Exploring noise-cancelling technology
View(s):By Mahesh de Andrado
In the bustling world we live in, finding a quiet moment is a luxury. Fortunately, technology has evolved to provide us with innovative solutions, and the addition of active noise cancellation in both earbuds and headphones has improved in leaps and bounds over the years.
The Soundcore Space Q45 headphones and the Sony WH-CH720N are a few examples.
The Soundcore Space Q45 headphones offer impressive noise cancellation for the price, stellar battery life and other benefits.
Priced at around Rs. 35,000, the Soundcore Space Q45 available in black, white or blue, come with a sturdy carrying case making them less prone to damage when not in use. The headphones support the latest Bluetooth 5.3 standard and Sony’s LDAC codec for hi-res audio and also come with a 3.5mm aux cable for wired listening.
The Space Q45 in all its glory
They also have memory foam cushioning, ensuring prolonged comfort. The headband offers a similar cushioning experience, with a secure yet not overly tight clamping pressure, making them ideal for commuters and travellers. However, the absence of an IPX rating, rendering them not water or sweatproof, means they’re not exactly suitable for the gym or jogging.
Setting up the Space Q45 is a breeze. Simply download the Soundcore app on your Android or iOS device, and the app will seamlessly walk you through the setup process. Once completed, you gain access to a range of features, including monitoring battery levels, selecting from numerous EQ presets, creating your custom EQ preset, and tailoring different noise cancellation modes.
With the Soundcore app, you can effortlessly switch between normal mode, noise cancellation mode, and transparency mode. Personally, I find transparency mode useful when navigating busy streets – it allows me to stay aware of my surroundings, hearing both external sounds and my music. After safely crossing the road, it’s noise cancellation time, and this is where the Space Q45 truly shines. Be it for commuting, working in a noisy environment, or even studying, the active noise cancellation (ANC) feature creates a cocoon of silence, allowing you to focus and immerse yourself in your favourite music, podcasts, or audiobooks. If you’re like me and you just wear them with white noise (customizable via the soundcore app) playing, you can do that too.
Soundcore offers an impressive battery life of 65 hours with ANC off and a substantial 50 hours with ANC on. For a daily user with one hour of usage, that’s nearly 50 days before needing a recharge. Switching to LDAC slightly reduces battery life to around 45 hours with LDAC on and 37 hours with both ANC and LDAC activated. Fast-charging provides 4 hours of playback with just a 5-minute charge. In low battery situations, users can seamlessly switch to wired listening with the included 3.5mm aux cable, sacrificing ANC and Soundcore EQ presets but still utilizing their audio player’s EQ for customization.
The Space Q45 delivers impressive audio quality for the price, particularly when using the LDAC codec for an optimal experience. While sacrificing Bluetooth multipoint connectivity, you gain a significant boost in audio quality, reaching a theoretical 96KHz, 32-bit sampling rate for all you techies, provided you have an Android device (Apple users are limited to AAC).
Sony WH-CH720N
A close competitor would be the Sony WH-CH720N priced at around Rs. 40,000. It has more plastic over metal, but you also get ANC, LDAC audio and up to 35 hours of playback time. Both the Space Q45 and Sony WH-CH720N come with a mobile app to customize ANC and EQ. Sure you get bluetooth headphones from brands such as Sony, Bose, Marshall, Sennheiser, Focal and many more, but the Space Q45 costs almost 1/3 the price of Sony’s flagship WH-1000XM5, offering almost the same features. Obviously there are some tradeoffs, but if you’re willing to overlook them, then the Space Q45 is definitely worth a look.
Searching for that next furry family member but couldn’t find one in your area? Hitad.lk has the solution with our extensive listings of dogs for sale in Sri Lanka!