The Liberty 2 Pro from Soundcore (aka Anker) is the most recent addition to their Liberty line-up, and seems to be the crown-jewel of the series. More refined than the Airpod-inspired Liberty Air 2 and more expensive than the Liberty Neo, the Liberty 2 Pro is set to retail at $149. We over here at Major Hifi received our demo pair this morning, and after besting my colleagues in gladiatorial combat, I get to write the Liberty 2 Pro Review.
The Professional Earbuds – Soundcore Liberty Pro 2 Review
Design
The Liberty 2 Pro sure looks professional. Despite arriving in a large box complete with a fold-out display, the buds and charging case are compact. Black, rubberized matte finish, and fits in your front pocket.
The case, instead of the typical hinging treasure-chest type setup, slides open with a flick of your finger. While probably more aesthetic than anything (it might last longer without a hinge?), it’s a unique design choice that my eyes and hands found refreshing.
The earbuds are a tad big, but they don’t stick out once you have them in your ears. They also feature the silicone “wing” that you rotate behind the fold of your ear. Once seated, they allow your ear canal some breathing room, which I appreciate. So no complaints in the fit department.
However, the control buttons are too small. They’re tough to hit sometimes. And considering the large surface area on the outer surface of the earbuds, I think Soundcore could’ve made them larger and more accessible. And since I’m complaining, an auto-pause feature when taking the earbuds out would’ve been nice.
The Liberty 2 Pros use Qualcomm cVc 8.0 noise cancelling technology, which is a series of algorithms that is mainly used for improving voice quality. But even when listening to music, the ambient noise reduction is impressive. I watched my coworker’s mouths move without hearing a single thing they were saying (huzzah).
Sound
One balanced armature handles the mids and highs, while a dynamic driver handles the lows. And they aligned in such a way (Soundcore calls it “Astria Coaxial Acoustic Architecture”) that is “direct to ear” which is supposed provide a more natural sound. But enough with the theory and jargon. Here’s my impression of the sound:
The lows are thick, tight and punchy. There’s a noticeable boost, applied with finesse. Finely controlled, with a quick decay. In short: satisfying. Especially coming from wireless earbuds, the bass punch is quite impressive.
The mid range is a little recessed, but mostly the low-mids. The sound signature overall is has a slight V-shaped; vocals sit back a bit in the mix while the lows and highs are brought forward. The highs aren’t harsh, but they are crispy. Cymbals have that extra “sssss” sound to them, but luckily the emphasis doesn’t ruin any other instruments, like big guitars or high vocals.
Overall, the sound quality is great on these earbuds. They’re punchy, crispy, and full of details. They are tuned to give more accuracy than character, but the heavy lows and highs stop them from sounding too sterile.
While the musical boosts and cuts come across clearly, they are done in a way that enhances instrument separation. You can pick apart dense tracks with accuracy. These ‘buds are apparently endorsed by 10 Grammy-winning producers, and most of them praise the clarity and soundstage. I can vouch for both of those things being excellent. While I still wouldn’t mix on earbuds, I might use the Liberty 2 Pro as a reference. For listening to a recent mix while on the train, for example.
As for the call quality, it’s pretty damn good as far as Bluetooth goes. My Pop’s voice came through crystal clear, though he noted some ambient noise on my side.
Conclusion
The Liberty 2 Pro sounds very good. Very, very good for wireless earbuds at this price. And if the V-shaped sound signature isn’t your thing, you can modify it slightly using the Soundcore app, which provides you with several EQ settings (although EQ can only go so far).
It can also test your hearing and provide you with a personalized EQ. I was honestly skeptical about how useful this feature would be, but I did end up favoring the personalized EQ they gave me after the test.
Overall, the Liberty Pro 2 are a great pair of true wireless earbuds for under $200. The sound is punchy and clear, and provides excellent separation. While not quite full of warmth or quirky charm, the Pro 2’s are professional. Sleek and accurate, they get the job done.
Pros: Good call quality, great bass, clear sound with lots of separation, long battery life.
Cons: Lack of chunky/emotive midrange, control button too small, maybe too much treble for some tastes.
Find them on: Amazon
Alternatively, you can try Strauss & Wagner TW401 True Wireless Earbuds
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