Last year, just in these days, we told you about the Soundcore Space NC headphones, the best of Anker from practically every point of view but sold at an honest price from the point of view of product quality but above average. Over the next few months the company has worked hard on developing the Soundcore Life Q20 headphones which overall sound really good, offer the latest technology and truly remarkable quality but at a third of the price of the big sisters. We have used them in these days: we will tell you how the test went.
How they are made
First of all, these headphones are built really well. The quality of the polycarbonate that makes up the entire structure is superior to that of headphones in the same price range: just touch them to notice the care that the company has placed in the processing of this product. Not only in the finish, satin to the touch and with a pleasant matte black color which in backlight absorbs most of the reflections and gradually diffuses what remains, but also and above all in the robustness of the entire structure.
Inside the bow there is a metal core, light in its own way but at the same time very resistant to twisting. The headphones are really soft, they flex even exaggeratedly and when you put the pavilions on the ears they never tighten excessively.
Pavilions which, among other things, are covered with a thin leather-like membrane that covers the thick layer of memory foam that makes up the padding. The same type of cover is also used to cushion contact with the section below the headband that rests on the head while the drivers are covered in a layer of fabric with the intent of keeping dirt and dust out.
Each pavilion can rotate about forty-five degrees downward nearly one hundred along the central axis. On the one hand, this system allows them to be folded to facilitate transport, on the other hand they ensure that they fit millimetrically with the most disparate head shapes. From an ergonomic point of view, it was an intelligent choice (by the company) to tilt the earpads by about fifteen degrees backwards: in this way they perfectly cover both ears but at the same time the headband rests in the center of the head, thus keeping the headphones extremely stable when worn.
We also liked the leatherette cover that the company used for the coating of the upper area of the headband, usually left in polycarbonate and which instead gives the headphones a professional look here.
As for the controls, below the left pavilion are the on and off button of the headphones, the one dedicated to the activation and deactivation of the active noise cancellation function (each with its LED indicator) and a hole for the microphone; under the right pavilion there are the three keys that allow you to adjust the volume and manage music playback together with the microUSB input for charging the internal battery, the 3.5 mm audio jack port for wired connection in place of the wireless one and two other holes for secondary microphones.
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How are they doing
The audio quality is very good overall. The two drivers, 40mm like those of the Space NC, reproduce all frequencies quite faithfully, even in our opinion they tend a little too much to darken the sound towards the low frequencies. With classical music the mid-highs are perceived very well, which are clear and crystalline, while switching to rock music they work very well even at low frequencies. They are headphones that “pump” when needed, without ever exaggerating in one way or another.
The maximum volume level is not deafening at all but still sufficient to completely isolate yourself from external noise even without activating the NC switch. With medium-low volumes, the latter significantly reduces external noise, with good soundproofing for “light” music listening.
As for autonomy, the manufacturer declares 30 hours in wireless with ANC active which become 40 if you turn off the active noise cancellation technology. In our tests we exceeded the total 15 hours in ANC mode without the headphones running out. The battery recharges in approximately three hours.
Staying on the subject, the noise cancellation disappointed us a little. Without turning it on the headphones are already quite soundproof but activating it the noise reduction is not as powerful as you might expect. The Space NCs in this sense work much better, especially when the music is turned on: the soundproofing there was total while here, with a medium-high volume, you might be able to hear the buzz of three or four people talking animatedly in a room next door. On the other hand, the environmental noises coming from the street below disappear completely.
Conclusions and price
The Anker Soundcore Life Q20 headphones are excellent over-ear headphones, especially from the point of view of the price for which they are offered. The 53.99 euros needed (at the time of writing) to buy them on Amazon are fully justified by the build quality and the overall sound performance. On the other hand they are also very light, comfortable and very easy to use and are the right compromise for those looking for a valid product of medium-high quality but who cannot or does not want to invest much more for a higher-end headphone.
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