If you’re looking for an affordable pair of noise-canceling earbuds that truly deliver on their promises without breaking the bank, the Anker Soundcore Space A40 should definitely be on your radar. These earbuds have been making waves, and for good reason! They pack impressive active noise cancellation ANC, fantastic sound quality that you can tweak to your heart’s content, and a battery life that just keeps going. Honestly, for the price, it’s tough to find a more well-rounded package in the true wireless earbud world. Let’s really get into what makes these little powerhouses tick and whether they’re the right fit for your daily listening adventures.
Sound Quality: A Harmonious Experience for Your Ears
When it comes to earbuds, sound is king, right? And the Anker Soundcore Space A40 definitely wear that crown proudly, especially considering their price point. They come with 10mm double-layer diaphragm drivers made from metal and ceramic, which sounds fancy, but really just means they’re built to give you some seriously detailed audio.
Drivers and Codecs
These earbuds aren’t just about the hardware. they also support a few important audio codecs: SBC, AAC, and, excitingly for Android users, LDAC. If you’re using an Android device running version 8.0 or later, LDAC is a must because it allows for high-resolution audio streaming, getting you closer to that pristine, studio-quality sound. Just keep in mind that using LDAC can slightly reduce your battery life, but for many, the trade-off for superior audio is totally worth it.
Default Sound Profile
Out of the box, the Space A40 offers a sound profile that many reviewers describe as warm and engaging. You’ll typically get a good amount of punch and rumble in the low-bass, which is great for feeling the beat in your favorite tracks. The mids are generally clear, allowing vocals and instruments to shine, and the treble, while sometimes described as slightly underemphasized or veiled in its default state by some, is still bright enough to give your podcast that sparkle. For casual listening, working out, or just chilling, this sound signature is quite enjoyable.
Customization with Soundcore App
Here’s where the Space A40 truly stands out for personalized listening. The Soundcore app available for both iOS and Android is super user-friendly and unlocks a ton of customization. You get access to a whopping 22 EQ presets that cover all sorts of podcast genres and listening scenarios, from podcasts to classical to R&B. Solo Stove Steel Fire 30 Stainless Griddle: Your Ultimate Outdoor Cooking Companion?
But it doesn’t stop there. The app also features HearID Sound 2.0. This is a cool technology that runs a quick hearing test, analyzing how your specific ears perceive different frequencies. Based on that, it creates a personalized sound profile tailored just for you, boosting frequencies you might not hear as well. It’s like having a custom audio engineer optimize your earbuds specifically for your hearing! For anyone who loves to fine-tune their audio, this feature is a real gem.
Noise Canceling ANC Performance: Silence the World Around You
One of the headline features of the Space A40, as you might guess from the “noise canceling” in its name, is its Active Noise Cancellation ANC. And for a pair of earbuds in this price range, it’s seriously impressive.
Adaptive ANC Explained
The Space A40 boasts an “Adaptive ANC” system. What this means is that the earbuds are smart enough to detect the noise levels around you and automatically select the most suitable noise-canceling mode for your environment. So whether you’re indoors, outdoors, commuting, or even on a flight, the earbuds adjust on the fly to give you the best possible quiet. This is a huge convenience because you don’t have to constantly fiddle with settings in the app.
Effectiveness
Reviewers consistently praise the Space A40’s ability to block out low-end noise. Think about the rumble of buses, trains, airplane engines, or general traffic – these earbuds do an excellent job of significantly reducing those droning sounds, especially between 40-100Hz. This makes them an outstanding choice for commuters and travelers.
While they excel at low frequencies, they’re also pretty good at cutting out mid-to-high pitched sounds like background chatter or the hum of a computer fan. Don’t expect complete silence like you’d get from some premium over-ear headphones, but the reduction is substantial and allows you to focus much better on your audio. Some even say their adaptive ANC rivals that of high-end competitors. For general use, they offer great environmental volume reduction without making you feel completely isolated. Serene cleaver mechanical keyboard review
Transparency Mode
Sometimes you do want to hear what’s going on around you, and that’s where Transparency Mode comes in. The Space A40 offers two settings: “Fully Transparent” and “Vocal Mode”. Vocal Mode is particularly useful, enhancing voices so you can easily have a quick chat or order a coffee without taking your earbuds out. It even cuts out some low-frequency noise, making it less jarring than completely turning ANC off. While not as natural-sounding as some top-tier options like the AirPods Pro 2, it’s a very decent and practical feature.
