Soundcore, the audio sub-brand of Anker Innovations, has announced the launch of two new pairs of wireless earbuds. The Liberty 5 Pro and Liberty 5 Pro Max are the first Soundcore earbuds to be powered by Anker’s recently announced THUS AI chip. The chip combines memory with AI function to speed up the processing of AI-powered functions.
Both new pairs of earbuds use a 10-sensor matrix, eight microphones and two bone conduction sensors to collect sound, which is then fed to the new THUS AI chip. The result, says Soundcore, is clearer voice calls, even in noisy environments.
The new Liberty 5 Pro and Liberty 5 Pro Max have also been designed with improved ANC performance compared to previous generations of the brand’s earbuds, with up to twice the level of noise cancellation offered by the Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro. earbuds The Liberty 5 Pro Max earbuds can also be used as an AI notetaker for recording meetings directly from the charging case without the need to reach for a phone.
Clearer Phone Calls
Powered by the new THUS AI Chip, the Liberty 5 Pro and Liberty 5 Pro Max earbuds employ a neural-net AI model in conjunction with a 10-sensor matrix to help separate the user’s voice from surrounding noises. This ensures the user’s speech is clearly heard by the person on the other end of the call, even in complex and dynamic acoustic environments.
The new earbuds also have bone conduction sensors within their microphone array that detect the physical vibration of the user’s voice, enabling the system to capture and transmit voices more clearly, even at lower volumes and in moderately quieter settings.
Soundcore’s new Adaptive ANC 4.0 uses an array of eight microphones and can process audio data at up to 384,000 times per second and continuously monitoring external and residual in-ear noise. The noise cancellation curve is then adjusted in real time as conditions change.
More Effective ANC
The ANC algorithm can handle a broad range of noise types, including low-frequency engine rumble of an airplane, the mid-to-high-frequency office chatter as well as ambient voices. The result, claims Soundcore, is more consistent noise reduction across “everyday listening environments.”
For personalized listening, both pairs of earbuds include HearID 5.0, a technology that creates a personal EQ profile once the user has taken a quick hearing test. The EQ profile is then applied to every song to produce a bespoke tone profile for the listener. A built-in AI Sound Enhancement system uses a neural-net AI that can rebuild audio detail lost during the Bluetooth compression process. Soundcore says the system can enhance and restore up to 65% of the signal typically degraded during wireless transmission via Bluetooth.
Thanks to the THUS AI chip, voice interaction with both pairs of new earbuds natively supports 20 built-in commands with an average response time of just 0.91 seconds, enabling users to command tasks like adjusting volume, skipping tracks, answering or hanging up phone calls or changing the ANC mode.
Transparency Mode
Transparency mode is also included with the earbuds to enhance the user’s awareness of their surroundings. An Easy Chat feature can be used to temporarily interact with someone before resuming the playback of a music playlist or podcast.
The Liberty 5 Pro earbuds are housed in a charging case with a 0.96-inch LCD touch screen. The Liberty 5 Pro Max earbuds also include a 1.78-inch AMOLED screen with an AI Note-Taker.
Double-tapping the charging case button following a meeting will trigger the Soundcore smartphone app to generate a transcript identifying speakers and listing action items. AI translation is also available through the earbuds on the Liberty 5 Pro or by using the Liberty 5 Pro Max’s charging case or earbuds.
Additional Features
Both new pairs of earbuds can play for up to 6.5 hours on a single charge, with ANC turned on. With the charging case battery, the playtime figure increases to 28 hours. Other features include Bluetooth 6.1, Multipoint connectivity, enabling users to connect three devices at once. Additionally, Soundcore has also provided support for Apple’s Find My and Google’s Fast Pair. Both earbuds are rated at IP55 for dust and water resistance.
Finally, Soundcore says the Liberty 5 Pro earbuds have just set a Guinness World Record for phone call clarity. Liberty 5 Pro Max earbuds also use the same earbud units and offer identical clear phone call performance.
Pricing and Availability:
The Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro earbuds are available now and priced at $169.99 / £149.99 / €179.99 from Soundcore.com, Amazon.com and BestBuy.com. The Liberty 5 Pro will be available in a choice of Blue, White, Black and Pink colorways. The Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro Max are also available now and priced at $229.99 / £199.99 / €249.99 from Soundcore.com, Amazon.com and BestBuy.com. The Liberty 5 Pro Max will be available in Titanium-Gold and Black finishes.
