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Virtual Headphones
Your headphone collection, virtualized.
DISCLAIMER
The information and images about these conceptual models are purely unofficial, since I'm laying down educated and non-educated guesses on how the future products could be like and what I would like to see.
soundcore Space Two/Q50
Soundcore Space One released on August 28, 2023, but it's not a direct successor to Space Q45. However, judging by the new design choices, it looks like a convincing budget version of the Space Q50.
The future product may potentially become available on August 22, 2024 at a retail price of US$ 179.99, which is the next generation of Space Q45. Would like to see the fork hinge design return from the Life headphones or be similar as Space One, since they provide better articulation. The overall design will be similar to the Space One with a better, more solid feel mainly due to the aluminum alloy hinges.
The Space Two/Q50 will have a richer, more refined sound performance. Would be great to see Full-Band EQ (debuted in Motion X600) or Spatial Audio to further justify the 30$ increase. Would also like to see the integration of Google Fast Pair and wearing detection like the Space One.
The separate plastic mold from Space Q45 that comes in its case is no more. The molding will be built into the case, with a storage spot for cables. Otherwise, it will be made from a eco-friendly material, and that includes a slightly smaller packaging due to their environmental efforts to substantially decrease plastic usage, starting with the release of Liberty 4 NC. The hard-shell case will probably be made out of fabric.
The EQ shift is less noticeable than the Space Q45, and the noise floor when setting ambient modes close to max on the Q45 is no longer audible or at least minimized. The ANC effectiveness creeps closer to Sony WH-1000XM4 and even XM5 territory, thanks to Adaptive ANC 2.0, which is advertised to cancel around 98.5% of external noise. Transparency is slightly improved, still nowhere near as effective as the AirPods Max.
The battery life would likely be the same, since it's already impressive.
The color options could be Midnight Black (debut color), Space Blue and Cream White.
The following images will show the potential design of the Space Two/Q50 (or at least how I would like the future product to look like), compared to its predecessor (the left image is the concept look before the release of Space One, and the right image is the look after Space One. The last image is the actual look of the released product):
What to rectify?
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The model name is Space One Pro, which released on September 5, 2024.
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​Does not come with a Full-Band EQ but it comes with HearID 2.0.​​
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​The Adaptive ANC technology is 3.0.
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Battery life is the same as the Life series of headphones, with double the charging speed.
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​The headphones debuted in Latte Cream.
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It comes with a rubberized soft pouch, the hard-shell case or the "Space One Pro case" are separate purchases.
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The hinge design from the Space Q45 has been carried over.
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The EQ shift is equally as noticeable.
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The retail price is $199.99.
The Space Two/Q50 has a slimmer and more compact profile to fit average-sized heads better, with an elegant unibody headband, and sleeker earcups covering some of the sides of the earpads. The earcup design and hinge is reminiscent of the Life Q20. The bluish accents are more noticeable.
This angle more clearly shows that the Space Two/Q50 has the simple and reliable hinge design from the Life headphones, with a sleeker, more refined look. The headband has a seamless build.
The side profile of the Space Two/Q50 shows that the earcups are slightly more oval (similar to older Life models as well) to minimize the bulkiness.
The concept headphone actually looks like this as a released product. It looks like a mesh of the two comparative design predictions.
Apple AirPods Max 2
The AirPods Max 2nd Generation will probably release in November 5, 2024 at a retail price of around US$ 509, which could integrate adaptive ANC and even adaptive transparency. The adaptive audio technology will debut on the new software update for AirPods Pro 2 which released on September 18, 2023 within the new iOS 17, and could probably make its way into the second generation of AirPods Max. The design may remain nearly untouched, as the improvements are hardware-focused; but the color options could be different (debut color will be White).
Apple would make an effort to decrease weight and even clamping force while keeping the same materials.
The sound out of the box would be more refined.
The battery life will be improved, from 20 hours of listening time up to 30 hours. Would like to see an actual on/off button to ditch the ridiculous case which has been generally disregarded by the consumers.
The lightning port will be replaced by USB-C, due to the EU mandate that all companies must sell devices in Europe (this also means globally) with USB-C by Q3 2024.
What to rectify?
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The headphones released on September 20, 2024.
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There's no on/off button.
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The clamping force and weight is the same.
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The retail price is $550.
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No adaptive audio technology.
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The debut color is Midnight Black.
Sony WH-1000XM6
The Sony WH-1000XM6 could potentially release on May 22, 2025 at a retail price of around US$ 400, which improves the ANC and transparency. The design will be nearly identical as well as the color options (Silver would be the debut color), since the improvements will be hardware-focused.
The sound quality would be refined.
The case will likely be the same with some minor changes.
The battery life would be nearly identical as well.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra
I recognize that several outlets were talking about its looming release, which is September 2023 (I think it could be September 21). The retail price could be U$S 479 which puts it between Apple AirPods Max and Sony WH-1000XM5, and would come with improvements or changes such as a sleeker design, touchpad interaction, a foldable design which makes for more portable traveling, improved ANC and transparency, refined sound performance (likely with LDAC codec), Spatial Audio and longer battery life (28 hours with ANC).
The case will likely be made out of fabric.
The color options could be Black (debut color) and Beige.
What to rectify?
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The September 21 release goes to the Bose QuietComfort Headphones, which replaces Bose QuietComfort 45, whereas Bose QuietComfort Ultra (replacement of Bose 700) releases on October 3rd (I guessed 5th, as Bose said before that it releases early October).
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The Bose QuietComfort Ultra actually costs U$S 429.
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The battery life is actually 24 hours (without Spatial Audio).
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It didn't come with LDAC, but Qualcomm aptX Adaptive under Snapdragon Sound.
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