Soundcore Space One Pro review: Great sound for less money

Finding great over-ear headphones with ANC, long battery life, and immersive sound usually requires spending a pretty penny. But the Soundcore Space One Pro proves conventional wisdom wrong. For under $200, you can get a pair of comfortable headphones with great sound and a compact design that folds away when not in use.

Soundcore Space One Pro

The Soundcore Space One Pro delivers high-quality sound and active noise cancellation for less money. Along with a nice sound profile, the headphones have a unique design that allows them to be folded into a small travel case, helping you save space on the go.

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• Very comfortable with foam headband and ear cushions
• The foldable design allows you to pack the headphones into a small bag
• Great sound profile
• The app brings more customization options

Disadvantages

• The hardware buttons on the shells are difficult to use
• ANC is a few steps behind more expensive models

Price and availability

The Soundcore Space One Pro retails for $199.99 and is available from Soundcore, Amazon, and other retailers.

Comfortable and unique design

When looking for over-ear headphones, comfort is usually at or near the top of the list of requirements. Thanks to the long battery life, these types of headphones are intended for long-term wear. It doesn’t matter how good the headphones sound if they aren’t comfortable.

In over-ear headphones, I value comfort above all for several reasons. I have a big head, wear glasses, shave my head and wear hats most of the day. With this combination, many headphones that offer comfort do not work well for me.

The Soundcore Space One Pro are one of the most comfortable pairs of headphones I’ve tried. Both the earcups and headband are covered in a soft leather-like material and use a fair amount of foam with a nice amount of breathability. The headband and ear cups were secure and did not twist around my head or ears during use.

I tried the headphones in white and gold versions, but there is also a black model to choose from.

I wore the headphones all day at work and on a 5 hour flight and never experienced any discomfort. It weighs a little over 0.63 pounds.

In addition to comfort, the headphones are designed to not take up much space when not in use. With a unique folding design, when you’re ready to put the headphones away, the earbuds fold together, about the size of a large smartphone. It’s one of the best folding designs I’ve seen in an over-ear headphone. When space is at a premium in my bag, it’s nice to know that the Space One Pro doesn’t take up much space.

To protect the headphones on the go, the Soundcore includes a small pouch that can be sealed. For more protective options that are bulkier, some optional Soundcore cases are available.

The only part of the design that disappointed me was the hardware buttons on the bottom of both ear cups. On the left earcup there is a power button and a button for switching ANC modes. You’ll also find a USB-C charging port and a 3.5mm line-in jack. On the right is the volume control and the play/pause button.

The buttons are too thin for everyday use. It was hard to find the buttons on the earcup and press them properly. When I needed to press buttons, I usually resorted to taking the headphones off my ears to find the right button to press. After being a long-time Apple AirPods Max user, I definitely missed the simplicity of the Digital Crown and single side button.

Customizable sound quality and compliant ANC

Another big part of quality headphones is sound quality. The Soundcore Space One Pro isn’t the best I’ve ever used, but it packs a punch for the price.

I listened to a wide range of different media – everything from hard rock music to streaming videos – and left satisfied. Vocals were always crisp and easy to understand, with nice bass, mids and highs even at higher volumes.

Another dominant feature of the headphones is the active noise cancellation technology. If you’re not familiar with this technology, it’s designed to suppress background noise so you can better focus on the audio playback. This is done using microphones that actively listen for sound outside and then “cancel” it using sound waves.

ANC headphones are a must on any long-haul flight, as they can help drown out noise from engines and other passengers.

I can only describe the Space One Pro’s ANC during my two-legged flight as passable. It reduced the engine noise well. But it didn’t work so well with other cabin noises, including the screaming baby sitting behind me.

In the car, the ANC did better, completely drowning out road noise and even other people talking.

Compared to my AirPods Max, the ANC was a few steps behind. But at more than half the price, it’s a compromise most buyers will likely be fine with. As with most over-ear headphones, you can also take phone calls using the built-in microphone. Callers reported hearing me very well in a quiet room. When I was out, my voice wasn’t as clear, but it was still strong.

Long battery life and nice app

Don’t forget to download the companion Soundcore app for iPhone or Android. There are a number of other settings that you can customize. While you can set your own EQ, I’d recommend trying the HearID audio test. By testing your hearing sensitivity and selecting your music genre preferences, you will create a unique sound profile.

The entire testing process takes approximately two minutes. First you do a quick hearing test and then you choose the best sounding piece of music with two different sound profiles. I was surprised how well this function worked and the music sounded great.

You can also further customize the ANC mode and transparency mode of the headphones using the app. Similar to the Apple AirPods feature of the same name, Soundcore mode provides a mix of music while informing you of what’s going on around you. This worked well and allowed me to hear what was going on at the airport when I changed flights.

Another sound setting, Easy Chat, didn’t work as well. It’s designed to lower the music volume so you can hear the other person you’re talking to during a short conversation. But it seemed to allow any sound, so I quickly turned it off.

Battery life in the headphones is another strong point. You can listen for up to 40 hours with ANC on and 60 hours without this function on a single battery charge. In a hurry, you can charge the headphones with the included USB-C cable for 5 minutes to ensure up to 8 hours of music playback.

Should you buy the Soundcore Space One Pro?

The Soundcore Space One Pro perfectly balances price and features. Sure, there are other headphones on the market with better ANC and soundstage, but you’ll likely pay double the cost or more for the Soundcore option.

If you’re on a budget or don’t want to spend a lot of money on over-ear headphones, you’ll love the Soundcore option. They are very comfortable to wear for long periods of time, they sound good and they don’t take up much space thanks to their unique folding design. Before you spend more, Soundcore is a good option to consider.

Soundcore Space One Pro

The Soundcore Space One Pro delivers high-quality sound and active noise cancellation for less money. Along with a nice sound profile, the headphones have a unique design that allows them to be folded into a small travel case, helping you save space on the go.