Soundcore Space 2 Review: The Comfortable Long-Haul Pick

I’d buy the Soundcore Space 2 at around $106 if you want a comfortable noise cancelling pair that goes a week or more between charges. It lists at $129.99 in all three colors and often sells for less, so check the current price before you buy. Two labs measured 42 and 53 hours with ANC on, it weighs 264 g, and it keeps LDAC running while connected to two devices. That combination is why SoundGuys made it the best overall pick in its budget noise cancelling guide on October 21, and why it holds the “Best ANC under $150” slot in my best budget headphones picks.

The catch is the sound. Opinions split on the default tuning, from “balanced” in RTINGS testing to two stars out of five at What Hi-Fi. In this Soundcore Space 2 review I’ll show you the EQ fix, where the Space Q45 and Space One Pro still win, and who should buy something else.

Soundcore Space 2 review verdict: Who it’s for

Buy the Space 2 at $110 or less if you travel, commute or work long days in headphones. It suits people who want one charge to last a week of commutes, Android owners who want LDAC without giving up multipoint, and glasses wearers who need pads that give around the arms.

Skip it if you want a hard case, sweat easily, or want headphones that sound great the moment you unbox them. Gamers should skip it too, since its Bluetooth latency measured too high in RTINGS testing for anything beyond casual mobile games. If you want the most noise blocked for $100 and don’t mind 28 g of extra weight, a renewed Soundcore Space Q45 still isolates a little better.

Which Space 2 this is (and which it isn’t)

This review covers the Soundcore Space 2, model D1402, which went on sale in the US on April 21, 2026, at $129.99. It comes in Jet Black, Linen White and Seafoam Green.

Soundcore’s naming makes it easy to buy the wrong pair. The Space 2 is not the Space One (A3035, 2023), the Space One Pro (A3062, 2024) or the Space Q45 (A3040, 2022). It’s also not the Space 2 Pro (D1406), a separate $199.99 model that arrived in the US in September 2026. Japanese launch coverage from Impress K-tai Watch compares the Space 2 with the Q45 as the previous model and puts it about 10% lighter.

Soundcore Space 2 test results: What two labs measured

Two labs have now tested the Space 2, which is more than most pairs at this price get.

Sources: RTINGS’ Space 2 review and SoundGuys’ Space 2 review. RTINGS keeps its numeric tables for members, so I list only its published verdicts.

The two battery results differ by about 11 hours because the labs use different volumes and test signals. Either way, the Space 2 beats the Space One Pro (36.1 hours at RTINGS) and the Space Q45 (27.8 hours at RTINGS) by a wide margin.

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Soundcore Space 2 specs and what’s in the box

In the US box you get the headphones, a cloth drawstring pouch, a 1.2 m 3.5 mm cable and a 30 cm USB-C charging cable. There’s no hard case, no IP rating and no USB-C audio.

Noise cancelling: Strong on rumble, weaker on voices

The Space 2’s noise cancelling is the main reason to buy it. It cut 84% of outside noise on average in SoundGuys testing, the same as the pricier Space One Pro, and its isolation rates great in RTINGS testing, with the most effect on low engine and bus rumble. It holds up on the New York subway, and even What Hi-Fi, the harshest critic, rated the ANC effective on a flight.

Higher voices and clicks get through. Keyboard and mouse clicks still get through, and it does less against chatter than against rumble. The Space One Pro’s ANC system and the Space Q45’s isolation rate higher in RTINGS testing, so the Space 2 isn’t the strongest budget canceller. It’s the strongest one I’d call comfortable for a whole day.

A faint hiss shows up with ANC on and nothing playing, and in transparency mode. One owner on Reddit asked about it in August and the only reply heard none, so treat it as something to listen for in the return window.

At launch the Space 2 had no ANC strength levels. A June 2026 firmware update, reported by owners and reflected in Soundcore’s support article, added adjustable levels. No lab has retested since, so the measurements above come from the launch firmware.

Sound quality and the EQ settings I’d use

The Space 2’s sound splits opinion more than any pair I cover.

• RTINGS testing measured a balanced profile, with bass on target and treble 2 dB low, and very good accuracy.
• SoundGuys testing found a dip around 100 to 130 Hz and a roll-off above 10 kHz, and it scored 3.0 out of 5 on the MDAQS sound model, below the Space One and Space One Pro (3.5), with a boxy default sound.
• It earned 2 out of 5 for sound at What Hi-Fi, which rated the cheaper Sony WH-CH720N better-sounding.
• Tom’s Guide (4.5 out of 5) heard rich bass and pronounced vocals, and liked it more with LDAC on.

Those results fit one pattern. The tuning isn’t harsh or broken; it sounds flat and a little dull out of the box. That’s a problem an EQ can fix, unlike the hinge cracks or weak ANC that sink other budget pairs.

Here’s what I’d do. Run HearID in the soundcore app first, as SoundGuys suggests, since it builds a profile from a short hearing test. Then open the 8-band custom EQ and add 2 to 3 dB around 125 Hz to fill the mid-bass dip, plus 1 to 2 dB at the top bands for more air. Leave 3D Sound off. Expert Reviews and Gizmodo found it unconvincing, and it switches LDAC off.

Comfort, fit and build

Comfort is the Space 2’s best trait after battery. At 264 g claimed (about 261 g on SoundGuys’ scale), it’s the lightest Space model, and Soundcore claims it shaped the headband from more than 2,000 head scans. It rates very comfortable with a low clamp in RTINGS testing, and an owner who also has Bose QuietComfort headphones calls the Space 2 the most comfortable pair they’ve worn.

