Could this be the quietest motorcycle helmet yet? Sena launches Phantom ANC
Sena’s new Phantom ANC helmet brings active noise cancellation directly into a full-face lid, promising a significant reduction in wind noise without sacrificing safety or communication tech.
Helmet noise has always been one of those things riders quietly accept. Wind roar, buffeting, that relentless motorway drone that turns a simple ride into a fatigue test — it’s all just part of the deal.
Earplugs are the most commonly used solution, and while they have their plus points, they also have some downsides - especially if you are using disposable foam earplugs.
You may also like to read our best motorcycle helmets guide.
Motorcycle communications specialist Sena reckons it doesn’t have to be that way. With its new Phantom ANC motorcycle helmet, it’s having a serious go at turning the volume down on modern motorcycling.
The idea is simple enough on paper. Active Noise Cancellation — the same tech used in high-end headphones — listens to incoming noise and generates an opposing sound wave to cancel it out. The problem, of course, is that motorcycles are not trains or aeroplanes. Airflow is turbulent, speeds change constantly, and the noise profile inside a helmet is anything but stable.
Sena claims to have spent over a decade developing an algorithm capable of identifying the worst frequencies generated by wind turbulence and cancelling them in real time, without masking sounds riders actually need to hear. The Phantom ANC is the first helmet the brand says has been designed from the ground up to make that system work properly.
Sena claims the Phantom ANC can reduce ambient noise by up to 20dB — roughly a 75 per cent reduction in motorway noise. According to its makers, in real-world terms, that’s the difference between a chainsaw at full chat and background office chatter. If it works as promised, that’s a big deal for long-distance riders and commuters alike.
What’s interesting is that Sena hasn’t just bolted electronics into an existing shell. The Phantom ANC is built in Sena’s new factory and features dedicated acoustic chambers around the ears, designed to improve passive noise isolation before the ANC system even gets involved. The result, according to Sena, is a helmet that tackles noise at the source rather than relying solely on the electronics.
Sena is also keen to point out that this is still a proper full-face helmet first, and a technical showcase second. It’s ECE 22.06 certified, uses a composite fibreglass shell, and includes features like Pinlock compatibility, effective ventilation, and a retractable sun visor. There’s also integrated front and rear LED lighting, including a brake light function triggered by an accelerometer.
As you’d expect from Sena, communication tech is fully baked in, with Mesh Intercom, Wave Intercom, Bluetooth 5.3, voice commands, and Over The Air (OTA) updates all standard. Battery life is quoted at up to 35 hours, which should cover most touring days without anxiety.
At €619, the Phantom ANC isn’t cheap, but in the context of premium helmets and aftermarket comms systems, it’s not outrageous either, especially if it genuinely reduces fatigue and preserves hearing.
Whether this is the future of helmet design or a clever niche remains to be seen. But if Sena has genuinely cracked active noise cancellation on a motorcycle without earplugs, this could be one of the biggest helmet developments in years.
Sena Phantom ANC sec and 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:
o Wave Intercom
o Mesh Intercom 3.0
o Mesh Intercom 2.0
• Intercom range:
o Wave Intercom: unlimited range
o Mesh Intercom: up to 2 km in open terrain
• Number of users:
o Wave Intercom: virtually unlimited
o Open Mesh mode: virtually unlimited
o Group Mesh mode (private): up to 24 users
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
You can find out more about the helemt on the official website.
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In This Article
Simon (AKA Toad) has been working within the motorcycle industry for more than twelve years, and a member of the motorcyclist family since birth. Growing up around British-built single and twins, it was inevitable that a life on two wheels was on the cards, from a very early age!