We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-06 · 8 min read · Independent comparison
If you want a wired gaming headset built for marathon sessions and adjustable enough to actually fit a large head, choose SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1P; if you need wireless freedom, strong active noise cancelling, and long battery life for travel or work, choose Anker Soundcore Space One. That's the short version. The longer version matters a lot if you're shopping for a household where one person has a bigger-than-average head — or where you're hunting for something like a headphone for toddlers and wondering whether either of these is even the right category. (Spoiler: neither is a toddler product, and if you're specifically after the best bluetooth earbuds for toddlers, you're in the wrong aisle entirely.) This comparison focuses on what each headset actually is: a wired multi-platform gaming headset versus a wireless ANC travel headphone, and how they behave on a big head.
• SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1P — biggest strength: Wired 3.5mm multi-platform gaming audio with 360° spatial sound, a retractable noise-cancelling mic, and a ComfortMAX system with four points of adjustability that makes it genuinely big-head friendly.
• SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1P — biggest trade-off: It's wired, so you're tethered to your console, PC, or controller, and it has no real active noise cancelling for noisy commutes.
• Anker Soundcore Space One — biggest strength: Adaptive active noise cancelling with five adjustable levels, 40 hours of ANC playtime, and Bluetooth 5.3 wireless freedom with LDAC hi-res audio.
• Anker Soundcore Space One — biggest trade-off: Its fit relies on 8° rotating ear cups and an integrated headband rather than a wide range of size adjustment, which can matter on very large heads.
• Who each pick is for: Go Arctis Nova 1P if you game on PS5, PC, Xbox, or Switch and want a wired, adjustable, lightweight headset. Go Soundcore Space One if you want wireless ANC listening for travel, commuting, or work.
The Arctis Nova 1P is, first and foremost, a gaming headset. SteelSeries built it around a wired 3.5mm connection that works across PlayStation, PC, Xbox, Switch, and mobile devices, and paired that with 360° spatial audio that's compatible with Tempest 3D Audio on PS5 and Microsoft Spatial Sound. If you play games where directional cues matter — footsteps, reloads, voice lines — that spatial layer is the whole point. There's also a Pro-grade Parametric EQ you can tune through Sonar software, plus on-board volume and mute controls right on the headset.
For big heads, the interesting part is the ComfortMAX System. SteelSeries lists four points of adjustability, height-adjusting and rotating earcups, AirWeave memory foam cushions, and a stretchy suspension-style band. The band distributes weight rather than clamping, and the earcups slide up and rotate to sit flat against your ears. That combination is exactly what people with larger heads tend to need: range of motion plus even pressure instead of a fixed clamp. At 236g, it's also lighter than the Soundcore Space One, which helps over long sessions. The company's own description says the height-adjustable earcups work for "any head size," which is marketing language, but the adjustable design backs it up in a way many fixed-frame headsets don't.
The mic deserves a mention too. The ClearCast Gen 2 is bidirectional and SteelSeries says it reduces background noise by up to 25dB, and it fully retracts into the earcup when you're not using it. If you share a room, game late, or take calls, that matters.
Who should buy it: Console and PC gamers who want one wired headset that works everywhere, value a retractable boom mic, and need adjustable fit for a larger head. Who should skip it: Anyone who wants wireless listening, real active noise cancelling, or a headphone primarily for music on the go. This is a gaming tool, not a travel companion. And to be clear, it is not a gaming headset for toddlers — the age range description is listed as Adult, and the mic, cabling, and open-back-ish design aren't built for small children.
The Soundcore Space One is a different animal entirely. Anker designed it as a wireless over-ear headphone with adaptive active noise cancelling that auto-calibrates to your environment and to how well the headphones are sitting on your ears. Anker specifically calls out low-frequency, continuous noise — engine rumble, air conditioning, train drone — as its strong suit, and you get five adjustable ANC levels through the soundcore app. If you fly, commute by train, or work in a busy café, that's the feature you're paying for, not gaming audio.
