Anker Soundcore’s new Bluetooth speaker, the Movement X500, is eye-catching for somebody within the new global of spatial audio. It comprises 3 full-range drivers (two on the entrance for left and proper channels, and one up-firing) for the logo’s digital ‘3DSound’ mode, supported by means of Bluetooth 5.3 with LDAC make stronger, a most 40 watts of energy output, and keen on a value of $170 / £170.
Some of the absolute best Bluetooth audio system that can be purchased, it may be onerous to stick out from the gang however Anker Soundcore is acquainted to us for providing significantly just right price. We gave the corporate’s Movement+ transportable Bluetooth speaker 4 stars in our evaluation, and in addition fee its headphones extremely, giving them the similar ranking in our House One evaluation and Lifestyles Q20 evaluation.
The Movement X500 looks as if an outstanding addition to the line-up, promising one thing comparable to the spatial audio of the Sonos Generation 300 in a cellular, inexpensive package deal. However there are a couple of catches to concentrate on in regards to the specifications promised to be on be offering right here, in particular the most probably efficacy of the spatial audio, and the claimed Hello-Res Audio make stronger.
Anker Soundcore Movement X500: key options
The fee tag is the moment pull for the Anker Soundcore Movement X500. At $170 / £170, it surely is not affordable when you’ll get transportable audio system from round $30 / £25. However this temporarily begins to be put into standpoint whilst you glance nearer at what you are getting to your cash. On the price finish, the Tribit Stormbox Micro 2, which prices simply $60 / £60, is filled with further options like the facility to rate your telephone, however lacks the facility to create a noisy sound with simply 10 watts – the Movement X500 has 40 watts from its 3 speaker drivers, and complicated processing to profit from them.
On the other hand, with the Soundcore Movement X500, we’ve got a couple of questions round one of the most specifications on be offering right here, which we will examine when we will be able to get our arms on it. In the beginning is the declare of Hello-Res Audio, which it is qualified for, and theoretically allows it to maintain track recordsdata which are higher-quality than CD. The problem is that its best fine quality wi-fi tech is LDAC, which is not in reality hi-res. It could do CD high quality, however no longer higher – so although the X500’s {hardware} is in a position to Hello-Res Audio, its wi-fi tech does not seem to be. (And LDAC is best supported on Android, iPhone lovers.)
After which there is the headline-grabbing spatial audio characteristic. It is announcing right here that you’ll be able to get immersive sound with its “three-D Sound set of rules”, however we aren’t positive how smartly this may increasingly paintings from simply 3 speaker drivers, two of that are shut in combination and roughly dealing with ahead, in step with Soundcore’s diagrams. The Sonos Generation 300 has audio system absolutely dealing with left and proper in addition to up, to get its spatial audio impact. It is value noting that there is the facility to pair two Movement 500X Bluetooth audio system, the usage of them as a left and proper channel, which might most certainly beef up issues so much.
The 12-hour battery existence may be just a little low, however there are many positives right here. The LDAC codec make stronger must imply fine quality audio (without reference to whether or not it is in reality Hello-Res or no longer), the Soundcore app’s Professional EQ of 9 adjustable bands assist you to customise the sound, and IPX7 water-resistant ranking makes it a rugged construct. And although it does not reside as much as its general claims, we predict it to sound just right, and expansive.
We have already observed Anker take intention on the Apple HomePod 2 with a inexpensive spatial audio Bluetooth speaker and it has more and more made higher-quality sound to be had in Soundcore’s new Bluetooth audio system, so it has got a just right vary going. The Movement X500 is to be had to preorder for a reduced value of $130 in the United States and £130 in the United Kingdom and Europe (no Australian unencumber has but been showed) on October 25 2023, and can release on November 9 2023.
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