How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-26 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
• EKSA USB Gaming Headset — biggest strength: 7.1 virtual surround sound with a detachable noise-cancelling mic makes it a purpose-built gaming and voice-chat tool.
• EKSA USB Gaming Headset — biggest trade-off: it is wired only, so you are tethered to your PC or console and there is no active noise cancellation in the earcups themselves.
• Skullcandy Hesh ANC Noise — biggest strength: 4-mic active noise cancelling, up to 22 hours of battery and a foldable, lightweight frame built for life on the move.
• Skullcandy Hesh ANC Noise — biggest trade-off: it is a lifestyle headphone first, so it lacks the positional surround processing and boom-mic setup serious gamers want.
• Who each pick is for: EKSA for desktop gamers, streamers and work-from-desk users; Skullcandy for commuters, travellers and students who want quiet without cables.
The EKSA USB Gaming Headset is a wired, over-ear headset built around one job: putting you inside a game and keeping your voice crystal clear while you're there. The headline feature is 7.1 virtual surround sound, which spreads audio across multiple directions so footsteps, reloads and distant gunfire read as coming from somewhere specific rather than as a flat wall of noise. If you've ever lost a fight because you couldn't tell which doorway the enemy came through, that's the problem this design is aimed at.
The second pillar is the detachable, unidirectional noise-cancelling microphone. It's tuned to reject background noise and pick up your voice, and EKSA pairs it with a one-key mute switch plus inline volume control so you can cut your mic or ride the level mid-match without alt-tabbing. That combination — positional audio plus a mic that focuses on you — is what makes it a natural fit for in-game chat, calls, and even studying or working with voice software. The 50mm dynamic drivers and the 3.5mm jack mean it plugs into PS4, PS5, Xbox One, laptops and desktops alike.
Who should buy it: PC and console gamers who want directional sound and a real boom mic, plus anyone doing long voice-heavy work at a desk. Who should skip it: if you want to walk around, take calls on a train, or block out engine noise without a cable, this is the wrong tool — it's wired, and its noise control lives in the microphone, not in the earcups.
Skullcandy Hesh ANC Noise: Who It's For
The Skullcandy Hesh ANC Noise is a wireless, over-ear headphone designed for people who want their audio to travel with them. Its defining feature is 4-mic active noise cancelling, which uses multiple microphones to reduce the ambient sound around you — the drone of a bus, office chatter, a café hum — so music, podcasts and movies sit closer to the front of your attention. That's the core promise of wireless noise cancelling headphones: you hear less of the world and more of what you chose.
Battery is the other big story. Skullcandy rates it at up to 22 hours, and Rapid Charge gives you roughly 3 hours of listening from a 10-minute top-up. In practice that means you can leave the charger at home for a weekend trip, or plug in for a few minutes before a commute and still have audio the whole way. Bluetooth 5 with a 10-metre range keeps the connection stable when your phone is in a bag or on the other side of a room.
The design leans practical. At 228g it's light for an over-ear headphone, and it folds flat and collapses so it disappears into a backpack. Controls are a mix of buttons and touch for calls, volume and track skipping, with app and voice control in the mix too. There's also built-in Tile finding technology — register the product in the Tile app and you can locate the headphones if they go missing, which is a genuinely useful safety net for something this portable. Skullcandy backs it with a 1-year limited warranty.
Who should buy it: commuters, travellers, students and remote workers who want wireless freedom and active noise cancelling in a foldable, lightweight package. Who should skip it: competitive gamers who need positional surround sound and a dedicated boom mic — this is a music-and-calls headphone, not a gaming rig.
• Best for gaming audio → EKSA USB Gaming Headset. 7.1 virtual surround is built to place sounds directionally, which wireless stereo headphones don't attempt.
• Best for voice chat and calls at a desk → EKSA USB Gaming Headset. The detachable unidirectional noise-cancelling mic with one-key mute is the whole point of the design.
• Best for travel and commuting → Skullcandy Hesh ANC Noise. Active noise cancelling plus a foldable, 228g frame is made for moving around.
• Best for battery freedom → Skullcandy Hesh ANC Noise. Up to 22 hours of wireless playback with a 10-minute charge giving about 3 hours.
• Best for plug-and-play across consoles → EKSA USB Gaming Headset. The 3.5mm jack covers PS4, PS5, Xbox One, laptops and desktops.
• Best for not losing your headphones → Skullcandy Hesh ANC Noise. Tile finding technology is a real advantage for portable gear.
• Best long-term coverage → EKSA USB Gaming Headset. A 2-year warranty and 30-day money-back guarantee versus Skullcandy's 1-year limited warranty.
• Best for quiet without cables → Skullcandy Hesh ANC Noise. 4-mic ANC works on the move; EKSA's noise handling is in the mic, not the earcups.
If I had to pick one, I'd buy the Skullcandy Hesh ANC Noise — but only because my default use is listening on the move. In my opinion, its combination of 4-mic active noise cancelling, up to 22 hours of battery, Rapid Charge and a foldable 228g frame is the more versatile everyday package for anyone who leaves the house with headphones on. That said, if your world is a desk, a console and a Discord call, I'd take the EKSA USB Gaming Headset without hesitating: 7.1 surround plus a detachable noise-cancelling boom mic does a job the Skullcandy simply isn't designed for. Match the tool to the job and you won't regret either.
what are wireless noise cancelling headphones
They're over-ear or on-ear headphones that connect over Bluetooth instead of a cable and use microphones to actively reduce surrounding noise. The Skullcandy Hesh ANC Noise fits that description exactly: Bluetooth 5, 4-mic active noise cancelling, up to 22 hours of battery.
how do wireless noise cancelling headphones work
Microphones listen to the ambient sound around you, and the headphones generate a matching signal to cancel much of it out before it reaches your ears. Skullcandy uses four microphones for this, and lets you switch the feature on or off depending on whether you want to block the world out or stay aware of it.
what is the best wireless noise cancelling headphones
There's no single answer — it depends on how you'll use them. In my opinion, the Skullcandy Hesh ANC Noise is a strong pick for travel, study and commuting because of its ANC, 22-hour battery, Rapid Charge and foldable design, while the EKSA USB Gaming Headset is the better choice if gaming chat and wired surround sound matter more than wireless freedom.
Both products sit in different categories, so the gap reflects what each one is built to do rather than one being simply "better." Check the current price on Amazon before deciding — the button on this page will show you the live figure.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.
When you buy through links on this page, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon or its affiliates. This site is an independent third-party review and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Amazon or the product brands mentioned.
See also: Skullcandy Hesh ANC Noise vs GravaStar Sirius Plus True, EKSA USB Gaming Headset vs WolfLawS X3: Low Latency Gaming, DCMEKA DEMAKE vs syndesmos Gaming Headset: Noise Isolating