Anker Soundcore Space Q45 vs Sennheiser Accentum Wireless
Which one to buy
Same $100, same 50 hours with ANC, and opposite priorities. The Soundcore Space Q45 is built around noise cancelling: adaptive ANC with five adjustable levels that owners compare to headphones at twice the price on plane drone. The Sennheiser Accentum Wireless is built around sound: a clean, slightly warm Momentum-style tuning that owners say sounds like twice the money, with fixed ANC that's fine in offices, unremarkable on planes, and can't be turned off.
The Q45's sound needs work. Owners call its default tuning boomy with thin, nasal mids until they adjust the 8-band EQ, and high ANC levels add audible hiss. It also has an unusual quirk: on bumpy commutes the bass can flutter as the ANC reacts to air-pressure changes. The Accentum sounds good immediately and supports aptX HD on Android, while the Q45 supports LDAC.
For travel, the Q45 is better equipped: a folding frame, a real case and a 3.5mm jack. The Accentum ships with no case and has no 3.5mm wired option at all, which is odd for Sennheiser. The Accentum is much lighter, 222g against 292g, but its clamp is one of the tightest owners have worn until it breaks in, and its cup openings are small. The Q45's comfort is mixed too, so neither suits everyone. Neither mic is good for calls.
Anker Soundcore Space Q45
For flights and loud commutes, when you need a case and a wired fallback and don't mind ten minutes of EQ tweaking.
Sennheiser Accentum Wireless
If sound quality comes first, you mainly listen in an office or at home, and you can put up with a tight clamp during break-in.
| Spec | Anker Soundcore Space Q45 | Sennheiser Accentum Wireless |
|---|---|---|
| Approx. price | ~$100 | ~$100 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | Over-Ear Headphones | Over-Ear Headphones |
| Noise Cancelling | Adaptive ANC | ANC |
| Battery (single charge) | 50 hrs | 50 hrs |
| Battery (with case) | — | — |
| Quick Charge | 5 min = 4 hrs | 10 min = 5 hr |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC | SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.2 |
| Multipoint | Yes | Yes |
| Driver Size | 40 mm | 37 mm |
| Weight | 292 g | 222 g |
| Water Resistance | — | — |
| Wireless Charging | No | No |
| Transparency Mode | Yes | Yes |
| Spatial Audio | No | No |
| App EQ | Yes | Yes |
Pros & cons
Anker Soundcore Space Q45
- ✓50 hours with ANC on beats most $300 flagships
- ✓Three-stage adaptive ANC embarrasses pricier headphones on plane drone
- ✓LDAC and Bluetooth 5.3 multipoint included
- ✓Sturdier build and stronger low-end ANC than Space One
- ✓Frequent 40%-off deals drop it near $90
- ✓5-minute charge buys 4 hours
- ✗Heavier than it looks at 292 grams
- ✗Tight clamp on larger heads for the first weeks
- ✗Boomy V-shaped mid-bass needs app EQ to sort out
- ✗ANC adds ear pressure and hiss in silence
- ✗Mics merely okay for calls
Sennheiser Accentum Wireless
- ✓Refined, warm Momentum-like tuning that embarrasses most sub-$150 rivals
- ✓50 hr battery with ANC on; 10 min charge = 5 hr
- ✓aptX HD and aptX support alongside SBC/AAC
- ✓Light 222g build for all-day listening
- ✓Multipoint connects phone and laptop simultaneously
- ✓5-band EQ and sound modes in the Smart Control app
- ✓Frequently discounted to $99 from its $180 list
- ✗ANC is fixed-strength, can't be disabled or adjusted, and is merely decent
- ✗Cramped physical buttons instead of the Plus's touch controls
- ✗No carry case included, and no 3.5mm wired listening option
- ✗No wear detection for auto-pause
- ✗Clamping force is firmer than the Accentum Plus
- ✗Average mic quality on calls
Anker Soundcore Space Q45 vs Sennheiser Accentum Wireless: common questions
Is the Space Q45 better than the Accentum Wireless on a long-haul flight?▾
The Q45. Its adaptive ANC is much stronger on cabin drone, it folds into an included case, and its 3.5mm jack works with seatback screens. The Accentum's ANC is unremarkable on planes, and it has neither a case nor a 3.5mm jack.
How much better does the Sennheiser sound out of the box?▾
Noticeably, going by what owners of each say. The Accentum's refined tuning works without any adjustment, while Q45 owners describe its default sound as boomy with hazy mids until they fix it in the app. With EQ the gap narrows, but Accentum owners still rate it the best-sounding headphone near $100.