Content
- TECH SPECS
- Contents of delivery
- Introduction
- Appearance, buttons, connectors and twists
- Sound
- Light Effects
- Soundcore app
- Working hours
- Impressions
TECH SPECS
- Input current: 100-240 VAC, 50/60 Hz
- Output current: DC 5V, 2.4A
- Sound power: 160W
- Battery capacity: 20000mAh
- Charging time: 4 hours
- Play time: 24 hours
- Size: 255 x 245 x 505 mm
- Weight (unpacked): 8,37kg / 295,2oz
- Bluetooth version: 5.0
- Bluetooth range: 20m
Contents of delivery
- Column
- Power cable
- Instructions
- Warranty Card
Introduction
This summer, renowned Chinese brand Anker Innovations unveiled a powerful portable speaker system for outdoor or indoor music lovers.
The speaker was equipped with lighting effects, including strobe lamps, to create a club-like atmosphere. Naturally, all these effects are easily customizable both on the device itself and in the application on the smartphone. This is the main difference from most similar speakers.
In addition, two Rave speakers can be combined into a stereo pair, or each can be connected to two smartphones at the same time.
Another nice feature is rain protection. It seems to be nothing original, but all possible control elements of the column and its contacts are protected: there is even a dense rubber plug on the back side. I don’t think the idea was to play music in bad weather, but in case of a sudden change – just right.
Since the device is portable (or rather, it can be relatively easily carried from place to place using the handle on the back), the Anker Soundcore Rave was equipped with a built-in 20 mAh battery. The battery is large, but the declared power is 000 W. Of course, this figure should be divided by about 160. The music box sounds loud, but not at 3 watts.
Well, since there is such a capacious battery here, the manufacturer decided to use it to the fullest: any gadget can be powered from the column – a kind of giant Powerbank with fast charging.
And a microphone can be easily connected to the speaker, but it is not included in the kit.
The price of the Anker Soundcore Rave boombox is 17 rubles.
Appearance, buttons, connectors and twists
It seems to me that the first thing a potential buyer will think about before purchasing a speaker for a party is about size and weight. After all, you need to understand how big and heavy it is. So, the dimensions of the Anker Souncore Rave are 255 x 245 x 505 mm, and the weight is just over 8 kg. The simplest explanation for the size of the acoustics: imagine a 20-liter bottle of water, but twice as light.
The color of the model is only black, without any gradients or tints.
As for the design, it is calm, especially unremarkable: a rectangle with strongly beveled corners. Plus or minus the same as what other manufacturers offer. The only thing is the stroboscopic lamp cover. It looks, to my taste, somewhat collective farm. I could not find another word. Let’s just say, not on style.
On the front of the speaker there is a black painted metal grill. In its lower part, you can see a rather large inscription “soundcore”.
The entire body is made of black plastic. The material is durable both in appearance and in the touch. Such a word is inapplicable to plastic, but it is suitable – condo in a good sense. True, the body joints (it conventionally consists of two halves) would like to see a little more accurate.
The surface is matte and slightly rough, prints and other marks are almost invisible. As I said in the introduction, this model is protected from water according to the IPx4 standard – protection against splashing water from any direction. The Rave feels safe in the rain, but it’s definitely not worth taking to the pool.
The Anker Soundcore Rave has two surface mount positions: vertical and horizontal. In the second case, the acoustics must be placed on the left side. For stability on the side, rubberized legs were provided. The rear panel is concave: this shape is made specifically in order to conveniently place the necessary elements and not block the bass reflex output.
Bottom line: the Rave body is small, but weighty, durable, and looks typical for its class.
The following elements are used on the top of the device:
- Power button. Long hold – on / off. There are 4 white LEDs above it, which indicate the battery charge.
- Button for selecting the connected source – USB or AUX
- Bluetooth pairing button
Then there are three control buttons: the previous track, the next track and between them – play / pause (in the form of a brand logo). The instructions say that the last button should activate Siri (or another assistant), but this does not work with the iPhone.
- Visual effects selection button. Naturally, all this light can be turned off completely.
- Bass on / off button. Holding for 2 seconds switches indoor / outdoor mode. I did not catch the difference.
- Microphone volume control
And in the center there is a large “knob” of the volume level. It has a smooth movement, moving in a circle occurs with a pleasant fixation of the element every 10 mm of scrolling. Much like scrolling through a list on an Apple iPhone with Taptic Engine. Actually, the meaning of Apple technology is taken from there. But only old people know about it.
The volume control wheel has a blue backlight on the bottom. When the “twist” is moved, it goes out for a fixing step.
On the back of the device there is a handle for easy one-handed grip. In theory, the column can be used as a dumbbell. True, it is very expensive, but with light and music. Jokes for 300.
