The Liberty 5 from Soundcore are in-ear headphones for around 100 euros. MeinMMO editor Benedikt Schlotmann tested the in-ears. Sound and software can convince in the test, while the touch control and fit in the ear are less so.
Soundcore, the music brand of Anker, launched the Liberty 5 in-ears for around 100 euros. The manufacturer emphasizes the good noise cancellation, long battery life, and good call quality.
I bought the in-ears privately on Amazon and used them a lot in everyday life, on train journeys, and wore them in the museum. In most cases, the in-ears were convincing.
- Design and Build
- Processing
- Software
- Comfort
- Sound Quality and Noise Cancellation
- Battery Life, Microphone, and Connection
- Microphone Test Recordings
- Conclusion
Who tested this?
Benedikt is a Tech Editor at MeinMMO and has a penchant for peripherals, testing mice, keyboards, and gaming headsets. Gaming mice, in particular, are among his absolute favorites. He enjoys gaming not only on PC but also on his Steam Deck.
Transparency Notice: The model tested here was privately ordered through Amazon.
Benedikt Schlotmann
Hardware Editor MeinMMO
Design and Build
Package Contents: The package includes the in-ears themselves, a charging case, ear tips for the in-ears, and a USB-C cable for charging. A power adapter is not included, but most households should already have one.
Processing
The processing: The in-ears along with the case do not differ significantly in processing from other representatives in this area: The case is fully made of plastic, and so are the in-ears themselves.
The black plastic is, however, prone to scratches in everyday use. If you pack your headphones in the same bag as your keychain, you’ll later find ugly deep scratches on the in-ear case. I solved this problem by buying an additional neoprene fabric case from a third-party supplier, where I transport the in-ears along with the case.
Software
There is no software from Soundcore on PC, which I find quite disappointing. However, on mobile, you can use the official Soundcore app. The app is clear and, from my perspective, intuitively designed.
When you connect your in-ears, they are immediately recognized by the app, and you can then set them up further: You can refine the touch function of the ear tips and turn noise cancellation on or off. Software and driver updates also run through the app and worked perfectly for me.
Through the software, you can also set an equalizer for your music: Soundcore already offers about 30 preset options out of the box, which are supposed to cater to different tastes. Additionally, you can turn on or off the Dolby Audio
feature.
Overall, I am absolutely satisfied with the app, and it meets my needs very well.
Comfort and Noise Cancellation (ANC)
Ergonomics: I have relatively small ears. In everyday life, I therefore used the smallest size of ear tips. With that, the in-ears sit quite well in my ears, but unfortunately not perfectly. My absolute favorite in this area also comes from Soundcore and are the Soundcore Life A2 NC, as they not only fit excellently but could also be twisted in the ear so that they don’t slip. Even during sports, they stayed put.
The Liberty 5 from Soundcore do not sit as securely as the older model: I regularly catch myself pressing the in-ears back into my ears. In wet conditions and strong movement, such as during sports or in the rain, the in-ears also like to slip out, and I have to push them back in. This makes the Liberty 5 significantly less attractive for me in everyday life.
How is the noise cancellation? The Liberty 5 offer the ability to reduce or at least dampen loud noises. And it works very well in everyday life: loud noises like the rattling of the streetcar or a loud main road are absolutely no problem for the in-ears from Soundcore. However, they struggle more with loud voices or speech. A crying baby in the museum or an angry mother scolding her two children can be heard very clearly despite ANC.
Overall, I’m still convinced by the noise cancellation. However, the Liberty 5 cannot compete with the excellent ANC of the Sony WF-1000XM4, though they also cost only half as much.
Sound Quality
In terms of sound, the Liberty 5 can offer a lot. Technically, the in-ears support high-resolution AAC and LDAC codecs, as well as Dolby 3D audio. Thanks to the app, you can adjust the sound to your own needs very significantly.
However, what I noticed is: in the default setting, the sound seems surprisingly bass-heavy and not very homogeneous. At least the sound can be easily adjusted through the app. I reduced the bass a bit, and the in-ears already sound more balanced. The strong bass emphasis is still audible. This is great for bass-heavy techno music. Delicate piano music or fine female voices in high tones then sound a bit thin or too quiet.
Dolby 3D audio, on the other hand, seems more like a nice gimmick.
What is not unusual for in-ears: the soundstage describes how well you can spatially position sounds or noises on a virtual stage. With in-ears, this stage is relatively small, and the Liberty 5 cannot compete with proper headphones. This is also due to the small and tight construction of in-ears and is a widespread problem.
Battery Life, Microphone, and Connection
Battery Life: The battery life is stated to be 12 hours, with the charging case, the in-ears should even reach 48 hours.
I use the in-ears almost daily in everyday life and usually have to charge the case every 7 to 10 days. That’s really a good value. From my own experience, I know: For the approximately 6.5-hour train ride from Frankfurt (Main) to Vienna (Austria), the battery life is quite sufficient, making it suitable for long journeys. When the in-ears are then in the case at the hotel in the evening, they are fully charged again in the morning.
Moreover, the manufacturer claims that the in-ears have enough energy for 5 hours after just 10 minutes of charging.
How good is the connection? Normally, I connect the in-ears via Bluetooth, and the connection is stable. If I leave the phone on the table and walk into the kitchen, I have at least one thick concrete wall and often two closed doors in between. The connection remains intact.
Conclusion: Fair Overall Package with Good ANC and Too Strong Bass
For whom are the Liberty 5 worth it? The Liberty 5 represent a fair overall package of sound and general features for just under 100 euros. The noise cancellation (ANC) can be convincing most of the time, only aggressive individual voices, such as two people loudly arguing about the stroller space on the tram, cannot be filtered out.
In terms of sound, you also get quite a lot, but should use the equalizer, as the sound otherwise seems a bit too bass-heavy. Due to their weak fit, the Liberty 5 are rather less suitable for sports.
In-ear headphones are small and handy, making them practical travel companions. But which ones are right for me? MeinMMO editor Benedikt Schlotmann tested a total of 9 samples: I tested 9 in-ear headphones blind – My secret tip is available for under 100 euros
