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We've recently released our Test Bench 1.8 update for Headphones! Read the R&D Article to learn more.

Anker Soundcore Space Q45 Wireless Headphones Review

Tested using Methodology v1.7
Review updated Nov 22, 2023 at 11:37 am
Latest change: Writing modified Jun 11, 2024 at 08:56 am
Anker Soundcore Space Q45 Wireless Picture
6.8
Neutral Sound
7.8
Commute/Travel
7.0
Sports/Fitness
7.6
Office
5.8
Wireless Gaming
6.9
Wired Gaming
7.3
Phone Calls

The Anker Soundcore Space Q45 Wireless are noise cancelling (ANC) headphones with quite a few extra features packed into their design. They're the next generation of the Anker Soundcore Life Q35 Wireless but have adaptive ANC instead of ANC presets, meaning that their noise cancelling system automatically adjusts to your environment. You can switch to manual ANC if you prefer more control over your noise isolation. Like their predecessor, they support LDAC and multi-device pairing, and they're also compatible with the Anker Soundcore app, which offers a graphic EQ and presets, among other handy features, to help you get the most out of your headphones.

Our Verdict

6.8 Neutral Sound

The Anker Space Q45 aren't the best choice for neutral sound out of the box. They have a pretty v-shaped sound profile with extra thump, rumble, and boom, as well as bright and sparkly sibilants. However, they also have a peak in their high-mid, which makes vocals and instruments sound harsh, while the dip in the low-treble veils their details. You can adjust their sound to suit your tastes using their companion app's graphic EQ and presets. They also support LDAC codec if you want to stream hi-res audio.

Pros
  • Sound customization features available via companion app.
Cons
  • Poor passive soundstage performance.
7.8 Commute/Travel

The Anker Q45 are very good for commute and travel. These comfortable and well-built over-ears have an excellent adaptive ANC system. It can easily cut down annoying noise like the hum of a bus or plane engine as well as ambient voices so that you can focus on your trip. The headphones also have a long continuous battery life, which easily lasts long days on the go, and you can use them wired if necessary. Their carrying case helps protect the headphones from damage, but remember that they're still over-ears and will take up room in your bag.

Pros
  • Excellent noise cancelling performance.
  • Comfortable and well-built design.
Cons
  • Poor passive soundstage performance.
7.0 Sports/Fitness

The Anker Q45 aren't the best choice for sports and fitness. They're over-ear headphones, and while you can use them wirelessly to avoid snagging something and pulling them off of your head, they're still not the most stable choice and can fall off with moderate head movements. They also lack an IP rating for water resistance, but that's to be expected for over-ears.

Pros
  • Comfortable and well-built design.
Cons
  • Not stable enough for sports.
7.6 Office

The Anker Q45 are very good for office use. These over-ears have a comfortable fit and have enough battery life to last you through long days at your desk. Thanks to their ANC system, they can also block out a lot of the common noise you'd encounter at the office, like coworkers chatting and the high-pitched hum of AC units. They also don't leak very much audio at high volumes and support multi-device pairing, meaning you can connect them to your computer and smartphone simultaneously.

Pros
  • Excellent noise cancelling performance.
  • Comfortable and well-built design.
  • Supports multi-device pairing.
Cons
  • Poor passive soundstage performance.
5.8 Wireless Gaming

The Anker Space Q45 are Bluetooth-only headphones. Their latency is too high for wireless gaming, as your audio and visuals will be out of sync.

6.9 Wired Gaming

The Anker Q45 are decent for wired gaming, though this isn't their intended use. Since they come with a TRS cable, you can use them with any console with an AUX port. However, you'll only receive audio and can't use their mic. If that's not an issue, their excited sound profile delivers extra bass to your gameplay, which can help emphasize sound effects like footsteps. They're also well-built and have a comfortable fit that won't be fatiguing for long gaming marathons.

