When Schuberth announced in November 2025 that it had spent three years working with Cardo on a modular helmet with active noise cancellation, the industry raised an eyebrow. Now that the C5 ANC is on sale in Europe, we've gone through Schuberth's own published data and the specialist coverage so far: does it actually work? The helmet costs €799 and the SC Edge ANC module is another €529 (about €1,328 in total). We have not tested it on the road: what follows is manufacturer data.
What active noise cancellation means applied to a helmet
The ANC (Active Noise Cancellation) technology in your travel headphones works exactly the same here: microphones on the outside of the helmet capture background noise, mainly wind and rolling, and generate an opposite sound signal that cancels it before it reaches your ear. It doesn't filter sound passively like the thickness of the shell, it eliminates it actively.
In the C5 ANC, Schuberth and Cardo have calibrated the system to attack the frequency range between 100 and 700 Hz, which is exactly where wind noise is most fatigue-inducing. According to their wind tunnel tests, the reduction is up to 10 dB at 100 km/h as a peak, measured on a naked bike. For context: a 3 dB reduction is already perceptible; 10 dB means the sound feels half as intense.
Technical specifications
- Speakers: 53 mm signed by Cardo, with integrated active cancellation. The same driver as the SC Edge but with added ANC hardware.
- ANC battery: 12 hours of autonomy with active ANC. USB-C charge in 2.5 hours.
- ANC system consumption: 0.8 W continuous — irrelevant for total autonomy.
- Certification: ECE 22.06 (latest European regulation).
- Total weight in size M with module: 1,860 g. Around 180 g more than the standard C5.
- Available colours: Matt black, gloss white, gloss concrete grey.
- Price: helmet €799; SC Edge ANC module €529 sold separately (about €1,328 in total).
How to read Schuberth's figure
Schuberth's promise is to reduce acoustic fatigue. The official damping is measured between 100 and 700 Hz, the band where wind noise concentrates at cruising speed, in the brand's own wind tunnel. On paper it is a genuine engineering figure, but it comes from the manufacturer: there is no independent measurement yet and we have not made one ourselves.
Unlike passive foam earplugs, which block everything indiscriminately, the system is designed to cut that constant wind-noise wall while still letting through the sounds you need to hear in traffic: a van engine, a horn, the bike behind you.
What ANC doesn't solve
Schuberth itself is clear about the limits: the reduction depends on the bike, screen, riding position and speed, and it's measured at cruising speed around 100 km/h. Above that, wind noise rises fast enough that the real-world improvement falls well short of the official figure. It also doesn't reduce heavy rain noise, which sits at different frequencies to the ones the system targets.
If you do trackdays or regularly ride hard, the C5 ANC is not your helmet.
C5 ANC vs Shoei Neotec 3
The logical rival is the Shoei Neotec 3 with a Cardo Packtalk Edge intercom (about €330-410 depending on the shop; €409.95 list price). That adds up to between €1,000 and €1,080 against €1,328 for the C5 ANC, and it has no active noise cancellation: the Packtalk Edge is a universal intercom.
| Feature | Schuberth C5 ANC | Shoei Neotec 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Helmet price | €799 | From €669 |
| Intercom | SC Edge ANC, €529 separate | Sena SRL 3, separate (price unconfirmed) |
| Active noise cancellation | Yes | No |
| Weight (size M) | 1,860 g with module | 1,732 g (1,826 g with SRL 3) |
| Certification | ECE 22.06 | ECE 22.06 P/J |
The C5 ANC's advantage is its integrated design: no external cables, with the processor and battery in the back of the shell and the remote on the side, instead of a universal intercom clamped to the outside. In exchange it weighs about 130 g more and costs about €250-330 more.
If you already have a Cardo intercom and want a modular built for motorway miles, the C5 ANC is the most interesting bet. If you are starting from scratch on a tight budget, the Neotec 3 plus a Packtalk Edge remains the cheaper option.
Verdict
The C5 ANC rests its promise on wind-tunnel data rather than a marketing line, and on paper it should be noticeable on long motorway rides. It is expensive and we have not tested it yet, so we are not giving it a score: we will once we have ridden it. If motorway miles are your main use and you want a modular with an integrated intercom, it is worth keeping an eye on.
