If you’re not a fan of in-ear headphones, finding an over-ear pair compact enough for travelling can be a challenge. The newest offering from Soundcore, Space One Pro, could be the answer. 

What Are They?

Space One Pro is the latest over-ear headphone release from Soundcore, which has been producing quality speakers and headphones since 2014. Space One Pro connects wirelessly to your mobile phone using Bluetooth 5.3 and Multipoint Connection, which allows you to easily switch the connection between devices such as laptops and phones. 

Created using a new foldable design, in its most compact form, Space One Pro can reduce its size by around 50%, making it super compact and easy to carry. A soft storage pouch comes in the box, but an optional hard case is also available. The band has been ergonomically designed to be comfortable and balanced for a pressure-free fit, and the earcups are surrounded by slow rebound foam, creating a cushioned experience for the wearer. 

Space One Pro is available in two colours: jet black and cream white. Our test model was in cream white and we think they look great, although they could perhaps show wear more quickly than the jet black might. 

Soundcore Space One Pro Headphones

What Features Do Space One Pro Over-Ear Headphones Offer? 

While the Space One Pro’s extremely compact nature when folded is a big plus, its most desirable feature is the noise-cancelling system. The active noise cancellation works really well, filtering out the unwanted background noise using a four-stage system. Using the app or the top button on the left earcup, you can change from active noise cancellation to normal or transparency modes, allowing different noise levels to get through, depending on your preference or location. 

I tested Space One Pro on a recent trip and found that the noise cancellation was excellent for blocking out the dull drone of the plane, making for a much more comfortable flight. The active noise cancellation still allowed me to hear the announcements fairly clearly while blocking out the rest of the hum-drum sounds. By selecting the easy chat function in the app, I could hold a conversation without having to remove the headphones. The music volume is reduced when you speak and the system allows voices to be heard clearly while keeping most other harsh sounds dulled. The only drawback is that when this is switched on, any cough or throat clearing reduces the volume of what you’re streaming, which can be a little frustrating. 

If you don’t want to control the headphones in the app, that’s no problem — Space One Pro can be controlled very easily via the buttons on the earcups. There is no complicated sequence of taps, swipes, and presses; just an on/off button, a play/pause button, a volume up and down button, and an ANC button. Simple. 

The ergonomic styling and well-padded ear cups and headband made them very comfortable to wear, but being a glasses wearer, they started getting a little less comfortable after a couple of hours of constant use. For day-to-day use and short flights, that’s not much of an issue, but long-haul travel could be more problematic. 

Compact Soundcore Space One Pro Headphones

What’s the Space One Pro’s Battery Life Like? 

Soundcore suggests that on a full charge, the Space One Pro will give up to 40 hours of playback time with the ANC on and up to 60 hours with it switched off. During our testing, we had no worries about the battery life; taking them straight out of the box and using them for around two hours continuously used very little power, leaving us no doubt that a couple of long-haul flights would be no problem.

How Do They Charge? 

Space One Pro comes with a short USB-C charging cable and can be charged exactly like your mobile phone. If you find yourself a little low on battery and are about to head out of the door, a quick five-minute charge will apparently give another eight hours of playback time. 

We plugged them in for five minutes and saw the battery level rise by 10%, according to the app readout, which suggests you’ll get at least another six hours from a quick charge. 

Soundcore Space One Pro Headphones USB ports

What’s the Sound Quality Like? 

If you’re a hardcore audiophile, then Space One Pro might be a slight disappointment, but for the majority of us who just want to while away a few hours blocking out the rest of the world, the sound quality is pretty good. It’s perhaps a little bass-heavy straight out of the box, but go into the app and use the sound effects tab to adjust the levels to suit your style or preference.

Interestingly, there’s a test you can take in the app to create a crystal clear sound perosnalised to your hearing range. Taking the Hear ID test only takes a couple of minutes but is worth spending time on as it adapts the audio output to give you a sound experience that’s just right every time. 

If you’re changing it up and want to listen to a different genre of music, then you can choose from various options to change the sound setup with just one touch. 

The sound quality on phone calls is excellent, too, with both parties having a very clear voice connection. Impressively, there’s a setting to allow a little of your own voice to filter through the headphones, which means you can hear yourself talking. It’s a subtle change, and one you won’t feel is essential, but it makes a surprisingly big difference, as that feedback makes it easy to control your vocal volume, avoiding either shouting or whispering when you’re not sure what you sound like.

Space One Pro Over-Ear Headphones: What’s the Verdict? 

There are a lot of great features to Space One Pro. The folding style makes them great for travel, with the availability of a hard case which is both water and dust-resistant a bonus. The sound quality is good and can easily be personalised through the app to suit your specific hearing and musical tastes. 

The active noise cancellation is really rather good, too. Not only does it work to block out those harsh sounds and background noises, but in transparency mode, you can very easily hold a conversation as the right level of voices and sound is filtered through. 

They are very comfortable, but they might not suit everybody for every occasion. Those wearing glasses might prefer an in-ear style for longer wear time.

For most people, though, it will be difficult to match the excellent ANC, good battery life, and product quality for the price. At just under £150 — which currently includes the option of a hard case or stylish travel pouch — you’ll have very little to grumble about.

Tested: Soundcore Space One Pro Headphones
Average Joes Rating: ★★★★★

Sam Huff
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