A classic dilemma. Two pairs of earbuds, one pricier, one cheaper. One promises to silence the world, the other makes no such promise. Which one's for you? The answer depends on where you spend your time.
Don't get us wrong, both play music. Jasse tuned them both. But your environment determines which one gives you more bang for your buck.
What does ANC actually do in earbuds?
Active noise cancellation (ANC) removes low, steady sounds. The rumble of a bus, the hum of a train, the drone of air conditioning – gone. Your coworker's nagging or a baby crying won't disappear, because those are high-frequency, irregular sounds. Physics is physics, and no amount of marketing copy will change that.
ANC in earbuds isn't as effective as in full-size over-ears. That's just how it is. Over-ears already isolate more mechanically because they cover your entire ear. Earbuds sit in your ear canal and do their best – and in the NL25, that best is perfectly decent.
NL25's ANC works best combined with music. Turn on ANC, hit play, and suddenly that bus ride becomes bearable. Without music, ANC dampens the background but doesn't make it silent.
NL25 and NL21 side by side
Sound quality is good on both. Jasse's ears are insured, and he doesn't let bad sound through – not even on the basic model.
NL25 strengths:
- ANC and transparency mode
- Bluetooth 5.4 and aptX Adaptive codec support – better sound quality and a more stable connection
- Wireless charging for the case
- Memory foam tips included
NL21 strengths:
- IPX6 water resistance – handles rain, sweat, and a reasonable amount of stupidity
- 7.5 hours of battery life vs NL25's 4.5 hours with ANC on
- Lower price
- Simple and reliable
The battery life difference is clear. The NL21 lasts nearly double. If you listen for long days without a chance to charge, that's a significant gap. The NL25 case does charge wirelessly though, so if you've got a wireless charging pad on your desk, tossing the case on it is effortless.
For water resistance, the NL21 wins. IPX6 means you can run in the rain or sweat buckets at the gym without worry. The NL25 isn't as well protected, so for workouts the NL21 is the safer bet.
Why Valco either way?
Whichever you choose, you get a couple of things the big brands don't offer.
Repairability. If a bud breaks, we fix it in Kajaani. We won't send you queuing on the phone to some overseas service centre where nobody knows where Finland is.
Price. Big-brand ANC earbuds cost €250–350. The NL25 costs a fraction of that. The NL21 even less. You can spend the savings on beer – or donate to the Death Star fund.
Jasse's tuning. A sound engineer whose ears are insured. He listens to every product before it goes on sale. You don't know Sony's equivalent guy by name. And you never will.
Who should pick the NL21?
If you mostly listen to music at home, in the office, or in a quiet environment, ANC is an unnecessary extra cost. The NL21 is enough. It's an honest basic model that does one thing well: plays music into your ears.
If you work out a lot, the NL21's water resistance and longer battery are more practical.
If you've never used ANC and don't know if you'd miss it, you probably won't.
Who should pick the NL25?
If you sit on a bus, train, or in an open-plan office every day, ANC makes daily life more bearable. It's not luxury – it's a survival tool.
If you want a better Bluetooth connection and aptX Adaptive support, the NL25 is the more technically advanced option.
If wireless charging matters to you, the NL25 has it.
Summary
- Bus, train, open-plan office – NL25. ANC does its job.
- Home, gym, quiet environment – NL21. Cheaper, tougher, longer battery.
- Either way – Valco. Repairability, Jasse's tuning, and the fact that your money goes to a 14-person company instead of a faceless corporation.
Whichever you choose, every purchase funds roughly 0.000001% of our Death Star. Henri still needs a few billion before he can trade that Alfa for a Ferrari, so all help is welcome.