The memory-foam pads trap heat. Ears can get sweaty after about an hour, and the cups get warm on a hot train. The light clamp also means it isn’t stable for workouts, and one owner reports the cups sit loose and low.

The build is mostly plastic over a metal frame. The hinges are metal where the Space One used plastic, though the build still feels budget, with some weak points. I found no pattern of cracked hinges after six months on sale, which matters because the Space Q45 has one, but the Space 2 is still young.

The cups swivel flat in one direction and fold inward, so the headphones stack rather than collapse. The Space One Pro folds smaller.

Codecs, multipoint and the app

The Space 2 supports SBC, AAC and LDAC over Bluetooth 6.1, and connects to two devices at once. LDAC keeps working with two devices connected in both SoundGuys and RTINGS testing, which most budget pairs can’t do. Soundcore’s own FAQ contradicts itself on this point, so ignore the answer claiming LDAC limits you to one device.

The soundcore app adds the 8-band EQ, HearID, wear detection (off by default; peel the dust sticker inside the left cup first), Nap Mode with four built-in white-noise tracks, and an AI assistant and live translation. Translation needs a Soundcore account and multipoint switched off. Controls are physical buttons, which I prefer to touch panels in winter gloves.

Several owners report brief audio dropouts, with and without LDAC. Soundcore’s FAQ suggests switching to AAC or SBC if it stutters, and that’s where I’d start.

Battery life and charging

Soundcore claims 50 hours with ANC on and 70 hours with it off. The labs measured 42 hours (RTINGS) and 53 hours 21 minutes (SoundGuys) with ANC on, and SoundGuys’ October guide cites owners getting about 68 hours a charge. For a two-hour daily commute, that’s three to four weeks.

A 5-minute charge adds about 4 hours by Soundcore’s count, and headphonecheck got close to 6 hours with ANC off. A full charge took headphonecheck 95 minutes.

Calls, wired listening and latency

Call quality depends on where you test it. The three mics sounded clear in SoundGuys’ office and street tests, a wind test favored the Space 2 over both Space One models, and the mic rated only passable in RTINGS testing, with loud noise drowning the voice. Calls sound clear but slightly robotic. For calls from a quiet room it’s fine; from a windy street, expect to repeat yourself.

The 3.5 mm input works for planes and laptops, but the headphones must be on, the buttons and mic stop working over the cable, and Bluetooth switches off. The NC button still toggles noise cancelling. Its latency also measured too high for gaming over Bluetooth in RTINGS testing.

What owners report

Amazon US showed 4.4 stars from 1,036 ratings on October 23, 2026, and its review summary rated comfort, sound, noise cancelling, fit and battery as positive. That listing shares a variant menu with the Space One, so some ratings may belong to the older model. Owners on r/soundcore call the ANC excellent and the comfort very good for the money once they adjust the EQ, and a former Q45 owner finds the Space 2 sounds much better. The recurring complaints are heat, a few dropout reports and the pouch.

Soundcore Space 2 vs Space Q45, Space One Pro and Space 2 Pro

Sources: Soundcore product pages, RTINGS reviews of each model, and prices from my October 22 recheck.

Space Q45. The Q45 blocks a little more noise and comes with a hard case, but it weighs 28 g more, it ran about 14 fewer hours in RTINGS testing, and owners report cracked headbands. It’s sold only renewed in the US now. I’d buy the Space 2 unless isolation beats everything else for you.

Space One Pro. Both cut the same 84% of noise in SoundGuys testing, and the Pro folds smaller and has adjustable transparency. The Space 2 lasts longer, weighs 22 g less and keeps LDAC with multipoint. At $140 against $106, I’d buy the Space 2. My XH1 vs Space One Pro comparison covers the Pro in depth.

Space 2 Pro. Despite the name, it isn’t an upgraded Space 2. Soundcore lists 35 mm drivers, six call mics and a 30-hour ANC-on claim for it, its audio ranked in the bottom 10% in SoundGuys testing, and it costs about $70 more at list. Skip it for now.

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Soundcore Space 2 score breakdown

I score every review against headphones under $150, with lab results where they exist.

Soundcore Space 2 price and where to buy in the US

It usually sells below list, so check the current price before you buy. soundcore.com lists $129.99 in all three colors.

What to buy instead (and when)

A case and a warmer sound for $100: Baseus Inspire XH1

The Baseus Inspire XH1 costs about $100, ships with a case and has punchier bass out of the box. Its noise cancelling is weaker on planes, and no lab has measured it.

Lighter, better-sounding and cheaper: Sony WH-CH720N

The WH-CH720N weighs 192 g, costs $65 to $90 and sounds better to What Hi-Fi. Its ANC is much weaker on rumble and it has no LDAC.

Most isolation for $100: Soundcore Space Q45 (renewed)

A renewed Q45 at $100 or less still blocks a little more noise and includes a hard case. Read my Space Q45 review for the hinge risk first.

Under $80: CMF Headphone Pro

If $106 is too much, the CMF Headphone Pro ($79 on October 22) has lab-measured ANC and battery and LDAC.

Written by Marius

Audio enthusiast. I've worn a lot of headphones, and I tell you which pair is worth your money and which one isn't.

I check every verdict against lab measurements and long-term owner feedback, and I update pages when prices or models change. How I judge headphones.