8.2
Soundcore by Anker Movement 300
Like
-
Compact
-
Excellent sound for its small measurement
-
Good worth
-
Absolutely waterproof
Do not like
-
Sounds barely overdriven with bass enhance on
Bose’s wonderful SoundLink Flex Bluetooth speaker, which we awarded a CNET Editors’ Selection, is likely one of the top-selling Bluetooth audio system on Amazon, with hundreds of person critiques there. Evidently, rivals took discover and determined to supply up their very own spins on the Flex, which lists for $150 however generally goes on sale for much less. The Soundcore Movement 300 is Anker’s reply to that Bose speaker. Across the similar measurement because the Bose, it does not sound fairly pretty much as good, but it surely sounds spectacular for its compact measurement and prices solely $80. Consequently, we have awarded it a CNET Editors’ Selection as a robust worth choose within the transportable Bluetooth speaker class.
Learn extra: Greatest mini Bluetooth audio system
Soundcore Movement 300 design
The Movement 300 weighs in at 1.76 kilos and is just a little heavier than the 1.3-pound SoundLink Flex. However just like the Flex, the Movement 300 may be laid down flat with its speaker firing up towards the ceiling or sky or propped up as proven within the picture above (Anker says its SmartTune know-how senses modifications to the speaker’s orientation and adjusts the sound to enhance the listening expertise).
The speaker IPX7 waterproof and appears fairly sturdy. I left it out within the rain for about half-hour and likewise submerged it in a sink stuffed with water. It labored high quality afterwards.
I left the speaker out within the rain for half-hour.
At the very least Anker made some effort to distinguish the design of the Movement 300 from the SoundLink Flex, giving it extra rounded corners and a particular metallic grill on entrance. (Anker says the “steel mesh preserves sound high quality and has a rugged, industrial really feel.”) Tribit’s Stormbox Movement (1.47 kilos) is extra of a direct knockoff, with a form and steel grill that is much more much like that of the Bose. The Movement 300 has a sturdy strap built-in into its design whereas the StormBox Movement has a less expensive wanting lanyard. Each are removable.
One of many causes the Bose is so widespread is as a result of it is sort of the proper measurement for a conveyable speaker — not too massive and never too small. In fact, the opposite cause is that it sounds pretty much as good because it does — and performs as massive because it does — for its measurement. The identical is true for each the Movement 300 and Stormbox Movement.
Soundcore Movement 300 options
The Soundcore Movement 300 has a considerably sturdy characteristic set for an $80 speaker, together with help for Sony’s LDAC audio codec for Android and different units that help Bluetooth wi-fi streaming with LDAC.
Whereas Anker does not promote the speaker as having speakerphone capabilities, it does. I related my telephone to the speaker after which put my telephone in one other room and lined it with a towel to cowl its microphone after which had a dialog utilizing the speaker. You do must be near the speaker for the microphone to choose up your voice, however folks stated they heard me high quality in a quiet room.
The Soundcore by Anker Movement 300 is available in three coloration choices.
Whereas Anker describes this as a stereo speaker, the drivers are shut collectively so you may get minimal stereo separation. Nevertheless, you’ll be able to wirelessly hyperlink two Movement 300s collectively for an actual left/proper stereo speaker arrange.
The Movement 300 is suitable with the Soundcore app for iOS and Android, which lets you tweak the sound profile, regulate the brightness of the LEDs on its buttons and improve its firmware. It delivers as much as 13 hours of audio at reasonable quantity ranges (my exams confirmed that could be a pretty correct ranking)
Soundcore Movement 300 sound high quality
Most of those mini Bluetooth audio system are strongest within the midrange and treble, and the Movement 300 isn’t any exception. It affords respectable readability and likewise performs loud for its compact measurement and outputs an inexpensive quantity of bass, giving the sound a specific amount of depth and richness that you simply usually do not discover in audio system on this worth vary.
The speaker has a bass enhance button that does amp up the low finish a bit. However I truly thought the speaker sounded a bit higher with out the bass enhance engaged as a result of it appeared barely overdriven with the enhance on. The bass simply does not sound that tight at increased volumes. That is the place the Bose does higher.
Tribit’s StormBox Movement is a barely hotter speaker and may very well sound barely higher than the Movement 300, edging it out for bass efficiency by a tad. However the Anker speaker does supply barely extra element and readability and wins on design. Whereas it could be a plus that it has help for the LDAC audio codec, I did not actually discover a distinction in sound high quality after I was streaming to the speaker from an Android telephone that helps LDAC vs. what the sound was like after I paired an iPhone to it. You’d doubtless want a way more premium speaker to listen to any vital distinction with LDAC streaming.
Soundcore Movement 300 remaining ideas
Whereas the Bose SoundLink Flex continues to be the mini Bluetooth speaker to get if you happen to can afford it, the Movement 300 is a superb worth different that is solely a small step down by way of efficiency and design. I additionally just like the Tribit Stormbox Movement for a similar worth. It has a extra generic design however has higher battery life and sounds barely hotter, which you’ll — or could not — choose.
Each the Movement 300 and the StormBox Movement listing for $80, however we must always see some flash gross sales that deliver the value down a bit. Anker additionally makes the Movement 100a smaller Bluetooth speaker that lists for $60 and can be a very good worth. Nevertheless, if you happen to can afford it, the Movement 300 does sound higher and I choose its design.
