Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Review – Value your Money

These great all-purpose wireless headphones from Anker, the Soundcore Life Q30, are loaded with helpful functions. If you experiment with the EQ, even the audio quality is remarkable. There are occasionally headphones that have a great price/performance ratio and are deserving of all the consideration. One of those pairs of headphones is the Anker Soundcore Life Q30.

Even while they are far from ideal, they consistently outperform the competition in most areas. Or they offer you the opportunity to improve them. The Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Bluetooth headphones have a decent design overall, strong construction, folding hinges, and a tough carry bag for convenience.

They are lightweight and pleasant, and the over-ear earpads have enough padding. Even in freezing weather, the physical controls on the bottom of both earcups are responsive and provide a secure manner to operate the Anker headphones.

Additionally, noise-cancelling headphones feature a companion app with a unique EQ, a crazy 60 hours of battery life for extended listening sessions, and good active noise cancellation capabilities.

They aren’t flawless, as I already stated. Interested in learning the reason? Read the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 review below to discover the causes.

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How is the sound quality? 

The sound profile is by baseline boomy and muddy. Luckily, some balancing makes them sound quite close to neutral (EQ).

Anker Soundcore Life Q30 headphones feature a sound profile similar to any other consumer-focused headphones right out of the box: strong bass boost and nothing more. Regardless of the logo on the box indicating High-Res audio.

The custom EQ in the app allows you to significantly alter how headphones reflect frequencies and greatly improve their balance. It isn’t completely impartial, but for the cost, it’s hard to match.

The bass

As previously observed, the bass is amplified by default to the point of becoming muddy. The bass is scarcely defined or controlled, and it is difficult to pick out a specific bass kick. The excessive muddiness may be reduced in the app by turning down the sub-bass all the way (-6dB), which helps the sound breathe.

Naturally, the focus on lower frequencies remains, and the bass is only somewhat better regulated. Anything with quicker bass kicks (metal, drum ‘n’ bass) is still too difficult to play, but it works great for rock or EDM.

While the app’s randomised sound generator (Sleep mode) is located on the right, my EQ on the left sounds fairly natural.

Midrange

Mids are generally well-balanced, with just a significant dip at 3.2 kHz. Interestingly, the software allows you to increase that frequency specifically. Naturally, by doing this, both singing and instruments seem a little fuller and more authentic.

Electric guitars are the sole thing that seems a little strange. With some tracks, they sound a little harsh, and EQ can’t really fix that.

Treble

High frequencies have a wonderful texture that is clean and dazzling, like cymbals. Even when listening at greater volumes, the responsiveness is sibilance-free and smooth.

The sensation of the soundstage is generally good with over-ear headphones since it prevents the music from feeling like it is being played inside your skull. It’s also not that big. Additionally, the imagery is good, allowing you to reasonably identify the source of the noises.

Most of Anker’s Bluetooth headphones sound annoyingly bassy since the company likes to brag about possessing an army of Grammy-winning producers who endorse their audio gear.

Fortunately, you can fix their errors in the EQ settings and acquire remarkably well-balanced and dynamic headphones for less than $100.

Frequency Response of the Anker Soundcore Life Q30

What about ease and comfort?

Also when you leap or run, the lightweight, strong gripping power of these headphones keeps them on your head. Additionally, plush padding contributes to pleasant sound quality. While Anker Soundcore Life Q30 initially appears rather hefty, that doesn’t correspond to their weight.

They don’t make your neck suffer as, say, Apple AirPods Max do because they are made of plastic (with merely an aluminium headband). Plush memory foam lines the oval-shaped earpads. Your ears, which are in contact with the foam protecting the drivers, are perfectly enclosed by pads.

To feel it, though, you must give it some serious thought. Despite the clamping force being very light, stability is also excellent. It is not difficult to run or jump while wearing the Anker Soundcore Life Q30.

Simply refrain from doing it too rapidly. Headphones can also withstand head tilts in both directions. Naturally, if you begin headbanging as though you were at a metal concert, they will come off. Which headphones, however, won’t?

What is the durability of Anker Soundcore? 

Anker Soundcore Life Q30s are primarily made of plastic, but they have a sturdy metal frame and a hard-shell carrying case for drop safety. However, there is no IP rating or sweat resistance.

At first appearance, the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 doesn’t seem reliable. Everything is constructed of plastic, including hinges, earcups, and yolks. The ANC headphones seem strong since the portions that are prone to breaking are reinforced.