Comfort and Design: Wear Them All Day Long
Comfort is super important for earbuds you plan to wear for hours, and the Anker Soundcore Space A40 hits a sweet spot here.
Ergonomic, Lightweight Build
These earbuds feature a stemless, in-ear design that’s smaller and lighter than previous Soundcore ANC models. Each earbud weighs in at a mere 4.6g or 4.9g depending on the source, making them incredibly lightweight and comfortable for extended listening sessions. Their ergonomic shape is designed to fit well in most ears, and many users report being able to wear them for hours without discomfort. They feel secure without needing stabilizing wings, which often means a more subtle look.
Ear Tips
To truly get the best sound and ANC performance, getting a good seal with the right ear tips is crucial. The Space A40 comes with five different sizes of silicone ear tips XS, S, M, L, XL, which is more generous than many competitors and helps ensure you find a snug fit. There’s even an ear-tip fit test within the Soundcore app to help you confirm you’ve got the best seal. If you have larger ear canals and struggle with the included XL tips, some users have found success with third-party XL tips, which, thankfully, often still fit in the charging case. Satechi vegan leather findall keychain tracker review
IPX4 Water Resistance
Whether you’re hitting the gym, going for a run, or just get caught in a light drizzle, the Space A40 has you covered with an IPX4 water resistance rating. This means they can handle splashes, sweat, and light rain without issues. Just remember, this rating typically applies to the earbuds themselves, not the charging case. So, keep that case dry!
Case Design
The charging case for the Space A40 is compact and well-built, with a sleek, semi-matte finish that matches the earbuds. It’s small enough to slip easily into a pocket. The case supports both USB-C charging via the included cable and wireless charging, adding a nice touch of convenience. A front LED indicator lets you know the case’s battery status.
Battery Life: Power Through Your Longest Days
Nobody likes their earbuds dying mid-podcast or during an important call. Thankfully, the Anker Soundcore Space A40 truly shines when it comes to battery performance, offering some impressive longevity for their size.
Earbuds Only
Anker boasts some strong battery figures, and in real-world testing, the Space A40 largely lives up to them. You can expect up to 10 hours of listening time on a single charge with ANC turned off. If you’re using the active noise cancellation, that number drops slightly but is still excellent at around 8 hours. Even with ANC on, some tests showed them lasting nearly 8 hours 7 hours and 55 minutes, to be exact. Whoop Wearables: A Deep Dive into the System (and What’s Next)
However, if you enable the high-quality LDAC codec, the listening time on the earbuds will go down to about 5 hours. This is pretty standard for earbuds with this feature, as pushing more data requires more power.
With Charging Case
The charging case is where you get the real marathon performance. It holds an additional four to five full charges for the earbuds, bringing the total playtime to a whopping 50 hours with ANC off, or around 40 hours with ANC on. This means you can get through days, or even weeks, of moderate use without needing to plug the whole package into a wall. It’s seriously convenient for travel or if you often forget to charge things.
Fast Charging
Need a quick boost? The Space A40 has you covered. A quick 10-minute charge in the case can give you an extra 4 hours of listening time. This fast-charging capability is a lifesaver when you’re in a rush and realize your earbuds are low.
Connectivity and Smart Features: Seamlessly Switch and Control
Modern earbuds need more than just good sound. they need smart features that make your life easier. The Anker Soundcore Space A40 delivers here with solid connectivity and a user-friendly app.
Bluetooth 5.2 and Multipoint Connection
The Space A40 uses Bluetooth 5.2, ensuring a stable and efficient wireless connection. But the real star here is Bluetooth multipoint, which allows you to connect the earbuds to two devices simultaneously, like your phone and your laptop. This means you can seamlessly switch between listening to podcast on your computer and taking a call on your phone without having to manually disconnect and reconnect each time. It’s incredibly convenient for multitasking.
Enabling multipoint is pretty straightforward: you can do it either through the Soundcore app or by pressing the touchpads on both earbuds for 3 seconds but no more than 5 seconds when one device is already connected.
Soundcore App
We’ve already touched on the app for EQ customization, but it does a lot more. It’s your central hub for managing your Space A40 earbuds. Here, you can:
- Check the battery level of each earbud.
- Toggle between ANC, Transparency, and normal modes.
- Access firmware updates to keep your earbuds running optimally.