Pros
  • Comfortable and well-built design.
Cons
  • Poor passive soundstage performance.
7.3 Phone Calls

The Anker Q45 are decent for phone calls. Their integrated mic does a great job of separating speech from noise, so you're heard clearly, even if you're calling from a busy office. The recording quality is passable, though, as your voice lacks body and brightness. These over-ears are equipped with an ANC system that can block out an outstanding amount of ambient sound around you, making it easier to focus on your call.

Pros
  • Excellent noise cancelling performance.
  • Comfortable and well-built design.
Cons
  • Mic has mediocre recording quality.
  • 6.8 Neutral Sound
  • 7.8 Commute/Travel
  • 7.0 Sports/Fitness
  • 7.6 Office
  • 5.8 Wireless Gaming
  • 6.9 Wired Gaming
  • 7.3 Phone Calls
  1. Updated Jun 11, 2024: We've added a comparison between these headphones and the Sony ULT WEAR Wireless in Recording Quality.
  2. Updated May 27, 2024: The score and text for Build Quality have been revised to acknowledge community reports of issues with the build.
  3. Updated May 06, 2024: This review has been updated to mention the Sennheiser ACCENTUM Plus Wireless in the Mid Accuracy box.
  4. Updated Apr 04, 2024: We've retested ANC Wind Handling with updated methodology.
  5. Updated Apr 04, 2024: The following test groups have been updated following Test Bench 1.7: Noise Isolation - Full Range, Noise Isolation - Common Scenarios, and ANC Wind Handling. There have also been text changes made throughout the review, including to the usages and product comparisons to match these results.
  6. Updated Apr 04, 2024: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.7, which updates our Noise Isolation test. We've also expanded the scope of this test to include Common Scenarios in addition to Voice Handling and Wind Handling.
  7. Updated Jan 09, 2024: The following test group has been updated following TB 1.6: Bluetooth Connection.
  8. Updated Jan 09, 2024: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.6 , which updates how we measure latency. We've updated and renamed the following test groups: Wired Connection, Bluetooth Connection, and Wireless Connection (Dongle). We've also added new codec latency measurements and provided an audio sample of recorded latency.
  9. Updated Nov 29, 2023: We've added a comparison between these headphones and the Sennheiser ACCENTUM Wireless in Wired.
  10. Updated Nov 22, 2023: We've made minor changes to this review's text to ensure it's up to date and accurate.
  11. Updated Oct 20, 2023: We've added a comparison between these headphones and the Shure AONIC 50 Gen 2 Wireless in Treble Accuracy.
  12. Updated Sep 29, 2023: We've added a comparison between these headphones and the Anker Soundcore Space One Wireless in Noise Isolation.
  13. Updated May 08, 2023: We've added a comparison between these headphones and the Sony WH-CH720N Wireless in Build Quality.
  14. Updated Nov 28, 2022: Review published.
  15. Updated Nov 16, 2022: Early access published.
  16. Updated Nov 10, 2022: Our testers have started testing this product.
  17. Updated Sep 15, 2022: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
  18. Updated Aug 29, 2022: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Differences Between Sizes And Variants

The Anker Space Q45 come in three color variants: 'Black', 'White', and 'Blue'. We tested the 'Black' variant, and you can see our model's label here. There isn't a difference in performance between the color variants.

If you come across another variant of these headphones, please let us know in the forums, and we'll update our review.

Compared To Other Headphones

The Anker Space Q45 are the next generation of the Anker Soundcore Life Q35 Wireless. Like others in the Q lineup, they're noise cancelling and come with a ton of extra features like multi-device pairing and robust sound customization via their companion apps. However, the Q45 stand out from previous models thanks to their adaptive ANC technology, which performs on par with some of the best noise cancelling headphones, like the Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless.

If you're looking for more headphones, check out our recommendations for the best noise cancelling headphones under $200 and the best closed-back headphones.

Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless

The Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless are better over-ears than the Anker Soundcore Space Q45 Wireless. The Sony are more comfortable, are better built, and have a more neutral overall sound profile, which some users may prefer. Their ANC system also blocks out significantly more ambient noise across the entire frequency spectrum and in different scenarios like offices and on a plane.

Sony WH-CH720N Wireless

The Anker Soundcore Space Q45 Wireless are better headphones than the Sony WH-CH720N Wireless. Both headphones are comfortable, and the Anker come with a carrying case to protect the headphones when not in use. They also have a significantly better noise isolation performance and support LDAC for higher resolution audio. However, the Sony headphones have a more neutral overall sound profile, which some users may prefer.

Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless

If you're looking for top-of-the-line over-ears with a powerful ANC system, go for the Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless. However, if you're looking for cheaper over-ears without sacrificing too much in the way of customization or performance, try the Anker Soundcore Space Q45 Wireless. While both headphones have customizable sound profiles via their companion apps, the Sony have a more neutral sound profile, though it's still pretty bass-heavy, which some users may prefer. Their ANC can block out more ambient noise, too, although the Anker are still quite excellent in this regard. Conversely, the Anker are more comfortable. They're also advertised to have a longer continuous battery life, but their build quality is a bit worse.

Anker Soundcore Space One Wireless

The Anker Soundcore Space Q45 Wireless are better headphones than the Anker Soundcore Space One Wireless. While both headphones look similar, the Q45 are more comfortable, have a hard carrying case to protect them on the go, and have a superior noise isolation performance. Their mic also offers a better overall performance.

Sennheiser ACCENTUM Wireless

The Anker Soundcore Space Q45 Wireless have the edge over the Sennheiser ACCENTUM Wireless. The Anker are more comfortable, have a significantly better noise isolation performance, and support LDAC, which is Sony's proprietary codec for streaming audio in higher resolutions. However, the Sennheiser have a more neutral sound out of the box, and their continuous battery life is longer.

JBL Live 660NC Wireless

The JBL Live 660NC Wireless and the Anker Soundcore Space Q45 Wireless are similarly-priced wireless over-ears that have different strengths. Although both headphones can be tuned via EQ and presets in their respective companion apps, the JBL have a more balanced default sound profile across the entire frequency range that's more aligned with out target curve. The Anker are a better choice for commuting and office use though, given their excellent noise isolation performance and more comfortable fit. In other regards, there's not much to split the two though, given they have very similar battery life performances and both feature Bluetooth multipoint connectivity. 

Sony WH-XB910N Wireless

The Anker Soundcore Space Q45 Wireless are better over-ear headphones than the Sony WH-XB910N Wireless. While both headphones are well-built, the Anker headphones have a more neutral overall sound profile, which some users may prefer, and their ANC can block out significantly more ambient noise. However, the Sony headphones are more comfortable.

Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless

The Anker Soundcore Space Q45 Wireless are slightly better over-ears than the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless. The Q45 are better-built, are less prone to inconsistencies in audio delivery, and leak less audio at high volumes. They also have an adaptive ANC system instead of three ANC presets. However, both headphones have a comparable full range noise isolation performance that does an amazing job of blocking out external noise.  

Skullcandy Crusher Evo Wireless

The Anker Soundcore Space Q45 Wireless are better headphones than the Skullcandy Crusher Evo Wireless, if you need noise isolation. Of the two, only the Anker headphones have active noise cancelling to significantly reduce how much external noise reaches your ears. They also have a more comprehensive app with a custom EQ. In contrast, the Skullcandy's highlight feature is the haptic bass slider which offers a range of heavy bass. While they're comfortable and pretty well built, their Bluetooth connectivity is more limited, and they don't block out low-pitched rumbles or people's voices.

