There is a curious, yet increasingly common, moment in the evolution of consumer technology: one in which functions that previously seemed exclusive to “premium” devices begin to filter down to more affordable products. Active noise cancellation was, for years, one of them. Not so long ago, to isolate yourself from the world on a plane or in a bar you had to spend figures close to 400 euros. Today some manufacturers are trying to break that logic.
The new ones Soundcore Space 2 They are precisely that: headphones that They seek to bring very ambitious features to a much more earthly price (€129 in this case). And the interesting thing is that, in several sections, they achieve it better than expected.
The first thing that strikes you when you take them out of the box is their almost obsessive focus on comfort. They weigh around 260 grams and use large, soft pads with very contained pressure on the head. They are not looking for the “industrial sealed” effect of other models, but rather something more relaxed, designed for long sessions. And that’s where they really stand out. To achieve this They have been tested on around 2,000 head profiles – the anatomy of sound, so to speak.
That makes them headphones made to wear for hours, many hours. Because the other great asset of the Space 2 is the battery. Soundcore promises up to 70 hours of autonomy without active cancellation and about 50 hours with ANC activated. Translated: You can use them for a full work week without thinking too much about the charger. Even a quick five-minute charge offers about 4 hours of playback.
The key question: active noise cancellation. Probably the most important section of the product. And here it is important to be honest: it does not reach the surgical refinement of a Sony WH-1000XM5 or a Bose QuietComfort Ultra, but it is not intended to compete directly with them either.
What it does do surprisingly well is eliminate constant noise: airplane engines, distant traffic, or the continuous hum of an office. Soundcore talks about noise reduction of up to 98%, although that figure depends a lot on the type of sound and the fit of the headset. Where the difference is most noticeable compared to high-end models is in variable sounds or nearby human voices, which still manage to partially sneak in. But Considering the price, the performance is hard to fault.
The sound profile follows the Soundcore’s usual line: powerful bass, warm sound and an orientation clearly designed for general consumption. Electronic music, hip-hop, pop or cinema sound with energy and punch. They are not Audio Technica style “studio” headphones, but that is not their goal. The positive side is that the application allows you to modify the equalizer a lot and adjust the sounds that sneak in a little more.
And here appears one of the most interesting details: Soundcore has worked diligently on the application to make it one of the best in the industry. It allows you to customize sound profiles, adjust the intensity of the cancellation, activate transparency modes and even perform hearing tests to adapt the audio to the user and their profile.
Also They incorporate support for LDAC, Sony’s high-resolution codec, something still unusual in this price range. Of course: activating LDAC means sacrificing the simultaneous multipoint connection between devices, a limitation that will probably bother those who work alternating between a computer and a mobile phone. But on a plane or in certain environments, the choice is clear.
In calls they perform correctly, although they do not stand out. Microphones reasonably isolate voice in quiet indoors, but in windy outdoors or noisy streets the typical limitations of this range appear.
Perhaps the most interesting thing about Space 2 is something else: They represent very well where current consumer electronics is moving. Just five years ago, headphones with this autonomy, competent ANC, LDAC, advanced app and comfortable design would have cost double or triple as much. Now they are starting to become something relatively everyday. And that says a lot more about the tech industry than any technical specification.
Verdict:
The equation is simple: for this price, we can have headphones that we will not feel for several (more than 10 hours), that provide a convincing sound, have more than adequate ANC and can be folded to take anywhere.