Soundcore Space One Pro headphones review: Killer value

The new Soundcore Space One Pro wireless noise-canceling headphones generated some buzz in the audio community, promising top-notch sound quality and advanced features for a typically reasonable price from Anker’s audio brand. Keen to see if they’d live up to expectations, I tried them out. And I found that they’re great at the list price of $200. But when the price dips — and it usually does — they’ll become an absolutely fantastic value. Read my Soundcore Space One Pro headphones review below for more information.

Soundcore Space One Pro headphones review

In this review, I’ll dive into all the key aspects that make or break a pair of premium cans. I’ll share my hands-on experience with their design and build quality, as well as how they perform in terms of audio output. We’ll also look at the effectiveness of their Active Noise Cancelation (ANC) feature, which is crucial for many users. Additionally, I’ll be discussing the battery life and connectivity options, including multipoint connectivity. This should help you decide if Soundcore Space One Pro is the right choice for your audio needs.

In a nutshell, the new cans, released at IFA Berlin in September, win big on long-wearing comfort, powerful noise cancellation and epic battery life — and they sound great, too. They’re worth the price at $200, but they’d be a killer value at around $150. Prices usually drop. We’ll just have to see how far and how fast.

Table of contents: Soundcore Space One Pro headphones review

Solid build quality, great comfort and perfect foldability

When I first got my hands on a pair of black Soundcore Space One Pro cans, I found the sleek, modern design compensated for the plastic construction. While it’s primarily constructed from plastic, which contributes to its light weight, the overall appearance is fairly luxurious. I’d say these cans look a little more high-end than Soundcore’s excellent Space Q45 headphones.

But never mind how they look — the comfort level of these headphones is fantastic. The ear cups are lined with a super-soft leather-like material that creates an excellent seal around my ears. I found that I could wear them for hours without any discomfort, thanks to the pressure-relieving headband and plush ear cushions. The headband also offers a good range of adjustment, making it suitable for various head sizes.

And then there’s one of Space One Pro’s unusual features — its foldable design. Soundcore has incorporated what it calls a FlexiCurve Structure, which lets the headphones shrink by up to 50% when folded. This makes them incredibly portable and easy to store in a backpack or bag. The folding mechanism includes three joints connecting the headband and ear cups, allowing for rotation up to 180 degrees, like my large melon.

While the build quality is good for its price range, it’s worth noting that the all-plastic construction might not feel as premium as some higher-end models when directly compared.

Well-balanced audio performance

When it comes to sound quality, the Soundcore Space One Pro delivers an impressive audio experience, on par with my go-to Beats Studio Pro cans (which are very close to AirPods Max). I found the balanced sound signature to be crisp and clear, offering a well-rounded listening experience across various genres. I always sample singer-songwriters, rock, jazz and classical to make sure I get a sense of how clearly vocals and instrumentation come across.

The Space One Pro has a U-shaped frequency response that amplifies low and high frequencies while attenuating mid-frequencies. This creates an exciting sound that most casual listeners will enjoy. However, I noticed that this comes at a small cost of some detail in mid-range sounds like vocals, piano and guitar. If you prefer a more neutral sound — like if you’re less into a huge sound stage and more into studio precision — the bass reducer preset in the Soundcore app aligns the frequency response more closely with standard headphone preference curves. Space One Pro seems bass-y out of the box compared to Space Q45, which for most people will be a cool thing. But you can adjust it.

For that matter, you can adjust sound a lot in the Soundcore app. The HearID Sound test gauges your hearing across frequencies, creating your personalized default that you can merge with Soundcore Signature if you want. You also get a custom EQ and loads of presets (too many to list).

Note that the cans, while wireless, come with an audio cable for wired listening. They sound fantastic — just as good as Beats Studio Pro with its lossless cable — jacked straight into my M1 MacBook Pro with Apple Music cranked.

LDAC support and customizable EQ

As is becoming pretty common now, Space One Pro supports the high-quality LDAC codec. This Sony-developed technology enables streaming of high-resolution audio over Bluetooth, supporting audio quality up to 32-bit/96kHz with bit rates reaching up to 990kbps. It results in richer, more detailed audio compared to standard Bluetooth codecs. But it’s worth noting that you’ll need a compatible source device to take full advantage of LDAC (as in Android, not Apple).

