If you want a wired, closed-back over-ear headphone with a detachable 3m cable and a vintage-inspired VU-meter design for swimming, choose Meters Ashdown NOVU-1; if you need a wider stated frequency range and a lightweight design for studio monitoring, choose Turnstile Audio Passenger Series TAPH500.
Meters Ashdown NOVU-1 vs Turnstile Audio Passenger Series TAPH500 at a Glance
• Meters Ashdown NOVU-1 strength: Closed-back over-ear design, 3m detachable cable, and a vintage-inspired illuminated VU meter; trade-off: the listed frequency range is narrower than the TAPH500’s.
• Turnstile Audio Passenger Series TAPH500 strength: 10Hz–36kHz stated frequency response, 8.8oz listed weight, and a detachable cable; trade-off: its included cable is not specified as 3m.
• Meters Ashdown NOVU-1: A fit for buyers who want a long cable, broad playback connections with the included adapter, and a visually distinctive pair for home or studio use.
• Turnstile Audio Passenger Series TAPH500: A fit for buyers who prioritize its stated monitoring range, closed-back isolation, and lighter listed weight.
• Swimming note: Neither product’s specifications describe water resistance, so neither is a suitable choice for wearing in a pool.
The NOVU-1 is a wired, closed-back over-ear headphone with 50mm dynamic drivers and a stated frequency range of 16–20,000Hz. Its padded headband and plush earcups are described as intended for extended listening, making it a reasonable candidate for a home desk, a studio session, or a long stretch of music listening where an over-ear fit is welcome. The distinctive visual detail is a vintage-inspired illuminated VU meter, which gives it a different look from a plain studio headphone.
Its 3m detachable cable is a practical point in its favor if your listening position is some distance from your audio equipment. The cable can be replaced if damaged, and the supplied 1/4-inch threaded adapter fits over the 1/8-inch gold-plated stereo mini-plug. That combination gives the NOVU-1 options for connecting to different audio setups without making the cable itself permanent. A cloth carrying bag is also included.
How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
The stated 104dB SPL/V at 1kHz is a sensitivity-related specification, not a guarantee that high listening levels will sound good or be safe. I would treat it as one technical detail rather than a reason to turn the volume up. The headphones are wired, and their closed-back construction is not the same as active noise cancelling for blocking surrounding sound. Although noise control is listed as active noise cancellation in the product information, the feature details do not explain how it works. I would not choose this model on the assumption that it provides a specific level of electronic noise reduction.
Who should skip it: Skip the NOVU-1 if you need headphones explicitly made for swimming or if your main priority is the wider stated frequency response listed for the TAPH500.
The TAPH500 is a wired, closed-back headphone with 50mm dynamic drivers and a stated frequency response of 10Hz–36kHz. Compared with the NOVU-1’s stated range, that specification extends lower and higher. It may appeal to someone looking for a studio-monitoring headphone with a broad listed response, although the figures alone cannot tell you how the headphones will sound to you or whether they will suit a particular mix.
The product information lists a weight of 8.8oz, while the description emphasizes a lightweight over-ear design for extended listening. Its closed-back construction is described as reducing sound leakage and helping isolate the listener from external noise. That can be useful at a shared desk or in a recording space where keeping sound contained matters. It is still passive isolation from the closed-back design, not a stated active noise-cancelling system.
The TAPH500 comes with a detachable low-noise, three-pin cable, a 3.5mm plug, and a 1/4-inch adapter. Those connection options give it flexibility for common headphone sockets and studio equipment. The listed materials include metal and plastic, and the product description presents the construction as intended for professional use. The product information lists a one-year limited warranty; that is a different stated warranty period from the NOVU-1’s two-year warranty description.
Who should skip it: Skip the TAPH500 if you specifically want a 3m cable, the NOVU-1’s illuminated VU-meter styling, or headphones that are documented as suitable for swimming.
• Best fit for a long specified cable → Meters Ashdown NOVU-1. Its detachable cable is listed as 3m, making the length a clear advantage when your listening spot is not close to your equipment.
• Best for a wider stated frequency range → Turnstile Audio Passenger Series TAPH500. Its listed 10Hz–36kHz response extends beyond the NOVU-1’s 16–20,000Hz specification, though that does not establish which one will sound better to an individual listener.
• Best for distinctive visual design → Meters Ashdown NOVU-1. The vintage-inspired illuminated VU meter is its defining design feature.
• Best for the lighter listed weight → Turnstile Audio Passenger Series TAPH500. Its product information gives a weight of 8.8oz. The NOVU-1’s listed item weight is 15.68oz, so the TAPH500 has the lower figure in the supplied details.
• Best for a stated noise-isolation focus → Turnstile Audio Passenger Series TAPH500. Its closed-back design is described as limiting leakage and helping reduce external noise. That is not a promise of silence.
• Best for included carrying storage → Meters Ashdown NOVU-1. It includes a cloth carrying bag; the TAPH500 information provided does not list a carrying bag.
• Best for a longer stated warranty period → Meters Ashdown NOVU-1. Its product information describes a two-year warranty, while the TAPH500 lists a one-year limited warranty.
• Best for swimming → Neither. Both are wired, closed-back headphones, and neither product’s details establish water resistance or suitability for use in a pool.
Buying Considerations
The phrase “best noise cancelling sleep headphones for swimming” combines two different needs, and these models do not provide evidence that they meet either one. The TAPH500 is described as using closed-back isolation; that is different from active noise cancellation. The NOVU-1 product information lists active noise cancellation, but its provided feature details do not clarify its implementation or performance. Neither product is described as a sleep headphone, and neither is documented for swimming.
For dry use, consider how you will connect the headphones and where you will sit. The NOVU-1’s 3m detachable cable is the clearer choice if cable reach matters. The TAPH500 includes a detachable three-pin cable and a 1/4-inch adapter, but no cable length is stated. Both are wired and list a 3.5mm headphone connection, so neither is a wireless option.
Comfort details also point in different directions. The NOVU-1 description highlights a padded headband and plush earcups, while the TAPH500 emphasizes its 8.8oz listed weight and over-ear closed-back design. Fit is personal; those details can help narrow the choice, but they cannot guarantee comfort for every head or listening session. If you expect to carry the headphones between locations, the NOVU-1’s included cloth bag is a stated extra. If warranty coverage is a deciding factor, compare the listed periods and terms: the NOVU-1 description gives two years, and the TAPH500 lists a one-year limited warranty.
For dry home or studio listening, I would choose the Meters Ashdown NOVU-1 for its 3m detachable cable, included carrying bag, and distinctive VU-meter design. The TAPH500 remains a sensible alternative if its broader stated frequency range, lower listed weight, and isolation-focused description matter more to you. For swimming, my recommendation is neither: these specifications do not establish that either headphone can be used in water. I would choose a product explicitly designed for swimming instead.
Neither product’s specifications say it is waterproof or designed for swimming. Both are wired headphones, so I would not use either in a pool.
Which has the wider stated frequency response?
The TAPH500 is described as a closed-back headphone with sound isolation. That is not the same as active noise cancellation, and the supplied details do not claim that it has active noise cancelling.
The NOVU-1 lists a two-year warranty description and a detachable 3m cable. The TAPH500 lists a one-year limited warranty and a detachable three-pin cable, but its cable length is not specified.
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