It’s rare to find quality over-ear noise cancellation for less than $200, so Anker’s $69.99 Soundcore Life Q20+ headphones only need to deliver acceptable active noise cancellation (ANC) in order to stand out. Unfortunately, while they eliminate some unwanted noise, activating the ANC notably degrades audio quality and adds a distinct hiss to the signal. Without ANC, the drivers are capable of delivering solid audio, but they suffer from excessive sculpting unless you use the in-app EQ to dial in a more balanced sound signature. In this price range, you’re much better off with the $79.99 Wyze Headphones, but if you really want top-notch noise cancellation, you’ll need to spend significantly more on a pair like the $329 Bose QuietComfort 45.
A Stylish Design
The Soundcore Life Q20+ headphones are only available in black, but they look classy. They fit comfortably over your ears thanks to a heavily cushioned headband and earpads. Internally, 40mm dynamic drivers deliver a frequency range of 20Hz to 20kHz. The headphones are compatible with Bluetooth 5.0 and support the AAC and SBC codecs, but not AptX.
The right earcup’s side panel houses an array of controls, with a central button for playback and two outer volume buttons. A USB-C port for charging and an input for wired listening sit next to these controls. The left earcup includes a power button and a button for toggling ANC. Both a USB-C-to-USB-A and a 3.5mm audio cable come in the box. Note that in passive (wired) listening mode, the frequency range extends from 16Hz to 40Hz.
Pairing the headphones with the Soundcore app (available for Android and iOS) unlocks additional functionality, including adjustable EQ with multiple presets and the ability to switch between several ANC settings (on, off, and Transparency mode, which lets you hear your surroundings).
Anker estimates that the headphones can last between 40 and 60 hours on battery depending on your mix of ANC usage, but your results will also vary depending on your volume levels.
Disappointing Noise Cancellation
The ANC circuitry does a decent job of dialing back powerful low frequencies, like the rumble you might hear on a plane, but we also hear a hiss when we turn the ANC on. Against more varied noises, like those from a busy restaurant, the headphones manage to dial back some of the mids and lows, but most of the higher frequencies make it past the ANC. In this instance, the signal again suffers from an audible hiss.
We even noticed the hiss in a quiet room; it isn’t unpleasant (think faint white noise), but it’s a typical byproduct of less-effective ANC. Something strange that we noticed in this scenario, however, is that the quiet room noise seems to get louder when we turn the ANC on.
Unfortunately, the ANC also affects audio playback tremendously. With ANC off, the audio is notably louder and more bass-heavy. With it on, the bass thins out and the volume level drops. The difference is dramatic, and this is another indicator of poor ANC implementation. The Transparency listening mode works well, at least.
If noise cancellation is your top priority, the Wyze Headphones are better, but they simply can’t measure up to pricier options. For the best noise cancellation, you either need to spend (much) more money or go the in-ear route—Anker’s $79.99 Soundcore Life P3 true wireless earphones deliver decent ANC for the price.
Heavy Bass Boosting
Because the ANC substantially affects the bass depth, we turned it off for testing audio. On tracks with intense sub-bass content, like The Knife’s “Silent Shout,” the headphones deliver absolutely thunderous low-frequency depth. At moderate volumes, the lows sound earthshaking. At top, unwise volume levels, the digital signal processing (DSP) thins the bass out slightly, but never to the point of distortion.
Bill Callahan’s “Drover,” a track with far less deep bass in the mix, better reveals the overall sound signature. The drums sound huge—round and deep, with serious bass booting. Callahan’s baritone vocals also get a healthy dose of lows. The sound can be a bit bass-forward, but substantial high-frequency sculpting keeps everything in check. This isn’t an ideal sound signature if you’re seeking accuracy, but it may please you if you enjoy intense bass.
On Jay-Z and Kanye West’s “No Church in the Wild,” the kick drum loop receives just enough high-mid presence for its attack to retain some of its punch. That said, the sub-bass synth hits that punctuate the beat still come across with serious power and the loop itself is considerably boosted. The vocals on this track sound clear and we didn’t notice any additional sibilance. Still, the bass rules here, and at times, the vocals seem to take a back seat.
Orchestral tracks, like the opening scene from John Adams’ The Gospel According to the Other Mary, exhibit almost comical levels of boosting in the lows—the lower-register instrumentation sounds too resonant at times. The higher-register brass, strings, and vocals retain a brightness, but the sound signature is altogether unnatural.
The mic offers average intelligibility; when we tested it using the Voice Memos app on an iPhone, we could understand every word we recorded. Unsurprisingly, we heard some Bluetooth audio artifacts, too. On a decent cell signal, callers should be able to understand you without issue.
Good Noise Cancellation Is Pricey, But You Can Do Better
Anker’s affordable Soundcore Life Q20+ headphones sport a high-quality build and are capable of delivering powerful bass depth, but they suffer from a wildly sculpted sound signature and noise cancellation that heavily impacts sound quality. In the sub-$100 range, your best options are the over-ear Wyze Headphones, or Anker’s in-ear Soundcore Life P3 earphones. If you want high-quality noise cancellation, however, you need to increase your budget. The Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones are our Editors’ Choice in this category, but they cost signficantly more at $329.