- Customize the touch controls to your preference.
- Access the HearID Sound 2.0 feature for personalized audio.
- Adjust settings like auto-power off duration.
The app’s simple layout makes it easy to navigate and unlock the full potential of your earbuds.
Touch Controls
The earbuds feature touch-sensitive surfaces for controlling playback, calls, and listening modes. Out of the box, the controls are a bit limited e.g., double-tap for next track, but you can customize them in the Soundcore app to suit your preferences. This flexibility is great, allowing you to assign functions like volume control or voice assistant activation. Some users have noted that the touch sensors can be sensitive when adjusting the earbuds, occasionally leading to unintentional changes in mode. Sonos Era 100 Smart Speaker: Unpacking Its Connectivity Options – Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and USB-C Line-In
Microphone Quality: How Clear Are Your Calls?
Having a good microphone in wireless earbuds is essential for clear calls, especially with more people relying on them for work and staying connected. The Anker Soundcore Space A40 comes equipped with a six-microphone array and an AI algorithm designed to intelligently identify your voice and block out background noise.
Call Performance
In ideal, quiet conditions, the microphone quality is generally decent, with your voice coming through fairly clearly. However, the performance can be a bit average for earbuds, and some sources note that it doesn’t handle sibilant sounds like “s” and “sh” sounds particularly well. Your voice might sound a bit distant or slightly muffled to the person on the other end.
When you step into noisier environments, like busy streets, public transport, or bustling coffee shops, the AI algorithm does a mostly effective job at suppressing street noise. You should still be understood, which is the main goal, but don’t expect crystal-clear, studio-quality call clarity. Several reviewers have pointed out that call quality is a noticeable drawback, with complaints about muffled sound or callers struggling to hear them. If frequent, high-quality phone calls in varied environments are a top priority, this might be an area where the Space A40 is just “okay” rather than outstanding.
Pros and Cons: A Quick Look
To give you a balanced view, here’s a quick rundown of the main upsides and downsides of the Anker Soundcore Space A40 based on various reviews: Cleer Arc 3 Sports Pro Open Ear Headphones: Your Ultimate Review
Pros
- Excellent Noise Canceling for the Price: The adaptive ANC is highly effective, especially with low-frequency rumble, making them great for commuting and travel.
- Great Battery Life: You get up to 10 hours on a single charge ANC off and a massive 50 hours total with the charging case.
- Detailed, Customizable Sound: The 10mm drivers, LDAC support, and extensive EQ options in the Soundcore app including HearID allow for a personalized and enjoyable listening experience.
- Comfortable and Lightweight Design: The ergonomic, stemless design and five ear tip sizes ensure a snug and comfortable fit for most users, even for long periods.
- Bluetooth Multipoint Connection: Seamlessly switch between two connected devices.
- IPX4 Water Resistance: Good for workouts and light rain.
- Wireless Charging: Adds convenience to recharging the case.
- Great Value: Often priced around $99, they offer a lot of premium features for a mid-range price.
Cons
- Microphone Quality is Just Okay: While usable, call quality can be inconsistent, especially in noisy environments, with voices sometimes sounding distant or muffled.
- Sound Signature Changes with ANC: Some reviewers noted a slight shift in the sound signature e.g., more bass emphasis when ANC is enabled.
- Touch Controls Can Be Sensitive/Limited: While customizable, some found the default controls a bit limited or the touchpads overly sensitive when adjusting the earbuds.
- No Auto-Pause/Wear Detection: A feature present in many competing earbuds that automatically pauses podcast when you remove an earbud is missing here.
- LDAC Lowers Battery Life: While a pro for sound quality, using LDAC will reduce your playback time per charge.
- Forgettable Design for Some: The aesthetic is clean but not particularly flashy or unique.
Anker Soundcore Space A40 vs. The Competition
It’s always helpful to see how a product stacks up against others, especially within Anker’s own lineup. The Anker Soundcore Space A40 often gets compared to its sibling, the Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC, and other budget-friendly options.
Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC
The Soundcore Liberty 4 NC is another strong contender from Anker, and many consider it a step up in some areas.
- Design: The Liberty 4 NC has a bud-and-stem design, while the Space A40 is a stemless bud. Some people prefer the more subtle look of the A40, while others find the stem design of the Liberty 4 NC to be more stable, especially for active use.