Anker Soundcore Life Q35 Wireless

The Anker Soundcore Space Q45 Wireless are the next generation of the Anker Soundcore Life Q35 Wireless. Unlike the previous generation, the Q45 have an adaptive ANC system instead of three ANC presets, and overall, are significantly better at isolating you from ambient noise than their predecessor. Their headband padding is a bit thinner though, and even though they're advertised to last 50 hours continuously, we measured just under 28 hours.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Wireless

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Wireless are better over-ears than the Anker Soundcore Space Q45 Wireless. The Bose are premium headphones with a more comfortable, well-built design and better overall noise isolation performance. They can access an Immersive Audio feature, which allows audio to follow your head movements, and they support aptX Adaptive, a codec that automatically adjusts to your content, ensuring either low latency or high audio quality. That said, the Anker are still worth considering if you're looking for significantly cheaper over-ears with excellent noise cancelling.

Sony ULT WEAR Wireless

The Sony ULT WEAR and the Anker Soundcore Space Q45 Wireless are both worth your consideration if you're in the market for mid-range noise cancelling over-ears. Both headphones have bass-forward sound profiles that are well-suited to genres like EDM and hip-hop, though they can be tweaked via the graphic EQ and presets in their respective companion apps. There's not much to split them when it comes to noise isolation performance either, as they both do an impressive job of cutting out external noise across the full range and in common scenarios. Ultimately, the Sony headphones have a higher retail price but have a few selling points that can help justify the additional outlay. They have a longer continuous battery life, are a little more comfortable, and have a better-performing mic, so if any of these things are important to you, they're worth a look.

Shure AONIC 50 Gen 2 Wireless

The Shure AONIC 50 Gen 2 Wireless are better than the Anker Soundcore Space Q45 Wireless. The Shure are better built, have a slightly more neutral sound out of the box, and have a longer continuous battery life. They also have a USB DAC mode, which allows you to stream higher-resolution audio via wired USB. If you're shopping for something cheaper, the Anker Soundcore Space Q45 Wireless are still worth checking out, especially as their noise isolation performance is superior.

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Test Results

perceptual testing image
Design
Design
Style
Type Over-ear
Enclosure Closed-Back
Wireless Yes
Transducer Dynamic

The Anker Space Q45 look similar to other headphones from Anker's Q lineup, like the Anker Soundcore Life Q35 Wireless. Overall, the design is quite simple, though the manufacturer's logo is found on the center of each of the ear cups. The outward edge of the ear cups is glossier than the rest of the frame, which has a satin finish. They come in three color variants: 'Black', 'White', and 'Blue'.

7.5
Design
Comfort
Weight 0.65 lbs
Clamping Force
0.8 lbs

The Anker Q45 are comfortable headphones. They don't clamp very tightly on your head and feel lightweight and airy. The ear cup padding also feels soft against the skin. Unfortunately, the padding on the headband is thinner than that of the Anker Soundcore Life Q35 Wireless and can put pressure on your head over time.

7.8
Design
Controls
OS Compatibility
Not OS specific
Ease Of Use Decent
Feedback Decent
Call/Music Control Yes
Volume Control Yes
Microphone Control Mute/Unmute
Channel Mixing
No
Noise Cancelling Control On/Off
Talk-Through
On/Off
Additional Controls Voice Assistant

These headphones have a good control scheme. The physical controls are split between both ear cups and are intuitive to use. The buttons are also clicky and easy to press. There are voice prompts for switching between ANC modes, but there aren't any other sound prompts for other commands.

On the left ear cup:

Power button:

  • Press and hold: Turns headphones on or off. Holding this button beyond turning the headphones on enters Bluetooth pairing mode.

NC button:

  • Single press: Cycles between ANC on, talk-through mode, which allows you to hear your surroundings without removing the headphones, and normal mode. If you prefer to customize these settings, you can remove and remap different ANC modes using the companion app.

On the right ear cup:

Play/Pause button:

  • Single press: Plays and pauses audio. Also answers and ends calls.
  • Double press: Activates voice assistant.
  • Press and hold: Rejects a call. If you're already on a call, it mutes and unmutes the mic.

