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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want a lightweight, sweat-resistant in-ear pair with three switchable noise modes you can toggle mid-run, choose JLab Epic ANC Earbuds; if you need over-ear headphones with adaptive noise cancelling, spatial audio and a huge 100-hour battery, choose Srhythm NiceComfort 95.
• JLab Epic ANC Earbuds — biggest strength: Three distinct noise control modes (High ANC, Low ANC, Be Aware) plus a wired 3.5 mm fallback, all in a compact in-ear design.
• JLab Epic ANC Earbuds — biggest trade-off: Battery life drops to 14+ hours once you run ANC, and the in-ear fit won't suit anyone who dislikes eartips.
• Srhythm NiceComfort 95 — biggest strength: Adaptive noise cancelling that adjusts itself to your surroundings, plus spatial audio with head tracking and a claimed 100-hour battery.
• Srhythm NiceComfort 95 — biggest trade-off: Over-ear headphones weigh 264 g and are bulkier to carry, and the controls lean on an app plus touch and buttons rather than a simple in-line remote.
• Buy the JLab if you want awareness on demand in a pocketable, workout-friendly package.
• Buy the Srhythm if you want maximum isolation, immersive spatial sound and marathon battery for commuting, flights and desk work.
The Epic ANC is built around one idea: let the wearer decide how much of the world gets through. JLab gives you three noise control modes — High ANC, Low ANC and Be Aware — and that middle "Be Aware" setting is the whole point of this comparison. It pipes outside sound back in so you can hear traffic on a run, a gate change announcement, or the person standing next to you, without pulling the earbuds out. Four microphones handle the cancelling work, and JLab lists a fifth microphone in the design for calls via the in-line remote and Knowles mic.
Battery is the area where you have to make a choice. JLab states 14+ hours with Bluetooth and ANC running together, or 25+ hours on Bluetooth alone. That's a meaningful gap, and it tells you this is a pair you charge often if you leave ANC on all day. The included 3.5 mm AUX cable is a genuinely useful escape hatch: on a long flight, or when the battery runs down, you can go wired instead of hunting for a charger. The package also includes three sets of standard eartips, a set of triple-flange tips, a Micro USB cable and a protective case.
In my opinion, this is the pick for runners, gym-goers and city walkers. IP54 sweat resistance, magnetic earbuds that snap together when you're done, and a rounded-tip in-ear shape all point to active use. Skip it if you want over-ear comfort for long desk sessions, if you dislike silicone tips, or if you'd rather have the headphones do the thinking about noise levels for you — because here, you're the one cycling the modes.
The NiceComfort 95 goes the opposite direction: instead of asking you to choose a mode, it adapts. Srhythm describes adaptive noise cancelling that automatically adjusts its level based on ambient noise, and the company says deep noise cancellation blocks 95% of ambient noise — the airplane engine hum, subway rumble or office AC buzz. Alongside that sits a Transparency mode, which amplifies surrounding sound so you can hear a flight attendant or a coffee order without taking the headphones off. That's the direct counterpart to JLab's Be Aware setting, just handled in an over-ear format.
The spec sheet is unusually stacked for this class. There's 360-degree spatial audio with head tracking for a concert-like presentation, a low latency game mode for audio-visual sync, and 40 mm hybrid drivers covering a 20 Hz–40 kHz range. Srhythm claims a 100-hour average battery life, which is in a completely different league from the Epic ANC. Five microphones and ENC (environmental noise cancellation) are aimed at call clarity, and the build is a metal-forward design with a 45-degree bevel polished aluminum finish, a multi-function knob and replaceable ear pads in superfine cotton and high-protein leather.
The trade-offs are real. At 264 g this is a substantial over-ear headphone, so it's something you carry rather than pocket. Controls are split across an app, touch and buttons — more capable, but a steeper learning curve than a single in-line remote. And the Srhythm ships with a 3.5 mm audio cable, Type-C charging cable, two-pin airplane adaptor and travel case, so it's clearly pitched at travel and home listening. Buy it if you want the deepest isolation, the longest battery and cinematic spatial sound. Skip it if you want something tiny and sweat-proof for the gym.
• Best for awareness on the move → JLab Epic ANC Earbuds. Be Aware mode is a one-touch pass-through you can trigger mid-run; Srhythm's Transparency mode does the same job but in a heavier over-ear form.
• Best for automatic noise handling → Srhythm NiceComfort 95. Its adaptive ANC adjusts itself to the environment, while JLab makes you pick High, Low or Be Aware manually.
• Best for battery life → Srhythm NiceComfort 95. Srhythm lists a 100-hour average battery life versus JLab's 25+ hours on Bluetooth alone (14+ with ANC on).
• Best for workouts and sweaty use → JLab Epic ANC Earbuds. IP54 sweat resistance and a secure in-ear fit are built for movement; the Srhythm is not marketed for that.
• Best for flights and long commutes → Srhythm NiceComfort 95. Over-ear cups, adaptive ANC and a two-pin airplane adaptor in the box are travel-first features.
• Best for immersive movies and gaming → Srhythm NiceComfort 95. Spatial audio with head tracking and a low latency game mode have no equivalent on the JLab.
• Best for portability → JLab Epic ANC Earbuds. Earbuds plus a hard protective case slip into a pocket; the Srhythm is a 264 g over-ear set.
• Best for wired fallback → a tie, with a caveat. Both include a 3.5 mm cable, but JLab also gives you an in-line remote and mic when you go wired.
If awareness is your priority — hearing cars, announcements and people while you stay plugged in — I'd buy the JLab Epic ANC Earbuds. Be Aware mode, IP54 sweat resistance and a genuinely pocketable shape make it the more useful pair for movement, and the 3.5 mm cable softens the shorter ANC battery life. If you'd rather have the headphones handle noise for you and you want spatial audio plus enormous battery, I'd buy the Srhythm NiceComfort 95. In my opinion the Srhythm is the better living-room, flight and desk companion; the JLab is the better one for the street and the gym.
On the Epic ANC, awareness is one of three noise control modes — High ANC, Low ANC and Be Aware. Cycling to another mode turns Be Aware off, and you can move to either ANC level or to plain Bluetooth listening. The controls are on the integrated remote, so it's a button press rather than a menu dive.
Ambient aware (JLab calls it Be Aware; Srhythm calls it Transparency) is a pass-through mode that lets outside sound into your ears on purpose. The idea is safe listening: you hear traffic on a run, a gate change, or someone talking to you without removing the headphones. Both products here offer it, just in different form factors.
By the numbers, the Srhythm goes further: adaptive ANC that adjusts automatically, hybrid and passive noise cancelling, and a claim of blocking 95% of ambient noise. The JLab offers two fixed ANC levels and four microphones for cancellation. In my opinion the Srhythm wins on raw isolation; the JLab wins on letting you switch modes instantly.
Match the format to your routine. If you run, lift or walk city streets, the JLab's in-ear fit, IP54 rating and Be Aware mode fit better. If you commute, fly or work at a desk, the Srhythm's over-ear isolation, spatial audio and 100-hour battery make more sense. Check the current price on Amazon before deciding.
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