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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-01 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
• NUBWO USB Headset — biggest strength: A unidirectional noise-cancelling boom microphone plus dual 3.5mm/USB connectivity, so it works with almost any computer you sit down at, and it never needs charging.
• NUBWO USB Headset — biggest trade-off: It's a wired on-ear design with a fixed 1.5m cable, so you're tethered to your desk and you're relying on the mic's noise cancelling rather than the headphones themselves blocking sound.
• EOKIO Active Noise Cancelling — biggest strength: 45dB active noise cancelling in an over-ear wireless design with Bluetooth 6.0, dual-device connection and a claimed 78-hour battery, which is exactly what you want for a noisy open office or a long flight.
• EOKIO Active Noise Cancelling — biggest trade-off: It's a wireless-first headset with a built-in (not boom) microphone, so call clarity depends on that integrated mic rather than a mic you can position at your lips.
• Who each pick is for: NUBWO for desk-bound call centre, reception and classroom users who want a dependable wired mic; EOKIO for people who move between rooms, commute, travel and want to mute the world around them.
The NUBWO HW02 is built around one job: keeping you on the phone while your hands stay on the keyboard. The unidirectional microphone is the centrepiece here. Unidirectional means it picks up sound mainly from one direction — the direction you point it — which is why it's the standard choice for call centre and office headsets. Combined with the noise-cancelling microphone design, that's the specific problem it solves: your voice goes out clearly while the hum of the room behind you gets pushed down. For anyone who spends the day on Skype, webinars or support calls, that's the feature that matters most.
The second thing the NUBWO gets right is compatibility. You get both a 3.5mm jack and a USB connection, with a detachable USB control included in the box. That means the same headset can plug into a PC, a Mac, a Chromebook, a tablet, a smartphone, an MP3 player or a gaming system without adapters. In a mixed-device office — or a classroom where machines change every period — that flexibility is genuinely useful. The spec sheet lists a 40mm driver, 32ohm impedance, 103dB sensitivity and a 20–20000Hz frequency range, which is a sensible, undemanding load that any laptop headphone jack can drive.
Who should buy it: desk-based workers, call centre staff, receptionists, remote employees on back-to-back video calls, and teachers or students who want a simple wired headset with a boom mic. It's on-ear, weighs 60g, and uses a 1.5m cable — light and unobtrusive for long shifts. Who should skip it: anyone who needs to walk around while on a call, anyone who wants the headphones themselves to actively cancel noise (this is a mic-focused design, not an ANC headphone), and anyone who dislikes being tethered by a cable. If you want wireless freedom, this isn't the pick.
The EOKIO H9 attacks the problem from the opposite end. Instead of relying on a boom mic, it puts 45dB of active noise cancelling into an over-ear shell. ANC works by sampling ambient sound and generating an opposing signal to cancel it out — and 45dB is a serious figure that the spec sheet ties directly to blocking traffic, office chatter and airplane hum. If your problem is that you can't hear your own thoughts in an open-plan office, this is the headset that addresses it. The 40mm dynamic driver handles the audio side, with the tuning described as clear treble, rich bass and balanced midrange.
Connectivity is the other headline. Bluetooth 6.0 drives a stable wireless link, and dual-device connection lets you stay paired to a phone and a laptop at the same time — you can take a call on your phone while a video plays on your computer, without re-pairing each time. Note the spec sheet's caveat: audio only plays on one device at a time, so it's about fast switching, not simultaneous playback. Battery life is quoted at 78 hours, which is the kind of number that means you can stop thinking about charging for a work week or more. A USB-C charging cable and a 3.5mm audio cable are both included, so you can go wired when the battery is empty or when you're on a device without Bluetooth.
Comfort and portability are clearly part of the brief: soft breathable over-ear cushions, an adjustable headband, and a foldable design that stores flat in a bag. That's a travel and commuter headset as much as an office one. The built-in microphone handles calls and voice assistant activation, and multi-function buttons cover play/pause, volume, answer/hang up and ANC switching. There's a 12-month warranty listed. Who should buy it: commuters, travellers, hybrid workers, students in noisy libraries, and anyone who wants one headset for music, calls and quiet. Who should skip it: anyone who needs a boom mic positioned at their mouth for critical call clarity, and anyone who wants to avoid charging altogether.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for blocking office noise → EOKIO Active Noise Cancelling. 45dB ANC actively cancels chatter and ambient hum; the NUBWO relies on its mic's noise cancelling, not the headphones.
• Best for battery life and wireless freedom → EOKIO Active Noise Cancelling. Bluetooth 6.0 with a quoted 78-hour runtime versus a wired headset that never needs charging but never leaves the desk either.
• Best for multi-device compatibility → NUBWO USB Headset. 3.5mm plus USB with a bundled detachable USB control covers PCs, Macs, Chromebooks, tablets and phones.
• Best for travel and commuting → EOKIO Active Noise Cancelling. Over-ear cushions, foldable storage and a 3.5mm cable for in-flight use.
• Best for long shifts without ear fatigue → NUBWO USB Headset. At 60g with on-ear cups, it's a light design; the EOKIO is the bulkier over-ear option but adds breathable cushions and an adjustable headband.
• Best for all-day music and calls in one device → EOKIO Active Noise Cancelling. 40mm drivers, dual connection and push-button controls make it a do-everything headset.
• Best for a fixed workstation → NUBWO USB Headset. Plug in, talk, repeat — no pairing, no charging, no battery anxiety.
If I were buying for a noisy open-plan office where the main job is hearing myself think, I would buy the EOKIO Active Noise Cancelling. The 45dB ANC, over-ear fit, wireless freedom and long quoted battery life solve the biggest daily annoyance, and the built-in mic plus 3.5mm cable cover calls and flights. But if your job is literally being on the phone all day at a desk — support, reception, sales, online teaching — I'd pick the NUBWO USB Headset instead. A boom mic at your mouth plus plug-and-play USB and 3.5mm support is the more reliable setup for that specific task. In my opinion, the deciding question isn't which is better; it's whether you're fighting noise or fighting for call clarity.
what is noise cancelling headset
A noise cancelling headset is one designed to reduce unwanted sound. That can mean active noise cancelling (ANC), which uses electronics to cancel ambient noise — like the 45dB ANC on the EOKIO — or a noise-cancelling microphone, which focuses on picking up your voice and rejecting background sound, like the unidirectional mic on the NUBWO.
NUBWO USB Headset vs EOKIO Active Noise Cancelling — which is better for office calls?
Not necessarily. A wired headset like the NUBWO never needs charging and plugs straight into USB or 3.5mm, which is ideal for a fixed workstation. Wireless like the EOKIO makes more sense if you move between rooms, take calls away from your desk, or travel and want ANC.
The EOKIO Active Noise Cancelling fits that combination best: 45dB ANC, foldable over-ear design, Bluetooth 6.0 dual connection, a quoted 78-hour battery and an included 3.5mm cable for wired listening. Check the current price on Amazon before deciding, since budgets vary.
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See also: TOORUN Headset vs KVANCEGR Active Noise Cancelling, JBUNION Active Noise Cancelling vs MartiAudio Over-Ear Headphones, 1MORE Hi-Res Triple Driver vs Boytond Open Ear Earbuds, SleepPhones AcousticSheep Classic vs EXMAX SE-55