I just finished reviewing the Anker Soundcore 3 Bluetooth speaker and I have to admit that it sounds remarkably good for its $51/£56 price tag.
I’m skeptical when I see audio products offered at such low prices, and I tend to convince myself that they must sound so bad to cost so little. I’ve heard (and reviewed) a lot of well-researched audio products over the years, and for me, $50 for any kind of speaker is just too cheap to consider.
Let me explain. Years of reviewing consumer audio technologies have taught me about the costs involved in developing, manufacturing, and distributing all kinds of audio products, and I’ll admit, I’ve been guilty at times of ignoring retail speakers for so little.
Don’t get me wrong, I’ve never had deep pockets myself, but whether I like it or not, these types of factors can stay in my mind when researching audio products and have influenced many of my buying decisions.
Of course, I’m always happy to be wrong, and there are plenty of great products that defy expectations at their own price point. But I suspect that many of my fellow audiophiles will agree that anything available for $50 will likely not count sound quality among its top priorities.
I’m not suggesting it would sound so bad that I wouldn’t want to listen to it, but it could indicate that the product wasn’t assembled very carefully for sound quality and build.
As a product reviewer, it’s important to keep an open mind, be aware of the types of factors that can influence your opinion, and make sure you get rid of any preconceived notions before embarking on any kind of product evaluation.
As you can read in my Anker Soundcore 3 review, this is one of the products where the build and performance were much better than I expected, and although I approached the review with a very open mind, I was still surprised by the high standards of build, performance, and audio delivery given its size and price.
If you’re not familiar with the brand, Anker is an electronics company that covers all types of consumer technology including chargers, home products, and security devices. Its Soundcore brand specializes in audio products, and as some of our reviews covering other Soundcore products have found, it has successfully tapped into the budget-conscious sound quality segment with a range of products aimed at entertainment and active audio enthusiasts.
breaking the sound barrier
To give my audio obsession some kind of perspective, I’m the kind of annoying commuter who gets my hands on the in-car entertainment system’s audio controls, adjusting the tone balance and volume to make it sound better. I can usually improve on any of the factory preset EQ profiles, and would rather sit in silence than listen to a thin, scratchy music system. In fact, I have such a good reputation that I’m sure friends get annoyed around me when it comes to audio from their audio setup.
For me, sound quality is everything. And if you understand anything about the laws of physics, small speakers like the ones in the Soundcore 3 simply shouldn’t be able to move enough air to drive the large sound waves that generate low-frequency sounds. Except in the case of the Soundcore 3’s remarkably compact speakers, Anker has developed a speaker arrangement that has overcome the challenge more efficiently than most, and emits a powerful sound that defies original science.
Today’s technology helps manufacturers overcome the belief that small speakers equal small sound, and the Soundcore 3 has certainly helped me re-evaluate my understanding and expectations.
I’m not suggesting for one moment that it generates some kind of deep bass to shake the house, but that’s definitely enough to get the party started wherever you are. Thanks in large part to its Soundcore BassUp technology, which promises low intensity and low power that uses an internally tuned digital signal processor (DSP) with multiple dynamic range controllers to analyze and amplify the bass frequencies with whatever music is being played. Dual passive radiators inside the Soundcore 3 ensure the full sound wave is output from the speaker, and the depth and power achieved by the technology, combined with the passive materials used in the driver funnels, deliver undeniably impressive bass.
It’s not just the bass, of course, and the Anker Soundcore 3 performs well in other areas across the frequency spectrum. But whether we realize it or not, bass frequencies are a huge part of our enjoyment of music. Bass tones give the music its richness and warmth; Their vocals and vocals have depth, charisma and natural feel to ensure they are believable and persuasive to the human ear.
Without high-quality bass frequencies, sounds and sounds are thin and cool, music lacks energy and a sense of rhythm, which are all important parts of the way you enjoy and connect to music. Subwoofers that are missing parts of the bass spectrum don’t share or connect in the same way.
There are a lot of factors to consider for any brand developing a product at a low price, but I’m happy to say that as far as this $50 Bluetooth speaker goes, Anker has its priorities right. The Soundcore 3 is a handy portable device that looks great, looks great, and is one of the most rewarding $50 I’ve spent.
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