Arc ANC

Over-ear headphones for the commute, the open office and the long flight. Arc ANC uses hybrid active noise cancellation, with microphones inside and outside each ear cup, and a transparency mode for station announcements and quick conversations. The headband arms are anodized aluminum and fold flat for the bag. Two colors: Graphite and Sand.

On a 40-minute light rail commute across Portland, it took the low rumble of the car down by about 25 dB; voices and door chimes come through more, as they do with every ANC headphone. How hybrid ANC works, and where it falls short, is in our commute guide.

On the move

• Up to 40 hr with ANC on and 60 hr off: a week of commutes and evenings between charges
• 10 minutes on USB-C gives 5 hr of playback when you forgot to charge
• Multipoint keeps a laptop and a phone connected at once; a call goes to whichever rings
• LDAC for high-resolution streaming from Android, AAC for iPhone

Sound and fit

• 40 mm bio-cellulose drivers: a light, stiff diaphragm that keeps bass clean at low volume
• Soft ear cushions that stayed cool through a four-hour stretch at the desk
• 9 oz, light enough for a full working day

Before you choose

Graphite and Sand differ only in color; the aluminum arms and everything inside are the same. For the gym or a run, the smaller Pod Mini fits better. Any USB-C charger works, Brick 65 included. Covered by our 2-year warranty.