We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-03 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
If you want serious passive attenuation for loud, oily work environments with an NRR of 26, choose Honeywell VS120; if you need a passive noise reduction two-way radio headset with a boom mic for clear push-to-talk calls, choose Retevis EHK012.
• Honeywell VS120 — biggest strength: an NRR of 26, memory foam ear cushions and an oil-resistant cup surface built for heavy-work environments and frequent cleaning.
• Honeywell VS120 — biggest trade-off: it is pure hearing protection with no electronics, no microphone and no audio input, so it cannot talk to a radio.
• Retevis EHK012 — biggest strength: passive noise reduction plus a 270° rotating boom mic, adjustable volume capped at 82 dB, and a coiled cable that stretches from 116 cm to 280 cm.
• Retevis EHK012 — biggest trade-off: it depends on a K head 2-pin radio connection, so it is useless without a compatible walkie talkie.
• Who each pick is for: Honeywell VS120 for workshop, machinery and industrial users who only need to block noise; Retevis EHK012 for radio users who need to hear and be heard through the noise.
The Honeywell VS120 is a passive earmuff in the purest sense. There is no battery, no circuitry and no switch — just a steel-wire headband, a padded top section and precision micro adjustments that let you dial the fit around your ears. That simplicity is the point. Because hearing protection only works when it is actually worn, everything about this design is aimed at making you forget you have it on.
The details back that up. The ear cushions use a memory foam blend that combines denser and softer foam than earlier models, which Honeywell says reduces squeezing pressure on the head while improving attenuation. The cups have a wide opening, and the headband is lightweight with cushioning. The result, per the spec sheet, is a muff that fits a wide range of head sizes and stays comfortable over long periods.
The construction is where it separates itself for work use. The cup surface is oil-resistant, which matters in heavy-work environments where grease, coolant and grime are part of the day, and it holds up to frequent cleaning. The cups are ABS molded with an internal baffle design, which Honeywell notes is patent pending and contributes to lighter weight. The stated noise reduction rating is 26.
Who should buy it: machinists, maintenance techs, grounds crews, shop workers, anyone running loud equipment for hours who wants fewer parts to fail and no charging to remember. Who should skip it: anyone who needs to transmit voice over a radio, take a call, or listen to audio. The VS120 isolates sound — it does not connect to anything. If your job is "block the noise and work," this is the one. If your job is "block the noise and talk," keep reading.
The Retevis EHK012 is a different animal entirely. It is a wired two-way radio headset sold as a 2-pack, with over-ear cups, a condenser boom microphone and a K head 2-pin connector. Its passive noise reduction comes from sponge-filled dual earmuffs and a high-efficiency sound-absorbing sponge that improves sound insulation — the same physical principle as the Honeywell, just packaged around a microphone and a cable instead of a bare muff.
The practical strengths are all about communication in noise. The boom mic rotates 270°, so you can park it right at your mouth. There is a volume knob on the side of the headset, and the maximum sound threshold is 82 dB, which lets you set a level that suits the environment without cranking it. The description also mentions campus calls as a use case, which tells you Retevis sees this working in quieter settings too, not just job sites.
Comfort and durability get real attention here. The sponge-filled dual earmuffs are designed to reduce pressure from long-term wear, and the headband adjusts to different head sizes. The headset folds up to save space when you pack it. The coiled wire is the standout spec: 116 cm unstretched, stretching to 280 cm, which gives you room to move and, per Retevis, extends the life of the cable.
Who should buy it: security staff, event crews, warehouse and retail teams, restaurant and hospitality workers, and anyone running Retevis RT22, RT21, RT68, H777 or similar radios — plus Baofeng UV-5R, BF-F8HP and Kenwood users with the right pin layout. Who should skip it: anyone without a compatible radio, and anyone who wants maximum passive attenuation alone. The EHK012 is a communication tool first and a hearing protector second.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for pure noise blocking → Honeywell VS120. An NRR of 26 is the headline number here, and there is no cable, mic or radio dependency to get in the way.
• Best for talking over a radio → Retevis EHK012. The 270° boom mic, volume control and K head 2-pin connector exist for exactly this.
• Best for long shifts with a mic attached → Retevis EHK012. Sponge-filled dual earmuffs and an adjustable headband target long-wear comfort.
• Best for cable durability and reach → Retevis EHK012. The coiled wire goes from 116 cm to 280 cm and folds up for storage.
• Best for zero setup, zero compatibility worries → Honeywell VS120. It fits a wide range of head sizes and works the moment you put it on.
• Best for teams needing two headsets → Retevis EHK012. It ships as a 2-pack, which suits paired or shift-based use.
• Best for hearing protection that never needs a radio → Honeywell VS120. No pairing, no pins, no dead headset when the battery dies.
In my opinion, the right pick comes down to one question: do you need to transmit? If you do not, I would buy the Honeywell VS120. An NRR of 26, memory foam cushions and an oil-resistant, cleanable build is a focused tool that does one job and does not care whether your radio is charged. If you do need to talk, I would buy the Retevis EHK012 — the boom mic, volume control and long coiled cable make it the far more useful headset on a radio-equipped team. Only buy the Retevis if you have confirmed a compatible K head 2-pin radio; otherwise the Honeywell is the safer, more universal choice. Check the current price on Amazon before deciding, since that gap moves around.
Passive designs block sound physically rather than electronically. They rely on the seal and material between your ear and the noise — dense foam, closed cups and a snug fit — to reduce how much sound reaches your ear. Both products here work this way: the Honeywell VS120 through memory foam cushions and a stated NRR of 26, and the Retevis EHK012 through sponge-filled dual earmuffs and sound-absorbing sponge.
What is passive noise cancelling headphones?
It is a headset that lowers noise without batteries, microphones or active circuitry. There is no anti-noise signal being generated — the reduction comes entirely from the materials and the fit. That is why passive models never run out of power and have nothing to charge, but it also means the seal matters enormously.
It means the noise control is sound isolation by construction. In these two products, the data sheets list noise control as sound isolation, and the effectiveness depends on the foam, the cup design and how well the headband holds the cups against your head. The Honeywell states an NRR of 26; the Retevis does not list an NRR and instead pairs its passive earmuffs with a mic for radio communication.
They suit steady, loud environments — machinery, tools, vehicles, busy floors — and long wear, because there is nothing to recharge and fewer parts to fail. The Honeywell VS120 leans fully into protection with an oil-resistant, cleanable build. The Retevis EHK012 adds a 270° boom mic, adjustable volume up to 82 dB and a coiled cable, so it fits radio users who need to talk while the noise is reduced.
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