Volume rocker:

  • Single press (on the '+'): Raises the volume.
  • Single press (on the '-'): Lowers the volume.
  • Double press (on the '+'): Skips to the next track.
  • Double press (on the '-'): Skips to the previous track.

6.0
Design
Portability
L 7.6" (19.2 cm)
W 6.2" (15.8 cm)
H 2.1" (5.4 cm)
Volume 99.96 in³ (1,638.10 cm³)
Transmitter Required No

These headphones aren't very portable. Like most over-ears, they have a bulky design and take up a lot of room in your bag. Luckily, the ear cups can swivel to lay mostly flat, and the headphones can fold to help reduce their overall footprint.

7.5
Design
Case
Type Hard case
L 8.5" (21.6 cm)
W 6.7" (17.0 cm)
H 2.4" (6.2 cm)
Volume 138.04 in³ (2,262.00 cm³)

The carrying case is good. It's similar to the Anker Soundcore Life Q35 Wireless with an oval design and a fully-closing zipper. There's a cloth-like fabric inside, but unlike the Q35, there isn't a diagram as to how to place the headphones in the case.

7.0
Design
Build Quality

The build quality is decent. They're mostly made of plastic, and their headband has less padding than the Anker Soundcore Life Q35 Wireless, which is a little disappointing since it can make the headphones a little less comfortable over long listening sessions. They feel similar in build to the decently made but fairly plasticky Sony WH-CH720N Wireless.

When storing our unit, we noticed that the yokes didn't allow the ear cups to lay flat on the table. It also seems like pressing them down puts pressure on the yokes, which can mean that this part may get damaged over time if you're constantly folding and unfolding them to store in their carrying case. While our unit hasn't had issues, there are reports (for example, here and here) that the hinges and headband can crack.

6.5
Design
Stability

If you're sitting at your desk or couch listening to audio, they'll stay in place on your head. However, if you're headbanging to your favorite tunes or want to wear them while out on a jog or run, they can easily move in positioning and even fall off of your head.

Design
Headshots 1
Design
Headshots 2
Design
Top
Design
In The Box

  • Anker Space Q45 headphones
  • 1/8" TRS to TRS audio cable
  • USB-C to USB-A charging cable
  • Hard case
  • Manuals

Sound
Sound
Sound Profile
Bass Amount
2.01 dB
Treble Amount
-1.41 dB

These headphones have a V-shaped sound profile that's well-suited for genres like rock and pop. They deliver intense thump, rumble, and boom, while sibilants like cymbals are crisp and bright. However, vocals and instruments sound harsh and lack some detail. Luckily, their companion app supplies a graphic EQ and presets to help you customize their sound.

Note: These headphones have a high noise floor. This is the sound naturally created by electronic devices, and in most headphones, the noise floor is low enough that you can't hear it. The high noise floor in these headphones is caused by the ANC if it's set to 'Adaptive' or 'Max' once turned on. Over time, the noise becomes less noticeable, but it's still present, which is a bit annoying.

7.7
Sound
Frequency Response Consistency
Avg. Std. Deviation
0.45 dB

These over-ears have good frequency response consistency. Although they're prone to inconsistencies in treble delivery, once you take the time to ensure a good fit and positioning, you'll achieve a more consistent sound each time you use them.

Sound
Raw Frequency Response
7.4
Sound
Bass Accuracy
Std. Err.
3.92 dB
Low-Frequency Extension
10 Hz
Low-Bass
5.42 dB
Mid-Bass
4.78 dB
High-Bass
2.3 dB

These over-ears have decent bass accuracy. They deliver extra thump, punch, and boom as the response is quite overemphasized across the range. This kind of sound is well-suited for bassy genres like EDM and hip-hop.

