The Anker Soundcore Space One Pro are the brand's take on a more premium active noise-cancelling-enabled over-ear that diverges from their more aggressively priced models. They have what most would consider a more stylish design compared to the rest of Anker's over-ear entries, though their construction is still primarily plastic with a better finish. Ultimately, their performance under the hood will determine whether they can stand alongside mid-range competitors like Nothing.
Our Verdict
The Anker Soundcore Space One Pro aren't suitable for sports and fitness. While they're comfortable, their lack of stability during active movements makes them a poor choice for anything but the lightest exercise. You can take them out on a walk in fair weather, but they may be damaged by the elements as they lack an IP rating.
Comfortable to wear for long periods.
Unstable with vigorous movement.
The Anker Soundcore Space One Pro are very good for travel. They have excellent noise isolation, which should keep you insulated from distracting plane noise and fellow commuters. If you find yourself on longer transcontinental journeys, their 36.1-hour battery life has you covered, too. You can even use them while wired in a pinch, though they don't come with a two-prong adapter for connecting to in-flight entertainment systems. That said, they only have a soft carrying case, which won't provide structural protection. So, exercise caution if you have to shove the headphones into your bag in a rush.
Analog connection works powered on and off.
Comfortable to wear for long periods.
Soft pouch doesn't protect from damage.
The Anker Soundcore Space One Pro are good for office work. They're comfortable and isolate you from noise in a busy office without much issue. Multi-device pairing and a 36.1-hour battery life also make them a great option if you have to juggle multiple devices and long work days, too. That said, their microphone can muffle your voice a bit when dealing with moderate background noise or make you completely unintelligible if you're a foreman taking calls on a busy construction site. Still, if you're office-bound or can book a meeting room, it's more than sufficient for taking calls.
Comfortable to wear for long periods.
Microphone reproduces your voice intelligibly and somewhat naturally.
Bass boosted sound can affect dialogue or speech intelligibility.
The Anker Soundcore Space One Pro aren't suitable for wireless gaming due to their lack of a low-latency wireless dongle. Their wireless Bluetooth latency is over 200 ms, so most people will notice significant A/V desync in online games like shooters.
The Anker Soundcore Space One Pro are okay for wired gaming. The mic won't work while wired, but you can cycle through ANC settings while powered on, or use them while they're off. Latency is low enough in either case that it won't disrupt competitive gameplay by introducing noticeable A/V desync. The headphones have plush and deep earpads and a relatively light clamping force, so you can wear them for hours. Their sound is quite bass boosted, which is great for selling an explosive moment in a cinematic cutscene, but may affect the intelligibility of dialogue as a trade-off.
Analog connection works powered on and off.
Bass boosted sound can affect dialogue or speech intelligibility.
The Anker Soundcore Space One Pro have decent audio reproduction accuracy. The headphones perform well in objective metrics like stereo matching and harmonic distortion, ensuring your audio is reproduced cleanly and accurately placed in the stereo image. However, their bass-boosted sound signature may be somewhat polarizing, especially considering the overemphasized bass isn't well counterbalanced by similar emphasis in the treble. Dips in the frequency response may further push vocals back, verging on unintelligibility. To some, this may be overwhelming, though others may find this signature perfect for doubling down on a 'lo-fi' sound.
The Anker Soundcore Space One Pro have excellent noise isolation performance. The combined noise attenuation from the earpads and active noise cancellation system prevents most environmental noise from disturbing you. Anything from chatty coworkers to engine rumble are handily mitigated by the headphones. The headphones do leak a bit of your audio, especially if you're listening at high levels, but it won't be enough to disturb a neighbor in a moderately busy environment.
The Anker Soundcore Space One Pro's microphone sounds better than it scores. Your voice comes through intelligibly in ideal conditions, though it isn't replicated as naturally as it would be on a boom microphone. That said, the mic system has a somewhat aggressive noise removal algorithm that muffles your voice against moderate noise, and makes you completely unintelligible with louder sustained noise like vacuuming or a subway arrival. The app also supports adjustable sidetone settings, so you can control how much of yourself you hear.