Although they make a slight rattle when shaken, when you wear them on your head, you won’t hear any crackling sounds.

A hard-shell travel bag is reliable enough to safeguard your headphones on extended journeys.

The exposed aluminium frame on top offers the headphones some rigidity and a slightly more expensive appearance. Despite being made of plastic, the size adjuster does not automatically stretch even when you move the headphones.

The carrying case is supplied, which increases the overall durability. Headphones are protected against drops and scratches by the rigid walls of the case. Sadly, the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 is not designed for usage in a gym. Sweat can be dangerous because they don’t have a basic IPX rating.

What is the charging time for the Soundcore Life Q30?

Battery life is excellent on the Soundcore Life Q30. They typically have a listening time of up to 60 hours, but in our test, the ANC cut that time in half, to “just” 44 hours. Over-ear headphones’ excess room was filled with batteries by Anker. Nothing else could account for the outstanding battery performance. They can last for about 60 hours on their own, without ANC. They simply need to be charged once to be put to use for an entire week.

Battery life is reduced to 44 hours and 11 minutes on a single charge as a result of the ANC (from our test). Given that the majority of top ANC headphones only last about 30 hours, it is still more than great. Even the USB-C fast-charging capability is lightning fast.

In just five minutes, you can play for an additional four hours. Although the software allows you to check the battery’s level, it just displays the battery icon and not a percentage.

You must examine your smartphone’s Bluetooth menu to learn the latter. Every time you switch on the headphones, a voice prompt will tell you the battery level.

These active noise-cancelling headphones furthermore provide a cable connection as a backup for a dead battery. The box comes with the cable. Anker Soundcore Life Q30 charging time is approximately 2 hours. 

The unique features of Anker Soundcore Life Q30

You receive a shockingly feature-rich, quality experience for headphones that price $80. Even the microphone quality is good. Active noise cancellation, ambient sound mode, app, EQ, etc. With the Soundcore Life Q30, Anker surely didn’t compromise on features. The right earcup of a pair of headphones has one touch-sensitive region and five physical controls on its own.

A button is provided for:

• Volume control
• Voice assistant activation and on/off
• Play/pause
• ANC
• To easily enable transparency mode, touch the surface as well.

Physical buttons have no fuzziness at all, are immediately recognisable beneath your fingers, and offer sensory feedback.

The bottom of the earcups is where you’ll find all the essential buttons.

Additional functions are added when the Soundcore app is downloaded. With it, you may switch between several noise cancelling modes, experiment with a variety of EQ presets, or create a custom EQ.

You may even adjust the volume of various natural sounds, and man-made sounds, such as trains or household appliances, under the Sleep mode.

It’s a cute little function that could be helpful if you have difficulties falling asleep and live in a noisy area.

You cannot switch controls in the companion app (preferably the touch-sensitive model). There is no play/pause sensor either.

How can we describe the Microphone quality? 

Better than average mic effectiveness during phone calls, both in peaceful and loud environments.

You can hear your voice clearly and there is little to no distorting when it is silent. Although the lower registers may use a little more fullness, at least you are recognizable.

The voice quality doesn’t change whether you’re speaking in a louder setting. There are a few additional glitches and distortions in the background because of the severe noise reduction.

Thank goodness for headphones that can keep your voice audible. They are therefore simple to use when strolling close to a busy road with a lot of background noise.

The Noise Isolation of Anker Soundcore Life Q30

Enabling ANC might be a good idea if you intend to listen to them in a noisy environment because passive noise isolation is only average. The passive noise isolation provided by noise-cancelling headphones is often not exceptional.

The amount of noise that is blocked by headphones is not as great as with simple earbuds. The higher frequencies are only slightly diminished while the lower ones essentially remain the same. The plastic ear cups don’t appear to be thick enough to effectively block out the background noise.

Thankfully, if you’re also listening to music, ambient noises won’t disturb you as much. Working in the workplace or strolling down the street should be acceptable.

What is the feature of Anker Soundcore Life Q30 hybrid active noise cancelling headphones? 

Although the effectiveness of active noise suppression is excellent for the price, numerous flaws make the experience unpleasant. The right driver is producing a little bass rumble.

Active noise cancellation was usually superior with over-ear headphones. In addition to having larger earcups that cover more surface area, these active noise-cancelling headphones also have better active noise-cancellation chips.

This is where Anker Soundcore Life Q30 excel, especially considering the cost. You may switch between three ANC modes in the Soundcore app, each of which is appropriate for a certain circumstance.