7.1
Sound
Mid Accuracy
Std. Err.
3.82 dB
Low-Mid
-0.01 dB
Mid-Mid
3.46 dB
High-Mid
5.35 dB

The Anker Space Q45 have decent mid-accuracy. The low-mid is very flat and neutral, so vocals and instruments aren't cluttered or muddied by extra bass. However, there's a significant bump in the mid to high-mid, which makes vocals and instruments, like Paul McCartney's voice in the chorus of the song Hey Jude by The Beatles, sound forward and harsh. While you can play around with EQ to even out the mids, the Sennheiser ACCENTUM Plus Wireless also sound bassy but with a more accurate midrange by default if you don't want to tinker too much.

6.9
Sound
Treble Accuracy
Std. Err.
4.6 dB
Low-Treble
-1.72 dB
Mid-Treble
4.1 dB
High-Treble
-4.94 dB

The Anker Q45's treble accuracy is fair. They're less harsh-sounding than the Shure AONIC 50 Gen 2 Wireless, but still have some over-emphasized treble, particularly in the mid-treble. This makes sibilants like cymbals sound harsh and piercing. In contrast, the dip in the low-treble veils the upper harmonics of vocals and instruments.

6.3
Sound
Peaks/Dips
Peaks
2.3 dB
Dips
2.49 dB

These headphones have a mediocre peaks and dips performance. They struggle to control their sound profile well, which results in a few notable deviations in their sound profile. A peak between the mid to high-bass adds extra punch and boom to mixes, while a dip between the high-bass to low-mid thins out vocals and instruments. A large peak in the mid to high-mid makes vocals and instruments harsh, but a very deep dip in the low treble hurts their clarity and detail. Another big peak in the mid-treble makes sibilants like cymbals piercing.

8.7
Sound
Imaging
Weighted Group Delay
0.26
Weighted Phase Mismatch
3.26
Weighted Amplitude Mismatch
0.66
Weighted Frequency Mismatch
1.66

The imaging performance is excellent. Although other headphones from this manufacturer, like the Anker Soundcore Life Q35 Wireless and the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless, show L/R phase mismatch, which can cause inaccuracies in the stereo image, these over-ears don't display these issues. This may indicate better quality control with this model, but imaging varies between units and can also be related to headphones' ergonomics. That said, our unit's drivers are well-matched, which ensures that sound objects like voices are accurately reproduced in the stereo image.

3.6
Sound
Passive Soundstage
PRTF Accuracy (Std. Dev.)
5.28 dB
PRTF Size (Avg.)
2.93 dB
PRTF Distance
8.24 dB
Openness
0.8
Acoustic Space Excitation
2.6

The Anker Space Q45's passive soundstage performance is poor. They're closed-back headphones, so their soundstage doesn't seem as open or spacious as open-back headphones. Their soundstage is also perceived as unnatural, small, and as if sound is coming from inside your head rather than from speakers in the room around you.

0
Sound
Virtual Soundstage
Head Modeling
No
Speaker Modeling
No
Room Ambience
No
Head Tracking
No
Virtual Surround
No
7.4
Sound
Weighted Harmonic Distortion
WHD @ 90
0.331
WHD @ 100
0.167

The weighted harmonic distortion performance is decent. There are a few small peaks in the low treble at moderate and high volumes, but they're very hard to hear, even with real-life content, as they affect very narrow frequency bands. As a result, most frequencies fall within good limits, which results in relatively clear and pure audio reproduction.

Sound
Test Settings
Firmware
02.17
Power
On
Connection
Bluetooth 5.0
Codec
LDAC, 32-bit, 48kHz
EQ
Soundcore Signature
ANC
Transport
Tip/Pad
Default
Microphone
Integrated

These are the settings used to test these headphones. Our results are only valid when used in this configuration.