Audio-wise, it uses 40mm customized dynamic drivers with LDAC support for hi-res wireless playback over Bluetooth 5.3. LDAC carries more data than standard Bluetooth codecs, which Anker says translates to roughly 3X more detail — a claim worth treating as directional rather than gospel, but the codec support itself is a real, checkable spec. Battery is where it shines: 40 hours with ANC on, 55 hours with ANC off, and a charge time listed at 40 hours (that figure reads oddly in the spec sheet, so treat the playtime numbers as the ones that matter).
Fit is the part big-head shoppers need to weigh carefully. Anker describes 8° rotating ear cups that "conform to the contours of any head" and a soft integrated headband that spreads pressure evenly. Rotating cups help with seal and comfort, and even pressure is good for long wear. But there's no mention of a sliding height adjustment or a suspension band like the Arctis has — the design leans on flex and rotation rather than expandable range. At 259g, it's also about 23g heavier than the SteelSeries. On a very large head, that combination can mean a tighter, more pressure-dependent fit, and since ANC performance depends partly on a good seal, fit directly affects how well the noise cancelling works. The latte cream colorway and included carrying case (1.6 oz) point clearly at travel use.
Who should buy it: Commuters, travelers, and remote workers who want wireless ANC, long battery, and hi-res Bluetooth audio. Who should skip it: Competitive gamers who need low-latency wired audio and a boom mic, and anyone whose main concern is maximum fit adjustability for an unusually large head.
• Best for big heads → SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1P. Four points of adjustability, height-adjusting rotating earcups, a stretchy band, and a lighter 236g build give it more fit range than the Space One's rotating-cup design.
• Best for gaming → SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1P. 360° spatial audio, Tempest 3D/Microsoft Spatial Sound support, a parametric EQ, and a retractable 25dB noise-reducing mic.
• Best for noise cancelling → Anker Soundcore Space One. Adaptive ANC with five levels, tuned for continuous low-frequency noise.
• Best for battery life → Anker Soundcore Space One. 40 hours with ANC on and 55 hours with ANC off, versus a wired headset that draws no battery at all but keeps you tethered.
• Best for travel and commuting → Anker Soundcore Space One. Wireless Bluetooth 5.3, LDAC hi-res, a carrying case, and ANC built for trains and planes.
• Best for multi-platform flexibility → SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1P. One 3.5mm jack covers PS5, PS4, PC, Xbox, Switch, and mobile.
• Best for calls and voice clarity → SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1P. A dedicated bidirectional boom mic beats a built-in mic array for gaming chat and voice comms.
• Best for music-first listening → Anker Soundcore Space One. LDAC hi-res wireless and a 40mm dynamic driver tuned for detail.
In my opinion, the right pick comes down to one question: do you need a wire or not? If your priority is a gaming headset that fits a big head comfortably, stays light at 236g, and gives you spatial audio plus a real boom mic across every console you own, I'd buy the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1P. If your priority is wireless ANC, 40+ hours of battery, and hi-res Bluetooth for travel and work, I'd buy the Anker Soundcore Space One. For the big-head shopper specifically, the Arctis Nova 1P's four-point adjustability gives it the edge. Neither is a headphone for toddlers, and neither is a substitute for the best bluetooth earbuds for toddlers — those are separate products for a separate job.
what are good headphones for big heads
For a large head, look for adjustable range rather than fixed frames. The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1P offers four points of adjustability, height-adjusting rotating earcups, and a stretchy suspension band, which together give it more fit flexibility than a design that relies only on flex and rotation.
what are the best headphones for big heads
There's no single answer, but among these two, the Arctis Nova 1P is the more big-head-friendly pick because of its adjustable earcups and lighter 236g weight. The Anker Soundcore Space One counters with 8° rotating ear cups and even headband pressure, which suits many heads but offers less expandable range.
what headphones are good for people with big heads
Prioritize headsets with sliding or height-adjustable earcups and even weight distribution. The Arctis Nova 1P checks both boxes at 236g. The Soundcore Space One's rotating cups help with seal, but its fit depends more on flex, so try to confirm the fit if your head runs large.
which headphones are best for big heads
In my opinion, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1P is the safer bet for a big head thanks to its four-point adjustability and lightweight build. If you need wireless ANC and long battery instead, the Soundcore Space One is the better overall headphone — just be aware its fit relies on rotating cups rather than a wide adjustment range.
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