The Anker Soundcore Space 2 are competitively priced, ANC-equipped over-ears that bridge the gap between the brand's budget offerings and mid-range Bluetooth cans from big players in the headphones space. They're set to carry the torch passed by the 2023 Anker Soundcore Space One, building on their foundation with a longer advertised battery life, Bluetooth 6.1, and a more comfortable design.
Our Verdict
The Anker Soundcore Space 2 aren't really designed for sports and fitness, so they're not a natural choice for this usage. They're not very stable on the head and will easily be displaced during some light stretching, let alone jogging. While they're very comfortable headphones, the combination of memory foam and faux leather traps heat and facilitates sweat buildup during workouts. There's no IP rating against water or dust damage either, and their build quality has some weak points that could be exposed during more vigorous workouts.
42 hours of continuous battery life.
No IP rating.
The Anker Soundcore Space 2 are great travel cans. The memory foam used in the headband and earpads is very comfortable, and they don't clamp on your ears or the top of your head very much. Their ANC system is impressive too, attenuating the swirling noise of a busy street and the rumble of jet engines well. There's no option to dial in a blend between ANC and transparency mode, though, for the times you want to hear just a bit of your background. They're also not very portable: they fold inwards but don't fold flat and come with just a barebones carrying pouch for transport. Still, 42 hours of continuous battery life is a great boon for long-haul flights, even if you get stuck in a cycle of never-ending layovers.
42 hours of continuous battery life.
Very comfortable fit.
Great ANC performance.
No IP rating.
Ear cups don't fold flat for better portability.
The Anker Soundcore Space 2 are good for office work. They're very comfortable headphones that won't clamp on your ears or the top of your head during long office days. Plus, they come equipped with a solid ANC system that helps tamp down on unwanted distractions, like water cooler talk and scraping chairs upstairs. The integrated microphone doesn't render your voice in a particularly natural way, but it'll get the job done for simple online meetings. Just don't expect it to separate your voice much from any ambient noise around you. Forty-two hours of continuous battery life is a big asset, though, getting you through an entire work week without needing a recharge.
42 hours of continuous battery life.
Very comfortable fit.
Multi-device pairing, even with LDAC.
Great ANC performance.
Ear cups don't fold flat for better portability.
No mic support with analog connection.
The Anker Soundcore Space 2 aren't suitable for wireless gaming. Latency values across all codecs are too high for all but the most casual of mobile games.
The Anker Soundcore Space 2 are decent for wired gaming. You can connect them to most consoles and PCs via the included analog cable, though you won't be able to use the built-in mic to communicate with teammates. Still, if you mostly prefer single-player titles, they offer a comfortable fit and a balanced sound that's well-suited to a variety of game genres. The included analog cable is quite flimsy, so you might want to swap it out if you plan on using this connection type frequently.
Very comfortable fit.
Graphic EQ and presets in app.
No IP rating.
No mic support with analog connection.
The Anker Soundcore Space 2 are very good for audio reproduction accuracy. Their frequency response generally follows their balanced sound profile, with only some slight deviations in the treble range. If the default tuning isn't to your liking, there's plenty of scope for tweaking via the graphic EQ and presets in the app. The L/R drivers are well-matched too, making for an even stereo image, and there's no audible coloration of your audio due to harmonic distortion, even at elevated listening levels.
The Anker Soundcore Space 2 have great noise isolation. The ANC system attenuates a good amount of low-end noise, like jet engine rumble, complementing the passive, treble-range attenuation from the headphones' over-ear seal. Unfortunately, there's no way to dial in a blend of ANC and transparency mode, as you're limited to just these two modes (or disabling the feature altogether). There's also an issue whereby covering the external ANC mics causes a loud, low-pitched feedback drone that can be annoying if you accidentally trigger it while adjusting the fit.
The Anker Soundcore Space 2's built-in mic is passable. It rolls off a bit of high-end and hollows out some of the lows in your voice, making for an intelligible, if a little unnatural, presentation of speech. While a small amount of background noise, like conversations in a busy university corridor, can introduce a bit of distortion in your voice, louder sounds will totally eclipse what you're saying.