Isolation
8.9
Isolation
Noise Isolation - Full Range
Noise Cancelling Yes
Overall Attenuation
-23.55 dB
Bass
-20.12 dB
Mid
-22.07 dB
Treble
-29.36 dB

The Anker Q45's noise isolation performance is excellent. Unlike previous headphones from this manufacturer's Q lineup, they have an adaptive ANC system, so the ANC dynamically adapts to your surroundings to give you the best isolation possible. If you're on your daily commute or a noisy flight, they can cut down bass range noise like the low rumbles of engines. They can also easily reduce ambient chatter and higher-pitched noise like the hum of computer fans. As a whole, the ANC blocks out a lot more noise than their budget-friendly sibling, the Anker Soundcore Space One Wireless.

In addition to the adaptive ANC, you can also turn on manual ANC via the companion app. There are five modes with varying strengths, which is nice if you don't want full noise cancellation but still some degree of isolation.

8.7
Isolation
Noise Isolation - Common Scenarios
Airplane Noise Attenuation
-19.97 dB
Airplane Noise Isolation Audio
Office Noise Attenuation
-19.78 dB
Office Noise Isolation Audio
Street Noise Attenuation
-21.76 dB
Street Noise Isolation Audio

These over-ears similarly do an excellent job when it comes to blocking out more dynamic everyday environments. If you're traveling by plane or walking down the street, the ANC system can block out a significant amount of these ambient sounds. It reduces ambient office sounds very well, too, which is handy if your work is especially noisy.

Isolation
Noise Isolation - Voice Handling
Female Voice 1
Male Voice 1
Female Voice 2
Male Voice 2
Isolation
ANC Wind Handling
ANC Wind Noise

These headphones have a wind reduction feature, although the manufacturer doesn't elaborate on how it works. We tested wind handling with this mode on, but you can see a comparison of this feature on and off here. Overall, this feature can reduce some wind noise, though its performance also differs depending on wind angle.

Wind noise passes over and directly interacts with the ANC's microphones. As a response, the ANC creates anti-noise to cancel the sound, even though it doesn't make it to your ear. This results in unwanted sound. It's worth noting that using this wind reduction feature in a noisy environment could impact ANC performance.

7.7
Isolation
Leakage
Leakage Audio
Overall Leakage @ 1ft
35.66 dB

These over-ears have a good leakage performance. Most of the leakage is found in the mid-range, so escaping audio sounds somewhat full-bodied. That said, if you're in a moderately noisy environment like an office, you can raise the audio volume without others around you hearing it.

Microphone
Microphone
Microphone Style
Integrated
Yes
In-Line
No
Boom
No
Detachable Boom
No
Mic Yes
6.1
Microphone
Recording Quality
Recorded Speech
LFE
261.43 Hz
FR Std. Dev.
4.6 dB
HFE
3,726.47 Hz
Weighted THD
1.26
Gain
-24.02 dB

The mic's recording quality is mediocre. Your voice sounds thin, dark, and lacking depth. While the recording quality isn't as good as the Anker Soundcore Life Q35 Wireless or the Sony ULT WEAR Wireless, your voice still sounds somewhat clear to the person on the other end of the line.

8.2
Microphone
Noise Handling
SpNR
16.13 dB
Noise Gate
Always On
Speech + Pink Noise Handling
8.0
Speech + Pink Noise Audio Sample
Speech + Subway Noise Handling
8.5
Speech + Subway Noise Audio Sample

The integrated mic's noise-handling performance is great. If you're taking a call in a noisy environment, the mic can keep the background sound low so your voice stays understandable and clear.

Active Features
8.7
Active Features
Battery
Battery Type
Rechargable
Continuous Battery Life
27.8 hrs
Additional Charges
0.0
Total Battery Life
27.8 hrs
Charge Time
1.8 hrs
Power-Saving Feature
Auto-Off Timer
Audio While Charging
No
Passive Playback
Yes
Charging Port USB-C

These headphones have an excellent battery performance. Anker advertises them to last 50 hours continuously with their ANC on, but we measured significantly less than that. However, this may be attributed to the volume at which the Anker tests, which could be lower than our test volume. Battery life varies depending on which features you're using (like ANC or the mic) as well as use, though, so if you're looking to extend your playback time, you'll want to utilize their auto-off timer, which you can adjust in their companion app. You can also use them passively if you run out of battery life via their TRS cable.