The Anker Soundcore Space One Pro have good frequency response consistency. Your listening experience should match our frequency response measurements, even if you have a larger head or wear glasses.
Performance Usages
Check Price
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Anker Soundcore Space One Pro come in two variants: 'Cream White' and 'Jet Black.' Our unit is 'Jet Black,' and here's its label.
If you encounter another variant, please let us know in the comments, and we'll update the review.
Popular Headphones Comparisons
The Anker Soundcore Space One Pro are the sequel to the Anker Soundcore Space One Wireless. Both represent the brand's foray into mid-range pricing compared to their more budget-priced Anker Soundcore Space Q45 Wireless and Anker Soundcore Life Q20 2024 options. Unfortunately, besides the updated design and better build on the Pro, there's little encouragement to opt for the more expensive option; significant metrics like noise isolation and overall microphone performance are on par or better on both the Q45 and Q20 2024. In the broader market, old flagships like the Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless offer superior ANC, while the Nothing Headphones (1) have an even more striking design for people looking to make a fashion statement.
If you still find yourself hunting for that perfect pair of headphones, check out our recommendations for the best noise cancelling headphones and the best headphones. And if you're not opposed to an in-ear fit, have a look at our picks for best earbuds.
The Anker Soundcore Space One Pro and the Sony ULT WEAR are similar mid-range headphones. They trade blows in many performance metrics, and even have a similar bass emphasis, though the Anker have a lower energy treble response as well. Both headphones are proficient at attenuating noise with their ANC systems, so you won't go wrong with either. If you're planning on making a lot of calls, though, the Sony ULT WEAR has the better-sounding microphone. In terms of ergonomics, both headphones are comfortable, though the Sony are more stable on your head. However, the Sony's build quality is questionable due to an acknowledged build defect in the hinges of some lots of the product.
For most people, the Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless are better headphones than the Anker Soundcore Space One Pro. The Sony have better noise isolation performance, particularly in bass-range attenuation, making them the better option against airplane engine noise if you're a frequent flyer. We also found the Sony were more comfortable, better built, and more stable. That said, if you value microphone quality, you may lean toward the Anker, as their mic renders your voice more naturally, though neither the Sony nor Anker do well isolating your voice from noise. It's also worth keeping an eye on pricing, as you won't always find the Sony on sale at the same price as the Anker.
The Anker Soundcore Space Q45 Wireless and the Anker Soundcore Space One Pro are similar products from the same brand. The Space One Pro have a more premium, stylish look with a better build, but both headphones perform quite similarly under the hood. They have similar noise isolation performance, with the Q45 edging ahead slightly in low-bass attenuation (which mitigates noises like airplane engines). Surprisingly, the older Q45 also have a better mic that isolates your voice from noise more effectively. That said, the newer Space One Pro have a longer 36.1-hour battery life compared to the Q45's 27.8. The decision between these two headphones boils down to whether the additional battery life and better build are worth paying extra for.
The Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless and the Anker Soundcore Space One Pro are similarly performing headphones in different price categories. The Sennheiser are typically more expensive, have a better build, and are more stable. Despite their lower price tag, the Anker outperform the Sennheiser in noise isolation, attenuating low-frequency noise like engine rumble more effectively. They also have better frequency response consistency, so there's less variation in audio delivery between seatings and individuals. That said, the Sennheiser have the longer battery life with a whopping 62.3 hours compared to the Anker's 36.1. If you often forget to charge your headphones, the Sennheiser will last you much longer if you're willing to pay a premium.
Test Results
The Anker Soundcore Space One Pro have a boosted bass sound signature. Their overemphasized bass, coupled with a cut in the high-mid and low-treble can completely overwhelm vocals and instruments.
The headphones have a slightly different frequency response depending on whether you have ANC disabled or enabled. We tested the headphones with the 'Soundcore Signature' EQ preset, but there are 22 presets total. When connected via analog, the headphones' sound signature also varies depending on whether the headphones are on and whether ANC is activated.
