Anker Soundcore Space Q45 Review

Anker Soundcore Space Q45 active noise cancelling (ANC) headphones are fantastic, and $150 USD makes them even better. The sound profile is adequate for most listeners but not platonic. The Q45 microphone technology filters background noise better than most mid-tier wireless headphones, making it a superb work headset. Soundcore’s Space Q45 is worth the mobile app and sound quality if you can handle it.

Anker Soundcore Space Q45 Specs

Pros

• Sound with lots of bass
• Long battery life
• Plus additional features
• Effective ANC
• Bluetooth 5.3 supports multipoint and LDAC.

Cons

• Clunky
• A digital assistant requires work.
• Better wind resistance could improve call quality.
• No, find my headphones.

Design

Black is the only colour available at launch, with navy blue and white coming later. A carrying case, USB-C charging cable, aux cord, and user handbook are included. These devices join a crowded mid-range noise-cancelling headphone market topped by the excellent Cleer Enduro ANC ($139) and Urbanista Miami ($149). Spend more on category leaders like the Sennheiser Momentum 4 ($349) or Sony WH-1000XM5 ($399) for better performance. Bookmark our top headphones deals page and check our Anker discount codes for the latest wireless earbud sales.

Comfort

Besides the colour options and Space Series logo on the left earcup, the Space Q45 looks like the Life Q35. That’s good. High-quality aluminium alloy hinges and thick plastic yokes prevent the Space Q45 from shattering if dropped. Nice touches include the matte finish and embossed Soundcore branding on the front earcup.

The carrying case is similar, but it now contains a plastic mould to pack headphones and accessories instead of a sketch. However, I favour Life Q35’s felt casing over Space Q45’s elastic exterior. The Space Q45 weighs 10.3 ounces more than the Life Q35 (9.6 ounces), according to Anker. However, the materials make these headphones lighter and more comfortable than most ANC variants. The earcup padding is easy on the ears, and the bottom headband’s plush cushioning doesn’t stress the skull.

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Controls

Anker has not yet adopted touch controls. Despite its absence of touch gestures and wear detection (no auto-pause when removing headphones), the Space Q45 has multipurpose buttons for media controls. The right earcup’s play/pause button turns on the digital assistant (2 presses), but the volume rockers work as expected and perform other duties. The left earcup contains a power/pairing button and an NC button for BassUp and listening modes. These buttons are easy to find and tactile, ensuring listeners receive the intended commands.

The computerised assistant sometimes acted crazy. Siri was less helpful than the Google Assistant. Google’s AI bot could complete most requests (“open Spotify”), but it lacked complexity and took 3 seconds to load the Bleacher Report website. Siri on my MacBook Pro regularly misconstrued simple queries like “What is my next event?” for “What is my next alarm?”, which frustrated me the most.

Sound Quality

Space Q45 mid-range headphones have strong sonic specs. 40mm double-layer diaphragm drivers beneath the hood boost the low end, mids, and highs. Anker’s soundstage is broad and immersive, and BassUp mode boosts music. The technology sounds more sophisticated this time. Users can enable BassUp in the Sound Effects option through the companion app, customise the EQ, and choose from over 20 presets for different music genres and materials. Discussing sound quality.

Two Feet’s “I Feel Like I’m Drowning” synthesisers hit my eardrums with force, especially in BassUp mode, without distortion. Lows were well reproduced, and I felt every bluesy guitar note. That realism extended to jazz standards. Duke Ellington’s “In A Sentimental Mood” was intimate, with subtle drum rolls, calming saxophone, and tinny hi-hats that put me in the front row. AAC and SBC codecs may not support Qualcomm’s aptX codec, although the Space Q45 supports high-quality LDAC codecs that can handle wireless streaming at 990 kbps from compatible playback devices.

The Space Q45 now matches high-end devices like the Sony WH-1000XM5. Noise cancellation improves bass but doesn’t affect other frequencies. Wired mode? Though the bass and volume were lower than in wireless mode, the music was crisp and detailed. The Space Q45 has a Safe Volume option like many other models. This measures headphone volume in real time to evaluate hearing damage.

Noise cancellation

The Space Q45 has a configurable ambient sound mode with noise cancellation and transparency options from Anker. They all work well in the right setting. The headphones block 85% of ambient noise and reduce wind. ANC may be adjusted between five levels in the companion app by enabling personalised noise cancellation.

The Space Q45 blocks a tremendous amount of noise as you get higher. High-frequency sounds like baby screams and whistles drew my attention, but most low- and mid-frequency sounds went unnoticed. Anker warns that “the higher the noise reduction level, the stronger the low frequency noise reduction effect (in-ear pressure will be higher)” when set to max. 30 minutes of use felt that pressure.

ANC was reduced to level 3 to reduce pressure and noise, but I could still hear dog barks and landscaping tools. Switching to adaptive was better because it automatically adjusted to noise levels. Although it struggled with loud noises, it was less bothersome when listening to loud music. Anker’s four-mic system and wind noise reduction reduced whisking.