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An Anker Soundcore Boom 2 Plus placed on top of an automobile hood, angled towards the camera
Dave Carr / SoundGuys
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Anker Soundcore Boom 2 Plus review

Red Solo cups sold separately.
By

Published onMay 29, 2024

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8.1
Anker Soundcore Boom 2 Plus
The bottom line
With its durable build, customizable light show and plenty of low-end on tap, the Soundcore Boom 2 Plus makes for an excellent party speaker, rain or shine.
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Anker Soundcore Boom 2 Plus

With its durable build, customizable light show and plenty of low-end on tap, the Soundcore Boom 2 Plus makes for an excellent party speaker, rain or shine.
Product release date
May 29th, 2024
Price
$249.99
Dimensions
442 x 151 x 228 mm
Weight
3.8kg
Waterproof
IPX7
What we like
Companion app with customizable EQ
IPX7
Floats
Built-in party lights
What we don't like
No 3.5 wired input
No dust rating
8.1
SoundGuys Rating
8
User Rating
Rating Metric
Our Rating
User Rating
Durability / Build Quality
8.5
7.0
7.0
Value
7.5
8.0
8.0
Design
7.5
8.0
8.0
Connectivity
8.0
8.0
8.0
Portability
8.0
9.0
9.0
Feature
9.0
8.0
8.0

Anker is continuing to rebrand its outdoor-oriented portable Bluetooth speakers with the Anker Soundcore Boom 2 Plus. Essentially the bigger brother to the Soundcore Boom 2 and replacing its previous generation, the Motion Boom Plus, Anker has crammed two 4.5-inch woofers and two 1-inch tweeters into this floatable speaker design, not to mention dual LED lights on the passive radiators. With the ability to push 140 watts of energetic beach party power, read on to find out if the Soundcore Boom 2 Plus has what it takes to make your job “just beach.”

Editor’s note: this is the first version of the article. Updates will follow as the market changes.

About this Anker Soundcore Boom 2 Plus review: We tested the Anker Soundcore Boom 2 Plus over a period of 1 week. It was running firmware version 03.08, and the Soundcore app ran version 3.6.1. The company provided the unit for this review.

The Anker Soundcore Boom 2 Plus is an ideal speaker for those who like to party by the pool or at the beach. Thanks to its built-in lights, it’s also suitable for those who want to ensure their backyard BBQ dance party continues once the sun goes down.

What’s it like to use the Anker Soundcore Boom 2 Plus?

An Anker Soundcore Boom 2 Plus is placed on top of an automobile hood, facing the camera.
Dave Carr / SoundGuys
The Boom 2 Plus features a floatable design.

The Anker Soundcore Boom 2 Plus arrives in an adventure-ready, robust plastic housing. Our test model features a Phantom Black finish, which is more dark grey but the unit is also available in Adventure Green and Explorer Blue.

This floatable party speaker features an IPX7 water-resistance rating, and an aluminum grill protects two 1-inch tweeters and two 4.5-inch woofers. The control buttons sit almost flush in the housing, and even the LED party light passive radiators on the side are recessed for protection. Durability-wise, it’s safe to say that the Boom 2 Plus can handle the occasional tumble or two, not to mention falling overboard if you and your friends get a little too carried away listening to Spotify’s Yacht Rock playlist.

Sporting a massive handle and removable carrying strap, the Boom 2 Plus requires a dedicated hand (or shoulder) to move around. While not an issue in your backyard, you might have to make an extra trip to get this speaker from your car to the waterfront once you get to the beach. As you may know, hauling around a larger speaker is the trade-off if you want some substantial low-end at your next get-together.

How do you control the Anker Soundcore Boom 2 Plus?

Close up of the Anker Soundcore Boom 2 Plus control strip.
Dave Carr / SoundGuys
The rubberized control buttons have a satisfying click.

