Why you possibly can belief TechRadar
We spend hours testing each services or products we evaluate, so that you might be positive you are shopping for the perfect. Discover out extra about how we take a look at.
Anker Soundcore House 2: Two-minute evaluate
Everybody I’ve spoken to who’s used them has spoken glowingly about Soundcore’s over-ear headphones, and the most recent cans from the Anker sub-brand hark very intently to their predecessors. So, are the Anker Soundcore House 2 contenders for the perfect funds headphone market?
Nicely, not a lot has modified in comparison with the Soundcore House One – pedants could also be wringing their palms on the bounce from integer to lexical identify, and I concur – and these headphones will feel and look very acquainted to house owners of the House One Professional too. Meet the brand new boss, similar to the outdated boss.
That’s no disgrace, although, as a result of it means the earlier cans’ strongest level is again in drive. The lively noise cancellation (ANC) right here is completely incredible — I don’t assume I’ve used a pair of headphones at this value level that comes shut. It’s zealous in wiping out any noise, close to or far, round you.
Although barely modified from earlier generations, the distinct look and cozy match of the House 2 assist them stand out from different alike headphones. These could be the primary pair of cans I’ve examined that my girlfriend really acknowledged with any sort of familiarity.
What has modified, although, is the worth: there’s been a big step up in value from the House One. I do know, I do know, it’s 2026 and each evaluate talks about value hikes. But it surely’s sufficiently big to carry the Soundcore out of the aforementioned best-in-class competitors, and better expectations aren’t matched by a significantly improved bundle.
Take, for instance, the sound. Treble is incredible and sparkly, however there’s a definite drop-off once you get in direction of the mids, and bass is vague and unbalanced. They’re removed from the worst over-ears I’ve examined, even at this value, with the top quality going some approach to retaining the joy at listening to music. However audiophiles gained’t be impressed.
- Anker Soundcore House 2 (White) at Amazon for $129.99
Anker Soundcore House 2 evaluate: Value and launch date
(Picture credit score: Future)
- Launched in April 2026
- Debuted for $130 / £130 (about AU$250)
- Value hike over predecessors
After being unveiled at MWC 2026 in early March, the Anker Soundcore House 2 have been placed on sale practically two months afterward April 21.
You may choose up these headphones for the retail value of $130 / £130 / about AU$250. That value pushes them into mid-range waters, that means that, in contrast to their predecessors, they’re not fairly funds cans any extra.
For some context, the Soundcore House One value $99 / £99 / about AU$200, whereas the House One Professional went for $199 / £149 (about AU$300). So the brand new headphones supply a reasonably vital value improve.
Anker Soundcore House 2 evaluate: Specs
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Drivers
40mm
Lively noise cancellation
Sure
Battery life (ANC off)
50 hours
Weight
264g
Connectivity
Not specified
Frequency response
Not specified
Waterproofing
Not specified
Anker Soundcore House 2 evaluate: Options
(Picture credit score: Future)
- Unbelievable ANC
- 50-hour battery life with ANC off
- Respectable vary of options together with listening take a look at
I’m unsure if the ‘House’ within the Anker Soundcore House 2 identify refers back to the silent vacuum of the cosmos, nevertheless it actually might do, as a result of the noise cancellation on these items is unimaginable for the worth. I used to be always stunned by how adept the House 2 have been at reducing away noisy background sounds: the overground practice operating behind my home was inconceivable to listen to, even once I was on it, and busy roads grew to become quiet nation lanes.
The quoted battery life is 50 hours with ANC on, or 70 hours with it turned off. Neither of these are lengths to write down residence about — hundred-hour-plus headphones come out fairly continuously now, normally at this value level — however they’re nonetheless strong listening instances.
The House 2 supply a number of further instruments through the Soundcore app. There’s toggle-able put on detection, multipoint pairing, the power to vary what the noise cancellation and play/pause buttons on the ear cups do, and quantity limits to cease you harming your listening to. Of the bunch, that latter stands out as one you don’t usually see, so props to Anker for together with it.
A listening take a look at known as HearID combines a listening to verify, to select which tones you possibly can hear, with a desire barrage to cater to your chosen sort of music. I’ve not seen this latter issue thought of earlier than, and it solves a giant downside with these listening checks — even when repeating the identical track six instances to take a look at completely different sound mixes is a gruelling expertise.
There’s sufficient to advocate downloading the Soundcore app, even when I didn’t use it an excessive amount of outdoors of testing.
I’ve beforehand heard complaints concerning the put on detection on Soundcore’s headphones. Right here it reliably paused a track if I eliminated the cans, however wasn’t too sizzling on resuming it once I put the House 2 again on my head.
Anker Soundcore House 2 evaluate: Design
(Picture credit score: Future)
- Funky blue coloration and distinctive look
- Mild, snug to put on
- No IP ranking
I take a look at loads of low cost and mid-range headphones which can be personality-less black semicircles, so have to offer reward to Soundcore. The House 2 look distinctive amongst friends with a cool coloration, curvy edges, abundance of sentimental padding and tapered connectors between the headscarf and cups. Positive, they give the impression of being principally the identical as their predecessors, but when it ain’t broke don’t repair it.
