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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 team-branded, game-day-ready over-ear headphone with a huge battery and a simple button-free experience, choose SOAR Collegiate Active; if you need maximum noise cancellation on flights and a foldable travel-first design with gesture controls, choose Xmenha ANC. Both are Bluetooth over-ear headphones with active noise cancelling, but they aim at very different buyers. Here is how I'd split them.
• SOAR Collegiate Active — biggest strength: up to 40 hours of playtime, Bluetooth 5.3, quick charge in 1–2 hours, and both wireless and wired listening in a lightweight over-ear build with 32mm dynamic drivers.
• SOAR Collegiate Active — biggest trade-off: the ANC is described in general terms rather than a measured figure, and the design leans into a team/sports theme rather than a compact travel form.
• Xmenha ANC — biggest strength: hybrid active noise cancelling with dual-microphone ANC rated up to 30dB of reduction, plus ENC for clearer calls and a fold-flat travel design.
• Xmenha ANC — biggest trade-off: no battery figure is listed, so long-session runtime is a question mark, and the controls are touch/rotate-based, which some people dislike.
• Who each pick is for: SOAR for fans, tailgaters and all-day listeners who want a set-and-forget headphone; Xmenha for travelers, commuters and flyers who want the deepest noise cut and a packable shape.
The SOAR Collegiate Active is built around two ideas: game day and long listening sessions. The 32mm dynamic drivers are tuned for a bold, full-bodied sound, which suits the roar of a stadium broadcast, sports commentary, and music you want to feel rather than dissect. Active Noise Cancelling is on board to knock down crowd noise, traffic and bar chatter, so you can stay locked on the play-by-play whether you're streaming the game on your phone or riding to the stadium.
The practical specs are where it earns its place. Bluetooth 5.3 gives you a current-generation wireless link, and quick charging brings it back up in just 1–2 hours. The headline number, though, is up to 40 hours of playtime, which means you can get through a full tailgate, a travel day and the week's commutes without thinking about the cable. And when you do want the cable, wired listening is there as a backup. The over-ear design with super-soft ear pads and a lightweight frame is aimed squarely at all-day comfort, and the team-color finish makes it a natural gift for a college sports fan.
Who should buy it: Clemson fans, tailgaters, students, and anyone who wants one headphone to cover sports audio, music and commuting with a battery that outlasts the day. Who should skip it: if your priority is the deepest possible noise cancellation or a headphone that folds down small enough to disappear into a carry-on, this isn't the one chasing those goals. It's also worth noting the model is described for a teen-and-up audience with a one-year manufacturer warranty, so it's positioned as an everyday consumer headphone rather than a specialty travel tool. As for cost, check the current price on Amazon before you commit.
The Xmenha ANC is the travel specialist of the two. Its hybrid active noise cancelling uses dual microphones to sample and counter outside noise in real time, and the spec sheet rates that at up to 30dB of reduction. That's the kind of figure that matters on a plane, on a train, or in an open-plan office — it's the difference between hearing a drone and hearing your podcast. There's also ENC (environmental noise cancellation) on the microphone side, which is aimed at making your voice clearer on calls when you're on a busy street or in a crowded cafe.
The design choices tell you the same story. The earcups fold flat into a compact case that slides into a bag or carry-on, and the unit is listed at just 18.14 grams, so it's meant to be carried, not just worn at a desk. Controls are the other standout: instead of hunting for tiny buttons, you rotate either earcup to raise or lower the volume, and the control method is touch-based. Some people love that gesture-driven simplicity; others prefer a physical button they can find by feel. The green finish and plastic enclosure keep the look casual and gym-friendly, and there's a 3.5mm jack if you want to go wired.
Who should buy it: frequent flyers, commuters, gym-goers and remote workers who want strong noise reduction, clear calls and a headphone that packs down. Who should skip it: if you want a long runtime you can count on or you dislike touch and rotate controls, this one asks you to accept some unknowns — the sheet doesn't list a battery figure, so I can't tell you how many hours you'll get per charge.
• Best for battery confidence → SOAR Collegiate Active. Up to 40 hours of playtime plus 1–2 hour quick charge is a concrete, easy-to-plan-around number.
• Best for noise cancellation → Xmenha ANC. A rated up to 30dB hybrid ANC with dual microphones is the more specific, more aggressive noise-cutting claim.
• Best for travel and packing → Xmenha ANC. Fold-flat earcups and an 18.14 g build are made for a bag or carry-on.
• Best for clear phone calls → Xmenha ANC. ENC on the mic is designed to keep your voice intelligible in noisy places.
• Best for all-day comfort and long sessions → SOAR Collegiate Active. Lightweight over-ear frame, soft pads and a huge battery suit marathon listening.
• Best for wired backup → either. SOAR offers wireless and wired listening; Xmenha includes a 3.5mm jack. Both give you an escape hatch when Bluetooth isn't an option.
• Best for control feel → SOAR Collegiate Active if you want simple, Xmenha ANC if you want gestures. Rotate-to-adjust volume is clever; it's just a different muscle memory than buttons.
• Best for a sports fan or gift → SOAR Collegiate Active. The team-color theme and sports framing make it the more personal pick.
If I were buying for myself, I'd pick the Xmenha ANC — the up-to-30dB hybrid ANC, ENC call clarity and fold-flat travel design match how I actually use headphones: planes, trains and noisy rooms. But I'd only do that if I could live without a published battery figure. If runtime is the thing that keeps you sane, I'd switch to the SOAR Collegiate Active for its up-to-40-hour playtime, quick charge and all-day comfort. In my opinion, the Xmenha wins on noise and portability, and the SOAR wins on endurance and simplicity. Pick the problem you want solved first.
how to active noise cancelling headphones work
ANC headphones use microphones to sample the noise around you, then generate an opposite sound wave to cancel much of it before it reaches your ear. The Xmenha ANC does this with dual microphones and rates the result at up to 30dB of reduction. The SOAR Collegiate Active uses ANC in the same general way to cut crowd, traffic and bar noise.
how to activate noise cancelling headphones
On most ANC headphones you switch noise cancelling on with the controls on the earcup — a button, a toggle, or a touch gesture. The Xmenha ANC uses touch controls and rotate-to-adjust volume on the earcups, while the SOAR Collegiate Active lists active noise cancellation as its noise-control mode. Check the included instructions for the exact sequence on whichever model you buy.
how to activate noise cancelling jbl headphones
I can't speak to JBL here — that's a different brand with its own control layout, and this page only covers the SOAR Collegiate Active and the Xmenha ANC. If you're holding JBL headphones, the ANC switch is typically on the earcup or in the companion app. For these two models, use the on-ear controls described above.
Yes. The SOAR Collegiate Active uses 32mm dynamic drivers in a lightweight over-ear frame with soft pads and a team-color theme, aimed at sports and long sessions. The Xmenha ANC uses hybrid drivers in a plastic, foldable green over-ear body that weighs 18.14 g and is built for travel. Which sounds better to you comes down to tuning preference, but the design goals are clearly different.
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