You control the Soundcore Boom 2 Plus via physical controls at the top of the speaker’s enclosure. Once powered on, the power and Bluetooth buttons are backlit and easy to find, but the volume, play/pause, and light show buttons are not. Below is a breakdown of how the buttons operate.

ActionPower buttonBluetooth buttonVolume -Play / PauseVolume +Lights buttonPartyCast pairingBassUP button
Action
One press
Power button
Power on
Bluetooth button
Bluetooth pairing mode
Volume -
Volume down
Play / Pause
Play / Pause / Answer / End Call
Volume +
Volume up
Lights button
Cycle light show modes
PartyCast pairing
Enter / Exit PartyCast Pairing Mode
BassUP button
Bass UP on / off
Action
Two presses
Power button

Bluetooth button

Volume -

Play / Pause
Next track
Volume +

Lights button

PartyCast pairing

BassUP button

Action
Three presses
Power button

Bluetooth button

Volume -

Play / Pause
Previous track
Volume +

Lights button

PartyCast pairing

BassUP button

Action
Press and hold for 2 seconds
Power button
Power off
Bluetooth button
Enter TWS pairing mode
Volume -

Play / Pause
Reject a call
Volume +

Lights button

PartyCast pairing

BassUP button

You can also control some features through the Soundcore app, including volume, EQ, and LED settings, and modify some of the speaker’s default settings, such as adjusting the auto timer off.

Should you use the app for the Anker Soundcore Boom 2 Plus?

Downloading and installing the Soundcore app will let you customize your sound and light show. You can select from four preset EQ options or create your own with the full 10-band custom EQ. The app also provides several variations on the lighting effects, including dimming or turning them off to save battery life. Of course, you’ll also need the app to download any firmware updates.

How does the Anker Soundcore Boom 2 Plus connect?

An Anker Soundcore Boom 2 Plus placed on top of an automobile hood, backside with open USB cover facing the camera.
Dave Carr / SoundGuys
The Boom 2 Plus features a 7500 mAh/7.3V built-in battery and a USB-A port for charging your phone.

The Soundcore Boom 2 Plus connects to your device via Bluetooth 5.3 and only supports SBC. If you have two Boom 2 Plus speakers, you can pair them for proper stereo performance.

PartyCast 2.0 connects up to 100 Soundcore PartyCast 2.0-supported products simultaneously! If you, by chance, know 100 people with 100 Soundcore PartyCast 2.0-supported speakers, please send the party invite to my email.

Pairing the Anker Soundcore Boom 2 Plus follows the usual steps:

  1. Press the power once to turn on the Boom 2 Plus
  2. Open Bluetooth settings on your device
  3. Press the Bluetooth pairing button on the speaker
  4. Select “Soundcore Boom 2 Plus”
  5. Download and install the Soundcore app for further control options

How long does the Anker Soundcore Boom 2 Plus’s battery last?

Anker states 20 hours of playback at 50% volume with BassUp and light effects turned off. Our battery tests are still ongoing; check back soon for official results!

How does the Anker Soundcore Boom 2 Plus sound?

An Anker Soundcore Boom 2 Plus placed on top of an automobile hood, angled towards the camera, showing the lit-up passive radiator.
Dave Carr / SoundGuys
It’s officially a party once BassUP is engaged.

The Boom 2 Plus will keep a sizeable outdoor party or backyard BBQ moving thanks to the low-end provided by the built-in subwoofers and the “BassUP 2.0” technology; BassUP mode will boost the subwoofer’s output from 35w to 50w each, while the two 1-inch tweeters also increase their power from 15W to 20W for a total of 140 watts.

The stock Soundcore Signature EQ preset is a great place to start with the Boom 2 Plus; don’t waste time with the Voice, Treble Boost, or Balanced presets, as they subtract a substantial amount of low-end. Kicking this party off with Andrew W.K.’s Party Hard, the steady pulse of the four-on-the-floor kick drum hits hard, and the bass guitar is front and center without completely overpowering the mix, all while the LED passive radiators are firing on all cylinders and pulsing like a Bat out of Hell.  The distorted guitars are a little distant but still plenty audible, not to mention you can still hear the percussive plink of the rock and roll piano keys accompanying this motivational track.