In addition to LDAC, the cans support SBC and AAC for Apple and other devices, of course. This versatility ensures you get the best possible audio quality across different platforms.

And the Soundcore app offers extensive customization options for audio. I was particularly impressed with the HearID feature, which assesses your personal hearing capabilities and suggests the perfect calibration. This level of personalization is something even some top-tier headphones don’t offer. Additionally, the app includes a wide array of EQ presets and a custom option, allowing you to fine-tune the sound to your liking.

Powerful ANC with transparency mode

Just like I was with Soundcore’s Space Q45 cans, I’m thoroughly impressed with the noise-canceling capabilities of the Soundcore Space One Pro. These headphones offer a robust ANC system that effectively reduces a wide range of ambient sounds, making the headphones an excellent choice for frequent travelers or those working in noisy environments.

The Space One Pro features Adaptive ANC 3.0, which automatically adjusts to your surroundings in real-time. I found this technology to be particularly effective, as it adapts to various environments and even compensates for minor leaks in how the headphones fit. The headphones use a total of six microphones to identify and block noise from all directions, providing comprehensive noise cancellation.

When I need to be aware of my surroundings, the transparency mode on the Space One Pro comes in handy. This feature allows me to hear ambient sounds clearly without removing the headphones. I appreciate that the transparency level is adjustable, letting me fine-tune how much external sound I want to let in.

Seriously, break that wind

For outdoor use, the Space One Pro includes a Wind Reduction Mode. While I found this feature to be somewhat effective, it didn’t completely eliminate wind noise in my testing. However, it did help reduce the impact of wind on the overall listening experience, especially when using transparency mode. But this feel like quibbling to me; I don’t plan to walk around outside with headphones much. That’s what earbuds are for (hello, new Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro earbuds! Look for a review soon).

Overall, the Soundcore Space One Pro’s ANC performance is impressive for its price point. While it may not match the noise-canceling prowess of top-tier models, it certainly holds its own and provides a significant improvement in sound isolation compared to many budget-friendly options.

Long-lasting battery with quick charging

While enjoying Soundcore Space One Pro, I found the battery life to be epic. They go forever. That and their comfort level make them a great choice for extended listening sessions. The Space One Pro boasts an impressive battery life of 40 hours with ANC enabled and 55 hours in normal mode. During my testing, I found this claim to be accurate, with the headphones lasting around 43 hours with ANC on. That outshines some higher-end models, offering about 10 hours more playtime than what the pricier Sony WH-1000XM5 claim, for example.

For those times when you’re in a hurry, the Space One Pro’s quick charging feature comes in handy. A mere 5-minute charge provides 4 hours of playback in normal mode. This rapid charging capability ensures you’re never without your music for long.

Space One Pro uses Bluetooth 5.3 technology, offering a stable and efficient wireless connection. And multipoint connectivity lets you connect to two devices simultaneously. To enable this, simply double-click the power button when the headphones are already connected to one device. Then follow the standard Bluetooth connection steps for the second device. So I can wirelessly hook up to my iPhone 16 Pro and my iPad Air 5 — my two main music and radio players — at the same time.

Bottom line: Good for the price and great when it drops

Soundcore Space One Pro proves to be a strong contender in the wireless headphone market, offering a mix of impressive features and performance. Its balanced sound signature delivers a rich audio experience that most users will appreciate. The headphones’ comfortable design, effective noise cancelation and long battery life make them a great choice for everyday use and travel alike.

All things considered, the Space One Pro gives users a lot of bang for their buck. While it may not dethrone top-tier models in every aspect, it certainly holds its own and even outshines some pricier options in areas like battery life. For those looking to get high-quality sound, comfort, and features without breaking the bank, the Soundcore Space One Pro is definitely worth checking out. You can pick them in Jet Black or Cream White colors for $199.99.

Buy from: Soundcore

Soundcore provided Cult of Mac with a review unit for this article. See our reviews policy, and check out other in-depth reviews of Apple-related items.

★★★★☆