The Anker Soundcore Space One Pro have good frequency response consistency. There are some variations in audio delivery depending on individual characteristics like head shape and accessories like piercings or glasses. That said, if you wear glasses, you won't experience as drastic a loss in bass as you will on the Anker Soundcore Life Q20 2024.
The headphones have okay bass range compliance. The low and mid bass are drastically overemphasized relative to our target rendering wubs and kicks in Monkeys by TheFatRat with plenty of rumble and punch. The headphones' response tapers off in the high bass to reduce the effect on the mids.
The headphones have great mid-range compliance. Small fluctuations may bump instruments slightly forward or backward in the mix across the low- and mid-mids, while the underemphasized high-mids weaken vocals and instruments.
These over-ears' treble compliance is disappointing. The underemphasized low-treble reduces intelligibility of vocals making, though S and T sounds are still present in the mix.
The Anker Soundcore Space One Pro have good peaks and dips performance. Their bass and mid-frequency response generally resembles their bass-boosted sound profile, though there are notable fluctuations in the treble range. Alternating peaks and dips in the mid and treble ranges can cause certain instruments and vocals to jump out as piercing or dull, depending on their pitch.
The headphones' L/R drivers have very good stereo matching. There's little weighted (average) amplitude mismatch between each driver, so your audio won't be biased to one side or the other overall. Minor mismatches in the high-mid and low-treble frequency response may cause higher-pitched vocals and instruments to have unclear positioning, though you likely won't notice this during regular playback.
These over-ears interact with your pinna, producing spatial cues that are somewhat indicative of elevation and distance. That said, their PRTF only resembles that of our reference stereo speaker setup.
The headphones' harmonic distortion performance is outstanding. When pushed to high listening levels, you won't experience any audible coloration.
These headphones are easy to power when wired (passively) and get plenty loud over Bluetooth (with ANC on).
The headphones have a virtual soundstage feature in their app called 'Dolby Audio.' Keep in mind that it won't work if you're using the LDAC codec.
These are the settings used to test these headphones. Our results are only valid when used in this configuration.
These headphones look fairly different from similar Anker products like the Anker Soundcore Space One and the Anker Soundcore Space Q45, though they still incorporate concentric circular sections and the brand's logo on the ear cups. This version does away with the hinge-and-yoke combination found on the Space One, opting to revert to a hinge with a single attachment point on the inner body of the ear cups, closer to the wearer's ears. The headphones also have metallic-looking detailing on the outer concentric rings and telescoping sections of the headband, though these components are undoubtedly plastic. We tested the 'Jet Black' version, which opts for a black body and silver detailing, though you can also buy the headphones in 'Cream White.'
These are comfortable headphones with adequate padding in both the headband and ear cups. The padding doesn't cause discomfort over time, even if you wear glasses, and they're not too heavy either. That said, people with ears that protrude from their head a bit more may notice rubbing against the cloth covering the drivers. Plus, we found the ear cups got a bit warm over time.
Like previous iterations of their over-ear headphone models, the Anker Soundcore Space One Pro have great, comprehensive controls. Commands are allocated across a number of buttons, which makes them easier to learn and remember. Some may also prefer the extensive use of physical buttons over capacitive swipe-and-tap controls, which seem so common on modern headphones these days. That said, controls like track cycling require you to hold a button down; we found it necessary to brace the ear cup with your hand(s) so the headphones don't slide, which may be annoying or difficult to do while moving.
The headphones are passably portable. When folded into their most compact configuration, they don't take up much space, and they can flex and swivel so you can rest the ear cups flat on your collarbones if you hang these cans on your neck.
The carrying case is mediocre, as Anker opts for a soft pouch with a microfiber-textured interior lining, which is a clear downgrade from the hard case on the Anker Soundcore Space Q45 Wireless.
The headphones have a good build quality, which is expected from their higher price point (relative to the rest of Anker's typical lineup). While it incorporates plastic and faux leather, the headphones have a well-padded headband and ear cups. However, the integrity of the folding components of their design and snappy hinges may be susceptible to degradation over use, and their cable is just average.
