If you’re someone who spends a significant amount of their day in noise-rich environments, like a construction site, or a busy city street, you may have noticed that the constant drone of ambient sounds can be a little wearing. Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) headphones are fantastically helpful in helping you tune out the outside world and concentrate on your goals. 

The only problem is that they tend to be quite expensive. That’s where the new ZihNIC ANC headphones come in. For under $30, these budget-friendly ANC cans feature a lot of the same noise cancellation benefits as its pricier counterparts, albeit with a bit of a compromise. Let’s take a closer look and see if these headphones are worth your money.

ZIHNIC Active Noise Cancelling Headphones

Features

The ZihNIC ANC headphones are quite affordable and feature a lot of the same features as more expensive models. These headphones have an impedance of 32 ohms, which will make them compatible with a wide range of devices. They also have a frequency response from 10Hz-20KHz, which is slightly lower than some higher-end ANC headphones. However, they’re still able to offer up to 40dB of noise cancellation, which is plenty for most people’s needs.

These headphones also feature a nifty accessory line that rounds out the package nicely. You can purchase two sets of earbuds or three sets of ear hooks, so you get a bit more versatility when it comes to finding the perfect fit for your ears and listening style. These headphone come with 3 pairs of silicone tips and 3 pairs of Comply foam tips, so you should be able to find something that fits your ears well right out of the box! Finally, these cans are designed to block 60% of external noise and are equipped with an automatic shut off after 20 minutes in order to preserve battery life.

Design

ZihNIC ANC headphones look like any other budget-friendly ANC cans on the market, which is to say that they're not spectacularly attractive. They're completely black with a matte finish and glossy black frames, so they're not going to win any awards for style. They are designed mostly with portability in mind, so they don't feature a ton of padding or soft material on the headband and ear cups. 

However, the frame does have quite a bit of padding around it and the ear cups are made entirely of memory foam. The cord length is also quite sufficient at 39 inches and the overall size is compact enough that you won't feel like you're lugging around an unwieldy pair of headphones while you're walking around town all day.

Sound Quality

The sound quality is what you would expect from ANC headphones in this price range. The bass is strong, the mids are clear, and the highs are crisp. However, ANC headphones like these typically sacrifice a little bit of detail in favor of overall sound quality. That being said, for the price these headphones offer a surprisingly good balance of highs, mids and bass.

Pros of ZIHNIC Active Noise Cancelling Headphones

The first pros of the headphones is that they are incredibly lightweight. You can wear these for hours without feeling weighed down by them. The second pro is that they feature a built-in microphone and remote control, allowing you to take calls on your phone or music from your playlist without having to remove your headphones. Third, these headphones feature a fold-up design, which makes it easy to pack them away in a bag or backpack. Fourth, these headphones come at an affordable price point and include a lifetime warranty.

Cons of ZIHNIC Active Noise Cancelling Headphones

The ANC on these cans doesn’t cancel out all sound. These are noise-cancelling headphones that work well at blocking out some of the less-intense outside noise but still allow sounds from people talking or music to seep in. This can be a problem if you’re trying to concentrate and tune out everything else while wearing your headphones. 

Like many other budget-friendly ANC cans, the build quality on these isn't as good as higher-priced options. The plastic that makes up the ear cups feels thin and flimsy, and there's no option for replaceable cables on this model. Also worth noting is that these don't fold up like more expensive ANC cans do (though they do have memory foam ear pads).

Value for money

The ZihNIC ANC headphones come in at a price of $29.99, which is quite affordable by ANC headphones standards. The overall build quality is solid, although they are quite compact and low-profile. They have a thin cable that wraps around the ear cups and is terminated with a 3.5mm jack plug on one end and a small microphone on the other. On the right ear cup, there’s a power button that you can use to turn the device on or off and adjust the volume using your phone’s built-in controls with the included 3.5mm wire cable plugged into your headphone jack for audio input/output.

The ZihNIC ANC headphones offer 10 hours of battery life from one charge, which isn’t too shabby for an ANC pair of cans, especially considering their size and price point. The sound quality is decent given these headphones are priced so affordably and all in all, if you want an ANC pair of cans without breaking your bank account, these are worth checking out.

Bottom line

The ZihNIC ANC headphones are a great value for the price. The low-end ANC effects will offer some relief from noise, and the sound quality isn't bad either. On top of that, these cans come with a mic and remote to help you focus on what you're doing without having to worry about disrupting others or having to go through the hassle of connecting wirelessly. 

But because of their lower cost, there are some areas where these cans have sacrificed some features in order to reduce their price point. For example, they lack Bluetooth connectivity and active noise cancellation circuitry, which means you won't get the same benefits as other more expensive headphones with those features. Still, if you're looking for an affordable ANC headphone that doesn't sacrifice too many features in order to save money, these cans are worth checking out.