Soundcore Space Q45 Review

Our Soundcore Space Q45 Headphones Experience

The Soundcore Space Q45 is a reasonably priced headphone with better noise cancellation than we expected. It comes with a hard-sided case, USB-C to USB-A cable, and a 3.5mm audio cable.

These headphones pair with Android, Apple, and other operating systems. We didn't have any pairing issues, and they support multi-point connection with measured connectivity up to 250 ft away in an open space.

Using the Soundcore at work helped to reduce ambient noise, even if it didn't completely block it out. While we never achieved absolute silence, they definitely provided relief from more distractions than the usual pair of budget headphones. Using the head through/transparency mode was also pleasantly surprising. They don't generate a lot of white noise, and while the sound is somewhat artificial-sounding, it is fairly realistic. Plus, it doesn't pick up too much ambient sound, so it isn't annoying or overpowers what we want to hear. We could easily hear footsteps approaching while listening to a podcast.

The Q45 performed better in our simulated call quality tests than in our real-world calls. During everyday use, the words were often muffled, as if spoken through a sock. Sometimes the words would run together, and frequently there was some sibilance on the “s” sound that was unpleasant. Those we called described a feeling of being far away and a slight, fabric-rubbing sound underlying the call that we couldn't account for.

Sound Quality

The Sound quality of the Soundcore is disappointing, with a below-average final result where the bass is better than the other frequencies. Still, the treble presentation hurts the overall mix.

The bass has discernible lows with moderate control and depth. At times, the bass feels a bit uncontrolled and veers towards messy, but it does add a layer of warmth. This bass is not as powerful as higher-end competitors nor as controlled as better-sounding headphones, but the lows stay in their own lane and avoid bleeding into one another. The bass is playful and expressive enough that casual listeners will likely be satisfied with the low end displayed here, especially if they take the time to adjust it to their preferences.

The mids have some inconsistencies. At times, it feels like they are pushed forward and delivered with a modicum of care. Other times, it sounds recessed or even murky. Vocals and lead instruments tend to sound artificial, as if they are asking a machine to reproduce the sound of a guitar or a famous singer, and it spits out something close to the real thing, but not the real thing.

The treble range is where the Q45 really falls apart. The treble is pitchy and inconsistent, making it the weakest link for us. It veers easily into harsh terrain, causing fatigue and more than one yelp and volume decrease. There is quite a bit of uncomfortable sibilance, especially for speaking voices. We noticed this when listening to podcasts or scrolling through Instagram with the volume on. It was an unpleasant experience due to the harsh and grating quality of human voices at a normal volume. There's a hiss-like quality, even for some instruments. It's as if they have the incorrect texture and delivery.

We measured the Q45's frequency response to compare the findings to our Target Response Curve. The Soundcores take some misteps in the frequencies, creating a mix that is less appealing than many competitors, but one of the better budget mixes.

Soundstage

The Q45 soundstage has a weird, boxed-in quality to the overall soundscape. Not only does it feel like a small room, but it's a small room with poor acoustics.

There is a decent sense of location; we can discern where each voice is originating from, and there is a general sense of distance between each instrument. Harmonies don't get lost, though sometimes they gently mush together, but the layering feels weaker than some competition. There is adequate width but not much height.

The audio on these headphones has a strange, distorted quality that makes it feel “off.” It feels like listening to a knock-off version of a song we know and love, but the production is poor instead of the immaculate recording we're used to. We suspect you can get used to this, but it will likely annoy those with a discerning ear.

Comfort and Fit

The Soundcore's offer above-average comfort thanks to pillowy earcups and a padded headband. The clamping force is average, but they press on the arms of glasses more than some, though we could still wear them for about 6 hours, even with glasses.

The Space Q45 have a nice overall look with a lovely finish.   Credit: Matt Lighthart

The earcups on the Space Q45 have enough give and support to feel comfortable.   Credit: Matt Lighthart

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The arcups are round and feel roomy, even with larger ears, but they are sort of shallow, and some of us could feel the outer pinna of our ears rubbing against the inside of the cups. The materials are skin-friendly, but they get hot fairly quickly.

Noise Cancellation

The Q45 has some pretty impressive noise cancellation for the price. While it can't compete with the big dogs in the higher-end range, it does an impressive job of blocking noise in many frequencies. If noise cancellation on a budget is a priority, the Q45 could be an intriguing option.

The passive cancellation is pretty good, muffling the sounds of voices nearby; we can't hear what they are saying, but we still know they are talking. Noises like keyboards and walking are also muffled, but no longer a distraction.

Active noise cancellation reduces sounds further without silencing anything. It manages to turn familiar sounds, such as talking, into white noise, and traffic and footsteps are almost completely muted (be safe out there!).

App and Controls

Soundcore provides a helpful app to use with the Q45. It includes customizable EQ, EQ presets, and a feature called “HearId” that measures your hearing and builds a personalized EQ map. Though we didn't much like ours, we suspect some listeners might. The app also features the ability to limit the maximum volume, provides real-time dB readings, and offers sliding adjustments for active noise cancellation and hear-through modes. We appreciated the addition of a wind reduction feature and the ability to disable the prompt tones.

Controls

The Soundcore has tactile buttons on the earcups for main controls. We love this as touch controls can be confusing and often finicky. Each button has its own functionality, so once you memorize the pattern, there is less guesswork about what is happening. We experienced a slight delay in pushing buttons and taking actions, but it wasn't a big deal and didn't impact use or cause frustration. The buttons are smaller and feel similar, but we didn't have issues finding the right button for the desired response.

Battery

The Q45 claims a 50-hour battery life, which is better than average by about 10 hours.

They offer passive playback, which means once the battery runs out, you can continue to listen using the included 3.5mm audio cable. While being tethered isn't ideal in all circumstances, it could be a lifesaver on a long flight or overtime desk hours at work.

Call Quality

Making calls from the Q45 is an average experience compared to competitors. They do their best work in quieter environments where the chaos of the world is at a minimum.

In an office environment, the voices are loud and clear, but the quality of the voices isn't perfect, and they have a “powdery” feel to them. We can also still hear keyboard clicking in the background.