• The focus of transportation is on lower frequencies, such as engines.
• Indoor mode using speech-like mid-frequencies
• The outside setting lowers noises from the street, such as traffic.

You utilize Transport mode by default, which at least on our device operates oddly. The right channel has a very slight rumble, but the left channel is clear and quiet. The noise persists no matter how I turn my head or move around the space. Although it isn’t particularly bothersome, it does undermine the good ANC performance as a whole.

These would be comparable to the Sony WH-1000XM4 if both channels functioned as the left one does. Despite not having the same issue, the other 2 modes do travel over a greater number of lower frequencies, which isn’t ideal.

All the characteristics of the flagship models are included in the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 but at a significantly lower cost.

However, Anker Soundcore Life Q30 remain the best noise-cancelling headphones currently available for less than $100. There are no better options for the price if this feature is something you need.

On the other side, Transparency mode does a respectable job of amplifying the background noise. Headphones don’t sound as genuine as more expensive headphones since they tend to emphasise the middle and speech.

Anker Soundcore Life Q30: Bluetooth 

A terrific Bluetooth range, multipoint capability, and no audio delay are all to be expected when watching videos. If you want a dependable Bluetooth connection and fantastic Bluetooth range, the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 uses the older Bluetooth 5.0 protocol, which is still more than adequate.

The latter is, by far, the most powerful pair of Bluetooth headphones I’ve ever tested. The Soundcore Life Q30 play flawlessly from one half of my house to the other, while most of them at least stumbled for a short while.

In actuality, this entails two brick walls and a minimum of 65 feet of area. On the Samsung Galaxy S21, a Bluetooth 5.0-enabled device, active noise-cancelling headphones were connected.

When moving around the house, the connection range of headphones exceeds 65 feet.

They provide a reliable connection and can pair with two Bluetooth devices at once (multipoint). To begin connecting with a second device after being paired with one, click the power button twice.

Otherwise, turn on the headphones and keep the power button down until you see a blue flashing LED if you wish to pair them with a new device. An added plus is that the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 supports NFC pairing with just a touch of a smartphone that supports it.

Are the Q30 headphones water resistant?

Despite not having an IP classification for water or dust protection, the Soundcore Anker life Q30 is strong enough to tolerate a few accidental drops without suffering any damage.

This headset is perfect for travel and other uses because the supplied case protects it from water spills and unexpected falls.

Do They Use Any Bluetooth Codecs?

SBC and AAC are the sole audio codecs used by Anker Soundcore Life Q30.

The Anker Soundcore Life Q35 active noise cancelling headphones are more expensive and offer certification for LDAC and Hi-Res music, but they also have lower stock sound.

Even though the variety of Bluetooth codecs isn’t extensive, it’s more than enough to transport high-quality audio with little delay.

Is There a Delay in the Audio?

Speaking about latency, there is none while using an Android or iOS smartphone to watch YouTube videos.

There is a slight latency when playing mobile games, but it isn’t distracting. Playing intense mobile games is possible with the Anker Soundcore Life Q30.

Is the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 a Good Buy?

Although these active noise-cancelling headphones aren’t flawless, they do provide the best overall value for the money.

The overall performance of the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 is great for a pair of headphones in this price range.

They’re well-built, comfy, have great battery life, good ANC and transparency mode, and, if you spend some time tweaking them, offer outstanding sound.

Certain metalheads won’t like the sound quality since they miss the double-pedal movement, and the noise-cancelling headphones could appear a little large on your head.

There is, however, nothing that comes close to their quality for the price. The Anker Soundcore Life Q30 are worthy of Insightheadphones endorsement.

Is Soundcore Q30 better than Q20?  

The Anker Soundcore Life Q30 is the successor to the Anker Soundcore Life Q20 Wireless and is marginally superior to its forerunner. A protective case is included with the Q30. They perform substantially better in terms of noise isolation and have longer-lasting batteries. 

Additionally, they work with the Anker Soundcore mobile app, which enables you to edit their sound profile using a graphic EQ and presets. The Q20, on the other hand, are more reliable and features a more well-balanced sound profile right out of the box.

Conclusion 

We can confidently recommend Anker Soundcore Life Q30 headphones. Regardless of the price, they are incredible in terms of appearance, feel, and sound. They are an obvious choice if you want good Bluetooth headphones because they are far under $100 and still continue to feel high-end. And if you need to go on a trip or shut out a loud office for hours on end, these headphones are terrific to have on hand just for the amazing battery life.

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