SoundPEATS Space Review

SoundPEATS Space surprise with a very balanced sound, excellent comfort, and one of the longest-lasting battery lives, making them perfect for travelers and students. While they offer fantastic value for money, they don’t have the best call quality and app stability. Details below.

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• List price (MSRP): $79.99
• Manufacturer: SoundPEATS

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Related: Best headphones under $100 – Most comfortable headphones – Best budget noise cancelling headphones

Our Conclusion

SoundPEATS’s Space wireless headphones are a welcome addition to the “under $100” market. Despite competing with a few beloved alternatives from Soundcore, Edifier, and 1MORE, these are overall better.

They have an outstanding battery life of more than 65 hours with noise cancellation enabled, robust Bluetooth connectivity, multipoint support, and an effective Game mode.

Moreover, they’re comfortable enough to wear for an entire day thanks to thick and spacious ear pads.

Sound quality is also a highlight, although that is where their price of $80 starts showing. Long-term durability is slightly concerning, too, but more on that later.

Pros & Cons:

Compare similar earbuds

Our Analysis and Test Results

SoundPEATS Space are best used with ANC OFF to get the best sound, while applying our equalizer settings. They’re also comfy and surprisingly stable despite having a light clamp force.

Another notable mention is the active noise cancelling, which isn’t the strongest, but it’s very consistent and great against human speech, which is something not many ANC headphones can tackle.

Sound

SoundPEATS Space have a very balanced and smooth-tuned sound, especially after custom equalization. They’re perfect for all music genres, but as expected at $80, they aren’t quite as detailed.

Key points:

• Headphones have an overall smooth tuning with slightly boosted bass.
• With equalization, you can make their sound more balanced and applicable to all music genres.
• Wired mode boosts bass and midrange, resulting in a bloated sound.

Check our SoundPEATS Space A/B sound test

• Learn how to understand sound comparisons.

The Space model continues with the “signature” SoundPEATS sound tuning. It has a slightly boosted bass, balanced midrange, and smooth treble. While there are some peaks and dips, you can iron them out using the custom EQ in the app.

However, the next step for SoundPEATS would be to improve technical performance, which negatively affects certain aspects of audio. More on that below.

Bass: Decently controlled and extended

By default, the lower frequencies are slightly boosted, mainly in the sub-bass region. The latter results in a pleasant rumble when a song asks for it, although don’t expect a skull-rattling sensation.

Moreover, the boost ends way before 200Hz, so the bass from the 40mm dynamic drivers never bleeds into the midrange.

As for control and detail, headphones do a decent job. While the punch could be tighter, you can still enjoy music genres like rock and metal, which have a lot of double-pedal kicks.

Plucks from bass guitars are audible but not very detailed. In general, the bass performance is better for more casual pop listening than for searching for finer details.

SoundPEATS Space frequency response

• Learn how to read audio charts.

Midrange: Excellent balance, apart from the upper part dip

Midrange frequencies are very well-balanced right out of the box. As mentioned, there’s no bass bleed present, so every sound gets its chance to shine.

Vocals are particularly natural and full, while the instruments are a tad quieter and less crisp. The reason is the dip in the upper midrange at 2.5kHz.

While it doesn’t drastically alter the sound, you can hear less energy (loudness) in the midrange. Boosting 2kHz and 4kHz frequency bands in the EQ helps but doesn’t fix the sound entirely.

Treble: Smooth and decently textured

Higher frequencies are really smooth. They avoid boosting particular frequencies, which makes for a balanced, unfatiguing sound.

Cymbals have a decent texture and are pleasant to listen to. There’s also no splashiness and metallic sizzle, so they sound good even when you raise the volume or listen to rock.

The only problem with the default sound signature is the lack of air, which would counter the otherwise quite full sound. As a result, music can feel slightly congested. But I’m nitpicking.

Listen to our custom EQ, and EQ presets available in the SOUNDPEATS app:

The soundstage is decent. It has some depth and equally as much width so that you don’t feel as if the sound is playing inside your head.

Adding some airiness would prevent it from sounding that small, but the custom EQ settings can help a little bit.

Continuing with a decent performance, the imaging is only good in the left/right image. On the other hand, it could be more defined near the center image, where you don’t quite know where the sounds are coming from.

Sound comparison

What about wired mode?