- Sound: The Liberty 4 NC often has a bassier sound profile by default, which might appeal more to EDM fans or those who love heavy bass. The A40 is generally seen as more balanced, though both offer extensive EQ customization in the app.
- ANC: Both earbuds offer incredibly effective ANC systems that perform very well. Some might find the Liberty 4 NC marginally better at noise isolation across the full range.
- Features: The Liberty 4 NC includes in-ear detection auto-pause, which the A40 lacks, a feature many users appreciate. The case quality of the Liberty 4 NC is also often considered higher. The Liberty 4 NC also has more software settings available in the Soundcore app and a fourth touch control option compared to the A40’s three.
- Battery Life: Both have impressive battery life, with similar continuous playback times and total hours with the case.
- Price: The Space A40 is typically slightly cheaper, making it a more budget-friendly choice, especially during sales.
Ultimately, the choice between the Space A40 and Liberty 4 NC often comes down to your design preference stem vs. stemless, whether you prioritize a bassier sound out-of-the-box, and if features like in-ear detection are critical for you.
Other Budget ANC Earbuds
Compared to other budget noise-canceling earbuds, the Space A40 frequently comes out on top as a “best budget” pick. Netamo smart home weather station review
- It often outperforms competitors like the Sony LinkBuds S in overall noise isolation, despite being more affordable.
- When compared to something like the JBL Tune Buds True Wireless, the Space A40 offers a much better ANC system, blocking a wider range of frequencies.
- Against its own manufacturer’s Anker Soundcore P40i, the A40 leaks less audio and supports LDAC, though the P40i might have slightly longer battery life and a higher IPX5 water resistance rating.
The consistent combination of strong ANC, customizable sound, excellent battery life, and useful features like multipoint connection makes the Space A40 a standout in the affordable ANC earbud category.
Value for Money: Is It Worth It?
Let’s be real, in a market flooded with true wireless earbuds, finding a pair that genuinely delivers without demanding a premium price can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. The Anker Soundcore Space A40 is often available for around $99 and sometimes even less during sales, and for that money, it offers an incredible package of features and performance.
You’re getting adaptive active noise cancellation that effectively quietens your surroundings, a highly customizable and enjoyable sound profile with high-res audio support LDAC, exceptional battery life that lasts for days, and convenient features like multipoint connectivity and wireless charging. While the microphone might not be top-tier for all calling scenarios and it lacks auto-pause, these are minor trade-offs when you consider the overall value proposition.
For commuters, travelers, students, or anyone looking for a dependable pair of everyday earbuds that offer premium features without the premium price tag, the Anker Soundcore Space A40 is genuinely a fantastic investment. It consistently punches above its weight, making it one of the best value-for-money choices in the noise-canceling earbud segment right now. Lectron Vortex Plug Review: Unlocking Tesla Supercharging for Your EV
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of noise cancellation do the Anker Soundcore Space A40 earbuds have?
The Anker Soundcore Space A40 features Adaptive Active Noise Cancellation ANC. This means the earbuds automatically detect the noise levels in your environment and adjust the ANC strength accordingly to provide optimal noise reduction, blocking out up to 98% of external sound.
Do the Anker Soundcore Space A40 earbuds support high-resolution audio?
Yes, they do! The Space A40 supports the LDAC codec, which allows for high-resolution audio streaming on compatible Android devices Android 8.0 or later. This means you can enjoy a more detailed and richer listening experience.
How long does the battery last on the Anker Soundcore Space A40?
The earbuds offer excellent battery life. You can get up to 10 hours of playtime on a single charge with ANC off, and around 8 hours with ANC on. The charging case provides an additional four to five charges, extending the total listening time to up to 50 hours with ANC off or 40 hours with ANC on.
Can I connect the Anker Soundcore Space A40 to multiple devices at once?
Absolutely! The Space A40 supports Bluetooth multipoint connection, allowing you to connect them to two devices simultaneously, such as your phone and laptop. This makes it super easy to switch between listening to podcast and taking calls without manually reconnecting.
Is the microphone quality good for phone calls on the Anker Soundcore Space A40?
The Space A40 comes with six microphones and an AI algorithm to improve call clarity. In quiet environments, the microphone performs decently. However, in very noisy surroundings, while it does suppress some background noise, your voice might sound a bit distant or muffled to the person on the other end, so it’s considered average for calls in challenging conditions. Bleequp ai sports camera glasses review
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