Sol Republic Begins Shipping First Over-Ear ANC Headphones a Year After CES Debut

A year after launching its first active noise-canceling headphone at CES 2019, Sol Republic announced Tuesday it’s finally shipping the over-ear Soundtrack Pro ANC. “It took refinement and precision to bring that vision to life," said Josh Poulsen, director-product management. The $199 cans, with a foldable design, feature 40mm drivers; 32-hour battery life with and without noise cancellation; four buttons for control of volume, answer/end calls, and pause-skip; and an auxiliary cable for wired listening. Its digital hybrid ANC technology uses a four-mic system to intercept ambient noise while preserving audio quality, said the company. Users can enter monitor mode to pause music and ANC for a quick conversation without having to remove the headphones. USB-C quick charge technology is said to provide three hours’ listening from a 15-minute recharge. The Pro has a leather-wrapped foam ear cushion for a more comfortable fit and “sleeker look” than the entry-level Soundtrack headphones. The Soundtrack ($169) wireless model has 42-hour battery life, similar controls and design, and 4.5-hour operation from a 15-minute USB-C quick charge, said the company.