SoundPEATS advertises wired mode as the “Hi-Res Audio” option for listening to the Space. However, frequency response measurements and subjective listening show a different story.

Plugging the included cable into the headphones bypasses the built-in DSP, which is also responsible for tuning corrections. As a result, you get a raw response, which is muddy and bleeds into the midrange.

Furthermore, headphones turn OFF when you use the cable, so you can’t use ANC while listening via a 3.5mm port. The only redeeming thing is that you can still listen to them when the battery runs dry.

Here’s a comparison of the sound frequency response in Bluetooth and wired mode:

My conclusion

The SoundPEATS Space are well-tuned Bluetooth headphones that deliver balanced and non-fatiguing sound. They’re an easy pick for most casual listeners.

The only area where they could be better is technical performance. This means detail retrieval, control, and imaging accuracy. However, at $80, that’s understandable.

• Headphones are best for: Casual listeners, commuters, anyone who appreciates natural sound, and students.
• Possible alternatives: Anker Soundcore Life Q30, 1MORE SonoFlow

Comfort & Fit

SoundPEATS Space have enough room for your ears and thick enough earpads to ensure long-lasting comfort. Stability is great, too, but it’s only ideal for commuters and light exercisers.

SoundPEATS put some effort into making the Space as lightweight and comfortable as possible. I have zero complaints, as they’re the best headphones in this regard for the price.

Earpads, dressed in soft protein leather, are thick and big enough to fit my entire earlobes (my ears are medium-sized).

Despite using the unbreathable leather imitation, I don’t need to take frequent pauses due to excessive sweating.

In combination with the lightweight frame and a padded headband, you can easily wear these headphones for hours.

Stability is great, as well. Headphones stay in place, even if you’re a gamer who vigorously shakes your head left and right or you’re running to catch a bus.

On the other hand, they aren’t as resistant to tilting the head backward. This means they aren’t suitable for outdoor exercise and workouts that involve laying on the back.

• Check which headphones are the most comfortable, in our opinion.

Compared to other similar models

SoundPEATS Space are somewhat similar to the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 and TOZO HT2, although they are, in my opinion, slightly plusher and, therefore, comfier. They’re also comfier than Edifier W820NB Plus.

Durability

SoundPEATS Space are built quite well for the price and can even fold to save space in the backpack. However, they lack an IP rating, a carrying case, and a pouch.

For $80, SoundPEATS Space deliver good build quality. The plastic used feels decent quality and doesn’t have that cheap hollow sound when knocked on.

Unlike in Edifier W820NB Plus, the headband also has an aluminum plate to give it rigidity. The size adjustment mechanism is reasonably stiff, although less clicky than in more expensive headphones.

Ear cups are foldable and are fully plastic, yolks included. Faux leather earpads feel smooth and soft, while the filling is made of memory foam.

Earpads should hold their shape for about a year or two of constant use (learn how to clean headphones to extend their longevity). However, since they’re glued to the cups, you can’t (easily) replace them.

Another longevity issue is the lack of an IP rating and protective case. That said, official water or sweat resistance is rare among headphones.

On the flip side, protective cases aren’t rare. While that’s a cost-saving measure from SoundPEATS, they could’ve offered a carrying pouch. Now, users need to buy a third-party case.

Overall, the SoundPEATS Space are well made and feel great in your hands and on your head. However, storing and repairing them might be a bit more challenging.

Are they suitable for…

• Wearing in the rain: Headphones lack an IP rating, so you should avoid exposing them to rain.
• Running & exercising outside: Not suitable due to the lack of an IP rating (not sweat or dust-resistant)
• Sweating: Not suitable, as they aren’t sweat-resistant.
• Dipping underwater: Not suitable.

Durability comparison

Battery

SoundPEATS Space have more than 65 hours of playtime on a single charge and over 120 hours when turning ANC OFF. Furthermore, you get an additional 12 hours after a quick 10-minute charge.

SoundPEATS Space battery comparison:

The Space headphones are truly hyped up when it comes to battery. Officially, they should last up to 61 hours with active noise cancellation enabled.

In our battery life test, where we leave headphones playing music at 50% volume, we got:

• Approximately 65 hours and 5 minutes with active noise cancellation enabled.

That is also the longest battery life we got in our tests (second place belongs to 1MORE SonoFlow with 61.5 hours).