An Anker Soundcore Boom 2 Plus placed on top of an automobile hood, backside facing the camera.
Dave Carr / SoundGuys
Thanks to its graphic equalizer, you can fine-tune the Boom 2 Plus to your liking.

As with the Boom 2, the graphic EQ is the key to unlocking a healthy (or unhealthy) dose of low-end from the Boom 2 Plus. Listening to Why Can’t This Be Love by Van Halen while increasing some low frequencies around 70Hz enhances the kick drum. A boost at 150Hz also helps amplify the helicopter-like tremolo synth line to my preferred level. The full-band EQ allows you to select and boost frequencies as low as 48Hz, so there is room to tweak; it’s worth experimenting!

Can you use the Anker Soundcore Boom 2 Plus for phone calls?

Answering your phone while blasting some tunes would be a huge party foul, but yes, you can take phone calls while connected to the Boom 2 Plus, thanks to its built-in microphone. In ideal conditions, you get decent clarity. It’s plenty usable for a quick chat if needed.

Should you buy the Anker Soundcore Boom 2 Plus?

An Anker Soundcore Boom 2 Plus placed on top of an automobile hood, angled towards the camera
Dave Carr / SoundGuys
You’re already halfway to a party with the Boom 2 Plus.

If you like to entertain and want a larger Bluetooth speaker with a little something extra for your get-togethers, whether in your backyard or at the lake, the Boom 2 Plus is a great buy. It’s durable, loud, and has plenty of bass with an overall customizable sound. Clearly, it’s not the most portable speaker out there, but if you want that low-end, an increase in weight and size is the price you pay.

With the Boom 2 Plus taking care of the audio-visual portion of a party, add a BBQ —and maybe a Yeti cooler full of ice-cold drinks—and you’ve got yourself a decent shin-dig in the works.

Anker Soundcore Boom 2 Plus
Anker Soundcore Boom 2 Plus
Anker Soundcore Boom 2 Plus
Companion app with customizable EQ • IPX7 • Floats • Built-party lights
MSRP: $249.99
The Soundcore Boom 2 Plus has what it takes to make your job “just beach.”
A portable party speaker with water resistance.

What should you get instead of the Anker Soundcore Boom 2 Plus?

Photo of the Anker Soundcore Boom 2 showing the side lighting effect
Dave Carr / SoundGuys
The Boom 2 provides 80 watts of power with BassUP engaged.

If you’re keen on plenty of low-end and fun LED lights but want to save some real estate, the regular Soundcore Boom 2 ($89.99 at Amazon) is more portable and still provides a good amount of bass. You still get the same IPX7 protection rating, floatable design, and companion app with EQ options, but the Boom 2 maxes out at 80 watts, compared to the Boom 2 Plus, which maxes out at 140 watts.

Anker Soundcore Motion X600 speaker held in hand above a table.
Chase Bernath / SoundGuys
This might be the best-looking Bluetooth speaker under $200.

If you’re after something more stylish, Anker’s Soundcore Motion X600 ($149.99 at Amazon) is worth a look. With five drivers, including one that fires upward, the Motion X600 can deliver a reasonably immersive listening experience with a decent amount of low-end in a modern-looking package. You still get the built-in handle for portability, IPX7 water resistance rating, and the ability to personalize your sound with the same Soundcore app.

Frequently asked questions

Yes, it can with-handle splashes of water and is also designed to float.

Only if your TV offers Bluetooth capability.

Yes, the Boom 2 Plus charges via USB-C.

Yes.

No, there is no microphone input on the Boom 2 Plus.

Ahoy matey, yes, it does.

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