Noise cancelling is a bit like the neighbor's dog. When it behaves, life is peaceful and quiet. When it doesn't, you want to throw the whole thing out the window. Don't. This is almost always fixable.
In Valco's noise cancelling headphones (VMK25.2, VMK25, VMK20, VMK15 and NL25), ANC relies on microphones that listen to the sound around you and generate an opposing sound wave. When something in that chain goes wrong, the result ranges from "no effect whatsoever" to "there's a beehive living inside my skull."
What went wrong?
The most common reasons ANC starts acting up:
- The software is outdated. Firmware updates fix the ANC algorithm. If you haven't updated, your headphones might start behaving like a teenager: unpredictable.
- The ear pads aren't sealing properly. ANC needs a good seal against your ear. Worn, flattened, or misaligned ear pads let sound leak through, and the noise cancelling loses its power. With fabric-covered pads, ANC simply doesn't work as well as with faux leather ones. That's physics, not a bug.
- Bluetooth connection is interfering. Sometimes the headphones try to connect to two devices at once, and both ANC and audio get scrambled.
- The ANC button is stuck. A mechanical fault where the button gets pressed in and stops responding. Rarer, but it happens.
- The microphone is blocked. Lint or dust from your pocket can get into the ANC microphone opening. Even a small blockage throws off the noise cancelling.
How to fix it
Go through these in order. Most issues get solved within the first three steps.
- Update the firmware. If your model is the VMK25.2 or VMK15, download Valco Updater (Android, Google Play), connect your headphones, and install the updates. No updates exist for other models. This alone fixes a surprising number of ANC issues.
- Do a factory reset. Over-ear models (VMK series): plug in the AUX cable and unplug it. This resets the headphones. NL25 earbuds: place the buds in the case, leave the lid open, and hold down the case button for 5 seconds.
- Check the ear pads. Are they properly seated? Are they flattened? Twist the pad off and reattach it properly. If the pads are visibly worn, replace them with new ones. It makes a huge difference.
- Clean the ANC microphones. Gently blow air into the microphone openings to clear them out. Don't poke a needle or anything sharp in there.
- Turn off multipoint. If the headphones are connected to two devices at once, disconnect one and test ANC again.
- Test in the right environment. ANC is great at cancelling low, steady sounds: airplane hum, office AC, trains. It won't cancel out kids screaming, speech, or sudden noises. That's just physics, not a flaw.
If that doesn't help
If ANC still isn't working after trying all this, or your headphones make a strange buzzing or pulsing sound with ANC on, or the effect only comes from one earcup, it might be a hardware issue. Time to send it in for repair.
Email us at info@valco.fi. Include:
- Order number or receipt
- Headphone model
- A short description of the problem
- A photo or video, if possible
Our repair team in Kajaani will fix the unit. Under warranty (24 months), the repair is free, unless the fault turns out to be caused by the dog using your headphones as a chew toy. Even then we'll fix it, but the repair will cost you.
Valco headphones get repaired, not thrown in the trash. That's what sets us apart from the companies whose customer service just tells you to buy a new one. Here, Jasse and the rest of the crew open them up, swap the parts, and send them back. It's basically an auto repair shop, just for smaller gadgets, and without the oily rags.