The Anker Space One Pro are passably stable and best suited for minimal movement. You can nod your head to the beat, but their modified hinge design (compared to the Anker Soundcore Space One Wireless) increases the risk of the headphones falling off your head.
- Anker Soundcore Space One Pro headphones
- 3.5 mm (1/8") to 3.5 mm (1/8") TRS audio cable (1.2 m/3.94 ft)
- USB-A to USB-C charging cable (0.3 m/0.98 ft)
- Soft pouch
- Warranty documentation
The headphones have excellent full-range noise isolation. Their passive isolation and ANC tackle noise from whirring PC fans to voices handily, but the headphones' active system (which does most of the heavy lifting in the bass range) isn't as great compared to other Anker entries: you'll notice the rumble of jets landing nearby creep into your audio a bit more. We tested the headphones using Level 5 for the ANC, but you can see the Adaptive setting results compared with Level 5.
These headphones do an excellent job of attenuating noise in our suite of common scenarios. Bass range noise cancelling is somewhat lacking compared to the Anker Soundcore Q45 Wireless, so you'll notice rumbling plane and bus engines, and office HVAC come through a little more prominently. That said, they do better against mid- and treble-range noise, so chatty travelers in an airport should be quiet, if not completely attenuated.
The headphones have a wind reduction feature, which likely disables or attenuates inputs from the outward-facing feedforward ANC microphones. Enabling the feature does work, but it takes a few seconds before the system recognizes the wind and the noise attenuation to begin
The headphones have decent leakage performance. They leak slightly more than similar Anker products, like the Anker Soundcore Space Q45 Wireless, particularly in the bass. That said, it's still at a level where you're unlikely to disturb someone sitting next to you in a loud environment like a bus.
The headphones' microphone scores worse than it sounds due to how some mics with an aggressive gate interact with our test suite. Your voice will sound clear in calls, though somewhat unnatural.
The mic system handles noise adequately. With our synthetic pink noise test, your voice remains intelligible with most of the noise filtered out. However, you'll sound a bit muffled due to how aggressive the noise cancelling algorithm is. That said, the mic struggles a lot in our subway station sample, again, likely due to its aggressive noise-cancelling behavior. At the apex of background disruption (when the subway arrives), your voice will be entirely unintelligible.
The headphones have excellent battery performance. Their battery lasts for 36.1 hours with ANC enabled (Level 5), which is just shy of the manufacturer's advertised 40 hours. While we didn't test with ANC off, Anker's listed value was close enough for ANC on, that you'll probably get relatively close to their listed 60-hour battery life with ANC disabled. The brand also advertises a fast charge feature that gets you eight hours of playtime (likely with ANC off) for five minutes of charging.
The Anker Soundcore app is great. As expected from seasoned producers of consumer audio products, you have access to loads of settings including sliders for ANC and transparency level, HearID Sound (personalized EQ), and Easy Chat (conversation awareness that reduces ANC). The app also has staple features like a standard 8-band graphic EQ, control configuration, and sidetone adjustment. Have a look at our app video for a more in-depth look at the features.
The headphones come with a 1/8" TRS cable that you can plug into a headphone jack. The microphone won't work, but you can use the headphones while powered on or off. When powered on, Bluetooth is disabled, but you can still control ANC settings using the physical controls of the headphone. Latency is low enough via analog while powered on (18.1 ms) and off (0.28 ms) that it's highly unlikely you'll notice any A/V desync when playing games.
The Anker Soundcore Space One Pro have excellent Bluetooth connectivity. They support multi-device pairing with up to two devices, and the standard SBC and AAC codecs, alongside the audio quality-focused LDAC codec. Keep in mind that LDAC doesn't work with multi-device connections, so you'll have to switch to a single device if you want to use the codec. Latency is quite high for both SBC and LDAC; while this likely won't affect media playback due to app and device latency compensation, you'll notice a A/V desync when playing games.
The headphones' output audio when plugged into your PC's headphone jack. If your computer supports Bluetooth, you can use the headphones with both audio and mic input wirelessly.
The headphones are compatible with PlayStation consoles, though their mic