Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

After hearing the Bose SoundLink Mini II I realized bluetooth speakers have come a long way. I decided to buy a handful to test, including this one. At max volume the sound quality kind of falls apart, but it really shines around 50-75%. Low end reproduction is above average with a nice bit of thump for such a small package. That said, temper your expectations -- it's not going to rattle your windows. Where the SoundCore 2 really shines though is the high end. It's crisp and clear without sounding shrill. It easily outclasses the rest in this category. Range, pairing ease, and build quality are all solid. No issues there. If you've read the other reviews you can guess what's coming next -- the fluctuating volume issue. It's especially noticeable when listening to songs with dynamic shifts and is pronounced enough to be a significant distraction. I've experienced it when paired with a Nexus 6P (BT 4.2), iPad Air (BT 4.0), and 2015 MacBook Pro (BT 4.0). If you're only listening to podcasts, TV shows, or audio books it's much less of an issue, and might even be considered a perk in those contexts. In short, I would not recommend the SoundCore 2 until this issue is resolved. If you're curious, here are the speakers I tested in the order I'd rank them based on sound quality: • VAVA Voom 20 Bluetooth Speakers, IPX5 Splash Proof, Deep Bass, Portable Wireless Speakers with 2 Passive Subwoofers (Power Bank Slot for Phones Charging, AptX) • Anker SoundCore 2 Portable Bluetooth Speaker with Better Bass, 24-Hour Playtime, 66ft Bluetooth Range, IPX5 Water Resistance & Built-in Mic - Dual-Driver Wireless Speaker for iPhone, Samsung etc • DOSS Touch Wireless Bluetooth V4.0 Portable Speaker with HD Sound and Bass (Black) • Cambridge SoundWorks OontZ Angle 3 PLUS Edition 10W+ Portable Bluetooth Speaker, Richer Bass, 30-Hour Playtime, Dual Proprietary Drivers for Superior Sound, Water Resistant IPX5 Wireless Speaker **UPDATE - 8/1 ** -- Two weeks later and Anker still has not responded to my support request which is very unlike them. Having spent more time with the speaker in that time though I do want to note that the battery life is as good as advertised -- bests the others that I tried handily. Unfortunately the volume leveling issue has persisted and I can confirm that it's still present when using a 3.5mm cable. I've updated my original review and rating to reflect that. **UPDATE - 8/14 ** -- Anker finally got in touch and sent a new unit that doesn't exhibit the volume inconsistencies. I've updated my rating to reflect the quality of this revised version.