In the central part of the rear panel there is a recess with a rubberized plug, behind which the main connectors are hidden:
- USB Type-A. It is designed to charge any device. The manufacturer calls it USB Power IQ. The company itself says it’s fast charging. Huawei smartphones and Qualcomm devices charge 5V / 1.5A, and my iPhone SE, for some reason, at a current of only 0,7 A.
- USB Type-A for connecting drives in FAT32 format. Understands MP3 and WMA music.
- Audio input and audio output in the form of tulips. The output is used to create a wired speaker circuit.
- 6,3 mm microphone jack
- Power connection. Cable included
Sound
The Anker Soundcore Rave has two low-pitched (4.5 “) tones and two loudspeakers designed to reproduce the high-frequency part of the audio range (1,5”). Stereo sound.
The frequency range is not indicated on the official website and in the specifications. I measured it myself using an application on an Android smartphone, below is the frequency response in normal operation and when the BASS mode is turned on.
If we talk about the sound by ear, then it is relatively simple with a predominance of bass. Moreover, low frequencies have a small “kick” (boom). Here, either the phase inverter was not done quite right, or the plastic case is to blame. This is not critical, but worth pointing out.
Despite the presence of tweeters, the sound is still flat, although it should have been with pleasant high frequencies.
The volume is not adjusted very smoothly: from 30 dB (in silence) it jumps sharply to 50 dB. But if the volume is reduced, the step will be already 10 dB. Apparently, there was a calculation that you would sharply spin to the maximum.
Peak volume – 110 dB per meter from the speakers.
The declared power is 160 watts. Of course it is not. The real value is around 50 W. It is difficult to say more precisely due to the lack of data on the hardware.
Total: loud, but not super powerful; The frequency response is raised by 80 – 130 Hz; a little high. In simple words – the column screams.
Light Effects
Along the perimeter, inside the metal protective mesh, there are 8 sectors with independent illumination: 4 arcs above and below, 4 straight lines to the right and left. There are two more LEDs that illuminate the woofers. In the center of the composition there is a white stroboscopic lamp. LED colors: red, yellow, pink, green, light green, purple, white, blue.
“The Rave speakers use our proprietary Rave Party lighting algorithm and an independent DSC system to ensure that the beat is perfectly synchronized with the light show. And the huge central strobe works like a beacon and guides you directly into the heart of the party. “
It all works synchronously, but I can’t say that my simplest color music scheme, hand-welded in childhood, worked worse ?
Effects:
Party… All LEDs flash in a chaotic manner
Rainbow… Smooth transitions
Breath… The entire perimeter flashes smoothly in one color
Flash… The entire perimeter flashes quickly in one color
Escape… Glows smoothly around the perimeter of the sector
Colorful… Sectors smoothly change color
The stroboscope works only in the Party mode.
Soundcore app
Here you can customize the effects: for example, you can select either the sectors, or the strobe, or the center area individually.
Swiping to the left opens a simple DJ booth. A choice of 4 effect tabs. For example, in the first tab there are 7 sounds, in the second and third – 5. The fourth is not configurable – a small loss. So, purely indulge.
I liked the control of the backlight more. The right dark circle is the strobe and the left one is the outline. The latter has 8 colors to choose from.
Swipe to the right launches game mode. Here are the “Bottle”, “Truth or Dare”, “Categories” along with the rules. You can add up to 10 people to games. Interestingly, when you scroll the wheel on the Apple iPhone, the Taptic Engine is triggered. It seems to be a trifle, but nice. The developers might not bother with this.
Working hours
The 20 mAh battery charges in 000 hours, and the speaker is capable of playing music for up to 4 hours. As you understand, testing such equipment for discharge is quite problematic: imagine that the speaker needs to be left to play sound for 24 hours – you will go crazy. Therefore, I will say this: a full charge was enough for two weeks, if you listen to music for 1.5 – 2 hours a day at a volume of about 10-20%.
However, do not forget that it is easier to use mains power indoors.
Impressions
Let me remind you that Anker Soundcore Rave is sold for 17 rubles. What does the user get for this money?
- Rugged rainproof housing
- Nice color music with detailed color adjustment and selection of sectors
- Loud and powerful sound
- Long battery life
- The presence of a port for charging various devices
- Microphone input
- Ability to pair multiple speakers into one system
- Connectable to two smartphones
- Connecting a storage device with music
As such, the Soundcore Rave has no shortcomings. But I would like a little more mid and high frequencies and the choice of an equalizer at least through the program on the phone.
Since this is my first review of such acoustics, it is difficult to judge competitors. JBL has a Partybox 100 for 20 rubles, Sony has a V000 for 02 rubles, LG has many Xboom options from 15 rubles.
Write in the comments what acoustics do you use if you suddenly need to go outdoors or organize a meeting with friends at home.
The author thanks the agency 2L for the Anker Soundcore Rave speaker presented for the test..
Back to content >>>
Related Links
Share:
we are in social networks:
Anything to add ?! Write … eldar@mobile-review.com
