Ports: a 5V 2A USB output, 3.5mm aux input, Micro USB charging port
Frequency Response: 20Hz-20kHz
Power: Rechargeable lithium polymer battery
Dimensions: 175x78x43mm
Weight: 365 grams
What is in the box?
Speaker,
a hand strap,
micro USB charging cable,
warranty cards and instruction guide.
Build and design:
The SoundCore XL is built like a rock. The front has a metal grille mesh and the rest is made of a durable, tough plastic.
The rear is appealing with squared off sections giving it an armoured look. The middle section at the back is where the passive bass radiator is underneath it. The edges are rounded off and smooth with no sharp edges making it easy to hold and carry.
The bottom section seals the ports tightly from water getting in. It houses the aux input, micro USB input and USB output.
The top has five buttons – power, volume down, play/pause, volume up and Bluetooth pairing button.
On the upper right edge, there are four small indicator lights for battery indication. A small metal bar here helps you attach the wrist strap that comes along the box.
While the speaker is hefty weighing over 365 grams, it also makes this more durable. The buttons are very responsive to touch and gives a clicky sound upon pressing. The speaker is shock resistance making it a perfect outdoor music companion and is dust-tight. The SoundCore Sports XL comes with an IP67 rating that can withstand 1 meter underwater for 30 minutes.
Connectivity – Range
Anker claims a 20-meter Bluetooth range on these speakers and without walls obstructing you do get around 20 meters of connectivity which is pretty good for outdoor use. Even at home with walls blocking I got a better range than many other Bluetooth speakers I have tested.
Battery life
Anker claims 15 hours of constant playback on the SoundCore Sports XL. My tests proved the claims very much true. My results were very close to the claims. What is worth noting is the phone can reverse charge your device like Smartphone with its 5V 2A USB output.
Performance Quality
Anker makes some good speakers, surprisingly not many must be aware of it as it is not a name that would pop up immediately when someone says Bluetooth speaker.
The SoundCore XL has two 8W stereo drivers along with two dual passive subwoofers for bass. It produces loud music which should be good enough for a small to medium sized rooms and spreads nicely in the outdoor environs too.
The bass is rich and has a punch though not completely overshadowing the vocals and trebles, which is a good sign. The vocals are well pronounced. The mids tend to be slightly pushed back. The soundstage is fairly wide. Overall the Anker SoundCore Sports XL is decently good in this range.
The Anker has a direct competition in WonderBook UE which is also a tough cookie with water resistance but takes a different design cue.
Verdict:
Anker SoundCore Sports XL is a good outdoor Bluetooth speaker and if you want to enjoy music near a Swimming pool or while bath. It is a tough speaker that can withstand a fair amount of abuse. It is priced at Rs 5,990 in India.]]>
