You’re probably looking at a pair of Sony WH-1000XM5s right now and wincing at the price tag. I get it. $400 is a lot of money for something that basically just vibrates air into your ear canals. But then there’s the Soundcore Space One. It costs about a quarter of that. It looks suspiciously sleek. It promises "2X stronger voice reduction." Honestly, when Anker first dropped these, people thought it was just marketing fluff. It isn't.
Finding a pair of cans that don’t feel like cheap plastic toys at the $100 mark is getting harder. Most brands just slap some fake leather on a plastic frame and call it a day. The Space One feels different. It’s got this matte finish that doesn't scream "budget," and the hinges actually have some tension to them. You’ve probably seen these all over TikTok, and for once, the hype is actually grounded in some reality.
The ANC Reality Check
Let’s talk about that "2X stronger" noise canceling claim. Soundcore is specifically targeting the frequency range of human voices here. Usually, active noise cancellation (ANC) is great at blocking out the low-frequency drone of an airplane engine or a hum of an AC unit. It’s terrible at blocking out the guy in the cubicle next to you talking about his weekend. The Soundcore Space One uses a revised chamber design and updated algorithms to tackle that mid-range chatter.
Does it beat the Bose QuietComfort Ultra? No. Don't be ridiculous. But does it beat everything else under $150? Absolutely. When you engage the ANC, there’s a noticeable "pressure" feeling—some people hate that, some love it—but the silence is deeper than you'd expect. It’s weirdly effective at dampening the clacking of mechanical keyboards. If you're a student or someone working in a noisy coffee shop, this is the specific feature that makes these worth the entry price.
Transparency Mode and Easy Chat
There’s a feature here called "Easy Chat." It’s basically a rip-off of Sony’s "Speak-to-Chat," and I mean that as a compliment. You start talking, the music dips, and the transparency mode kicks in so you can hear the person across from you. It’s a bit laggy. You might find yourself saying "Hello?" twice before the headphones catch up. But once it works, it’s seamless enough that you don't have to fumble for buttons while holding a latte.
Sound Quality: LDAC is the Secret Sauce
Out of the box, the Soundcore Space One is... bass-heavy. Like, really bass-heavy. It’s that classic Anker sound profile that aims to please the average listener who wants their skull rattled. However, because these support LDAC, you’re getting much higher bitrates on Android devices. This is a big deal. Most "budget" headphones stick to SBC or AAC, which compresses the life out of your music.
If you’re an iPhone user, you’re stuck with AAC, but the 40mm dynamic drivers are still punchy. The real magic happens in the Soundcore app. You have to use the HearID feature. It runs a little hearing test to see which frequencies you can actually hear—turns out my left ear is worse at high frequencies than my right—and then it builds a custom EQ profile. It’s a game changer. Suddenly, the muddy mids clear up. The treble stops being "shouty" and starts being crisp.
- Hi-Res Wireless: Only via LDAC.
- Drivers: 40mm customized dynamic drivers.
- EQ: Fully customizable 8-band equalizer in the app.
Battery Life and The Daily Grind
Forty hours with ANC on. Fifty-five hours with it off.
Think about that. You could fly from New York to Singapore and back, and you’d still have juice left. It’s ridiculous. I’ve gone two weeks without charging these while using them for about three hours a day. And if you do run them dry, five minutes on a USB-C cable gives you four hours of playback. That's the kind of utility that matters more than "spatial audio" or other gimmicks.
The fit is a bit hit or miss, though. The ear cups are "floating," meaning they tilt and rotate to fit your head shape. Great for most. However, if you have a particularly small head, they might feel a bit loose. The clamping force is light. This is awesome for long-term comfort—no headaches here—but don't expect to go for a vigorous run in these. They will slide. They’re "commuter" headphones, not "gym" headphones.
The Competition: Space One vs. Space Q45
This is where it gets confusing. Anker also sells the Space Q45, which is often priced just slightly higher. The Q45 feels a bit more "premium" because of the metal hits in the headband and a slightly better hardshell case. But honestly? The ANC on the Soundcore Space One is actually better at handling voices. If you want the best noise isolation for a modern office, the Space One is the smarter buy. If you want a more "executive" look and a slightly wider soundstage, get the Q45. But for most people, the extra $30 or $40 for the Q45 isn't buying you a better experience.
✨ Don't miss: Is an Asteroid Coming at Earth? What the Data Actually Says About Our Risks
What Most Reviews Get Wrong
People keep saying these are "Bose killers." They aren't. Let’s be real. If you put these side-by-side with a $400 pair of headphones, you’ll notice the plastic on the Soundcore feels thinner. You’ll notice the microphone quality is "good enough" for Zoom but not amazing for a phone call on a windy street. The "wearing detection"—which pauses your music when you take them off—is sometimes a bit over-sensitive.
But that misses the point. The Soundcore Space One isn't trying to be the best headphone in the world. It’s trying to be the best headphone for the person who has a budget. It succeeds because it doesn't fail at the basics. It connects fast. The app doesn't crash. The battery lasts forever.
Technical Specs at a Glance
The frequency response ranges from 20Hz to 20kHz (or 40kHz in wired/LDAC mode). You’re getting Bluetooth 5.3, which is the latest stable standard, meaning multi-point connection works flawlessly. You can stay connected to your laptop for a meeting and your phone for notifications without having to unpair/repair. It’s 2026; every headphone should do this, but many still don't. Soundcore does.
How to Get the Most Out of Your Space One
If you just bought these, or you’re about to, don't just turn them on and go. You’ll be underwhelmed. First, download the app and update the firmware immediately. Anker is notorious for fixing ANC bugs in the first few weeks after launch. Second, turn off the "Extra Bass" preset. It’s too much. Switch to "Acoustic" or "Piano" if you want a flatter, more natural sound, or spend ten minutes building a HearID profile.
Also, check the "Wind Noise Reduction" setting. If you’re walking outside and the ANC sounds like a rushing river, it’s because the microphones are catching the wind. Toggling this on sacrifices a tiny bit of ANC strength but saves your ears from that annoying whistling sound.
Actionable Steps for the Best Experience
- Run the HearID test in a silent room. Any background noise will mess up the calibration and leave your music sounding tinny.
- Enable LDAC in the app settings. It’s usually off by default to save battery, but if you have an Android phone, the jump in audio quality is worth the 10% hit to battery life.
- Toggle Multipoint. If you use a tablet and a phone, make sure this is active so you don't miss calls while watching movies.
- Invest in a hardshell case. The Space One comes with a soft pouch. It’s useless. If you throw these in a backpack, the hinges will eventually get stressed. A $15 third-party hard case will double the lifespan of these headphones.
The Soundcore Space One represents a shift in the market where "budget" no longer means "bad." It means "prioritized." You aren't getting premium leather or carbon fiber, but you are getting the tech that actually matters for your daily commute. If you can live with a plastic build and a slightly bass-heavy default tuning, there’s almost no reason to spend three times as much on the big-name brands.