Stereo Sound, But A Lack Of Treble Dulls Its Potential
Soundcore’s Motion 300 is a mixed bag. While it’s one of the few portable Bluetooth speakers to have a stereo configuration, the lack of brightness can cause it to sound dull and lack vibrancy. Still, if you’re looking for a speaker for indoor and outdoor use, the Motion 300 can always have its sound adjusted via the companion app to sound closer to competitors like the JBL Flip 7.
Key Takeaways:
- The Motion 300’s lack of treble makes it sound a bit dull out of the box.
- Battery lasts over 10 years, outperforming speakers like the JBL Flip 6.
- It gets loud, but there’s a drop in clarity at high volume.
- Controls that are easy to use and comprehensive.
Soundcore Motion 300
What I Like:
- Durable build quality that’s great for outdoor use
- Easy-to-use controls
- Comprehensive app support with plenty of features
- Great battery life
What I Don’t Like:
- The lack of treble and upper midrange results in a muddy sound
- Not much deep bass
The Motion series consists of the Soundcore Motion X600, Soundcore Motion X500, and the Motion 300. The Motion X500 and Motion X600 are both larger than the Motion 300, but all these speakers aim to blend portability with stereo sound, a feature very few portable Bluetooth speakers offer.
What’s In The Box?
- Motion 300 Speaker
- 60 cm USB-C to C Cable
- Safety Card & Quick Start Guide
Design & Build Quality: The Motion 300 Is Built For The Outdoors
- IPX7 Waterproofing for outdoor use.
- Available in three color variants.
- Weighs less than 2 lbs and includes a carry strap.
Portable Design With Carry Loop, But Weight Limits
A few inches larger than a modern mobile phone, the Motion 300 is a compact speaker that can be easily carried. I found the built-in carry loop useful when carrying the speaker short distances, but I found it a bit too heavy to attach to my backpack. I found myself just throwing it in the bag instead.
Available in Various Colors
It comes in three color variations and features subtle splash accents that add a touch of fun and flair to the design; however, these splatters won’t appeal to everyone, and some may see them as a distraction from an otherwise clean design. The mirage black version comes with blue accents, the frost blue version with off-white accents, and the fern green option has lighter green accents.
A Tight Plastic Grille Design Adds Durability
The front grille is made from durable plastic and has a tight mesh design, similar to the Motion X-series, albeit with narrower gaps in the grille. In the center of the grille is a subtle holographic Soundcore logo that changes in tone depending on how the light hits it. While subtle, it speaks to the level of detail and thought given to the design. The rest of the speaker is made from a durable rubber finish that is resistant to scratches and dents.
IPX7 Waterproofing Makes It Safe To Use Around The Pool Or In The Rain
With nearly all portable Bluetooth speakers being released with some form of waterproofing, it’s unsurprising that the Motion 300 comes with an IPX7 rating. While it doesn’t come with any dust protection, the IPX7 rating protects the speaker from water damage, including splashes, pressure sprays, rain, and submergence in water for up to 30 minutes in up to a meter of water.
Controls & Connectivity: Easy To Reach And Comprehensive
- Easy-to-reach controls that can skip tracks forward and backward.
- Bluetooth 5.3 with AAC, SBC, and LDAC codec support, for high-quality audio.
Bluetooth Profiles: AAC, SBC, LDAC
Bluetooth Version: 5.3
Bluetooth Range: Up to 100 meters
The Soundcore Motion 300 is a fairly narrow speaker with all of its controls across the top, with an indented power button so you can still turn it on and off when the buttons cannot be seen. Additional on-speaker controls include a Bluetooth pairing button, BassUp (Soundcore’s bass boost feature), volume down and volume up, and a play/pause button.
In addition to pausing and resuming tracks, the play/pause button provides additional controls based on how many times it’s pressed. Pressing it twice in succession will skip the track forward, while pressing it three times will skip backward. Holding it down for 2 seconds will trigger the voice assistant. The speaker also supports voice calls, and you can use this button to accept a call (single press) or reject a call (hold for 2 seconds).
There is no support offered for wired connections, and the Motion 300 has a single USB-C port for charging, which can be found on the right-hand side of the speaker. This port is covered by a protective rubber seal that helps to protect it from dust and water intrusion.
