Anker Soundcore Space Q45 review

The Anker Soundcore Space Q45 are excellent active noise cancelling (ANC) headphones, and indeed the $150 USD price tag only adds to the package. While the sound profile does not quite match our ideal, it is adequate for the majority of listeners. Unlike many mid-tier wireless headphones, the Q45 microphone system rejects a significant amount of background noise, making it an excellent work headset as well. If you can live with the mobile app and poor sound quality, you’ll appreciate the Space Q45 from Anker’s Soundcore brand.

The Anker Soundcore Space Q45 is a new Soundcore Life headset from Anker. This new headset has a lot of the same features and a similar build quality as the previous one, with a strong emphasis on its active noise cancellation (ANC) features. Is it able to shake the product line’s mediocre reputation for build and sound quality?

We spent a week with the Anker Soundcore Space Q45 and learned everything you need to know before taking it into space.

How is the Anker Soundcore Space Q45 to use?

The Anker Soundcore Space Q45 is mostly made of plastic and has pleather ear cups that really are comfortable but not as breathable as I prefer. The ear cups, thankfully, are reasonably adjustable as well as swivel to lay flat. The ear cups also curl up for easy storage in the case that comes with them. If you’re in a hurry, you can put the headset in a bag, but the plastic doesn’t appear to be very scratch resistant. 

The strongest part of the headset is the metal-reinforced headband, which has some give to accommodate larger noggins. The cushioning on the band helps to prevent hot spots on the top of the wearer’s head. Overall, the Space Q45 is pleasant to sit in for a few hours. This set of headphones will serve you well enough on your commute or for a personal music listening session as long as you don’t break a sweat.

How does the Anker Soundcore Space Q45 work?

The Anker Soundcore Space Q45 has controls on both the left and right ear cups, which are neatly separated depending on the function. The right ear cup houses media and volume controls, including a play/pause button as well as a volume rocker. The more key operating controls, namely a power button as well as a button for switching between listening modes, are located on the left ear cup (ANC on, ANC off, and audio passthrough mode).

Should you use the Anker Soundcore Space Q45 with the Soundcore app?

Although it feels like a less expensive experience for this headphone, the Soundcore app (iOS/Android) is a beneficial way to enhance the functionality using a mobile device. It has controls for features such as wind noise reduction, alternate Bluetooth codecs (based on your phone’s support), and the ability to change other aspects of the headset’s operation such as the prompt tone. It also has a section where you can change the EQ presets provided by Anker as well as use your own custom EQ preset. Using the Anker Soundcore Space Q45 is not required, but it is a good way to get the most out of it.

The Anker Soundcore Space Q45 connects via Bluetooth, with a 3.5mm wired connection as a backup option. A standard USB-C cable is used to charge the headset. In terms of connectivity, depending on your phone, the headset is compatible with various Bluetooth codecs. The default is AAC, but it also supports SBC and LDAC if you enable it via the Soundcore app (the headset should turn itself off and on again).

How long does the battery on the Anker Soundcore Space Q45 last?

Anker claims a battery life of 65 hours with ANC turned off and 50 hours with ANC turned on. In our testing, we discovered that the headset has a battery life of 55 hours and 48 minutes, which exceeds these estimates. The headset also supports fast charging, so you’ll almost certainly never be in a situation where the Space Q45 is render inoperable due to a low battery.

How effective is the Anker Soundcore Space Q45 at noise cancellation?

In general, the Anker Soundcore Space Q45 provides adequate noise isolation. When you put on the headset, it does a good job of masking background noise or low-volume music. The left ear cup’s ANC button also controls active noise cancellation and a sound passthrough mode (aka “transparency mode”). The ANC is adequate, but it falls short of market-leading headsets such as the Sony WH-1000XM5. When I use the Soundcore Space Q45 wireless headphones on public transportation, the ANC does a good job of blocking out train noise as well as traffic noise. This type of real-world result necessitates a good fit with the headphones; ensure there are no gaps between the padding as well as your skull.

How loud is the Anker Soundcore Space Q45?

The Anker Soundcore Space Q45’s sound quality is likely its most serious flaw. It’s not all bad; most users will get used to the headset’s sound after a few minutes, but it falls short when compared to other options on the market. Across the frequency spectrum, the frequency response curve differs significantly from our ideal target curve. The sub-bass is slightly exaggerat, the midrange is slightly depress, and the higher frequencies have been besiege by an undulating response change that causes high-end elements in music to sound hissy, letting down the playback’s accuracy.

Can you make phone calls with the Anker Soundcore Space Q45?

Although it does not stand out in ideal conditions, the Anker Soundcore Space Q45 microphone system is actually quite good. Instead, the dual microphone array excels in less-than-ideal conditions. Background noise is effectively reject, especially on city streets and also in windy environments. Few $150 USD wireless headphones, such as this one from Soundcore, can reject unpredictable background noise, as heard in our simulated office environment.

The keyboard clicks are barely audible, and the speaker is audible.. This is an excellent choice for ANC headphones for work, especially if you spend a lot of time on conference calls. Take our word for it, but don’t just take our word for it.