Anker Soundcore Life Q20 active noise-cancelling headphones review: No frills over-ears that excel at action
These stylish, understated budget headphones are great for action movies but slightly weak mid-range performance limits musical enjoyment.
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All the controls for the Anker Soundcore Life Q20 are located on the earcups, making this a straightforward pair of headphones to use. Photo: Scott Marsh
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Anker’s made a name for itself in the budget headphone space thanks to a range of capable earbuds and headphones. These often deliver excellent value, with some models punching well above their weight. The Anker Soundcore Life Q20 over-ears are a capable set of headphones that deliver solid, no-frills active noise-cancelling (ANC) at a wallet-friendly price.
KEY SPECIFICATIONS
- Battery life: Up to 40 hours (ANC off), 30 hours (ANC on)
- 40mm dynamic drivers
- Bluetooth 5.0
- Quick charging: 5 minutes for 4 hours of playback
- Weight: 259g
FORM FACTOR
The Soundcore Life Q20 offers decent noise-cancelling and good audio performance in a sleek, low-key package. The earcups and bottom of the headband have an understated metallic black / grey finish, with the top of the headband wrapped in a soft cushion encased in a soft PU. Subtle branding rounds out the finish and the earcups swivel and fold flat, which is good news for travellers.
While it scores in the looks department, its handling leaves a little to be desired. It doesn't feel flimsy, but it lacks the reassuring solidity that headphones with more heavy-duty folding mechanisms provide. The PU covering the headband and earcups are soft but also feel thin – durability could be a concern after prolonged, heavy use.
Curiously, it uses a micro-USB charging port. The charging cable is included in the box, but it does mean relying on legacy cables.
DESIGN, BUILD QUALITY AND CONTROLS
The Soundcore Life Q20 is a no-frills pair of headphones that gets you up and running with minimum fuss. It’s controlled by physical buttons, all of which are located on the earcups: Volume, ANC mode, bass boost and track navigation. There’s no companion app. This is good if you like straightforward devices but also means that sound profiles can’t be tweaked on the fly. The only option to adjust its sound profile is the bass boost button on the earcups.
AUDIO QUALITY
The Soundcore Life Q20 includes a 3.5mm audio jack so it can be used as an unpowered set of headphones though it sounds best with ANC activated. While testing, I listened to it without bass boost and with device volume set to 50 per cent.
Music and movies
Out of the box, there’s a slight emphasis on higher and lower-end frequencies at the expense of mid-range. This works great with action movies. Explosions, sound effects and dramatic scores sound more dynamic.
It’s a different story with music. The lack of mid-range isn’t egregious, but it makes rock tracks like Hole’s Celebrity Skin or Green Day’s Look Ma, No Brains sound anaemic. It’s a similar issue with hip-hop and pop, from classics like Naughty by Nature’s O.P.P. to Lady Gaga’s Disease.
Activating bass boost alleviates this though certain tracks can sound boomy.
Phone calls and meetings
The Soundcore Life Q20 is equipped with four mics that help to filter ambient noise. I used it during Zoom meetings and found it easy to hear other participants and vice-versa.
NOISE CANCELLING IRL: MRT, FOOD COURT, HOME
I put the headphones through its paces on one of our underground MRT lines, the office food court and at home.
First up, the office food court during the peak of lunch-hour. Into the breach I stepped to enjoy untold culinary delights while watching YouTube clips and listening to music. With my device volume set at 50 per cent, it reduced background noise significantly, though it was still audible.
On the train, higher-pitched sounds, passenger conversations and announcements were still audible although significantly reduced.
At home, I was able to tune out nearby conversations and the noise of my extremely loud vacuum cleaner significantly.
HOW IT STACKS UP
The Soundcore Life Q20 offers decent noise-cancelling and a slightly bright sound that lacks mid-range warmth. This is great for action movies but could do better with music.
Get it if: You want a comfortable, no-nonsense, user-friendly, understated set of ANC over-ears
Pros: Good battery life, comfortable fit, foldable design
Cons: Lacking mid-range warmth, micro-USB charging port
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