ANC stands for Active Noise Cancellation, which is a technology used in headphones and earbuds to reduce background noise. ANC works by using microphones to detect external sounds, and then an onboard microprocessor analyzes those sounds and feeds the required opposite sound waves to your ears via the headphone’s speakers. This creates a kind of anti-noise that cancels out the external noise. There are different types of ANC, including feedforward ANC, feedback ANC, and hybrid ANC, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. ANC can be processed through the ANC chipset using either well-designed ear cups to seal out unwanted noise, microphones and speakers to automatically adjust to your surroundings, or noise-cancelling speakers to reduce unwanted background noise. ANC headphones and earbuds have tiny microphones built-in to monitor the sound of your surroundings while youre wearing them. One potential downside to ANC is the reduction in situational awareness, but some headphones have ambient/transparency modes that enable wearers to maintain a level of awareness of their surroundings.