Furthermore, if you don’t need to use active noise cancellation (which is preferred, as it offers a more balanced sound response), you can use the Space for around 123 hours.

With numbers like these, you don’t need to charge your headphones for an entire week, if not more.

Great specs don’t end there, as SoundPEATS Space also promise really fast charging:

• You can listen to music for 12 hours after a mere 10-minute charge.

Here’s the battery rating comparison with similar headphones:

Note: The battery rating considers battery life compared to alternatives, wireless charging support, and the speed of recharging.

Features

SoundPEATS Space have a good selection of features for costing under $80. Most work great, while the custom equalizer tends to be laggy and occasionally unresponsive. Mic quality could also be better.

Space headphones have a similar set of features as any other SoundPEATS product:

• Adaptive EQ
• EQ presets (sound profiles or modes)
• Custom EQ
• Game mode
• Dual connection

Fixed physical controls

Headphones use only physical controls or buttons. There’s no touch-sensitive area like in Life Q30 or some older Sony WH-1000XM4.

Gestures stay fixed, so you can’t customize them in the app. Fortunately, there is a gesture for every command so you don’t need to operate them via smartphone.

Here’s a quick overview of controls:

• Play/pause – single press on the Power button
• Next song – long press on the Volume + button
• Previous song/repeat – long press on the Volume – button
• Volume up – single press on the Volume + button
• Volume down – single press on the Volume – button

Adaptive EQ

The Adaptive EQ feature is interesting because it consistently delivers different results.

It works by playing different frequencies at different intensities, and you select whether you still hear them. In the end, it creates a personalized frequency curve.

Unfortunately, in my case, it made the bass boomier and midrange heavily recessed. Your results may come out better, but I generally recommend using their custom EQ to get better results.

Custom EQ

The app offers a 10-band audio equalizer with +/-6(dB?) adjustments. It gives good control over sound, although you can’t make drastic changes to it.

Sometimes, EQ changes glitch out, and you don’t hear any differences between various EQ settings. If that happens, go into custom EQ and boost one frequency (like 500Hz). When you hear the sound changing, continue tweaking the EQ.

I recommend lowering the bass and giving more energy to the upper highs.

Here’s my custom EQ for SoundPEATS Space headphones:

Microphone quality is mediocre

SoundPEATS Space have a mediocre call quality that is mostly usable for making quick phone calls in quieter places.

SoundPEATS Space microphone test: (no noise test from 0:00-0:22, with background noise test from O:23-0:47)

Your voice appears muffled and unclear even when speaking in a quieter room. You sound echoey and thin, albeit still understandable to others, although barely.

Walking into a noisier area makes your voice even quieter, as the noise cancellation for calls struggles to block unwanted noise. It does the latter with good effectivity.

However, it also further muffles your voice, making it even harder to understand. This means you should avoid noisy places when answering calls with these headphones.

Features rating comparison

Noise Isolation

SoundPEATS Space have a pretty effective passive noise isolation above 800Hz. However, they actually boost lower frequencies, making the engine rumble louder.

Like any headphones, SoundPEATS Space are the most effective at passively reducing higher frequencies. They start reducing early at 300Hz, while they are the most effective in the lower treble region.

On the flip side, the headphones seem to have some resonance, as they actually boost the lower frequencies between 70Hz and 300Hz.

That means you might hear the engine noise and other low-frequency sounds a tad louder. That said, the boost is small, so it shouldn’t be too noticeable. Nevertheless, at that point, you need to enable the ANC.

Here’s a table of how effective is SoundPEATS Space’s passive noise isolation at blocking specific frequencies:

What about sound leakage?

Sound leakage is relatively quiet, especially if you’re riding on noisy public transport. However, raising the volume above 60% is enough for others to faintly hear your music.

Noise isolation rating comparison with other models

Noise Cancelling

SoundPEATS Space ANC cancels a good amount of lower frequencies and does so quite evenly. While it can’t reach the effectiveness of premium models, it’s still good enough for daily use.

SoundPEATS Space active noise cancelling test:

Enabling ANC helps to noticeably reduce lower frequencies, which are otherwise slightly boosted (see the passive noise isolation measurement above).

While you can still hear the bass rumble, it’s less distracting, especially when listening to music. Only the loudest sounds still come through.

