Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Pro: powerful in-ears for 130 euros

Anker starts the year 2021 with the new in-ear model Liberty Air 2 Pro. A debut made to measure: For 129.99 euros the renowned manufacturer once again offers an excellent price-performance ratio. And a pleasing visual variety: the Liberty Air 2 Pro are available in black, blue, white and rose. The discreetly colored handles create a chic effect.

The new product was presented appropriately with a live moderation from the Viper Room in LA, including connections to Shenzhen and London. Not to forget the performance of Ne-Yo. Clear announcement: Anker plays with the big players. Considerable when you consider that the subsidiary Soundcore was only launched in 2018.

Well-mixed

As with the Liberty 2 Pro, the manufacturer got the absolution of ten Grammy winners who praise the unadulterated and nuanced sound. We cannot contradict: The further development of the Liberty Air 2 (read the test here) presents itself with a well-balanced, mixed sound that is convincing across the board. Whether bass-heavy tunes, subtle jazz arrangements, soulful vocals or classical music – the performance of the Liberty Air 2 Pro impressed in the listening test across all genres. The headphones draw vocal nuances and musical details in a present and spatially balanced manner; they tackle the depths powerfully without overdrawing.

Redesigned driver

The basis is the PureNote technology developed by Anker: an 11 mm driver made of ten hardened nano-layers is built into each earplug. Soundcore then tuned the sound both with and without ANC (Active Noise Canceling) to ensure an unadulterated music experience in both operating modes. The ANC also works well: In the strongest mode, ambient noise is largely suppressed. The transparency mode lets all sounds through or highlights voices.

Multi-mode ANC allows fine tuning

The multi-level active noise suppression introduced with the Soundcore Life Q30 over-ear model at the end of 2020 can also be found in the new Premium Liberty: The ANC can be fine-tuned in three levels via the app: “Traffic”, “Indoor” and “Outdoor”. Accordingly, noise canceling focuses on engine noises, conversations and noises, for example in the office, as well as low and medium-frequency sounds such as traffic noise and wind.

The sensor surfaces on the left and right offer a total of four functionalities with a double tap or a long press, which can be set according to your own preferences via the app. For example, you can change the ANC mode in two or three stages, start and stop playback, jump to the next track or adjust the volume.

Siri will be supported for voice assistants at launch, with more to follow. The automatic start-stop function is very practical: if you remove one or both of the earphones and put them down, playback stops. After reinsertion it continues seamlessly.

The connection to the smartphone is stable via Bluetooth 5.0 with a range of up to ten meters. The Soundcore model supports SBC and AAC as audio codecs. Qualcomm’s HD Bluetooth codec aptX, which can achieve CD quality with a suitable player and data, is missing this time.

HearID: personalized sound

A hearing test can be carried out via the Soundcore app, which personalizes the sound according to your own hearing ability. This is often a gimmick, here it brings real added value: Compared to the already good Soundcore signature sound, we got a lot more brilliance on our ears with the so-called HearID. The individual sound setting can also be changed later using the app. There are also 22 preset sound profiles to choose from, including the Soundcore signature sound.

Comfortable seat, ample scope of delivery

The wearing comfort is also good. The Liberty Air 2 Pro sit comfortably and securely. As usual, Anker is generous and includes nine pairs of silicone tips (EarTips) in different sizes. You should try it here, because with the wrong attachments, the sound and fit will suffer. A 60 cm long USB-C charging cable for the square charging case with a practical sliding mechanism can also be found in the elaborately designed packaging. The case feels good with its rounded corners and can also be recharged wirelessly via induction.

Six hours of running time, good telephony quality

The runtime is seven hours without ANC (26 hours with a stop in the charging case) and six hours with active noise suppression (21 hours with the case). When the time at the socket is tight: Thanks to USB-C Fast Charge, 15 minutes is enough for three hours of playtime.

Telephoning also works in good quality: six microphones ensure that the voice is focused and ambient noise is suppressed. Thanks to IPX4, the plugs are also protected against splash water.

Conclusion: price tip for the discerning

Anyone looking for very good sound and effective ANC will find what they are looking for with the Soundcore Liberty Air 2 from Anker. For 130 euros, the manufacturer once again offers high-quality in-ear headphones with great sound and a variety of ANC. Thanks to the well-made app, personal settings can be easily made, the hearing test for individual measurement brings an audible plus in brilliance.