soundcore Anker Life P2 True Wireless Earbuds with 4 Microphones, cVc 8.0 Noise Reduction, Graphene Drivers for Clear Sound, USB C, 40H Playtime, IPX7 Waterproof, Wireless Earphones

Product Information

Recent headphones from this manufacturer have an adjustable noise cancelling system that offers excellent overall performance. Their noise isolation performance nearly rivals high-end brands like Bose and Sony.

The Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC boasts a very effective Wind Noise Reduction mode and there’s also plenty of ANC customisation whether through manual means, to adaptive noise-cancelling with an Environment Detection mode that mutes audio for two seconds while adjusting to external sounds. When I used it, it didn’t do anything, so perhaps leave it aside. Knowing how well ANC performed on the Liberty Air 2 Pro, I figured the Life A2 NC had some potential of being decent. Simply put, I was underwhelmed by its noise neutralization, which contrary to what Anker claims, does not “eliminate up to 90% of noise from your environment.” It’s more like 50%, with a majority of external sounds creeping their way onto the soundstage. With its noise-cancellation, I don’t think it’s as effective as the EarFun Air Pro 3. The EarFun appears stronger at dealing with traffic, as it whittles down engine noise more efficiently, but the gap isn’t large. The app itself is simple and clear to traverse, as well as responsive. The wear sensor feature works, though I’ve noticed it doesn’t resume as often after it pauses. Likewise, on the receiving end, speech could perhaps be slightly sharper, but sounds full rather than scratchy and metallic (like on the Sennheiser CX 400BT), with good volume. Anker Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Pro review: VerdictI was also impressed by the Life P3’s audio quality. Like the over-ear Life Q30, boosted bass is the focus of the “Soundcore Signature” audio profile. However, it’s not nearly as overwhelming here, with the P3 striking a solid balance between robust low-end reproduction and clarity in the mid and upper registers. While the Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC falls short of the besting the EarFun’s noise-cancelling, it edges its rival for audio. They elicit more clarity from the midrange, with vocals that sound a touch more refined and detailed on the Anker. We've replaced the Anker SoundCore Life P3 Truly Wireless with the Anker Soundcore Space A40 Truly Wireless. We've also replaced the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless with the Anker Soundcore Space Q45 Wireless. We've added brand comparisons as well, in addition to expanding the lineup information. A codec is the system used to transmit the audio signal over the Bluetooth connection which both the phone and headphones must support. There are a variety of codecs available for Bluetooth headphones, with SBC being the default, which is the lowest quality and supported by all Bluetooth audio devices. AAC is an upgrade that most support, with Sony's LDAC and Qualcomm's aptX, aptX HD, aptX Low Latency and the newest aptX Adaptive supported by some. One of the few downsides is that they don’t support seamless switching, meaning you have to manually disconnect them from one device before connecting to another.

Apple's iPhone notably does not support Bluetooth codecs higher than AAC, but many Android smartphones and newer Bluetooth headphones support at least aptX. As I noted in my 1MORE Aero review, I’d also appreciate the option to have one of the controls toggle the spatial audio on and off, to save having to dive into the app so frequently. The control scheme is missing a touch and hold function, so that would be a neat place for the spatial audio to slot in, and I would have liked to have seen Anker make volume adjustable by sliding a finger up or down either stem, too.They stay put and are more comfortable for extended periods. They are also fairly compact for earbuds with active noise cancelling and don’t protrude as far as their Bose or Sony rivals.

With the second generation AirPods you can also just say “Hey Siri” at any time without having to tap anything to activate Apple’s voice assistant. After having to re-teach Siri to recognise my voice, it generally worked well, even with music blasting out. But Siri can be a little slow, particularly when you have poor connectivity on your smartphone. You also get odd looks doing so on public transport. If you want noise-cancelling earbuds for an affordable sum, then these days you can get just that. True wireless such as the Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC are bringing noise-cancelling down to very affordable prices.

FAQ

If you’re clamouring for more bass, you can toggle on the BassUp feature, which boosts low-end frequencies even further. I didn’t feel the need for it very often but it did successfully add weight and depth to dancier, bass-heavy playlists.

For starters, you can choose between adaptive active noise canceling, which will adjust to your environment, or controlling it manually. You’ll also find two versions of transparency mode (vocal and full), and in a parody of Sony’s loaded control system, even a version designed to adapt to different transportation modes like trains, planes, and various automobiles. Wind Buffering is one of my favorite extras, effectively keeping your ears from getting blown out while using transparency mode in a breeze.

The Sony WF-1000XM4 Truly Wireless have a customizable sound profile and a great noise isolation performance. They have a recessed treble range compared to the next-generation Sony WF-1000XM5 Truly Wireless. Their noise isolation isn't as impressive as the next-gen, either.