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Anker Soundcore Space One Pro headphones review: flagship bass and the ability to customize the sound

Published by Pavlo Chuikin

Anker is probably best known for its power banks, power supplies, USB hubs, and other similar devices. But this manufacturer has been producing other different gadgets for a long time. For example, we recently reviewed their interesting charging station Anker Solix C800X and there were also materials about audio devices from the Soundcore series. Today, we are reviewing not just new full-size headphones of this brand, but their latest flagship model Anker Soundcore Space One Pro.

Technical specifications of Anker Soundcore Space One Pro

Headphone type Full-size, Over-Ear
Features Swivel bowls, folding option
Connection Wireless, wired (3.5 mm Jack)
Support for codecs SBC, AAC, LDAC
Bluetooth version 5.3, range up to 15 meters
Management Buttons
Microphones Yes, six pieces
Protection against moisture No
Compatibility Android, iOS, PC
Autonomy Up to 40 hours on a single charge with noise cancellation, up to 60 hours without ANC, fast charging available
Charging connector USB Type-C
Weight 286 grams

Packaging and equipment

Anker Soundcore Space One Pro comes in a cardboard box with a hinged lid.

Inside we can see the headphones themselves with a film on some glossy elements of the case, a USB Type-C cable, another cable with a mini jack, and documentation. There is also a pouch for storing or transporting the headphones. You can buy a full-fledged hard case separately.

Design and ergonomics

Anker Soundcore Space One Pro — full-size closed headphones. Their design is modern and bright, but it also has references to the «retro» style. The model weighs 286 grams. It’s definitely not a light device, but we’ve had much heavier models. Therefore, for full-size headphones, these weigh adequately and feel good on the head.

We reviewed a gray-black version with the official color name Jet Black. There is also a creamy white version (Cream White). Both look stylish and will appeal to a certain type of user. The former will want to stand out with a pleasant color, while others, on the contrary, are looking for a universal option that does not attract attention.

Anker Soundcore Space One Pro is made of metal, including the cup holders. Other elements are matte and glossy plastic. The headphones bend and curve easily, and their headband can be stretched and bent in different directions without fear of breaking.

The outer and inner parts of the headband are covered with eco-leather, and under it is a layer of soft filler.

The ear cups are oval and swivel. The new product can also be folded compactly for storage in a case.

On the left ear cup of Anker Soundcore Space One Pro we see the brand logo in the middle, a USB-C port for charging, a 3.5 mm audio jack, and a light indicator. We also see two mechanical buttons. The first one is responsible for turning the headphones on/off, and if you hold it down for a few seconds, it activates Bluetooth mode to connect to other devices. The second button switches modes in the available ANC function.

There are two more physical buttons on the right side. One, double, is used to control the volume of the headphones, and the other pauses or turns on the music, as well as switches tracks or calls the voice assistant (long press).

There are six microphones on the two cups in total, four of which are responsible for the existing noise reduction system.

Anker Soundcore Space One Pro ear cushions are not removable. They are made of eco-leather, and in the middle we see some thin material with engraved letters L and R.

The ear cushions are soft and comfortable. They are filled with foam, take the desired shape without any problems, and even hold it a little when the headphones are removed. This solution definitely improves noise isolation, but they will be hot in summer.

Features, sound, and microphone

Anker Soundcore Space One Pro headphones have three-component 40 mm dynamic drivers. The declared frequency range is 20–20,000 Hz. There is support for popular SBC, AAC and LDAC codecs. Hi-Res Wireless support is also announced. However, the latter codec is available only to owners of Android smartphones.

Anker Soundcore Space One Pro received an improved ANC 3.0 noise reduction system. In the settings, you can change its modes and customize it for yourself. That is, you can either muffle the background more or reduce this effect.

Of course, there is also a transparent mode, which can be adjusted. You can turn it up to the maximum so that you can hear many things around you in addition to the music, or vice versa. Only loud and harsh sounds are heard, such as car or tram horns, screams, etc.

The microphones here are excellent for headphones. Two microphones are responsible for voice transmission, and the sound is a little muffled, but the main thing is that it is loud and detailed. It’s one of the best voice transmissions in such models in my memory.

This is more than enough for voice communication, video calls, etc. Of course, it can’t be compared to full-fledged, even budget microphones, but in general, these built-in microphones produce an unexpectedly high-quality voice.

The sound of Anker Soundcore Space One Pro also surprised in a pleasant way, although this could be expected from the brand’s flagship model.

The main characteristic of the sound of the headphones is incredibly bass. Low frequencies are the kings of the party here, which to some extent suppresses the sound of the middle frequencies. But the highs are perfectly developed and highlighted. The overall stage is wide.

Anker Soundcore Space One Pro will definitely appeal to those who love bass and listen to various music genres where it prevails. But for other users, the headphones are also suitable because they actually have settings that make them versatile.

I’m talking about the HearID system. It’s a sound test for your preferences. Yes, this is available in many other models, large and small, but this is where this feature works very well and creates really high-quality sound for you.

All you need to do is to pass the HearID test in the proprietary application, and you will get a really improved sound. And it will be the same for you. In my case, the bass decreased a bit because although I love it, there is too much of it for me. The middle has also tightened up, become more voluminous and on par with the low end, and it seems that the system has done almost nothing to the highs because they are just as detailed.

As an option, the headphones have an equalizer and many good sound presets that really change the sound and its character. The basic preset is not bad, but I unexpectedly liked the Acoustic option the most. Usually, I never select it in other headphones, but here it directly balances the sound, cuts the aforementioned bass, and brings it very close to what I got with HearID.

Separately, I note the different sound quality of Anker Soundcore Space One Pro when connected via Bluetooth and via a 3.5 mm audio jack. And in the latter case, it’s two options in one. In the first case, you connect the headphones with a cable when they are turned off, for example, to your favorite player or sound card and get «clear» headphone sound that is already processed by your device.