8.0
Active Features
App Support
App Name Anker Soundcore
iOS Yes
Android Yes
macOS No
Windows No
Equalizer
Graphic + Presets
ANC Control
Adjustable
Mic Control No
Room Effects
No
Playback Control
No
Button Mapping No
Surround Support
No

The Anker Soundcore app is great, and you can see a video of how it works here. You can toggle between ANC on, 'Normal', and transparency mode as well as switch between adaptive noise cancelling mode and manual ANC, which has five different strength levels. You can also set a volume limit and a safe volume. The app provides an 8-band graphic EQ and presets if you want to adjust their sound.

Connectivity
7.4
Connectivity
Wired Connection
Analog Audio
Yes
USB Audio
No
Detachable
Yes
Length
3.44 ft (1.05 m)
Connector
1/8" TRS
Latency - Analog
18.1 ms
Latency - USB
N/A
Recorded Latency
Recorded Latency Connection Analog

Unlike the Sennheiser ACCENTUM Wireless, the Anker Space Q45 support analog audio and come with a 1/8" TRS to 1/8" TRS cable. This connection only supports audio, though, so you won't be able to use their mic. They also have a USB-A to USB-C charging cable for recharging the headphones.

Our analog latency results represent the performance when the headphones are on. If you turn the headphones off, you'll achieve even lower latency.

8.4
Connectivity
Bluetooth Connection
Bluetooth Version
5.3
Multi-Device Pairing
2 Devices
Quick Pair (Android)
No
Quick Pair (iOS)
No
Line Of Sight Range
334.65 ft (102.00 m)
Latency - SBC
250 ms
Latency - aptX
N/A
Latency - aptX Adaptive (High Quality)
N/A
Latency - aptX Adaptive (Low Latency)
N/A
Latency - LDAC
403 ms
Recorded Latency
Recorded Latency Codec LDAC
AAC Support
Yes

The Anker Q45 have great Bluetooth compatibility. They support multi-device pairing, meaning you can connect them with up to two devices at a time, and they also support NFC pairing for quicker pairing. You can't use multi-device pairing if you're using LDAC, though. They also have high latency on PCs, so your audio and visuals fall out of sync while streaming video. They also have high latency via LDAC, but latency isn't really noticeable if you're only streaming audio. Latency can vary depending on the device and app.

0
Connectivity
Wireless Connection (Dongle)
Line Of Sight Range
N/A
Latency - Dongle
N/A
Recorded Latency
N/A
Connectivity
PC Compatibility
Analog
Audio Only
Wired USB
No
Non-BT Wireless
No

These headphones can connect to Bluetooth-enabled PCs with full audio and mic compatibility. If you want to use them wired, you can also use their TRS cable, but you'll only receive audio.

Connectivity
PlayStation Compatibility
PS4 Analog
Audio Only
PS4 Wired USB
No
PS4 Non-BT Wireless
No
PS5 Analog
Audio Only
PS5 Wired USB
No
PS5 Non-BT Wireless
No

The Anker Soundcore Space Q45 only support audio via their 1/8" TRS cable plugged into your PS4 or PS5 controller's AUX port.

Connectivity
Xbox Compatibility
Xbox One Analog
Audio Only
Xbox One Wired USB
No
Xbox One Non-BT Wireless
No
Xbox Series X|S Analog
Audio Only
Xbox Series X|S Wired USB
No
Xbox Series X|S Non-BT Wireless
No

You can only use these headphones to receive audio when connected via analog to your Xbox console.

0
Connectivity
Base/Dock
Type
No Base/Dock
USB Input
No
Line In
No
Line Out
No
Optical Input
No
RCA Input
No
Dock Charging
No
Power Supply
No Base/Dock