Noise is part of the road – but it shouldn’t wear the rider down. Hearing fatigue, loss of concentration and discomfort, especially at higher speeds, have turned helmet noise into one of the modern motorcyclist’s real enemies.
With the PHANTOM ANC, SENA opens up a new path: active noise reduction directly integrated into the helmet itself. A silent revolution, now available.
Why is noise the motorcyclist’s enemy?
On a motorcycle, the engine is not what causes the most fatigue – the wind is. From as little as 80–90 km/h, noise levels inside the helmet often exceed 90 dB, comparable to the sound of a chainsaw. Airflow turns into an aggressive drone that eventually wears anyone down.
Every rider knows the effects:
- ears that tire quickly,
- concentration that fades,
- comfort that disappears as speed increases.
In short: even a simple motorway stretch can become exhausting. Noise is not a minor inconvenience – it is a daily enemy.
Active noise cancellation in a motorcycle helmet – is it possible?
The principle of Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) is simple: the helmet captures ambient noise via a microphone and generates an opposite sound wave to reduce it, as illustrated in the diagram below.
But on a motorcycle, the equation becomes far more complex: turbulence, unstable airflow, vibrations, changing angles… nothing like the steady noise found with headphones at home, on a train or while walking. SENA has spent more than ten years developing an algorithm capable of identifying the most aggressive frequencies and compensating for them in real time, without masking sounds essential to rider safety. This expertise comes fully into its own in the first helmet designed to fully exploit this technology: the Phantom ANC.
Phantom ANC: turning the volume down
The Phantom ANC introduces the first Active Noise Cancellation system developed by SENA specifically for a motorcycle helmet. The system can reduce ambient noise by up to 20 decibels, representing an approximate 75% reduction in motorway noise levels. In practical terms, this means going from the sound of a chainsaw to that of a typical office conversation.
An unprecedented acoustic design
Manufactured in SENA’s brand-new factory, the Phantom ANC benefits from full integration of its components, allowing engineers to design an entirely new acoustic environment. At the heart of the helmet, SENA has developed unique acoustic chambers, specifically shaped to surround the ear and naturally optimise passive noise isolation. Designed as a true sound architecture, this internal cocoon reduces residual turbulence and lays the groundwork for the effectiveness of ANC. This approach gives the helmet a rare level of coherence between its structure, comfort and acoustic performance. The Phantom ANC does not stack technologies – it orchestrates them. The result is a helmet that finally controls noise at the source, even before ANC comes into play.
Do you still need to ride with earplugs?
Earplugs remain a common practice among many motorcyclists. The Phantom ANC offers a different approach, integrating both active and passive noise reduction solutions directly into the helmet.
Phantom ANC: first and foremost, an excellent helmet
Active noise cancellation would mean little without a solid foundation: a genuine full-face helmet designed to protect. Featuring a composite fibreglass shell and certified to ECE 22.06 standards, the Phantom ANC also incorporates a front LED light as well as rear lighting with a position light and a brake light function. In the event of deceleration, an accelerometer automatically triggers an enhanced braking signal.
Compatible with Pinlock and equipped with efficient ventilation, it remains comfortable both for daily commuting and long-distance touring. Like all helmets in the Phantom range, the ANC version features integrated SENA communication: Mesh Intercom 3.0, unlimited-range Wave Intercom, an AI-based noise- reduction microphone (AINR), wireless OTA updates and voice commands.
“Applying active noise cancellation to an environment as unstable as motorcycling was a real challenge. With the Phantom ANC, we have designed a helmet that finally addresses one of the major issues of riding a motorcycle: noise.” – Vlada Bokza, European Marketing Manager, SENA
Pricing and availability
Despite its high level of embedded technology, SENA has deliberately kept the Phantom ANC priced at €619, staying true to its belief that technologies genuinely useful to riders should remain accessible.
The Phantom ANC is available now at www.sena.com and through all SENA authorised dealers.
SENA PHANTOM ANC – KEY FEATURES
• Recommended retail price: €619
• Availability: immediate
• Full-face helmet certified to ECE 22.06
• Weight: 1,720 g (size M)
• Composite fibreglass shell
• Multi-density EPS liner
• Double D-ring chin strap
• Removable and washable interior
• Ventilation: chin and forehead vents
• Front LED light
• Rear LED lights: daytime running light and brake light
• Pinlock compatible
• Retractable sun visor
• Voice commands
• Bluetooth 5.3
Intercom technology
• Intercom types:
* Wave Intercom
* Mesh Intercom 3.0
* Mesh Intercom 2.0
• Intercom range:
* Wave Intercom: unlimited range
* Mesh Intercom: up to 2 km in open terrain
• Number of users:
* Wave Intercom: virtually unlimited
* Open Mesh mode: virtually unlimited
* Group Mesh mode (private): up to 24 users
• Multi-brand compatibility via Wave
Audio & connectivity
• AINR (Artificial Intelligence Noise Reduction): AI-based noise reduction on microphone
• Battery: 1,700 mAh
• Talk time: up to 35 hours
• Charging time: 2 hours 30 minutes
• Wireless OTA (Over-the-Air) updates
• SENA Motorcycles app
• SENA Wave app
Sizes & colours
• Available sizes: S, M, L, XL, XXL
• Available colours: matte black, gloss black, gloss white
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ABOUT SENA
Founded in 1998, SENA is a global leader in innovative communication systems, delivering advanced connectivity solutions for adventure enthusiasts and professionals alike. SENA continues to push technological boundaries with a product range spanning motorcycle helmets, outdoor sports communication systems and industrial applications. SENA products integrate cutting-edge technologies such as Bluetooth®, Mesh Intercom™ and Wave Intercom™, ensuring an optimal user experience in terms of safety and performance. On the road, in the mountains or at sea, SENA supports its users wherever adventure takes them.
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Original post on modernclassicbikes.co.uk and published by Frank Duggan. Frank is the Founder and Editor of Modern Classic Motorcycle News, an independent motorcycle publication covering modern classic motorcycles, roadsters, scramblers, cruisers, electric motorcycles and the wider motorcycle industry.