And there is also an option to connect the headphones via mini jack, but with them on. This is called DSP mode. In this case, the pure sound is processed by the headphones themselves (with an equalizer or presets) and transmitted to the device.

I can’t help but mention the available Dolby Audio mode. It’s a great way to boost the sound of headphones for watching videos, TV shows, or movies, but I strongly advise against listening to music in it. Because in this case, the sound becomes too loud, and the bass doesn’t just lock in, it makes the headphones vibrate on your head. Plus, a powerful middle is added, so in general, it’s not a very pleasant feeling.

Connection, software, and control

The section above has revealed a lot of information about connecting. Therefore, let’s go through the main parameters quickly. Anker Soundcore Space One Pro is connected to devices wirelessly via Bluetooth and via a mini jack cable. The USB-C port is only needed to charge the headphones.

They also work with the proprietary Soundcore app, which offers a wide range of features and functions. Through the program, you can see the remaining charge (although it shows only in 10% increments), activate noise cancellation or «transparency» mode, and adjust the strength of their work. This is where they turn off.

In the app, you can also activate protection against wind noise, or fine-tune the sound to suit your needs. Firstly, there is a built-in equalizer for this, secondly, a large number of different presets that really change the sound of the headphones (I like Acoustic), and thirdly, there is the aforementioned HearID function — customizing the sound of the headphones specifically to the user’s preferences. The Soundcore app also allows you to customize the headphone controls, update the app and drivers, and more.

I’d like to mention the Easy Chat feature. If it is active, then while listening to music or watching a movie, the user just needs to speak to someone and the headphones automatically turn on the «transparency» mode and make the sound quieter. That is, it is done so that you can address someone with headphones on and not have to take them off or pause the track.

Anker Soundcore Space One Pro autonomous operation

According to the manufacturer, Anker Soundcore Space One Pro can operate for up to 40 hours with active ANC and up to 60 hours without noise cancellation. A full charge takes up to two hours. There is a fast charge, so if you have only 5 minutes, it will be enough for 8 hours of listening to music.

The actual battery life coincides with the claimed one. In my case, it was even longer (44-45 hours with ANC) because I mostly listened to music at less than 50% background while working, only occasionally significantly increasing the volume.

Experience of using Anker Soundcore Space One Pro

My overall impressions of Anker Soundcore Space One Pro are very positive. Although I can’t say that I really like them visually, but this is a matter of taste. The main thing in headphones is the sound, and it is excellent here.

I was also afraid that they would be too massive, heavy, and put pressure on my head, at least until they stretched, but it turned out not to be the case. The headphones were not as heavy as for a full-size model, and most importantly, they did not press on my head. And my head is not small, so if you have the same problem, this model is for you. And everyone else who doesn’t have a big head shouldn’t worry about it at all. That’s why I wore the headphones for hours without any problems, my ears didn’t hurt, and neither did my head.

I didn’t expect anything at all before testing, so when I started using them, I was pleasantly surprised by many things. The model has a good package with a storage bag. I know that some people don’t like the fact that the headphones cost a lot, and you have to buy a hard case separately, but I think these are strange claims. There are many other headphones in the world for a higher price that don’t even come with a pouch. I’m not even talking about additional accessories for a lot of money.

I really liked Anker Soundcore Space One Pro for the high quality of even its basic sound. But the main thing is that the headphones are customized for each user individually. If you need too much bass, then activate the HearID test, complete it in a few minutes, and get the sound just right. There are also various presets that really change the sound. Not all of them are adequate, yes, but they work.

I liked the available Dolby Audio mode, which is great for watching TV shows or YouTube videos, and also proved to be adequate in video games. But God forbid you turn it on to listen to music, because your ears may fall off from the volume and the amount of bass and mids.

Anker Soundcore Space One Pro can easily be called a truly versatile headphone. They are suitable for music, watching videos or TV shows, and gamers will also like them. Yes, there is no RGB backlighting, but not all gamers are thrilled with it. The main thing is that in addition to good sound, the headphones have a great microphone, so it will be easy and comfortable to communicate with teammates. Of course, this is not a model for audiophiles because we are aiming for the widest possible audience, but I am sure they will be pleasantly surprised.

I would also like to mention certain features. For example, the Easy Chat feature. In theory, it’s cool to be able to contact someone without turning on a video or song and without taking off your headphones. The audio device really responds quickly to the voice, and in the app you can even set how long the «transparent» mode is activated, and the volume drops (5, 10, or 15 seconds). But this is only convenient when listening to music, and not convenient, at least for me, when watching a video or a movie. Because the video is not paused, or the movie continues, so when you talk to someone and continue watching the movie, it may be a different scene, etc.

Maybe you’re watching something in the background and Easy Chat will be useful for you. If you’re like me and watch videos, movies, or TV shows thoughtfully, without distractions and following every scene, then this thing won’t work for you.

Price and competitors

Anker Soundcore Space One Pro is sold at a price from 6999 UAH. In my opinion, the price tag is normal because it is the brand’s flagship model, but I understand that it may be expensive for some people.

Of course, the model has competitors, but please note that most of them are not flagships, and even if they are, they are much more expensive. First of all, you should take a closer look at the simpler model from Anker — Soundcore Space One with a price tag of 3990 UAH. There is also the last year’s model Soundcore Space Q45 (price from UAH 4950). Of course, pay attention to Sony WH-CH720 with a price tag of UAH 3450 and Sony WH-ULT900 (price from UAH 5650). Also, don’t forget about popular models from other well-known brands: Sennheiser Accentum Plus (price from UAH 6499) or JBL Live 770NC (price from UAH 4999).