One of the most immersive headphones I've listened to isn't made by Sony or Bose

Anker’s Soundcore sub-brand specializes in low-cost audio products, but the company decided to do something different for its latest release. Instead of launching yet another pair of mid-range headphones, Anker took 2023’s Space One headphones and made numerous improvements, resulting in the new Space One Pro.

Also: All aboard the Space One headphones: Quality features for a down-to-earth price

The Space One Pro headphones are Soundcore’s attempt at creating a higher-end audio product. The company has made multiple changes to the overall design and internal components to enhance the user experience. The million-dollar question is, “Has the company succeeded in developing a pair of headphones outside its normal area of expertise?”

I can say the answer is yes — Soundcore has been successful, although the Space One Pro headphones have some quirks.

View at Soundcore

The first thing I noticed when I put on these headphones was how comfortable they are — it’s like wearing a cloud. A layer of soft foam cushioning covers the ear cups and the headset. The Space One Pro headphones grip my head firmly, so they don’t jostle around, but they’re not so tight that wearing them becomes uncomfortable. 

I’ve worn these pair of headphones every day for the past two weeks as part of my testing, and I only felt slight discomfort after wearing them for over eight hours. You hardly notice they’re on. The cans are comfortable, but they can feel rather flimsy.

Also: The best budget earbuds I’ve listened to are not made by OnePlus or Soundcore

The most impactful design change is the FlexiCurve Structure, which lets you twist and collapse the cups inward for easier storage while traveling. Doing so reduces the headphones’ overall size by about 50%, according to Soundcore. 

When it comes to audio output, the Space One Pro headphones boast great performance — for the most part. I listened to various types of music to see which genres these headphones suited. I noticed they perform well on songs with a lot of bass and singing. Bassy tracks have a nice punch to them, and you can really enjoy the minute details in singers’ performances.

This focus on bass and vocals doesn’t mean instrumental tracks sound poor. They sounded good, too, but instrumental separation isn’t as detailed as I would like.

Now for the best part. These headphones’ active noise cancellation (ANC) is impressive. My apartment sits right outside a busy street, and my building often has landscapers tending to the complex’s foliage. Every Wednesday, I have a heavy traffic jam and leaf blowers at full blast right outside my window.

With ANC active, the Space One Pro headphones successfully quieted down both sources of noise. The traffic jam practically disappeared in an instant, and the leaf blower became a low hum. Believe me when I say the ANC is powerful; a little too powerful sometimes. One time, I didn’t hear someone come up behind me and got scared when I suddenly saw them out of the corner of my eye.

You can manage the ANC seal using Easy Chat, which lowers the volume and disables the ANC feature when you’re speaking to someone. The feature is great on paper, but in practice, it’s awkward. Once you start talking, the volume doesn’t return to normal until some time passes. This can be either five, 10, or 15 seconds.

Also: The best headphones: Expert tested and reviewed

This time gap wouldn’t be so bad if the sound coming through the headphones stopped, but it doesn’t. Music continues to play even if you’re enjoying it. I had this happen to me a few times and it was rather annoying. 

The Soundcore Pro headphones last 40 hours with ANC turned on and 60 hours with ANC turned off. If you’re like me and use headphones sporadically, 40 hours can easily turn into a full week of usage before a recharge. The Space One Pro headphones also support the LDAC codec on Android. Activating this feature drains the battery faster, so be mindful of that.

ZDNET’s buying advice

The Space One Pro headphones are available for $200 on Soundcore’s website. If you’re looking for a low-cost travel buddy, I highly recommend these headphones. The ANC is out of this world, audio output is solid, and the collapsible body enables easy storage.

It would’ve been nice if the company packaged the headphones in a hard-shell case for better protection. Instead, you’ll have to make do with the included leather pouch.