The Anker Soundcore Space 2 have sub-par frequency response consistency. Audio delivery can be highly dependent on the physical features of the wearer, so glasses or longer hairstyles can impact your perception of the mid-range. You'll need to ensure you take the necessary time to achieve a solid seal to avoid any fit-related audio delivery issues.
Performance Usages
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Anker Soundcore Space 2 come in a few different color variants that include 'Seafoam Green,' 'Linen White,' and 'Jet Black.' There was no label to photograph with our 'Seafoam Green' variant. We expect all color variants to perform similarly.
If you encounter another variant of these headphones, please let us know in the comments, and we'll update our review.
Popular Headphones Comparisons
The Anker Soundcore Space 2 are positioned on the upper end of the budget range, providing the features and ANC of mid-range competitors, with the slightly cheaper build quality often seen in budget over-ears. They're a successor to the Anker Soundcore Space One Wireless, with better ANC and upgraded comfort, courtesy of the memory foam used in the headband and earpads. The Space 2 even feature a longer battery life than the more premium Anker Soundcore Space One Pro, though the latter's ANC performance still comes out on top. None of these Ankers have particularly sturdy build quality, though, with slightly suspect hinges. Plus, their built-in mics can be more of a last resort than a dependable online meeting aid.
If you're willing to up your budget slightly, you can check out the Sony ULT WEAR, which boast a better noise isolation performance and a better-performing mic. However, they have a build defect that makes their hinges more susceptible to breakage. On the bright side, they come with a much more protective hard case and fold flat for easier transportation.
Check out our recommendations for the best noise cancelling headphones and the best headphones, or peruse Anker's other offerings in the best Anker headphones article.
The Anker Soundcore Space Q45 Wireless and the Anker Soundcore Space 2 both offer great value for money but have slightly different strengths. The Space 2 have better ergonomics: they're more comfortable, thanks to their use of memory foam, and they're slightly better built too. They also have a more balanced default sound and a longer battery life. That said, the Soundcore Space Q45 Wireless have a better overall noise isolation performance, with adjustable ANC. They're also more stable and deliver audio more consistently. Otherwise, there's not much to split the two. The Space Q45 retail for a bit cheaper, so it'll be up to you to decide if the difference in ergonomics and sound are worthwhile.
The Anker Soundcore Space 2 are the next generation of the Anker Soundcore Space One Wireless. The newer model features a more comfortable fit (courtesy of the memory foam ear pads and headband), a longer battery life, a more balanced sound and improved noise isolation performance. The build quality remains similar between the two models, with both featuring plastic-heavy construction that doesn't hold up to premium models from more established brands. Ultimately both over-ears punch above their price point, so deciding between the two might also come down to their respective prices at the time of purchase. You'll have to decide if the differences in comfort and performance are worth the additional outlay for the Space 2.
The Sony ULT WEAR are mid-range over-ears that perform similarly to the Anker Soundcore Space 2. The Sony have a more bass-heavy default sound, with levels of boostable bass via the 'ULT' button, while the Anker are very aligned with our target. While both headphones are equipped with ANC, the Sony perform better in common scenarios and have more scope for adjustment. While both have similar battery life performances, the Sony have a better mic. They also come with a more protective case and fold up for easy transport. That said, the Anker are more comfortable over longer listening sessions and are slightly better built, as the Sony's feature an Achilles heel: their weak hinges.
Though the Anker Soundcore Space One Pro are technically one of the brand's premium over-ears, they perform very similarly to the Anker Soundcore Space 2. The Space One Pro have a boomier default frequency response, while the Space 2 are more balanced out of the box. The Space 2 are more comfortable though and have a longer battery life, making them better for long voyages. They also have a slightly better mic performance. That said, the Soundcore Space One Pro come equipped with a better ANC system that's able to isolate you better in common scenarios. It also allows you to blend between ANC and transparency modes for a more personalized noise cancelling experience.
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Test Results
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