If you have an active lifestyle, finding the right headphones to listen to music while you increase your workout performance is a must.
I have been active in CrossFit for the last five years, and I can’t tell you the number of headphones I have destroyed while working out. It’s almost as expensive as my CrossFit shoe addiction, but I’ll save that for another review.
When I had the opportunity to check out the Anker Soundcore Sport X10, the newest and most affordable (at $90) set I could find, I was beyond excited to put these to the test. Let’s talk shop on how these True Wireless headphones held up under pressure.
Design
Let’s start with the design. The Anker Soundcore Sport X10 headphone come in three different color options: black, red, or white.
I went with black because I was afraid they would find themselves on the gym floor, the way I workout. These earbuds where designed with comfort and stability in mind. In order to facilitate that comfortable and secure fit, Anker opted to go with 210-degree rotatable ear hooks to help you find the perfect spot in your ears while also giving you the confidence that they will stay put while you workout.
The headphones ship with five different silicone ear-tips ranging in various sizes to help you find the ideal fit for your ear canal. The wireless earbuds feature a single button control on each of the earbuds for simple operation. With a single press you can raise and lower the volume. With a longer hold you can initiate active noise cancellation. When a call is coming in, a single press on either earbud activates the call, and a two second hold will end it. For more functions, the EQ control the companion app takes the experience to the next level. I’ll talk more about this in the features section below.
Sound
The sound quality on these earbuds honestly shocked me. The low-frequency response on these buds was exceptional. I love a good base beat when I am tackling a high intensity workout, and I need that low end to push me a little harder.
These earbuds did not disappoint when it came to the bass I was expecting. The vocals were clear, and even though the EQ profile seems crafted for a low frequency response, I found the drivers gave a well rounded experience from both the low end to the high end of the frequency spectrum.
The Anker Soundcore Sport X10 earbuds deliver quality active noise cancellation for the price point they sit at. They were highly effective with filtering out low end background noise, a bit less effective on high frequency sounds. Basically I was able to ignore the majority of the gym music that was playing over the loudspeakers while I was working out, but could still pick up on some of the banging and clanging of barbells hitting the lifting rigs, but all in all a good experience for the price point.
Features
Let’s start with the companion app. The latest version of the Soundcore app is available on Android and iOS and features the ability to install firmware updates, switch between ANC On or Off; transparency modes; adjust the layout of the on-ear controls, as well as adjust the EQ and sound profiles.
The IPX7 rating means you can put these earbuds under a meter of water for up to 30 minutes or simply have the ability to rinse them off in the sink which is huge after you have covered them in sweat for an hour each day. The case isn’t waterproof, just something to keep in mind after exposing your earbuds to water. Best to let them dry before tossing them back into the case. Speaking of the case, it provides info about battery status, a USB-C port for charging, and an extra 24 hours of power for your buds if you have exhausted the eight hours of charge they can hold on their own.
Overview
These earbuds were made for the gym! The price point along with the features make them ideal earbuds. I keep in my gym bag or on the go when I am running, swimming, hiking, or hitting the weights.
Only downside would be for those who wear glasses while you do a workout. Depending on your frames or the size of ears you may find the hooks to be intrusive.
All in all I give Anker’s Soundcore Sport X10 a high rating. Hope you enjoy them as much as I have been!
