The SoundCore Sport XL is to me Anker’s first ‘cover all the bases’ speaker giving the end user a truly unique offering compared to other speakers in the range. A robust shock proof unit with a IP67 rating, 16w bass friendly output, backed up with a handsome 5200mAh internal battery for extended playback or the ability to top up your phone if required.
In the box
SoundCore Sport XL
Micro USB Cable
Nylon Wrist / Carry strap with elasticated core
Welcome Slip and Warranty card
Design
The SoundCore Sport XL has an industrial design, making it not too hard to imagine it being at home on a building site with it’s brick like robustness, blocked rear design and hex screw held front grill. The matt black rubber covering feels good in the hand and helps to reduce the mass of fingerprints which are common among glossy variations. The only area on the speaker which has any give/movement, is on rear, the plate for the passive subwoofer. The rear base also has a press-fit cover that protects input and output ports as part of the IP67 rating.
Features / Use
As with the SoundCore 1 thru Boost models, the Sport XL uses a five button system for control, comprising of;
- Power On/Off
- Play/Pause/Answer/Reject - can be used for voice assistant (Siri etc) and to skip forward tracks
- Volume Up/Down
- Bluetooth
A LED light strip, which has carried over to the Boost and Pro models, is present to help determine current battery level and pairing status. Utilising Bluetooth 4.1, pairing is quick and easy for devices but you also have the option of an auxiliary connection under the press-fit flap. Also present under the flap is a micro-USB charging port and a type A USB port capable of powering a device at up to 1A from the internal 5200mAh battery. Thanks to it’s beefy battery you can get on average around 15hrs of playback time, depending on volume and content type, with a recharge taking just over 3hrs on the 2A charging port. Playback at 40-80% volume, my normal range, yielded better than the 15hrs estimate making it to just under 17hrs, with a mixture of formats. As with other SoundCore models there is a built-in noise cancelling microphone to allow use for hands free calls.
Audio quality and loudness is impressive with the dual 8w drivers. Clean, crisp audio playback over several music genres tested such as opera, rock and country/folk. While the bass is warm and noticeable, I do find it to be less impressive than the more recent SoundCore 2, which has a deeper tone without drowning out subtle details in tracks. Depending on intended use and audio preferences, this could be something to take into consideration.
Noteworthy Aspects
Robust construction
Shock, dust and waterproof (IP67 for 30 minutes at 1m depth)
Loud and clear audio with good bass
Built-In mic for hands-free / conference calls
Possible Disappointments For Some
Only available in black
Weighty, tipping the scales at 600g (over half a bag of sugar)
Verdict
Having used the speaker on/off for several months, more often than not in DIY scenarios where the dust of the wood and plaster variety played a role, the speaker has still continued to function as well as the first day out of the box. Now while I’ve never been brave enough to well and truly drown it as a test, it’s had plenty of quick dips under a tap to remove residual dust (and the like) after a good air dusting of the front grill. Still going strong!
If you’re after a speaker for use in the rough and rugged outdoors, at the beach, in the garden or where elements could be a threat to the average speaker, the SoundCore Sport XL is a good option to keep peace of mind.
Video demo of audio playback will be uploaded shortly
what is your favorite season and how is the weather like there?
). Not really tested the speaker is extreme cold as even in UK winter (where I am) we only get to low minus Celsius numbers (2-5 on average). Might give a trial in snow should we get some 
Note to self, don’t lend out your camera again 
