ANC Headphones Market Size (2024 - 2029)

Active Noise Cancellation Headphones Market Analysis

The ANC Headphones Market size is estimated at USD 17.88 billion in 2024, and is expected to reach USD 34.42 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 14% during the forecast period (2024-2029).

The growing acceptance of smart wearables, such as wireless headphones with active noise-canceling, has augmented hearing and increased control over ambient sounds, propelling the demand for active noise-canceling headphones.

• The growing awareness toward hearing disorders, the transition to being hearable in the connected environment, the increasing number of smartphone users and tech-savvy consumers, and the adoption of new audio technology are some prominent factors expected to drive the ANC headphones market. According to Ericsson, the number of smartphone subscriptions worldwide surpasses six billion and is expected to grow by several hundred million in the next few years. China, India, and the United States have the highest number of smartphone users.
• The growing inclination of consumers toward headphones that offer higher audio quality encourages audio device companies to incorporate advanced technologies and provide noise-canceling features in headphones, further fuelling the market growth. For instance, in September 2022, Bose launched another pair of headphones, QuietComfort SE. The new QuietComfort SE was rebranded with minor improvements to the Bose QuietComfort 45, which was replaced by Bose QuietComfort 35 II. The QuietComfort SEs deliver 24-hour playtime on a single charge and need 2.5 hours to get fully recharged. A 15-minute short mission is enough for a 3-hour playback.
• The rise in digital platform penetration and the surge in intelligent devices allow several music and entertainment customers to use wireless ANC headphones for better quality. According to IBEF, MeitY collaborated with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to establish a quantum computing applications lab in India to accelerate quantum computing-driven research and development and enable new scientific discoveries. Some vendors are focusing on launching competitive prices at lower prices to make their products popular among consumers. For instance, Sony kept the price of its noise-cancellation headphone at just USD 68 on Amazon Prime Day Sale. The availability of noise-canceling headphones at a lower price may further drive market growth.
• Furthermore, the need for high capital and technological expertise may be significant barriers to the entrance of small and medium-scale manufacturers into the active noise-canceling headphones market. In-ear active noise-canceling headphones are likely to witness traction during the forecast period. A significant reason for the high market penetration of these headphones is their cost-efficiency. Further, the increased adoption of in-ear headphones by sports and music enthusiasts is another factor for the high application of in-ear headphones.

Active Noise Cancellation Headphones Industry Segmentation

Active noise cancellation (ANC) employs a noise cancellation system to decrease undesirable background noise. The technique is based on microphones that listen to sounds outside and inside the earphone, an ANC chipset that inverts the soundwaves, and a speaker inside the earphone that cancels the outside sound by neutralizing the soundwaves.

The market studied is segmented by product type, such as in-ear, on-ear, and over-ear, in different price ranges, such as premium, moderate and low, in various distribution channels like retail and online and among multiple geographies. The impact of COVID-19 on the market and impacted segments are also covered under the scope of the study. Further, the disruption of the factors affecting the market's expansion in the near future has been covered in the study regarding drivers and restraints.
The market sizes and forecasts are provided in terms of value (USD billion) for all the above segments.