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Active noise cancelling (ANC) headphones use microphones to pick up outside sound and cancel the steady part of it, such as engine drone, before it reaches your ears. The over-ear models below differ most in battery life with ANC switched on, how many microphones they use, whether they support the LDAC codec for high-resolution Bluetooth audio, and whether they connect to two devices at once.
Every specification on this page comes from the manufacturer’s own product page, checked on 26 October 2026. We have not used these products ourselves, so the picks are based on published specifications only.
For how ANC works and what battery figures mean, read how active noise cancellation works, headphone battery life explained and headphones for travel.
How we chose these
- Over-ear with ANC.
- Battery life published with ANC on and off.
- Quick-charge figure, driver size and connection features stated.
- App with EQ for adjusting the sound.
Battery figures are the makers’ maximums; volume and features change them. Noise reduction percentages are the makers’ claims and are not measured the same way across brands.
Comparison table
| Headphones | Battery (ANC on / off) | Quick charge | Drivers | LDAC | ANC mics | Multipoint |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| soundcore Q20i | 40 h / 60 h | Not stated in text | 40 mm dynamic | No (not stated) | 2 internal + 2 external | Yes (2 devices) |
| Skullcandy Hesh 540 ANC | 50 h / 65 h | 10 min = 4 h | 40 mm | Not stated | 4-mic adjustable ANC | Yes |
| Skullcandy Crusher 1080 ANC | 50 h / 60 h | 10 min = 4 h | 36 mm | Not stated | Bose QuietControl ANC | Yes |
| soundcore Space 2 | 50 h / 70 h | 5 min = 4 h | 40 mm double-layer diaphragm | Yes | Not stated in text | Yes |
| soundcore Q31i | 50 h / 80 h | 10 min = 10 h | 40 mm silk and ceramic | Yes | 4-mic adaptive ANC | Not stated in text |
| soundcore Space 2 Pro | 30 h / 60 h | See soundcore | 40 mm double-layer diaphragm | Not stated in text | 8-mic Adaptive ANC 3.0 | Not stated in text |
“Not stated” means the product page text does not say; the feature may still exist.
1. soundcore Q20i: for a simple first ANC pair
The Q20i uses hybrid ANC, with two internal and two external microphones, which soundcore says reduces up to 90% of ambient noise such as planes and traffic. It runs 40 hours with ANC on and 60 hours without, connects to two devices at once over Bluetooth 5.0, and has a transparency mode for hearing your surroundings.
- soundcore app with 22 EQ presets or a custom EQ (soundcore).
Pros: multipoint; transparency mode; app EQ.
Cons: shortest ANC-on battery here; no LDAC mentioned.
Check the soundcore Q20i on Amazon
2. Skullcandy Hesh 540 ANC: for spatial audio and a long battery
Hesh 540 ANC pairs adjustable 4-mic noise cancelling with THX Spatial Audio. Skullcandy lists 50 hours with ANC on and 65 hours with it off, and a 10-minute rapid charge for 4 hours. It folds flat and collapses for travel.
- Impedance 36 Ω; 5-band custom EQ plus 3 presets in the Skullcandy app (Skullcandy).
Pros: long ANC-on battery; spatial audio; folds flat.
Cons: no LDAC mentioned.
Check the Skullcandy Hesh 540 ANC on Amazon
3. Skullcandy Crusher 1080 ANC: for adjustable haptic bass
Crusher 1080 ANC combines Skullcandy’s adjustable Crusher Bass with what Skullcandy calls Sound by Bose audio technology and Bose QuietControl noise cancelling. It supports Bluetooth 5.3 with LE Audio and Auracast, multipoint pairing, and three Crusher bass profiles plus a 5-band EQ in the app.
- Weight 374.2 g; impedance 36 Ω; frequency response 20 Hz to 20 kHz (Skullcandy).
Pros: adjustable bass you can feel; Bluetooth 5.3 with Auracast; folds flat.
Cons: built around bass; no LDAC mentioned; smallest drivers here.
Check the Skullcandy Crusher 1080 ANC on Amazon
4. soundcore Space 2: for travel and low-frequency noise
soundcore built the Space 2 around a 4-stage ANC system aimed at low-frequency noise such as jet engines, with memory-foam protein leather cushions for long wear. It supports Hi-Res Audio and LDAC, connects to two devices, and has a Nap Mode in the app with built-in white-noise soundscapes.
- 5-minute charge for 4 hours of listening (soundcore).
Pros: long battery; LDAC; fast top-up; white-noise mode.
Cons: microphone count for ANC not stated in the page text.
Check the soundcore Space 2 on Amazon
5. soundcore Q31i: for the longest battery
The Q31i has the longest battery here, up to 80 hours with ANC off and 50 with it on, and a 10-minute charge adds 10 hours. Its 4-mic adaptive ANC adjusts in real time to the room and your fit, which soundcore says accounts for glasses and hair. It is Hi-Res Audio and Hi-Res Wireless certified with LDAC.
- Three call mics with AI noise reduction; HearID 5.0, 4 EQ modes, 3D spatial audio and 5 ANC levels in the app (soundcore).
Pros: longest battery and best quick charge here; LDAC; adaptive ANC.
Cons: multipoint not mentioned in the page text.
Check the soundcore Q31i on Amazon
6. soundcore Space 2 Pro: for calls and mixed office noise
Space 2 Pro is soundcore’s call-focused model. A Thus AI chip drives a 6-microphone array for voice separation, and Adaptive ANC 3.0 uses 8 microphones to cancel mixed noise such as voices and keyboards. soundcore lists 60 hours of listening, 30 with ANC on, and 20 hours of talk time.
- Quick-charge figures on soundcore’s comparison table are not clearly assigned to each model, so check the product page.
Pros: most microphones here for ANC and calls; 20 h talk time.
Cons: lowest ANC-on battery of the soundcore models here.
Check the soundcore Space 2 Pro on Amazon
Which one fits you
| You | Look at | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Fly often | soundcore Space 2 or Q31i | Long ANC-on battery and LDAC |
| Take many calls | soundcore Space 2 Pro | 6-mic call array and 8-mic ANC |
| Want strong bass | Skullcandy Crusher 1080 ANC | Adjustable Crusher Bass |
| Use a laptop and a phone together | soundcore Q20i, Space 2, Skullcandy Hesh 540 or Crusher 1080 | Multipoint pairing listed |
Practical tips
- LDAC needs a phone or player that supports it; see battery life explained for what the battery figures mean.
- On models with a transparency mode, such as the Q20i, switch to it when you need to hear your surroundings.
Sources
Specifications from each manufacturer’s product page, checked 26 October 2026: soundcore Q20i, Skullcandy Hesh 540 ANC, Skullcandy Crusher 1080 ANC, soundcore Space 2, soundcore Q31i, soundcore Space 2 Pro. Makers can change specifications; check the product page before you buy.
