Soundcore Sport X10 by Anker

A special feature of the Soundcore Sport X10 is the 210-degree swivelling earpieces, which allow these wireless sports earphones to be folded up and transported in the charging case to save space. When in the wearing position, the earpieces ensure a comfortable fit with a high level of support, as the design has a stabilising effect and, at the same time, takes the strain off the auditory canal. In addition, the fit can be individually adjusted with the help of the enclosed selection of ear tips in five sizes. These sports headphones do not seem large or clunky, and at seven grams per side, the system is also quite light for a bracket design. The earphones are also robust enough for sports use thanks to their sweat- and water-resistant design in accordance with IPX7.

Battery life

Power-wise, Soundcore Sport X10s offer seven and a half hours of listening time per charge at higher volumes. This is reduced to five hours and 15 minutes when ANC mode is used. In their compact case, which weighs only 40 grams, these earphones can be fully charged three times and charged a further time to around 80 per cent before an external power source is required. This gives a total runtime of 36 hours in basic mode and 25 hours and 30 minutes with noise cancellation. The practical quick charge feature provides capacity for two and a half hours after ten minutes of power up, and these in-ears are also fully charged again quite quickly; this takes about 60 minutes. The battery reserve of the case can be restored in two hours, for which a USB-C to USB-A charging cable is included.

Operation

In the open, these sports earphones achieve a Bluetooth range of up to 22 metres, while inside buildings, a distance of 12 metres can be spanned through several rooms. Pairing the Soundcore Sport X10 can be done directly by opening the case; this turns the in-ears on and puts them into pairing mode. Putting them back in the charger switches the system off. Alternatively, the earphones can be switched off and on again manually by pressing and holding the button. Single-sided use is possible in single mode, but multipoint connections (two devices at the same time) are not supported.

Once a wireless connection is established, the volume can be decreased by pressing the left button and increased via the right headphone. In addition, calls can be accepted on both sides with a single press. Pressing the left button twice is used in the factory setting to skip forward the track selection, while the right headphone controls the playback. Holding down the button switches between basic mode and noise cancellation, and transparency mode can also be added via the app. The button assignment of these sports headphones is not completely freely configurable, as pressing once is reserved for volume control, and the voice assistant is only listed in single mode. Apart from these limitations, however, the remote can be adapted to one’s own needs. It is noticeable that the control is not instant but has a short delay, which can take some getting used to. At the same time, the buttons have a low pressure resistance and are quite smooth-running.

Soundcore app

The app (Android and iOS) for the Soundcore Sport X10 provides sound control that offers an extensive selection of 20 pre-configured settings for different genres such as pop, rock or hip-hop, podcasts and spoken content, as well as an adjustment for boosted or attenuated treble, etc. The basic sound can also be adjusted to the desired level. In addition, the BassUp function can be activated with the basic sound, while an EQ with eight bands enables custom settings that can be saved as a pre-set.

The breathing exercises section can also help you warm up before and relax after sports. This is complemented with modes for falling asleep or reducing stress in everyday life, and these can be limited with a timer and accompanied by relaxing background sounds. In addition to the button assignment, firmware updates are also possible via the app. A wind noise reduction can be switched on in the settings. Switching between standard mode, ANC mode and ambient mode can also be done via the app. There is an option that allows you to set up a widget that provides direct access to ambient noise control.

Speech quality during phone calls

These sports earpieces can be used to make flawless phone calls, and they even work quite well with a busy background, as ambient noise is noticeably attenuated by the microphone technology. Here, the focus of the transmission is on the user’s own voice. Considering their price range, the Soundcore Sport X10 also pleasantly surprised us when dealing with wind noise, which was effectively filtered when the function was activated in the app.

Noise cancellation and ambient mode

When the ANC mode was switched on, slight background noise was noticeable, but it did not affect playback. The noise cancelling function of the Soundcore Sport X10 noticeably attenuated sounds in the low and medium frequency range, while high-frequency sources hardly seemed to be reduced at all. The noise of a lawn mower, for example, was muffled quite well and voices receded further into the background. Birdsong or distinctive ringing tones, on the other hand, came through for the most part.

In transparency mode, the background noise increased, which was certainly a shortcoming. Otherwise, outside noises were helpfully amplified, which increased one’s own safety, especially during outdoor activities, as these sports earphones shielded quite strongly from the surroundings. When paused, announcements were understandable without having to remove the in-ears.

Sound

The basic tuning of the Soundcore Sport X10 had a powerful bass response that reaches down low and has some fullness. A little precision was lost in the lowest regions, but otherwise, the bass foundation sounded well defined and made for a fun-oriented reproduction. The midrange was also appealingly tidy and clear, which had a positive effect on the intelligibility of voices, which came across as lively and fresh. Sibilants were not softened but did not sound obtrusive either. While the upper ranges seemed rather restrained at moderate volume settings, the treble representation gained presence with increased playback level, which opened up the sound. At room volume, the tuning seemed coherent and round. If, on the other hand, you want to use these sports headphones for meditation or generally prefer a lower volume, you can raise the upper frequency range a little with the EQ. Conversely, minor peaks can be avoided by lowering the treble slightly when the volume is turned up loud.

When the BassUp function was active, the playback seemed more direct overall, and this was particularly noticeable with voices that were centred forward and can also drive energetically during outdoor sports. In addition, the bass foundation gained more substance, resulting in a fuller, richer sound. However, depending on the style of music, the bass reproduction can also be a little too powerful, so personal preferences should be employed to decide whether the sound tuning suits your playlist.