Modern Bluetooth With Support For High-Definition Codecs
The speaker uses some of the latest Bluetooth technology for wireless connectivity, incorporating a 5.3 receiver that provides a reliable connection over extended distances and low latency. During our testing, we found it could retain a connection through several concrete walls for over 15 meters.
Sound Quality: Stereo Sound That Lacks Brightness
- Balanced bass and midrange, but a lack of treble causes it to sound dull.
- Custom EQ is essential for achieving a good sound.
How To Read A Frequency Response Chart
To test the frequency response of Motion 300, we used the balanced sound setting to represent its natural sound best.
Bass
Bass frequencies are decent but don’t extend particularly deep, with the Flip 6 performing better. It has a punchy sound, and midbass is decent, but low bass could be improved. Still, the Motion 300 does only okay with bass-heavy genres, though it suffers most from its lack of balance between the bass and upper midrange frequencies, resulting in a muddy sound.
Mids
The midrange frequencies are inconsistent, with a relatively balanced sound in the lower and middle midrange. However, the same can’t be said for the upper mids, where things fall apart for the Motion 300. A distinct lack of upper midrange is present, as seen in the frequency response chart above. The result is a lack of detail that makes it sound unbalanced and creates a hollow sound.
Highs
Like the upper midrange, the treble is noticeably recessed with a lack of brightness and clarity. Some elevation towards the upper end of the treble adds some sharpness but just results in more variation and inconsistencies.
Soundstage & Dynamics
Dynamic range and soundstage are reasonably good, and the Motion 300 outperforms the Flip 6 in its soundstage. It uses two drivers that create a stereo sound for a more immersive listening experience. Remember that the speaker produces mono audio when rotated vertically, as you would when hanging the speaker from the strap. The Motion 300 also supports a TWS connection, allowing you to pair two of them together to create a true stereo sound.
Its dynamic range is very good and outperforms the Flip 6, reaching high volume levels and exhibiting less compression at higher volumes. Still, there is a slight degradation in quality as you near the maximum volume range. During our measurement tests, we got an SPL of 91.3 dB at a distance of 1 meter.
Long-Lasting Battery Life With Moderate Charging Speeds
Charging Type: USB-C
Manufacturer Playtime: Up to 13 hours
Playtime at 50-60%: 10 Hours 2 Minutes
Charging Time: 3 Hours 12 Minutes
Soundcore rates the Motion 300 for up to 13 hours of playtime. During our testing, we kept the volume range between 50% and 60%, using the balanced EQ profile with the BassUp feature disabled. We only got 10 hours and 2 minutes of playtime, which, while short of the estimate, is significantly more than that offered by the Flip 6. Recharging is a relatively quick process, and it took us just over 3 hours to fully charge.
The overall playtime is influenced by the settings and volume used. The BassUp feature, for example, may impact the overall playtime.
App Support With Custom And Preset EQ
The Motion 300 uses Soundcore’s mobile app, which is available on Android and iOS devices. Soundcore boasts one of the more impressive control apps for Bluetooth speakers, allowing the Motion 300 to be finely tuned to match one’s preferred listening style while catering to finer adjustments.
The app tracks the speaker’s orientation, letting you choose whether you want it to be adaptive or manually set a specific orientation. Additionally, there’s an outstanding feature where each orientation can have its own custom EQ set, allowing users to tailor each specific orientation’s sound.
It also allows users to toggle the voice prompt, adjust button brightness, and determine how long the speaker should remain idle before powering off.
Conclusion
Soundcore’s Motion 300 is a mixed bag; it has outstanding app support, and its ability to dynamically switch between stereo and mono depending on its orientation is a useful feature. Additionally, it has great battery life and a durable design. However, the dull and slightly muddy sound from the recessed upper midrange and treble leaves it with a mediocre sound signature. Still, for casual listening, the Motion 300 is a reasonable consideration in the space and, in some ways, is a better speaker than the Flip 6.
Soundcore Motion 300
Soundcore's Motion 300 is a mixed bag. While it provides reliable durability, with easy-to-use controls and comprehensive app control, its sound quality suffers from a lack of upper midrange and highs that cause it to sound a little muddy.
Product Brand: Soundcore
3.7
Pros
- Durable build quality that's great for outdoor use
- Easy-to-use controls
- Comprehensive app support with plenty of features
- Great battery life
Cons
- The lack of treble and upper midrange results in a muddy sound
- Not much deep bass
