Soundcore, the audio sub-brand of Anker Innovations, has announced the launch of a new pair of wireless noise-canceling headphones certified for Hi-Res audio. The Space One Pro headphones have a design with a comfortable fit as well as high-end sound.
The Space One Pro, features Soundcore’s new FlexiCurve structure, a technology that enables the headphones to be folded into a compact “donut” shape, reducing the space the headphones take up by a half so they take up less room in your carry-on luggage or work bag.
To design such a compact pair of headphones, Soundcore developed a brand new headband design consisting of five segments that maintain a folding angle of between five and eight degrees. The earcups rotates using a three-part mechanism that enables the headband and earcups to rotate smoothly together, making them compact and easy to store.
Like most wireless headphones these days, the Space One Pro offer Active Noise Cancelation using has a four-stage system, making it Soundcore’s most advanced ANC headphones to date. Four feedforward microphones detect and cancel unwanted noise in real time with adaptive levels of ANC. An expanded acoustic chamber improves the noise absorption and buffering, making the Space One Pro far more efficient at reducing unwanted noise.
To decide which sounds should be canceled, Soundcore has used the Adaptive ANC 3.0 Algorithm. This system monitors how the user is wearing the headphones as well as tracking their head movements three times each second to optimize the amount of adaptive noise cancellation.
The dynamic drivers used in the Space One Pro are coated with a triple composite material on the diaphragm that Soundcore claims enhances the noise-processing capabilities of the drivers. With a diameter of 40mm, the drivers are constructed from polyether ether ketone and have diaphragms made from polyurethane. Soundcore claims that by using these two materials are better at reproducing high-fidelity sound with low levels of distortion.
Soundcore has used Bluetooth 5.3 and a Bestechnic chipset with support for SBC, AAC and LDAC Bluetooth codecs. There’s no support for Qualcomm’s aptX family of codecs including the new Hi-Res Lossless technology used in the Snapdragon Sound Platform. The absence of aptX could be an issue for some people but as the Space One Pro support LDAC, an excellent high-quality codec available on many Android smartphones, that may not be a big issue.
Controls on the Space One Pro are located on both earcups. On the right-hand earcup there is a power button and an ANC button that toggles through the noise canceling modes. There is also a USB-C charging port plus a 3.5mm stereo jack for connecting an auxiliary cable to an analog source. On the left-hand side, there is a volume rocker switch and a special multi-function button that can play and pause the music as well as accepting and rejecting calls or skip and repeat music tracks.
HearID 2.0 Technology is a new feature built into the Space One Pro headphones which can be accessed via the Soundcore smartphone app. HearID 2.0 lets users tailor the sound of the headphones with a range of EQ presets as well as customizable EQ to can shape the sound to suit the listener’s tastes.
These new headphones have a total of six microphones built in, four of which are used with AI algorithms to produce clearer phone calls by picking up the user’s voice and reducing unwanted ambient noises that may be in the background. This algorithm ensures the user’s voice is transmitted as clearly as possible using another two microphones located in each ear cup.
The Space One Pro also have something called a Smart Chat function. This feature lets users pause the music for a quick conversation. When a chat begins, the headphones automatically lower the volume of the music while letting in the ambient sound and the voice of the person who is talking. When the conversation is over, the music resumes playing at its original volume.
A full charge of the built-in battery delivers up to 40 hours of playtime with ANC turned on. That figure increases to an impressive 60 hours with ANC turned off, which should be enough for at least a full week’s worth of phone calls and listening to music or podcasts. The headphones also support USB-C fast charging and a five-minute burst charge can provide up to eight hours of extra playtime; ideal when you’ve forgotten to charge the headphones and are just about to head out for a run.
With their sleek look and design, the Soundcore Space One Pro are made from scratch-resistant materials to avoid accidental damage. There is an optional bespoke travel case available with a special buckle design and water-resistant PU leather material on the inside and outside. The case is small enough to fit inside a backpack or carry-on luggage without taking up too much precious space. Until September 26, anyone buying a pair of Space One Pro headphones will receive a free carrying case as a gift.
The sound of the new headphones is excellent. I was listening to a track called “Japanese Roots” by TakéDaké and John Kaisan Neptune. Look it up on TIDAL or whatever music streaming service you use and give it a listen. This is a superb test track for testing a stereo soundstage, frequency range and any background noise from headphones. On the Space One Pro, this track was utterly beguiling. The balance between bass, midrange and treble was beautifully balanced without even applying any EQ adjustment.
When it comes to the efficiency of the ANC function, Soundcore has done a brilliant job. I think the noise cancelation is approaching Sony and Bose levels and can cut unwanted sounds by around 45dB. I noticed that the Adaptive ANC is particularly goof at filtering out higher frequencies as well as the low drone of aircraft engines or road noise when traveling in a car. The comfort levels and clamping force make it easy to wear the Space One Pro for extended periods, such as a transatlantic flight. There is very little to criticize here. These are a great pair of wireless ANC headphones that are ideal for long-haul travel and commuting.
Verdict: Soundcore has done it again with the new Space One Pro. These are superbly compact headphones with a comfortable fit, premium sound and efficient noise cancelation and voice calls. The audio quality is spot on and if you can overlook the absence of the aptX Lossless codec, then these are a great pair of everyday headphones. They may be a tiny bit more expensive than we’re used to from Soundcore, but that’s probably because the Space One Pro include a lot of innovative technology as the brand attempts to position itself against the premium brands in the market like Sony and Bose. If you want a great pair of ANC headphones at a sensible price, the Soundcore Space One Pro are an excellent choice.
Pricing & Availability: The Soundcore Space One Pro is available in Jet Black and Cream White from amazon.com, soundcore.com and select retailers. The price is $199.99 / £149.99 / €199.99 while the carry case costs $34.99 / £29.99 / €34.99.
Tech Specs:
- Drivers: 40mm dynamic.
- Bluetooth: 5.3.
- Bluetooth profiles: AVRCP1.6, A2DP1.3, HFP1.7.
- Supported codecs: SBC, AAC, LDAC.
- Chipset: Bestechnic ES2700YP.
- Battery life: 40 hours (ANC On), 60 hours (ANC Off).
- Battery: Lithium-Polymer 700mAh.
- Max volume: 93dB.
- Sensitivity: 135dB @ 30mV – 1kHz.
- Impedance: 16Ω.
- Frequency response: 20Hz – 20kHz.
- ANC: Adaptive 45dB.
- Voice assistants: Siri, Google, Alexa.
- Weight: 286.2g.
