How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want a proven, featherweight on-ear pair from a long-established audio brand that folds flat and runs for 17 hours, choose JVC HA-S23W; if you need hybrid active noise cancellation, over-ear memory cushions and up to 100 hours of playtime, choose LORELEI QC60.
• JVC HA-S23W biggest strength: a genuinely light, flat-folding on-ear design with Bluetooth 5.0, a 3-button remote with mic and voice-assistant support — simple, compact, no fuss.
• JVC HA-S23W biggest trade-off: no noise cancellation at all, an on-ear (not over-ear) fit, and a 17-hour battery that's modest next to the competition.
• LORELEI QC60 biggest strength: hybrid active noise cancellation, over-ear memory/protein ear pads, dual 40 mm drivers and a huge battery rating, plus a wired 3.5 mm fallback.
• LORELEI QC60 biggest trade-off: it's a bulkier over-ear build from a lesser-known brand, and it leans on ANC and battery rather than brand pedigree.
• Pick JVC HA-S23W if you want something light you can fold into a bag and forget about.
• Pick LORELEI QC60 if you want to block out engine drone and commute noise and rarely want to think about charging.
The JVC HA-S23W is the travel-light option. It's an on-ear Bluetooth 5.0 headphone with a flat foldable swivel design, so the earcups collapse into a flat profile that slips into a bag pocket or a seat-back pouch. The soft ear pads and adjustable headband are built for a comfortable, secure fit rather than a clamp-down seal, which suits casual listening — podcasts on a walk, music at a desk, calls on the move.
Controls are refreshingly old-school in the best way: a 3-button remote handles volume up/down, play/pause and call answering, and the mic means you can take calls without pulling out your phone. There's also voice-assistant compatibility if you like barking commands at your digital helper. The 16-ohm impedance and dynamic driver (20 Hz–20,000 Hz range) are typical of an easy-to-drive everyday headphone.
LORELEI QC60: Who It's For
The LORELEI QC60 goes the other direction: it's built to shut the world out. Hybrid active noise cancellation targets the low and mid frequencies you actually hate — aviation, car engines, commuting rumble — and the over-ear memory ear pads fully cover your ears to add passive blocking on top. If your problem is background drone rather than a noisy office, this is the design that addresses it.
Battery is the headline number here. The 800 mAh cell is rated for up to 100 hours of music enjoyment, with roughly 60 hours when you're running noise cancellation. That's the kind of figure that turns charging into a monthly chore rather than a nightly one. And if you do run flat, there's a 3.5 mm stereo cable input so you can keep listening wired when the battery is low — a genuinely useful fallback that the JVC simply doesn't have.
The build is aimed at long sessions: professional-grade protein ear pads that rotate inward up to 100° and fold inward up to 120°, plus a multi-level adjustable headband. Dual 40 mm drivers handle the audio, and the spec sheet lists Bluetooth 5.4 with a 10-metre range and three EQ modes with an emphasis on deep bass. A built-in mic handles calls. The trade-offs are weight (it's a 0.5 kg over-ear set, so it's noticeably more to carry than the JVC) and the fact that it's an over-ear design, which is warmer on the ears over long stretches. It also comes from a smaller brand, so if brand track record matters to you, weigh that.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for noise cancellation → LORELEI QC60. Hybrid ANC plus over-ear sealing; the JVC has none.
• Best for portability and light weight → JVC HA-S23W. Flat-folding on-ear design versus a 0.5 kg over-ear build.
• Best for wired backup → LORELEI QC60. The 3.5 mm cable input means you can keep listening when the battery is empty; the JVC has no jack.
• Best for simple controls → JVC HA-S23W. A clear 3-button remote for volume, play/pause and calls, with voice-assistant support.
• Best for flights and commuting → LORELEI QC60. ANC is designed exactly for engine and traffic noise.
• Best for casual everyday listening → JVC HA-S23W. Light, easy to drive at 16 ohms, and comfortable for short sessions.
• Best for long work sessions → LORELEI QC60. Memory protein pads, adjustable headband and swivel/fold joints for extended wear.
In my opinion, the LORELEI QC60 is the better buy for most people comparing these two, because hybrid noise cancellation, over-ear comfort and a battery rated in the dozens-to-hundreds of hours solve the problems most headphone shoppers actually have — noise and charging. The JVC HA-S23W wins on weight and simplicity, and if compact folding and a featherweight fit are your top priorities, I'd take the JVC instead. For travel, commuting or noisy rooms, I'd pick the QC60; for light everyday use, the S23W. Check the current price on Amazon before deciding, since value shifts with whatever each is going for.
Is the LORELEI QC60 better than the JVC HA-S23W for noise cancelling?
Yes. The QC60 has hybrid active noise cancellation and full over-ear memory pads; the JVC HA-S23W has no noise control at all, so it relies only on its on-ear fit.
The QC60. It's rated for up to 100 hours of music, or around 60 hours with noise cancellation on, versus 17 hours for the JVC HA-S23W.
Yes. The QC60 has a 3.5 mm stereo audio cable input so you can keep listening when the battery is low. The JVC HA-S23W has no headphone jack and is wireless only.
For flights and commuting, I'd recommend the QC60 for its noise cancellation and long battery. For packing light, the JVC HA-S23W folds flat and is far lighter to carry.
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