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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-29 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
• Anker Soundcore Space One — biggest strength: 40 hours of ANC playtime (55 hours with ANC off) plus adaptive noise cancelling with 5 adjustable levels through the soundcore app.
• Anker Soundcore Space One — biggest trade-off: At 259 g it's the heavier of the two, and the touch-based controls take some getting used to compared to physical buttons.
• Skullcandy Hesh ANC — biggest strength: A light 228 g build with a flat-folding, collapsible frame and Tile finding technology baked in.
• Skullcandy Hesh ANC — biggest trade-off: 22 hours of battery and Bluetooth 5.0, and the noise cancelling is a fixed 4-mic setup with no app-level tuning.
• Pick the Space One if you wear headphones for long stretches, want Hi-Res LDAC audio, and care about squeezing the most out of noise cancelling.
• Pick the Hesh ANC if you want something light on your head, easy to fold into a bag, and simple button controls you don't have to think about.
The Space One is built around long listening sessions. Anker rates it at 40 hours with ANC on and 55 hours with ANC off, which is the kind of number that means you can take a week-long trip and not think about the charging cable. The 40mm dynamic drivers support LDAC for Hi-Res wireless audio, so if you stream from a compatible source you're getting more detail than a standard Bluetooth codec delivers. It also carries a 3.5mm jack, so wired listening is still on the table when you want it.
The noise cancelling is the more interesting part. It's adaptive — the headphones detect external sound and sound leakage, then auto-calibrate to compensate. There are also 5 ANC levels you can adjust in the soundcore app, which matters more than it sounds: low-frequency drone like an engine rumble or an air conditioner hum is handled differently from a busy café. Being able to dial that in yourself is genuinely useful on a flight or a train. The three mics with AI handle voice pickup, and Anker's voice reduction work is aimed at keeping your calls clear when the environment around you isn't.
Then there's fit, which is where this comparison actually lives. The ear cups rotate 8° to follow the shape of your head, and the integrated headband is designed to spread pressure evenly rather than clamp down in one spot. That 8° of rotation is the detail that matters for a big head — it lets the cups sit flat against your ears instead of pressing the top edge in. The catch is the 259 g weight. For most people that's fine over a couple of hours, but if you're sensitive to weight on the crown, it's the number to watch.
Buy it if: you want the longest battery, the most adjustable ANC, and Hi-Res audio in this pair. Skip it if: you prioritize the lightest possible frame or you prefer physical buttons over touch controls.
The Hesh ANC goes the other direction: lighter, simpler, more portable. At 228 g it's roughly 30 g lighter than the Space One, and that difference shows up over a long day. The design is flat-folding and collapsible, so it packs down small — the kind of thing you toss in a backpack without dedicating a whole compartment to it. Skullcandy also bundles an extra USB-C to USB-C cable, which is a small thing that saves you when the one cable you own is charging something else.
Battery is rated at 22 hours, and Rapid Charge gets you 3 hours of listening from a 10-minute top-up. That's a real convenience if you're the type who forgets to charge until you're walking out the door. The noise cancelling uses a 4-mic active system — no app tuning, no adaptive levels, just on or off. For commuting and general background noise that's plenty. For a situation where you'd want to fine-tune how much cancellation you're getting, it's not the tool.
Two features stand out in daily use. First, physical button controls for calls, volume and track skipping — no swiping, no accidental taps, and you can find them by feel with the headphones on. Second, built-in Tile finding technology: once you register the product in the Tile app, you can locate the headphones if they go missing. If you've ever torn apart a couch looking for a pair, you know why that's worth having.
Buy it if: you want a light, packable pair with simple controls and a locator built in. Skip it if: you need maximum battery, Hi-Res codec support, or app-based ANC adjustment.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for battery life → Anker Soundcore Space One. 40 hours with ANC on, 55 with it off, versus 22 hours on the Hesh ANC.
• Best for a big head → Anker Soundcore Space One. The 8° rotating ear cups and pressure-distributing headband are the more accommodating design of the two.
• Best for portability → Skullcandy Hesh ANC. The flat-folding, collapsible frame packs down in a way the Space One doesn't advertise.
• Best for noise cancelling control → Anker Soundcore Space One. Adaptive detection plus 5 adjustable levels in the app beats a fixed 4-mic system.
• Best for audio detail → Anker Soundcore Space One. LDAC Hi-Res support and 40mm dynamic drivers with a 20 Hz–20 kHz range.
• Best for controls you can feel → Skullcandy Hesh ANC. Physical buttons for calls, volume and tracks, versus touch controls on the Space One.
• Best for not losing them → Skullcandy Hesh ANC. Tile finding technology is a feature the Space One simply doesn't have.
• Best for rapid top-ups → Skullcandy Hesh ANC. 10 minutes of charging buys 3 hours of playback.
If I were buying for myself and fit on a larger head were the deciding factor, I'd take the Anker Soundcore Space One. The 8° rotating ear cups and the evenly distributing headband are the design choices that actually address head size and pressure, and the 40-hour ANC battery plus app-adjustable cancelling make it the more capable everyday pair. The 259 g weight is the honest cost of that.
I'd point you to the Skullcandy Hesh ANC instead if lightness, folding portability, and physical buttons matter more to you than battery and tuning — it's the easier pair to live with on the move, just with a shorter leash between charges.
FAQ
what are good headphones for big heads
Look for over-ear cups that rotate or tilt and a headband that spreads pressure instead of clamping. Both of these qualify, but the Soundcore Space One's 8° rotating ear cups make it the more accommodating fit of the two for a larger head.
In my opinion, among these two the Anker Soundcore Space One is the better fit for a big head, because the rotating cups let the earpieces sit flat against your ears. The Skullcandy Hesh ANC is lighter at 228 g, which helps if weight is your main complaint.
what headphones are good for people with big heads
You want an over-ear design with adjustable, pressure-distributing structure. Both are over-ear with 40mm drivers and a 3.5mm jack, but the Space One's integrated headband is specifically described as distributing pressure evenly for prolonged wear, which is the feature to prioritize.
which headphones are best for big heads
In my opinion the Space One edges it for fit, but the Hesh ANC's 228 g weight and folding frame make it the better pick if you want something light that disappears on your head — just expect 22 hours of battery instead of 40. If price is the deciding factor, check the current price on Amazon before you commit.
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