I’m not a stylish person. In fact, I can count the number of stylish audio professionals and audiophiles I know on one hand. The two seem to be oxymoronic in a way– a fact I’m not proud to admit, yet am happy to laugh at. However, the new release of the Kef and Porsche Design Space One wireless, noise cancelling headphones strive to break that mold. Porsche Design is known for its elegant style and Kef is known for its high-quality sound. Therefore, I’m excited to try out the piece of audio equipment that brings these two brands together with this Kef and Porsche Design Space One wireless noise cancelling headphones review

Are they out of this world? – Kef and Porsche Design Space One Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones Review

In the Box

-Space One Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones

-3.5 mm audio cable

-Micro USB cable

-Hard -shell carrying case

-Airplane adapter

-Cable pouch

-Documentation

Design

As I took the headphones out of their box for the first time, I was immediately struck by their weight. The headband looks like plastic and most headphones of this caliber have plastic headbands, but the Kef and Porsche Design Space One headphones’ headband is actually made of aluminum, coated with sandblasted titanium. As a result, the headphones feel both heavy and sturdy. I immediately wondered if their heaviness would negatively affect their comfort level. So as I placed them on my head, I did so with a hint of skepticism. But the results were not as bad as I imagined. Yes, the headphones are heavier than others, but their padding on the headband help a lot. The weight is also distributed pretty evenly.

I have a small head but I think these headphones would work the best for folks with bigger heads and ears than mine.  I found my small ears sinking into the middle space between the earpads, making them uncomfortable at times due to my ear touching the earcup. It left me wishing the ear pads were thicker. I’m confident that folks with bigger ears and heads wouldn’t experience this problem. They’ll also be happy to know the headphone is flexible as to favor larger heads.

Additionally, the padding on the headband and earpads are coated with sweatproof leatherette.

While I wish the design of the Space One headphones was more portable–like the folding design of the Bose QuietComfort 35 II or the Sony WH-1000xM2–the earcups turn flat and fit inside its flat case to appease those who want to fit them in a carry on or other small bag.

Features

Overall, the Kef and Porsche Design Space One wireless, noise cancelling headphones have simple features, unobscured by gratuitous listening options. The right earcup houses all the controls. They include a set of basic remote playback buttons (volume up/down, play/pause, next track/previous track, etc), a port for the detachable audio cable, a noise cancellation on/off switch, and a micro USB port for charging.

When noise cancellation was at its maximum, I was very impressed with the level of cancellation. While its wasn’t quite as strong as the Sony models or the Bose models, it was still extremely effective with the added bonus of not making me nauseous. Additionally, with noise cancellation on, the headphones boast 30 hours of battery life which is right in line with the Sony WH-1000x. Very impressive!

Lastly, the Kef and Porsche Design Space One headphones support the aptX codec for wireless listening to the delight of audiophiles near and far. Kef also included their CVC technology for clear phone calls.

Sound

The first thing I noticed while listening was the low end. There is a broad boost at 100 Hz which reaches out into the low mids. At first it bothered me. I felt like it was too much.

“These headphones are for folks who only listen to pop, hip-hop, or EDM”, I thought.  A couple days later I decided to give the Kef and Porsche Design Space One headphones another listen. To my surprise, the low end and mid-range thickness was not only pleasant to my ears. It was also fun and enhanced the music in a pleasant way. Somehow the headphones are able to maintain their thickness in this frequency range without getting cloudy or muddy.

Additionally, there are boosts at 5kHz, 7kHz and 9kHz. There is also a cut at 3.5kHz. As a result, vocals sit on top where they should sit level-wise, but aren’t overwhelming to other instruments around it frequency-wise.

The noise cancellation on the Kef and Porsche Design Space One wireless, noise cancelling headphones is strong. Despite this strength, I’m impressed with the spacious left-to-right imaging. Most others in this range feel very compressed and cramped, but somehow they maintain spaciousness.

Overview

While the look of the Kef and Porsche Design Space One headphones might be deceiving because it looks like plastic, these headphones are actually extremely durable and high-quality. They have strong noise cancellation without excessive, unnecessary features. The headphones are pricier than the Bose and Sony equivalent, but have an excellent, lively, and energetic sound signature.

The Kef and Porsche Design Space One wireless, noise cancelling headphones are available for the best price here:

Kef and Porsche Design Space One Wireless, Noise Cancelling Headphones at Audio 46

Kef and Porsche Design Space One Wireless, Noise Cancelling Headphones on Amazon

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Specifications