They’re good and light-weight, at 264g, and felt supremely snug to put on. That’s partly the burden but in addition the aforementioned padding overload in your ears and head. They match securely, not wobbling once I was strolling or turning my head shortly.
On the best cup there’s a play/pause button and quantity rocker, whereas the left one has a noise cancelling toggle, energy button, USB-C port and three.5mm audio jack. That latter’s a pleasant addition you don’t at all times see at this value level.
You may fold the House 2 right down to make them extra moveable, with a material bag coming within the field, however I couldn’t discover any details about an IP ranking. So it’s possible you’ll wish to watch out when sporting them within the rain.
Anker Soundcore House 2 evaluate: Sound high quality
(Picture credit score: Future)
- Makes use of 40mm driver
- Vibrant treble, bass and mids undergo
- Helps hi-res requirements, LDAC and SBC
The Soundcore House 2 have a 40mm driver, the identical dimension as within the overwhelming majority of over-ear headphones, enhanced with a double diaphragm for clearer audio. I’ll admit, this finish aim has been achieved; you possibly can recognize the lilt of a vocalist’s voice, the squeal of a guitar solo or the timbre and tremolo of a violin.
You’ll discover that these examples are all ones which sit proper within the treble and high-mid area, and that’s as a result of that is the place the House 2 shine. They’re energetic, shiny and enjoyable; I used to be initially gained over by the cans’ sharp, clear higher-pitched sounds, however the extra I listened, the extra I noticed one thing was lacking.
That one thing lacking is… nicely, something decrease. Distorted guitar riffs, punchy bass licks and acoustic devices all lack sparkle, prominence and readability – it actually appears like there’s a gap in some songs the place a kick ought to be. The acoustic guitar of Niko Moon’s King of the Island felt far too far again within the medley, and the hook of My Quantity by Foals or Save a Horse (Experience a Cowboy) by Massive & Wealthy sounded akin to a shifting firm eradicating furnishings out of your upstairs neighbors.
The audio graph abruptly resurges in direction of the bass and sub-bass aspect of issues, giving some oomph to songs, nevertheless it’s usually ill-defined or muddy, and typically overblown. In Tame Impala’s The Much less I Know the Higher it sounds insecure, popping up from time to time with out distinction, whereas in Troye Sivan’s Rush it’s not well-defined sufficient to cease it overpowering every little thing else.
Many music followers neglect that there’s greater than treble and sub-bass, and the glowing former would possibly distract many listeners from the House 2’s shortcomings. I used to be in that camp for some time, and I nonetheless have a great time once I hearken to the cans. However if you would like a nuanced or pure sound, you’ll discover this V-shaped audio fairly extreme.
Again to some technicals: the high-quality sound the House 2 present is helped by assist for LDAC and SBC, in addition to Hello-Res Audio and its Wi-fi counterpart.
Anker Soundcore House 2 evaluate: Worth
(Picture credit score: Future)
- Respectable worth for cash
- Matches value hike
The worth hike of the Soundcore House 2 is a disgrace, as a result of on the House One’s MSRP, they’d be incredible worth.
They’d be best-in-class funds cans in the event that they got here out under $100 / £100 / AU$200, however for a little bit extra, there’s much more competitors, and far larger expectations. They’re nonetheless good, however not instant-must-buy worth for cash like they’d be.
Ought to I purchase the Anker Soundcore House 2?
Swipe to scroll horizontallySoundcore House 2 rating card
Attributes
Notes
Ranking
Options
The ANC right here is incredible, whereas the battery life is ok and the characteristic set has some stand-outs.
4/5
Design
The House 2 are snug to put on, and look distinct within the busy ocean of over-ears.
4.5/5
Sound high quality
The energetic treble goes some approach to papering over the missing mids.
3.5/5
Worth
These are decent-value headphones, even when the worth hike means they’re now not must-buys.
3.5/5
Purchase them if…
Don’t purchase them if…
Anker Soundcore House 2 evaluate: Additionally take into account
Swipe to scroll horizontallyHeader Cell – Column 0
Anker Soundcore House 2
Anker Soundcore House One Professional
Nothing Headphone (a)
Drivers
40mm
40mm
40mm
Lively noise cancellation
Sure
Sure
Sure
Battery life (ANC on)
50 hours
40 hours
75 hours
Weight
264g
286.2g
310g
Connectivity
TBC
Bluetooth 5.3
Bluetooth 5.4
Waterproofing
NA
NA
IP52
How I examined the Anker Soundcore House 2
(Picture credit score: Future)
- Examined for 3 weeks
- Examined at residence, on walks and on public transport
I used the Soundcore House 2 for roughly three weeks forward of their launch date, during which time they have been paired with my Samsung Galaxy S26 Extremely. I listened on a spread of music and video streaming providers, in addition to in calls and enjoying video games.
Testing was finished in a reasonably wide selection of environments together with on public transport, on walks round numerous neighborhoods, and at residence.
I’ve been testing audio merchandise for TechRadar for years, together with some previous Anker gadgets just like the Aerofit Professional 2.
- First reviewed in April 2026
Anker Soundcore House 2: Value Comparability
