I've been using the KEF Space One for about 2 months now. In this class (noise canceling headphones between 300 and 500 euros) I have quite a lot of experience with the Sony WH-1000XM2, Bose QC35 and Sennheiser PXC550.
In brief:
Are you looking for headphones with balls, without sacrificing clarity? Then the KEF Space One is definitely worth considering!
Packaging:
The Space ONE comes in a luxurious black box. In the box you will also find a sturdy case. Since the headphones themselves are quite large, so is the case. I haven't used the case myself, but it feels sturdy enough to provide adequate protection when carrying the headphones in your bag or briefcase.
Appearance:
The packaging already shows that the design of this model is important. The headphones themselves are made entirely of metal and (artificial) leather. This ensures a solid-looking, but also sturdy-feeling appearance. The shells are quite large. I personally find this a plus because the headphones fall well over your head, but can be experienced as less attractive.
Operation and use:
The possibilities of the Space One are very limited. There is only a button to turn the noise canceling (and internal amplifier, I suspect) on and off. Although you don't really need much more, this is also the biggest disadvantage. The headphones do not have a battery, but use AAA batteries. On average, a good battery lasts about 35 to 50 hours. However, it does not have an auto-off function when you are not using the headphones. This is very nice for people who also want to use the noise canceling function without music, but it has happened to me before that the batteries are empty after I have not used the headphones for a few days (and have forgotten to turn them off).
Changing the battery also takes some practice. There is a button hidden in the right earcup with which you open the cover. This button is very hard to feel. The first time it took me a really long time to find this button (Tips: the button is right under the pillow, so you don't have to push your finger very far. The button sticks out less than other finishes of the shell. Slide so calmly along the edge and feel with each recess whether it is stuck or whether this is the button). The manual shows the location of the button pretty well, but because the button is so hard to find, I couldn't find it right away.
wearing comfort:
I can be brief about this. I find the Space One very comfortable. The headphones fit well on my head and close well, without pinching. The ear cups automatically turn to the contours of your head, which ensures that the pressure is evenly distributed. However, because these headphones are heavier and have a tighter seal, they are not as comfortable as, for example, the Quietcomfort 35 from Bose.
Sound quality:
The first thing you notice is that the Space One has a solid, but tight sound. It seems as if KEF has deliberately made headphones that will appeal to a very wide audience. In other words, these headphones have a good portion of bass, without sacrificing clarity and definition in the highs. Apart from this layer, the headphones have a fairly honest character. Although I'm personally not a fan of a lot of bass, I always find it a nice change to put the Space One on and enjoy the firmer sound (than the average neutral headphones).
To start with the low end: the Space One has a solid bass. It has more bass than the somewhat flatter models such as the PXC550. However, this is at no time at the expense of the highs. It is also noticeable that the low tones remain tight and defined. With heavy rock songs, EDM or other 'bass-heavy' styles, these headphones give a nice solid punch, without being messy.
In this segment you often see that the headphones with some extra bass perform poorly in the high tones. Not with the Space Ones. The highs sound clear and defined. Cymbals, string sounds and echoes all continue to come through beautifully. The sound is imo a little less open than the WH-1000XM2, but here too I must say that I have never experienced that as disturbing at any time.
It is also noticeable in the stereo image that the Space One has chosen to create a tighter sound than I am used to from other 'serious' brands. Personally, I prefer a wider stereo image than the Space One gives. At this point, the WH-1000XM2 beats the Space One.
Noise canceling:
Are you looking for the best noise cacelling? Then you would rather look at the WH-1000XM2 or the Quietcomfort 35. The noise canceling of the Space One is good, but not exceptionally good. On the other hand, the closing ear cups already offer a lot of attenuation of ambient noise. I also notice that there is no noise or distortion of the highest tones, as can be the case with the other models mentioned. I only use this model in the office. For me, these headphones offer more than enough noise canceling and the advantage is that this is not at the expense of the listening experience.
Conclusion:
I said it before: Are you looking for sturdy headphones with a nice Noise Cacelling? Are you looking for the clear sound of headphones above 250 euros, but do you find the other well-known models have too little bass? Then I heartily recommend the Space One!
