We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-29 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
If you want a self-contained, travel-ready pair of wireless noise-cancelling headphones, choose Audio Technica ATH-ANC700BT; if you need a pocket-sized USB DAC/amp to unlock lossless audio from a phone, tablet or laptop, choose Questyle M15C. These two products don't actually compete — one is a finished pair of Bluetooth headphones, the other is a wired decoding accessory. The right pick comes down to what you're missing.
• Audio Technica ATH-ANC700BT — biggest strength: a complete, wire-free listening package with QuietPoint active noise cancellation, touch/swipe earcup controls and up to 25 hours of playback per charge.
• Audio Technica ATH-ANC700BT — biggest trade-off: it's Bluetooth 4.1 with a 20 Hz–20 kHz range, so it's built for convenient everyday listening rather than the highest-resolution wired decoding.
• Questyle M15C — biggest strength: a tiny USB-C DAC/amp that decodes up to PCM 384kHz/32bit and DSD256, with both 3.5mm single-ended and 4.4mm balanced outputs plus manual gain adjustment.
• Questyle M15C — biggest trade-off: it makes no sound on its own. You supply the headphones, the source device and the cable, and it only works wired.
• Who each pick is for: the ATH-ANC700BT suits commuters, flyers and anyone who wants one device that just works; the M15C suits listeners who already own good wired headphones and want cleaner, higher-resolution output from a phone or computer.
The ATH-ANC700BT is a finished product in the truest sense. You charge it, pair it over Bluetooth, and you're listening. Its headline feature is QuietPoint active noise cancellation, which uses a proprietary four-microphone multi-feedback system to cut down environmental noise — the kind of thing that matters on a plane, a train or a noisy open office. The controls live in the earcup itself: touch and swipe gestures handle calls, playback and volume, so you rarely need to reach for your phone.
Under the hood you get 40 mm dynamic drivers, an impedance of 35 ohm, a frequency range of 20–20,000 Hz and Bluetooth 4.1 with roughly 10 metres of range. The foldable over-ear design, memory-foam earpads and included protective pouch make it a natural travel companion, and the battery is rated for up to 25 hours of continuous Bluetooth plus ANC use, with up to 1,000 hours on standby. There's also a 1.2 m cable with a 3.5 mm plug in the box, so you can keep listening wired when the battery is low or when you want a cabled connection.
Buy it if you want one pair of headphones that covers commuting, calls and casual listening without extra gear. Skip it if your priority is squeezing maximum resolution out of high-end wired headphones — that's simply not what this model is designed to do.
The M15C is a different animal entirely. It's a portable USB-C headphone amplifier and DAC — a small adapter that sits between your source and your wired headphones. It supports decoding from PCM 16bit/44.1kHz all the way up to 32bit/384kHz, and DSD256, so lossless files actually get decoded properly rather than being downconverted by a phone or laptop's built-in audio.
Two things stand out in the specs. First, dual outputs: a 3.5 mm single-ended jack and a 4.4 mm fully balanced jack, backed by four CMA engines, with manual gain adjustment so you can match the output to your headphones or your taste. Second, a very low noise floor — the design emphasises high signal-to-noise ratio, low distortion and near-zero noise, which is exactly what you want when the source material is quiet and detailed. Questyle also notes MFi certification and compatibility with iOS, Harmony OS, Android 5.1+ and Windows 10+, and the box includes a Type-C to Type-C cable plus a Type-C to USB-A converter.
Buy it if you already own wired headphones and want them to sound their best from a phone, tablet or PC. Skip it if you want wireless convenience or noise cancellation — the M15C does neither. And remember: it needs headphones to do anything at all.
• Best for noise cancellation → Audio Technica ATH-ANC700BT. Its QuietPoint four-microphone system is the whole point of the model.
• Best for wireless freedom → Audio Technica ATH-ANC700BT. Bluetooth 4.1 with touch controls and up to 25 hours per charge.
• Best for travel → Audio Technica ATH-ANC700BT. Foldable design, memory-foam over-ear fit and a protective pouch included.
• Best for lossless/high-resolution decoding → Questyle M15C. PCM up to 384kHz/32bit and DSD256.
• Best for wired headphone owners → Questyle M15C. It upgrades gear you already have instead of replacing it.
• Best for balanced-output listeners → Questyle M15C. 3.5 mm single-ended plus 4.4 mm fully balanced, with manual gain adjustment.
• Best for a single, all-in-one purchase → Audio Technica ATH-ANC700BT. Everything you need is in the box.
• Best if you own a phone with no headphone jack → Questyle M15C. It turns USB-C into a proper headphone output.
In my opinion, most people asking this question should buy the Audio Technica ATH-ANC700BT. It's a complete product: noise cancelling, wireless, touch controls, a 25-hour battery and a travel-friendly fold, all in one box. The Questyle M15C is genuinely excellent at what it does — 384kHz/32bit and DSD256 decoding, dual outputs, a near-silent noise floor — but it's a specialist tool for people who already own serious wired headphones. If that's you, the M15C is the smarter upgrade. If you just want to block out the world and listen, the ATH-ANC700BT is the pick. Check the current price on Amazon before deciding, since both sit in very different budget brackets.
They aren't really comparable. The ATH-ANC700BT is a finished pair of wireless ANC headphones; the M15C is a USB DAC/amp with no drivers of its own. Which is "better" depends entirely on whether you need headphones or a decoder.
No. The M15C has no speakers — it only processes and amplifies a signal for wired headphones plugged into its 3.5 mm or 4.4 mm output. You need your own headphone to hear anything.
It supports a 3.5 mm wired connection, which the manufacturer notes is there for when battery power is low or when Hi-Res audio is desired. For maximum resolution decoding from a phone or PC, the Questyle M15C goes considerably further on paper.
The ATH-ANC700BT is designed for exactly that — over-ear memory-foam fit, a foldable frame and a protective pouch for transport. The M15C is a small adapter that lives in your pocket or bag; treat it as a delicate accessory rather than something to toss around.
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