Mu6 Space 2 – Wireless over-ear headphones with ANC in practical test

The Chinese audio specialist Mu6 (pronounced Musix) is still relatively new on the market and its marketing gives the impression of an independent brand. According to Chinese technology portals, the already established smartphone manufacturer Xiaomi is behind the company. We have subjected the flagship Mu6 Space 2 to an extensive practical test for you and tried out whether the competition from the Far East can be dangerous to the high-end products from Bose, Sennheiser and Co.

At present, the Mu6 Space 2 headphones cost around 250 Euro, while their wireless predecessor Mu6 Space 1 is already available for 149 Euro. Competitive products such as the Sony WH-1000XM3, which many reviewers regard as the reference in the ANC headphone segment, are considerably more expensive.

Technical details

Scope of delivery

The Mu6 Space 2 over-ear headphones come in a high-quality black packaging. In addition to the actual headphones, the carton also contains a zippered transport case, which is also black. The scope of delivery is rounded off by a USB cable for charging the internal battery and an audio cable with a 3.5 mm jack plug, for optional wired operation. The Quick Start Guide is available in German, English and other languages and is very easy to understand. The first impression of the Mu6 Space 2 is therefore very positive.

For some editorial offices, a holding stand with charging function was also included in the scope of delivery. This is missing in our version of the Mu6 Space 2, though. Buyers who value this extra should therefore pay attention to it before buying, because apparently there are different “equipment variants” of the Mu6 Space 2.

Quality of material and workmanship

The Mu6 Space 2 consists almost entirely of solid looking plastic. Only the adjustment mechanism integrated in the bracket for size adjustment is made of metal. This is also common in the more expensive competition. Overall, the materials and especially the excellent haptics confirm the positive first impression.

Also the quality of workmanship doesn’t have to hide from my beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO studio headphones. At Mu6, the reputation of “Chinese junk”, which electronics from the Far East had long been attached to, seems to be finally over. Mistakes in the cut-outs and connections, sharp edges or wobbly components can be found in vain with Mu6 Space 2.

Design – Clone of the Sony WH-1000XM3?

As is so often the case with Chinese products, Mu6 has clearly oriented itself to the class leader Sony WH-1000XM3. This is especially evident in the position of the touchpad and buttons, which were adopted almost 1-to-1 on the Mu6 Space 2. The headphones, which are only available in black, therefore almost look like a copy of the Sony product, which doesn’t detract from the simple but quite good design.

Sound and microphone quality

In the Mu6 Space 2, dynamic 40 mm drivers are responsible for the sound. Compared to two wired headphones from Sennheiser and beyerdynamic, the sound is less bass heavy. This is due to the factory tuning of the sound profile. Users who need a little “boom” when listening to music or playing games can use the app-controlled equalizer to significantly increase the bass.

The Mu6 Space 2’s well-balanced midrange is particularly noticeable, which makes voices and vocals appear powerful and lively. Thanks to the wide frequency band, the high frequency range is also well covered. All in all, the Mu6 Space 2 thus offers a clearly defined and balanced sound image that brings the most diverse musical genres to life in high resolution.

Control and further features

In addition to the design, the operation of the Mu6 Space 2 is almost 1-to-1 “borrowed” from the Sony WH-1000XM3. The headphones are controlled by two control buttons in the left ear cup, which serve as on/off button and to activate the ANC.

A touchpad is also built into the right auricle, which takes up almost the entire side of the handset. All central functions of the Mu6 Space 2 can be controlled with simple wiping gestures. This can be done intuitively after a few minutes of use and can be done without looking at it.

Additionally, the Mu6 Space 2 has an innovative play/pause function, which even the Sony model doesn’t have. An infrared sensor in the left auricle automatically detects whether the headphones are on your ears or have just been taken off and automatically pauses or activates the music playback. This function was also convincing in our test. Only if the headphones are not completely removed but only put around the neck, the function does not always pause the music.

Further settings, including the addressed equalizer, can be controlled via Mu6’s smartphone app.

• Mu6 Connect App for Android
• Mu6 Connect App for iOS

The app ran without errors during the test. Another positive aspect is that a German version is already available. Other Chinese manufacturers often don’t supply it at all.

Active Noise Cancelling (ANC)

The Mu6 Space 2 features Hybrid Active Noise Cancelling, which uses microphones outside the auricles and inside the auricles. This allows ambient and background noise to be recorded in even greater detail to produce precise anti-noise.

Active Noise Cancelling: Headphones with ANC have built-in microphones that pick up ambient noise. From this information, the headphones generate a so-called counter-noise in real time, which is reproduced via the drivers. Ideally, this cancels out the sound waves of the ambient noises so that they are no longer audible by the wearer.

The ANC technology was fully convincing in the Mu6 Space 2. Both low and monotone sounds (e.g. car or train noise) and high and varied sounds (e.g. conversations, films) are almost completely eliminated by the Mu6 Space 2. In almost all situations, music can be heard undisturbed, regardless of the environment.

In addition, the Mu6 Space 2 implements the so-called transparent mode via the microphones, in which the recordings of all microphones are played back unfiltered. Without headphones, background noises that are difficult to detect become much clearer. This is useful, for example, when using headphones and wanting to talk to a person for a short time without taking them off. The transparent mode is activated either permanently or by touching the control element.

Wearing comfort

The Mu6 Space 2 is surprisingly light at 290 g. Thanks to the well-padded and large ear cups and the soft frame, the headphones are still comfortable even after several hours. This is not a matter of course, especially for glasses wearers. Nevertheless, the headphones are still firmly seated and always stay in place even when moving around.

Battery life

The headphones have an 800 mAh battery that can be charged with the supplied USB-C cable. One charge takes about four hours. Unfortunately, the Mu6 Space 2 does not have a quick charge function.

With ANC enabled and a medium volume, we were able to use the headphones for at least 15 hours in our test with one battery charge. Disabling ANC increases the battery life to about 20 hours.

Connectivity

Thanks to the current Bluetooth 5 standard, the headphones in our test could be easily connected to a number of smartphones. According to the manufacturer, the range is up to 10 meters. We can also confirm this range in buildings, on walls and other obstacles. So, you can walk around inside an apartment with the Mu6 Space 2 without any problems and without breaking the connection.

Alternatively, the Mu6 Space 2 can also be connected via a supplied 2.5mm to 3.5mm jack plug cable if the headphones are to be used in a stationary position on a computer or TV for example.

Conclusion

The Mu6 Space 2 is a clear recommendation to buy for mobile use as well as for home use, which does not have to hide from somewhat more expensive products of the well-known premium manufacturers.

Especially the good workmanship and the numerous features, which can be used without problems thanks to the intelligently solved handling, could convince in our test. Also the sound could more than convince after a short revision of the preset equalizer.