The Anker Soundcore Rave Get together 2 Bluetooth speaker ($229) is bigger and costlier than its sibling, the Rave Neo 2 ($179.99), however that more money will get you stereo audio and extra party-friendly LED lights. It additionally features a karaoke enter with discrete acquire and reverb controls. That stated, the Rave Get together 2 is not absolutely waterproof, so it is not as superb for a pool occasion because the Rave Neo 2. In the end, the extra reasonably priced JBL Cost 5 ($179.99) stays our Editors’ Selection winner on this phase as a result of it produces equally robust stereo sound from a way more weatherproof design.

A Versatile Design, However Not for Pool Events

The Soundcore Rave Get together 2 measures 7.5 by 15.7 by 7.4 inches (HWD), weighs 11.1 kilos, and works in each horizontal and vertical orientations. In a horizontal configuration, the built-in deal with resides on the appropriate and the highest is flat—too dangerous it would not home a wi-fi charging floor just like the Victrola Music Version 2. Each the left and backside panels have rubber toes that preserve the unit steady on flat surfaces, regardless of the way you place it.

Behind the entrance grille, twin 2-inch tweeters and twin 4-inch woofers mix for 120 watts of energy. LEDs encircle the drivers and energy the varied lighting results you’ll be able to customise through the companion app. The speaker is appropriate with Bluetooth 5.3, however Anker would not present particulars on codec help.

(Credit score: Tim Gideon)

The management panel sits below the deal with on the appropriate aspect. It features a energy button (with accompanying battery standing LEDs), a Bluetooth pairing button, and a Bass Up button (which is on by default). On the other aspect of the panel, you get a toggle for the LEDs, a PartyCast button for linking as much as 100 appropriate Soundcore audio system, quantity controls, and a multifunction button that handles playback and monitor navigation relying on what number of occasions you press it.

A port on the again allows environment friendly driver motion and airflow. To the left of this, a round cowl protects the facility connector (for the included charging cable), a USB-A port (for powering exterior gadgets), and a 3.5mm enter. Anker would not embody cables for the USB-A or aux connectors. In any other case, this space has a quarter-inch microphone enter, together with mic and reverb quantity knobs. That is proper—the speaker doubles as a transportable karaoke machine, as long as you will have a appropriate mic.

The IPX4 score is surprisingly low for a transportable Bluetooth speaker of this measurement and worth; it could actually deal with solely mild splashes of water. Our favourite outside audio system, together with the aforementioned JBL Cost 5 and the Sony SRS-XG300 ($349.99), have a lot stronger IP67 scores.

Anker estimates the speaker can final roughly 16 hours per cost, however your outcomes will rely on how loud you retain the amount.

You do not get a speakerphone right here, however we do not essentially count on that any longer. Many moveable audio system are ditching that characteristic and most bigger fashions by no means had it within the first place.

Anker Soundcore Rave Get together 2 App Expertise

The Soundcore app (obtainable for Android and iOS) is helpful and straightforward to function. Fortunately, it would not lock the power to save lots of EQ preferences behind an account right here, not like with the Rave Neo 2.

(Credit score: Anker)

The principle display exhibits a picture of the speaker, together with a battery life readout. Under this, you’ll be able to choose from a number of LED mild present presets, with names similar to Campfire Vibes and Spring Break. You may regulate the colour schemes and rhythmic sample of every preset or flip off these results fully. In testing, the LEDs sync reasonably effectively to the music, significantly if there is a robust beat.

If the LEDs aren’t sufficient to entertain you, the app additionally consists of some goofy extras within the Video games part. You get a Spin the Bottle wheel, in addition to a Gentle DJ part that provides turntable-like controls for the lights and a sound board for numerous results. Should you discover pleasure in these extras, extra energy to you, however we’re glad you’ll be able to simply keep away from them.

(Credit score: Anker)

Extra necessary to the expertise is an EQ part with 9 adjustable faders and a number of other presets. In any other case, the app helps you to arrange the PartyCast characteristic, toggle the BassUp mode, set up firmware updates, and regulate fundamental settings (such because the auto-power-off timing).

Loud and Bass-Ahead Sound

Typically talking, the Rave Get together 2 sounds higher with the Bass Up mode energetic, so we left it on for our checks. On tracks with intense sub-bass content material, like The Knife’s “Silent Shout,” the speaker delivers highly effective, palpable thump. The deep lows listed here are simply on the fringe of its vary, but it surely nonetheless performs them with gusto. The output quantity is impressively loud, and we did not discover any distortion.

(Credit score: Tim Gideon)

Invoice Callahan’s “Drover,” a monitor with far much less deep bass within the combine, higher reveals the sound signature. The drums right here aren’t thunderous, however they nonetheless sound full and enormous. Callahan’s baritone vocals get the majority of the low-frequency consideration, however a treble edge supplies mandatory steadiness. The acoustic strums sound equally vibrant. The drivers solid the mids barely apart in favor of the deeper lows and sparkly highs, but it surely’s a robust presentation that ought to swimsuit most occasion situations.

The speaker cannot fairly reproduce the sub-bass tones on the 34-second mark of Kendrick Lamar’s “Loyalty.” That’s commonplace as a result of these are some significantly deep sub-bass parts and the programs able to reproducing them sometimes value much more. On this monitor, the drum loop and the very best ranges of the deeper synth notes obtain probably the most bass consideration. The assorted vocal performances sound crisp and clear, with out a lot sibilance.

The lower-register instrumentation in orchestral tracks, just like the opening scene from John Adams’ The Gospel In accordance with the Different Mary, steps ahead within the combine. The upper-register brass, strings, and vocals retain a vibrant presence, nonetheless, which steers issues away from any muddiness.

Total, this sound signature is not for purists who worth accuracy. Then once more, most moveable audio system do not goal for that superb. Booming, bass-forward audio is the norm and this Anker mannequin matches that mould.

Prepared for a Rave

Though the Anker Soundcore Rave Get together 2 can’t reproduce the super-deep bass tones of some tracks, it nonetheless delivers the highly effective, sculpted sound signature that works effectively for events. We’re additionally followers of the karaoke mic enter and most points of the companion app. However a lackluster IPX4 score means you must be cautious of poolside splashes and inclement climate. The aforementioned JBL Cost 5 and Sony SRS-XG300 audio system are rather more sturdy, so they continue to be our favourite outdoor-friendly fashions. Should you search considerably higher sub-bass response, the extra highly effective JBL Boombox 3 ($499.95) is one other Editors’ Selection winner.