's time to recharge, a full charge from empty takes approximately 5.5 hours using its modern USB-C port.
For wireless connectivity, the speaker uses the efficient and stable Bluetooth 5.3 standard. The biggest technical compromise, however, lies in its audio codec support. The Boom 2 exclusively supports the universal SBC codec and lacks support for higher-quality codecs like AAC or LDAC. This was a deliberate cost-saving decision by Anker. By sticking to the basic SBC codec, Anker reallocated the budget toward the powerful amplifier and drivers responsible for the speaker's signature volume and bass. This choice confirms the speaker is aimed at mass-market consumers who value loudness over the subtle details provided by high-resolution audio.
7. Technical Specifications
| Feature | Anker Soundcore Boom 2 |
| Power Output | 60W (Standard), 80W (Peak with BassUp 2.0) |
| Driver Configuration | 1 x Woofer, 2 x Tweeters (2.1 Channel) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 (Waterproof and Floatable) |
| Battery Life (Claimed) | Up to 24 hours |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Supported Audio Codecs | SBC only |
| Dimensions (W x H x D) | 29.7 cm x 18.5 cm x 10.1 cm (11.7 in x 7.3 in x 4.0 in) |
| Weight | 1.66 kg (3.7 lbs) |
| Extra Features | LED Light Show, Power Bank Function, Built-in Microphone |
8. Pros and Cons at a Glance
What We Liked 👍
- Exceptional Value: Offers incredible volume and features for its price point.
- Powerful Bass and Volume: Gets very loud with deep, thumpy bass, especially with BassUp 2.0 engaged.
- Excellent Durability: A robust IPX7 waterproof rating and a floatable design make it perfect for use near water.
- Long Battery Life: Capable of up to 24 hours of playtime under ideal conditions.
- Customizable Sound: The Soundcore app's 9-band EQ is a powerful tool for tuning the audio to your liking.
- Fun Party Features: The beat-synced light show and PartyCast 2.0 mode add to the fun.
What Could Be Improved 👎
- Unbalanced Default Sound: The out-of-the-box audio has recessed mids, requiring EQ adjustments for balanced sound.
- SBC Codec Only: Lacks support for higher-quality audio codecs like AAC or LDAC, which might disappoint discerning listeners.
- No Dustproof Rating: The absence of an IP6X rating makes it risky to use in sandy or dusty environments.
- Plastic Build: The all-plastic construction feels less premium than some competitors.
- App-Dependent Controls: The LED lights can only be controlled through the mobile app, with no physical buttons on the speaker itself.
Final Thoughts from BIKMAN TECH
The Anker Soundcore Boom 2 is a resounding success for its target audience. It is a purpose-built outdoor party speaker that executes a strategy of intelligent compromises. By prioritizing raw power, impactful bass, and a fun feature set over premium materials and high-fidelity codecs, Anker has created a product with a class-leading power-to-price ratio. It's not the speaker for every situation or every person. However, for the budget-conscious party host who needs to fill a backyard with loud, energetic music, the Boom 2 represents one of the most compelling values on the market today. If high volume, strong bass, waterproofing, and a built-in light show are on your checklist, this speaker should be at the very top of your list. Be sure to check out the latest deals to get this incredible value. We at BIKMAN TECH hope this guide was helpful! Feel free to leave a comment with any questions or share this post with a friend in need of a great outdoor speaker.