Here’s our noise cancelling measurement. The thick blue line shows the room response without headphones, whereas the red line shows how much noise SoundPEATS Space reduced (lower means quieter).

• Learn how to read ANC charts.

While I like the headphone’s consistency, they could be better at lower bass frequencies responsible for engine rumble. That said, they’re better than Edifier W820NB Plus, which also sell for $80.

Based on marketing on Amazon, these headphones should have 4 “Noise Reduction Modes” accessible through the app, but I haven’t seen them.

Here’s the table with SoundPEATS Space ANC test results:

Ambient sound mode performance

You only get one strength of the Ambient sound mode, which overly boosts the sound, especially the midrange. While that contributes to hearing sounds clearer, they also appear thin and distractingly loud.

Hopefully, SoundPEATS will reduce the loudness of the ambient sound mode by a few dB via a firmware update. It would help enormously.

Noise cancelling rating comparison with other models

Bluetooth

SoundPEATS Space have a robust close- and long-range Bluetooth connection, lasting around 60 feet indoors. On top of that, they have an effective Game mode and Bluetooth multipoint support.

I didn’t experience any audio stutters (Bluetooth interference) during my testing of the Space headphones. Thanks to using Bluetooth 5.3, they provide solid close-range connectivity.

The long-range indoor range is also strong. I was walking across the house while moving away from my smartphone.

• SoundPEATS Space lasted 60 feet (or 18.3 meters) before cutting the audio completely. They stuttered a few times at 50 and 55 feet but continued playing.

That’s excellent performance and way above the average, albeit some headphones lasted even more (Apple AirPods Max or Sony WH-1000XM5 (with Connection priority)).

Bluetooth multipoint on SoundPEATS Space

Furthermore, headphones support Bluetooth multipoint for connecting up to 2 devices simultaneously.

That way, you can connect them to your phone and a laptop and seamlessly switch the audio depending on the device you’re using.

The feature only offers ON/OFF settings, so if you have them paired to multiple devices, you can’t choose which two devices you want them to connect to.

How to pair SoundPEATS Space

1. Headphones initiate pairing mode when you turn them ON for the first time or right after resetting them.
2. When pairing them to another device, they either jump into pairing mode automatically (if they can’t connect to any other device) or manually (by turning them OFF and then holding the Power button for at least 8 seconds or until you see the LED blinking).

What Bluetooth codecs do they use?

SoundPEATS Space use a standard set of Bluetooth codecs:

That is SBC and AAC, with the latter being a preferred choice on iOS, and LC3 (only with devices with Bluetooth 5.2 and above).

• SBC (standard)
• AAC (best on iOS devices)
• LC3 (only Bluetooth 5.2 and above devices)

Is there any audio lag?

As expected, there’s no visible audio lag when watching videos through YouTube and social media apps, regardless of whether you use Android, iOS, or Windows 11 machine.

Enabling Game Mode significantly reduces lag from 120ms to 70ms (close to the advertised 65ms) while playing mobile games. That’s still visible, but barely. And will only matter to diehard competitive players.

Bluetooth rating comparison

Should You Get SoundPEATS Space?

If you’re searching for great Bluetooth headphones under $100, then the SoundPEATS Space represent a lot of value.

Pros & Cons

Who are these best for:

• Money-cautious students who want comfy, well-made headphones with a punchy yet balanced sound and good noise cancellation.
• Commuters for much of the same reasons as students.
• People who often forget to charge their electronic devices and wish to have a reliable battery life.

Who should avoid them:

• Audiophiles that look for a cheap yet excellent-sounding alternative with a detailed response.
• Sportspeople who perform exercises that make them sweat extensively.

How do SoundPEATS Space compare to the competition?

Here’s SoundPEATS Space value rating compared to similar alternatives:

Are they worth the price?

Costing less than $60 on Amazon (if you also use the coupon) makes SoundPEATS Space a bargain. While not perfect, they have many qualities for the price that you shouldn’t overlook when looking for your new pair of headphones.

SoundPEATS Space alternatives

Anker Soundcore Life Q30

TOZO HT2 (Upgraded)

What’s in the Box?

• SoundPEATS Space Bluetooth wireless headphones
• USB-A to USB-C charging cable
• 3.5mm to 3.5mm (3-pole) audio cable
• User manual

Specifications