Soundcore by Anker Liberty Neo

Since these robust and well-manufactured wireless headphones are equipped with so-called EarWings and the ergonomic design is perfectly embedded in the ear, they provide a high degree of stability which even withstands strong vibrations during sports. At the same time, the small wings relieve the pressure on the ear canal, so that the firm fit does not seem uncomfortable even over longer periods of use. This is primarily because these in-ears, at 5.5 grams per side, are definitely among the lightest around. It is also worthy of praise that both the EarWings and tips are supplied in four different sizes, which means that these earphones can be individually adjusted. Although the Liberty Neo protrudes a little due to their length, there is still room for them under a cap, provided it is not too tight. A further practical feature is that the sweat- and water-resistant finish to IPX7 protects the system from the elements.

At higher volumes, these wireless headphones offer a running time of almost five and a half hours. With the in-ears in the transport case, which also serves as a charging station, they can be fully charged three times and 80 per cent charged once, so that the total running time is approximately 26 hours. A charging cycle of these headphones takes just under 90 minutes. A quick-charge function is also available for spontaneous short uses, which provides capacity for a listening time of 45 minutes after a ten-minute power supply. If the battery reserve of the case is used up, it can be restored within two hours, for which purpose a USB charging cable is included in the package.

Device control

Coupling of these headphones, which offered a stable range of more than ten metres in combination with various Android and iOS devices, can be done straight away when they are removed from the case. When you remove them, the system is switched on and automatically put into pairing mode, while returning them to the charging case switches the in-ears off. It is also possible to switch the system on and off manually with a long press on the buttons that are integrated into the surface. In addition, the right-hand headphone, which acts as the master, can be used individually in single mode.

When a wireless connection is established, a simple tap is used to start and stop playback as well as to answer and end calls, and this can be done on both sides. Pressing a button twice activates voice assistants, a brief press on the right button allows you to skip forward to the next track and back is done on the left; this works perfectly. However, volume control is not supported and must be performed on the device itself. On the other hand, the good speech intelligibility during telephone calls is a positive feature as both sides come across clearly and cleanly.

Sound

According to the manufacturer, the BassUp technology used here is designed to analyse the playback in real-time and automatically increase low-frequency components. We can confirm that bass-oriented productions sound rich and punchy, with the bass foundation reaching deep down and feeling full without seeming overloaded or overpowering. In this respect, vocals and lead instruments, which benefit from a clear mid and high range image and have a warm, soft character, have enough room to develop. While the highs are not harsh and appear pleasantly unobtrusive, a certain drop can also be perceived, which means that these in-ears are not necessarily recommended for listening to classical music. Apart from that, the Liberty Neo can be used in many different ways, are well-suited for use during intensive training sessions and offer a respectable sound quality in view of their favourable price.