Anker SoundCore Sport XL Portable Bluetooth Speaker Review

If you need a durable Bluetooth speaker for your next outdoor adventure or beach trip, the Anker SoundCore Sport XL will take some abuse and keep on rockin’.

PROs

• Sound quality: Two 8 watt speakers deliver loud yet clear sound which is further enhanced by dual passive subwoofers. The bass response is good, but can be made better by placing it near a wall so some of the sound from the rear subwoofer is reflected back to you. The speaker seems to favor highs, but music still comes through loud and clear.
• Waterproof and Dustproof: The speaker features a IP67 rating thanks to the sealed design. A large gasket covers the charging and Aux ports on the back (in fact, this gasket can be a little difficult to remove at times). This makes the speaker ideal for the beach, the pool or a day hike when the forecast calls for rain.
• Built-in USB Charging Port: If your phone is running low, you can plug your charging cable into the built-in USB port on the back of the speaker to charge it up. Just remember that doing so subtracts from the speaker’s 15-hour runtime.
• Built-in Speakerphone: If you receive a phone call while using the speaker, you can take the call on the speaker itself using the speaker’s built-in microphone.
• Battery Life: As noted earlier, this speaker can play for up to 15 hours on a single charge.
• Start-up and Shut-down sounds: This is minor, but I really like the “whoosh” sound the speaker makes when you turn it on and off. It’s much better than some other speakers that loudly announce “power on”.

CONs

• Weight: This speaker is a little heavy and may not be ideal for long hikes or walks.
• Muffled when wet: When the speaker is exposed to water, the small holes on the front close up which makes the sound muffled. This issue resolves itself when the speaker dries. Too bad that it doesn’t automatically eject water like the new Apple Watch.
• Rear gasket: As I noted earlier, the back gasket takes some force to remove. But, this helps ensure that the speaker is waterproof.

Overall, the Anker SoundCore Sport XL is a great outdoor companion that can be dropped in sand or water and keeps on going.

Check out the Anker SoundCore Sport XL on Amazon

— Sample provided for review