How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want a bulk set of passive earmuffs that protects a whole group of kids at once, choose Amylove 12; if you need a single pair of wireless Bluetooth headphones with real active noise cancelling for travel, choose Xmenha ANC.
• Amylove 12 biggest strength: 12 pairs in one purchase, each rated for up to 27dB of passive noise reduction, sized for ages 2–16 with an adjustable headband.
• Amylove 12 biggest trade-off: It's passive protection only — no battery, no Bluetooth, no music. It blocks sound, it doesn't play any.
• Xmenha ANC biggest strength: True hybrid active noise cancelling with dual-microphone ANC rated for up to 30dB, plus Bluetooth audio and a rotate-to-adjust volume control.
• Xmenha ANC biggest trade-off: It's one pair of headphones for one person, built for adults and teens rather than small children.
• Who Amylove 12 is for: parents, teachers and event organizers who need dependable hearing protection for several kids at once.
• Who Xmenha ANC is for: an adult traveler, commuter or gamer who wants to cancel noise and listen to something at the same time.
The Amylove 12 is a different category of product than most shoppers expect when they search for noise cancelling headphones. It's a 12-count set of shooting-style earmuffs made from 50% sponge and 50% ABS, and its noise control is listed as passive noise cancellation. That means there's no electronics involved at all — the padded ear cups and the seal around your ears do the work. Amylove rates the reduction at up to 27dB, which is meaningful in genuinely loud places: fireworks, truck shows, concerts, sporting events, airplane cabins, yard work and shooting practice.
What makes this set genuinely useful is the group angle. Twelve pairs means a classroom, a school testing session, a field trip, a large family or a community program can hand out protection to everyone at once instead of rationing two pairs between fifteen kids. The size range is stated as 2–16, with a universal fit that stretches up to smaller adults, and the adjustable headband plus rotating ear cups let you actually dial in a seal — which matters, because passive protection only works as well as its fit. Amylove also positions these specifically for children with autism or sensory processing needs, where a calmer, quieter environment can make crowded settings, assemblies and travel more manageable.
Xmenha ANC: Who It's For
The Xmenha ANC is the conventional product in this comparison, and that's not a criticism — it's a proper pair of over-ear wireless headphones with hybrid active noise cancelling. Two microphones listen to the noise around you and the headphones generate a counter-signal in real time, rated for up to 30dB of cancellation. Because the driver is a hybrid type, you're getting both the active cancellation and a full audio experience on top of it. Bluetooth handles the connection, and there's also a 3.5mm jack if you'd rather go wired.
Two design choices stand out. The first is the control scheme: instead of hunting for tiny buttons, you rotate either ear cup to raise or lower the volume. It sounds like a gimmick until you picture yourself on a packed train with gloves on — it's a genuinely thoughtful touch for a touch-control headphone. The second is the folding, ultra-light build. The Xmenha folds flat into a compact case, which is exactly what you want if this is going in a carry-on or a backpack pocket. At roughly 18 grams by the listed item weight, it's built to disappear on your head during long sessions.
There's also ENC on the microphone side, which is a different job from ANC: it suppresses background noise on your end so the person you're talking to hears your voice rather than the café. Combined with the ANC, this is a headphone aimed squarely at flights, commutes, gym sessions and gaming.
The honest trade-offs: it's one pair for one person, and the listed age range description points to an adult audience. The enclosure is plastic and the color is green, with no other options noted. If you need protection for a five-year-old, this isn't the product — the fit and the intended user are simply different.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for protecting multiple kids at once → Amylove 12. Twelve pairs, one purchase, ages 2–16.
• Best for a loud event with children present → Amylove 12. Fireworks, concerts and sporting events are named use cases, and 27dB passive reduction needs no charging.
• Best for flights and commuting as an adult → Xmenha ANC. Foldable, ultra-light, and the ANC is designed for exactly that environment.
• Best for calls → Xmenha ANC. ENC microphone noise reduction is built in; the Amylove has no microphone at all.
• Best for classrooms, testing and donations → Amylove 12. The 12-count format is the entire point of the product.
• Best for sensory relief and autism support → Amylove 12. Amylove designs these specifically for sensory processing needs.
• Best for gym and gaming → Xmenha ANC. Wireless, touch-controlled, over-ear, with a hybrid driver.
• Best for zero maintenance → Amylove 12. Nothing to charge, nothing to pair, nothing to update.
In my opinion, these two products barely compete — they solve different problems, and the right answer depends entirely on who's wearing them. If I needed hearing protection for a group of children, a classroom or an event, I'd buy the Amylove 12 without hesitation: twelve pairs, 27dB of passive reduction, a fit range from toddler to smaller adult, and no batteries to think about. If I were buying for myself — a flight, a commute, a noisy office — I'd buy the Xmenha ANC. Hybrid active cancelling up to 30dB, Bluetooth audio, ENC for calls and a fold-flat design is simply the more useful package for one adult. Pick by user, not by spec sheet.
how to active noise cancelling headphones work
Active noise cancelling headphones use microphones to sample the noise around you, then play an inverted sound wave through the drivers to cancel it out. The Xmenha ANC does this with dual-microphone hybrid ANC, rated for up to 30dB of reduction. Passive designs like the Amylove 12 work differently — they simply block sound with padded cups and a tight seal.
how to activate noise cancelling headphones
On a wireless ANC headphone like the Xmenha ANC, cancellation is normally switched on with the headphone's own controls once it's powered and paired — the exact gesture depends on the model, so check the manufacturer's instructions. The Amylove 12 has no switch at all, because its noise reduction is passive. You just put it on and adjust the headband for a proper seal.
JBL models aren't part of this comparison, so I can't speak to their controls. The principle carries over, though: ANC headphones need power and a dedicated button or touch control to engage cancellation, and the specific method varies by brand. Neither product here is a JBL, so follow the manual that ships with whichever headphone you buy.
Is the Amylove 12 the same as active noise cancelling headphones?
No. The Amylove 12 is listed as passive noise cancellation — 12 pairs of earmuffs rated for up to 27dB of reduction, with no electronics, Bluetooth or audio. If you specifically want active noise cancelling you're listening through, the Xmenha ANC is the one that fits that description.
A reasonable approach is to buy each for its own job — the Amylove 12 for children and group settings, the Xmenha ANC for your own travel and listening. They don't overlap, so owning both isn't redundant. Check the current price on Amazon for each before deciding how to split your budget.
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See also: Yunsailing 9 vs Amylove 6: Noise Cancelling Headphones, Amylove 12 vs ZIHNIC Active Noise Canceling: Active Noise, Monster Persona 5th vs GNMN Active Noise Cancelling